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Sanjay Gangal
Sanjay Gangal is the President of IBSystems, the parent company of AECCafe.com, MCADCafe, EDACafe.Com, GISCafe.Com, and ShareCG.Com. Zazen Bear in Soho, NYC by Sinfonia GroupFebruary 26th, 2016 by Sanjay Gangal
Article source: Sinfonia Group The Zazen Bear Flagship store, located in Soho, NYC, is a Korean-Japanese multi-use concept shop that serves as a retail space, art gallery, and meditation center. Within a space designed to encourage peace, tranquility and harmony, Zazen features products, including jewelry, housewares and Zen spirited items; wellness programming, including yoga and meditation classes; and an art gallery, presently exhibiting painting and calligraphy work by the Japanese artist, Seiho.  Image Courtesy © Ashley Simone
 Image Courtesy © Ashley Simone The design of the store echoes the soft curves of the brand’s meditative symbol, the Zazen Bear, a plush, stuffed bear sitting in the lotus position, intended to act as a reminder to stop, breathe deeply, and embrace the inner self. The curves and the symmetry of the bear, which follow the golden ratio, became the starting point for a design aimed at generating a calming environment. The store entry is a threshold mediating between the bustling streets of Soho and a space that fosters serenity, comfort, and meditation—a multi-use space of Zen.  Image Courtesy © Ashley Simone  Image Courtesy © Ashley Simone The atmosphere is achieved by the synthesis of materials and organic forms. A double-height plant wall comprising of purifying plants—Philodendron-Cordatum and Marble-Queen Pothos—traverses the space vertically, linking the retail level and the sub-grade gallery and meditation center. The lower level, accessed by a metal stair with inset wood treads, features an oil-finished, white oak, tongue-and-groove floor alongside a wood-slat bench with built-in lighting at which the plant wall terminates. Pietra di Vals stone, featured throughout the upper floor, is complemented by the hand-finished, white-oak millwork elements that include curved walls, display cases, and wood members of varying lengths, which surround a large-scale elliptical light fixture. The upper, retail level terminates in a circular room made distinct by its fabric-lined walls and illuminated by light strips embedded in the ceiling that follow the curve of the room.  Image Courtesy © Ashley Simone  Image Courtesy © Ashley Simone  Image Courtesy © Ashley Simone  Image Courtesy © Ashley Simone  Image Courtesy © Ashley Simone  Image Courtesy © Ashley Simone  Image Courtesy © Ashley Simone  Image Courtesy © Sinfonia Group
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