Buoying experiential hospitality interiors with thoughtful custom pieces has been integral to Parts and Labor Design’s projects since the New York firm was established in 2009.
Launching Known Work, a practice dedicated to furniture and objects, was “a focused evolution for us as creatives and designers. We wanted to carve out a space for ourselves to be free and expressive,” says the company’s founder Jeremy Levitt, who hatched the spinoff studio with Parts and Labor partner Danu Kennedy. “We have always wanted to share something directly with the public.”
Known Work debuted with Perceptions, a nine-piece vignette organically sprung from sketches and conversations, including a voluptuous ottoman, a hand-welded aluminum cube that doubles as a side table, and tactile ceramic candleholders. While they mesh well together, they stand out on their own, too.
“We believe there is an art to gathering. We took a deep dive into which characteristics make us feel most at home, enlivened, and connected to each other when we are in our own spaces,” says Kennedy.
Visually, Perceptions “is quite bold, geometric, and angular,” points out Parts and Labor design director Alex DiLena, who is also the creative director for Known Work. “But we were meticulous about the ergonomics of each piece. We wanted people to linger with and intuitively use them.”
Tension is one of Perceptions’ hallmarks. “The lamps, for example, have this beautiful unique light play that happens between the two tinted shades. The color and opacity will always vary,” says Levitt. “Experiencing that condition in tandem with the rigid, crisp metal frame enhances and accentuates the irregularity of the glass.” Equally dramatic are the chair and bench, their burl or maple frames juxtaposing soft upholstery.
As with Perceptions, forthcoming releases will embody the notion of exploration—of materials, of mediums, of collaboration. “Known Work’s philosophy is to make the unknown known. That is, the collections you see now and will see in the future come from an anthropological-like approach to process,” explains Kennedy. Craftsmanship is paramount to these creations, as is their ability to evoke emotion. “We aim to turn inspiration into forms that are touched, lived with, cherished—even envied,” she adds.
Parts and Labor-crafted restaurants and hotels bear the imprints of numerous hands, “a mass orchestration,” as DiLena puts it. Known Work by contrast is a more intimate endeavor. “There’s less noise. We’re at the helm of the boat, navigating with a clear vision and intention. It feels more direct, more personal.”
This article originally appeared in HD’s August 2024 issue.
