New York

Destinations

2 Apr

Written By NBH

DESTINATION GUIDE WITH CRINA ARGHIRESCU

New York Design City Guide: A Curated Journey with Crina Arghirescu

New York has long stood as one of the most dynamic design capitals in the world, where contemporary architecture, collectible design, and a thriving gallery scene intersect with the city's relentless urban energy. From experimental furniture studios and cutting-edge art galleries to design-led restaurants and iconic landmarks, the city offers an unparalleled creative ecosystem shaped by generations of designers, makers, and cultural tastemakers.
For this edition of the Designeers Design Destination Guides, we explore New York through the eyes of Crina Arghirescu, the acclaimed interior designer known for shaping some of the city's most distinctive residential and hospitality spaces—including two landmark penthouses at 432 Park Avenue, one of Manhattan's most celebrated architectural addresses.
**March 2026**
**Words:** designeers and crina arghirescu

Best Design & Architecture Bookshop:

William White, Canal Street

William White is a go-to destination for architecture, art, and design publications in New York. The shop champions independent and international titles while actively advocating for print culture through talks and events. Its recent “Print Is Back” campaign reinforces the value of slow reading and physical books in an increasingly digital design world.

Best Gallery for Art, Furniture & Design Objects:

Salon 94

Salon 94 is renowned for its cross-disciplinary approach, seamlessly blending contemporary art, collectible design, fashion, and architecture. Located on Museum Mile, the townhouse gallery was renovated under the direction of Rafael Viñoly, transforming the historic interior into a refined, museum-grade exhibition space. Its innovative pin-hanging system allows artworks to float within richly millworked rooms, creating a uniquely immersive viewing experience.

Best Lunch Spot:

La Mercerie, SoHo

Designed by Roman & Williams, La Mercerie is as much a design destination as it is a restaurant. Dusty blue tones, heavy mohair velvet curtains, and relaxed banquette seating create an atmosphere that feels intimate and residential rather than formal. The adjoining retail space showcases Roman & Williams furniture, antiques, and ceramics, making it a natural stop for designers who appreciate interiors as lived-in environments.

Best Design Hotel:

The Standard, High Line

Overlooking the High Line in the West Village, The Standard remains one of New York’s most iconic design hotels. Brutalist concrete frames floor-to-ceiling glass façades with expansive city and river views, while destinations like Le Bain (complete with an indoor pool) have cemented its cultural status. The hotel’s architectural openness famously sparked conversations around voyeurism and urban living, reinforcing its place in the city’s design mythology.

Iconic Architectural Landmark:

Sotheby’s Madison Avenue

Completed in 1966 by Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer, this Brutalist landmark remains one of New York’s most powerful architectural statements. Defined by heavy granite and concrete forms, deeply recessed trapezoidal windows, and a bold sculptural presence, the building exemplifies Breuer’s modernist vision. Its recent reconversion for Sotheby’s has given it a new cultural chapter while preserving its architectural authority.

Best Architectural Escape:

TWA Flight Center

Designed by Eero Saarinen, the TWA Flight Center at JFK is a sculptural masterpiece of mid-century modern architecture. Its sweeping concrete wings, fluid curves, and red-carpeted tunnels capture the optimism of 1960s air travel. Today, it functions as both a hotel and cultural landmark—perfect for a quiet coffee, a moment of nostalgia, or a swim in the rooftop pool overlooking the runways.

Artisan to Know:

John Junior Kim

Brooklyn-based lighting designer John Junior Kim creates atmospheric, sculptural pieces that balance experimentation with craftsmanship. Working sustainably from his studio, his practice recalls the poetic material sensibility of Andrea Branzi—where form, tactility, and emotion coexist. His lighting designs feel contemporary yet timeless, making him one of New York’s most thoughtful emerging artisans.

Best Design Museum

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

Housed in the historic Andrew Carnegie Mansion on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, the Cooper Hewitt is one of the most influential design museums in the world. Its programming bridges historical design with contemporary practice, exploring how objects, interiors, and systems shape everyday life. Recent exhibitions such as Making Home have positioned domestic space as a social, cultural, and emotional construct—making this a must-visit for designers seeking both context and inspiration.

Best Sunset view:

432 Park Avenue

Rising high above Midtown, the upper floors of 432 Park Avenue offer a surreal, almost weightless experience of New York. With uninterrupted 360-degree views across Manhattan and beyond, sunsets here feel like floating above the city itself. Designed with restraint and precision, the interiors amplify the drama of light, sky, and scale—making it one of the most extraordinary vantage points in the city.

Photography Credits

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Agaton strom

More from Crina Arghirescu

Crina Arghirescu Rogard: Elegance, Poetry, and Audacity in Design

Crina’s design philosophy centers on singularity and artistry. Her furniture transcends function to become collectible works of art crafted with exquisite attention to materiality, texture, and colour, existing as intimate extensions of her architectural vision.