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Chelsea MorningFrom underdog to art star in a New York minute.
I came here in 1993 to start my own design practice from a Mac beside my bed. My first apartment was on 27th Street in Chelsea, facing the Fashion Institute of Technology, a 1958 building clad in faceted panels. There was a Cuban bar below my loft, a Dominican breakfast place across the street and a Haitian restaurant on the corner. Now most of the area’s flea markets are gone, and many of the buildings have been converted into luxury condos and shops.
Before Dia Art Foundation moved in and renovated in 1987, West Chelsea was a desolate area. Dia’s exhibition program began with the opening of a four-storey converted warehouse on West 22nd Street. The art district now boasts over 300 galleries, with the highest concentration of well-known galleries located on 22nd, 24th and 25th streets between 10th and 11th avenues. My studio, living loft and shop and a very exclusive small building that I am working on are all here.
Chelsea has quickly become the hottest area in terms of nightlife. Gavin Brown’s gallery/bar, GBE@Passerby, is tucked away on 15th Street behind the Chelsea Market (a mecca of gourmet food and the site of my lunchtime organic feasting). Hiro Lounge is in the Maritime boutique hotel, with more design hotels under construction. The notorious Hotel Chelsea has become very rundown, though people say you have to stay there to experience its art-house history.
Situated on the west side of Chelsea are the Sports Center and the Spa at Chelsea Piers. This project began in the early-1990s and included a $100-million renovation of the relics of the previously neglected piers. The 73-year-old elevated railway known as the High Line, which links Hell’s Kitchen, Chelsea and the Meatpacking District, is set to be preserved as a 2½-kilometre-long park along the Hudson River and is envisioned as a grand public promenade.
Innumerable restaurants have opened in the neighbourhood, including Buddakan, Morimoto (designed by Tadao Ando) and Nooch (designed by me). Despite the fact that it has become party central for the middle and upper classes, Chelsea retains an overwhelmingly rich creative spirit and embraces all kinds of novel talent. The dream of success and of unconditional social acceptance – regardless of name, race or creed – is still synonymous with New York. Globalove, Write to us: letters@enroutemag.net Karim Rashid is an industrial designer whose work can be spotted around the globe and on karimrashid.com. |
