It’s a trendlet. Firms investing in spaces beyond their offices for experimentation, community, and curation. There’s RW Guild by Roman and Williams and Ken Fulk’s namesake retail bungalow. The latest is Host on Howard, a long-brewing concept by AvroKO founding partners Kristina O’Neal, Adam Farmerie, William Harris, and Greg Bradshaw, who count Danny Meyer, Ian Schrager, 1 Hotels, and LVMH among their clients. “It’s our love letter to hospitality,” O’Neal says, pointing to the “huglike” arches and intimate horseshoe-shape bar defining the 1,500-square-foot gallery, located on the ground floor of the SoHo building (on Howard Street) where AvroKO’s studio is. Sprinkled throughout are what she calls “tools for gathering,” high-design solutions for entertaining: bar trolleys, soft-glow lighting, furniture—all custom and available on HOH’s website. Also on display are objets and artworks selected or made by the team; they’re currently surrounded by walls painted a progressively darkening dusty green for “The Paradisa,” the Eden-themed inaugural exhibition. So far, it’s backdropped a Lunar New Year celebration, salons, and book launches. “We hope,” O’Neal adds, “we’re creating experiences that foster a more connected world.”
