New York City Guide

New York City Guide
With Samson Tiew, ODO

In everything Beulah undertakes, we are defined by civic-minded responsibility, rigorous research, global vision, innovative thinking and a passion for design and culture. We frequently look to a range of industry and thought leaders to share their thinking, insights and perspectives, often drawn from lived experiences.

With a wealth of inspiration and rich storytelling at our fingertips, we share this with you by way of our Beulah City Guides Series, an exploration of cities around the world, through the eyes of compelling industry and thought leaders.

After working in architecture for many years, Samson Tiew went on to create One Design Office, an interior design and architecture studio which prides itself on providing its clients with innovative and sustainable solutions.

One Design Office operates on five major pillars; people, integrity, ownership, service and curiosity – allowing them to deliver innovative and creative design solutions. Their vision “Design for Life” looks to enhance life through service and design outcomes, holding the belief that design can bring positive influence to end users, asset owners and stakeholders.

Their extensive portfolio includes projects such as 1 Hotel Melbourne, Eltham College, Monash Accommodation and Beulah Foundation’s immersive exhibition ‘Seeds of Change’, in partnership with Empower Australia.

Samson’s city guide takes us to bustling New York City, home to the sprawling Central Park, the towering Empire State Building and best of all, delicious pizzas. Discover his favourite iconic cultural institutions and culinary venues as well as tips and tricks for navigating this iconic city.

Their vision “Design for Life” looks to enhance life through service and design outcomes, holding the belief that design can bring positive influence to end users, asset owners and stakeholders.

Moma PS1 | Image Courtesy: MOMA

New Art Museum | Image Courtesy: Dean Kaufman

Samson, thank you for taking part in our City Guide Series! You’ve chosen to share your experience and knowledge of New York with us – why did you choose New York to explore with us?

New York is known to be the epicentre of culture, arts, innovation, finances and anthropology over the last decades. Many references from pop culture to avant-garde philosophy have been birthed out of NYC and its surroundings. Most recently, we have seen continuous adaptive designs introduced to renew parts of the city—projects like the Highline, Hudson Yards and the World Trade Center precinct.

Where do you stay in New York? Any particular neighbourhood or hotel?

I love staying at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge. It gives a sense of calm away from the hustle and bustle, It provides a strong vantage point to admire the city skylines of NYC. The neighbourhood is also very close to Dumbo, an emerging district filled with life and discovery.

The Vessel, Hudson Yard

The High Line | Image Courtesy: The High Line

Can you share with us your favourite picks for each category below?

Cultural institutions

MOMA NYC
MOMA PS1
New Art Museum

Retail Destinations

SOHO – Boutique shopping that makes you feel like a native New Yorker.
Westfield WTC – Shop in a poetic, sculptural environment
BH Cameras – A retail experience is mind-boggling as goods are transported on automated conveyor systems that traverse the ceiling and walls.

Places to eat

Have back-to-back meals at “Russ and Daughters” and “Katz Deli”. They are fairly close to each other and offer the quintessential NYC experience!
The Four Horsemen – Hearty meals with plenty of non-meat options
Family Meal – A gastronomical experience centred around the coming together of people.

Russ & Daughters | Image Courtesy: Russ & Daughters

Family Meal | Image Courtesy: Blue Hill Farm

Nightlife destinations

Public Hotel Rooftop bar
Deux chats
Gair, Dumbo

Wellness destinations

Bamford Spa, Brooklyn.
Equinox, Hudson Yards.
Aire Ancient baths, Tribeca.

Equinox Spa | Image Courtesy: Equinox

Things to do in this city

Walk the Highline. Start at one end and walk towards the other. Stop and park yourself at the various stopping points along the way, The architecture frames views of moments within the city.
Immerse yourself in the calm of Central Park. It is amazing how this dedicated greenspace in the heart of Manhattan provides a much-needed respite from the concrete jungle.
Watch a baseball game. There is nothing like seeing boroughs get together over a much-loved local sport!

Architecture

Barclays Centre, Brooklyn
The Vessel, Hudson Yards
New Art Museum, Bowery/Nolita

Central Park

Finally, do you have any tips, tricks or advice when travelling to this city?

The scale of NYC is not to be underestimated. What looks like a walkable distance may end up taking most part of the day.

About SAMSON TIEW

Samson is an architect with over 15 years of experience. His personal motto is to fuse exploratory practices with practical explorations, arriving at interesting design outcomes that are grounded in buildability. Being active in community service, Samson supports and volunteers with numerous community groups with a humanitarian focus on the youths in the South Pacific Islands.