Forget the blond buffoon leading the USA, if
there’s anyone who’s made America great again, it
has to be Rockwell. He may not be that famous on
this side of the Atlantic, but those in the know are
well aware of how he’s been quietly transforming
the way the world looks, lives and enjoys itself for
the past 35 years. His studio, Rockwell Group, is
a thriving 250-strong New York-based operation
with a European satellite office in Madrid, and
since launching in 1984, it’s been behind the design
of everything from public spaces and museums to
hotels, restaurants, furniture and products, even
the sets of Broadway shows.
At our first meeting, I’m ushered into a small
windowless room at the back of one of the floors of
a typical New York low rise in Manhattan’s Union
Square. The former office post-room has recently
become the architect’s haven, the place he goes
to think. Rockwell – tall and full of presence –
warmly welcomes our group in. ‘Thank you for
being here,’ he enthuses before sitting at the grand
piano filling up the majority of the small room
and playing a few bars of a classical refrain. It’s a
pertinent introduction to a man whose world and
work revolves around the idea of making people
feel comfortable and can literally put on a show.
‘I began the studio with three key interests,’ he
explains, when we catch up later that day. ‘One
was the notion of hospitality. When I moved to
New York, what I fell in love with was how messy
it was, how it was a city defined by its skyline.
The second was theatre and performance, and
the third was studying public space.’ His love of
theatre is no surprise. Rockwell’s mother was a
vaudeville dancer and choreographer, who would
often cast him in productions. Moving aged 12
from New Jersey to Mexico and later studying in
London gave him a sense of the role of communal
public areas and their effect on the community.
‘Those influences formed the basis of my work,’
he acknowledges. ‘We create a whole range of
things, from museums to restaurants to hotels
to performances. They may seem distinct, but
the idea that links them is that they all strive to
acknowledge the importance of the audience.’
It’s this human element that defines Rockwell
Group’s many projects, giving them life, colour
and energy, whether it’s hotels for brands such
as Andaz or W or restaurants for Nobu, who
the studio has worked with for 25 years. ‘It’sThe understated, hugely prolific architect and
designer is one of the world’s most successful
creatives. Editor Ben Spriggs meets the man to talk
audience, art, and design’s ability to transform
IN CONVERSATION
WITH DAVID
ROCKWELL
Above ‘Valet’ magazine
rack and ‘ Valet’ club chair
designed for Stellar
Work s i n 2016 Opposite
Rockwell in his office