Beyond "signature style," designers must consider space.

Every accomplished designer has a signature style, evident within each project and throughout a body of work. But while many designers' signatures translate into a uniformity of style--a mold by which each individual space and project is sculpted--I feel strongly that a great designer must be infinitely flexible, allowing the unique character of each new project to shape the design. A great designer's signature will be a subtle, intangible element, and one that can be adapted to fit any space.

My interior design firm, with studios in New York and Montreal, is commissioned for a tremendous variety of projects, each calling for a fresh approach and each requiring a unique vision. There are various levels of diversity among projects. First, there are the obvious differences between designing for a condominium, a restaurant, a nightclub, a retail store and a commercial building. On this level, the practical considerations to suit the purpose of the space are crucial. A residential space is going to require extensive attention to creating comfortable, livable areas; whereas retail design focuses more heavily on creating a backdrop that best shows off the merchandise and invites shoppers inside. On a second level exists the character of the project. If it is a renovation or restoration, design must focus on the existing structure of the interiors and bringing them back to life. In new construction, there is more latitude in regard to shape and space, but these must be tailored to the unique vision of the clients. And on a third level, the project must be considered within the realm of its surroundings and time period in which it exists. Renovating a pre-war building in a historic neighborhood calls for careful preservation of original architecture and structural design, while often allowing for tasteful modernizations to make the space more functional and comfortable.

Ideally, the result will reflect the desires of the clients, the creative vision of the designer and the uniqueness of the project. With this goal in mind, I, along with my team of 20 designers, have had great success transforming spaces, both existing and new, into functional, beautiful creations of which both we and our clients are proud.

Some of my recent projects nicely illustrate the principle of allowing the space to guide the design. For example, I am currently completing the design and modernization of The Olcott, at 27 West 22nd Street, a condominium conversion of a former Art Deco residential hotel. The project has called for designing 140 luxury units, recreating an elegantly appointed lobby and transforming long hotel corridors into sumptuous hallways--all in styles that reflect the building's alluring Art Deco history and design.

We have seamlessly blended high-end appliances and amenities into each renovated unit, while maintaining key features of the original building and even having external components approved by the Landmarks Preservation Committee to meet the standards of the Upper West Side Historical District.

On the other end of the spectrum is one my recent projects The Chelsea Club at 438 West 19th Street, which is the ultimate in Manhattan modernity. The building employs a unique range of sophisticated materials and amenities that include a club/meeting lounge for residents, fully-equipped gym, private elevator entry foyers, balconies and terraces, all on a double-core structure surrounded by a skin of glass and pre-cast stone with an angled ascent. The individual units show an unparalleled attention to detail, right down to the bathrooms, which are fitted with floor-to-ceiling glass-enclosed showers, many with double shower heads and double seating--"showers for two"--and Euro-style trough sinks. The building has grace and class, but is also undeniably sexy.

Visiting both these projects will evoke vastly different senses of space and design, but one will also notice a constant between the two--what I like to think of as my "signature style." No matter what project my studio has worked on, we always emphasize a sense of glamour and excitement. It is this overarching sensation and mood present in all our work that has earned our studio recognition throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and, most recently, India, and that has allowed us to take on such a terrific variety of projects.

ANDRES ESCOBAR, PRINCIPAL

ANDRES ESCOBAR & ASSOCIATES