Is it Casual Friday Yet?
Ava Lawson 
Who is this queen? I guess she is a famous architect? Hmm, I am starting to feel triggered because the first casual day I ever had in an architectural office I actually got reprimanded by my female Boomer boss because I was too casual for casual Friday. I wore a plain black t-shirt and jeans for reference.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 32 | November 5, 2021 8:30 PM |
He's been around doing the same head-to-toe black leather thing for many years. He does a lot of commercial work in flagship stores for Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and that sort of modern design where every finish is highly specified and custom. He seems knowledgable about 19thC design and references it often, many time literally. If I'm not mistaken, he's done a few grand apartments at The Dakota (one below), with a fairly academic Aesthetic Movement taste, here made a bit modern in its application and details.
I think he turns up (in high leather, of course) in the NYSD photo-chronicled benefits with the likes of Somers "Emaciated Sternum" Farkas and other society gals in the gilded rooms of the Park Ave. Armory, let's say. These shocking images haven't altogether escaped the occasional Data Lounge thread.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 1 | November 5, 2021 9:45 AM |
Here's a building he designed architecture to coffee tables at W. 24th St. at 10th Ave.:
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 3 | November 5, 2021 9:51 AM |
Commercial work.
He seems enviably busy with choice commissions. I think at this point the leather may be not so much to shock as distract. He's 72 or more. But looking like that among polite people in (more or less) polite clothes, he's always assured a photo opportunity with Anna Wintour and Karl Lagerfeld or whoever, so I suppose it has worked out for him.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 4 | November 5, 2021 9:57 AM |
I wonder who is really doing the design work? I actually worked in an office that did that kind of retail and from start to finish. a typical project had about 12 to 20 people from architects, interior designers, Color and Material specialist, Construction Document Architects, Project Coordinators, etc. And that was just for one or two flagships. If he is that busy, he would need about 100 employees basically making him a figure head CEO at that point. Probably not even touching the design.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | November 5, 2021 10:12 AM |
[quote]Is it Casual Friday Yet?
In what alternative universe is gay men's leather cosplay in any way "casual"?
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | November 5, 2021 10:16 AM |
Exactly, R5. I've wondered the same. It's a seemingly improbably large number of projects, many of which would require a very high level of client attention beyond any design considerations.
From LinkedIn: "Based in New York City, the firm has 160 employees and offices in Philadelphia, PA and Southampton, NY."
The number of employees has been stable for the past few years. Median tenure is 8.8 years which seems good for an architecture practice; not a revolving door (Richard Meier has the same number, Perkins & Will, for instance, has 5.3 years.) You can find advertisements for high level staff.
The AIA rescinded a design prize awarded him in 2018, the same year as it did Richard Meier's prize, both on the basis of alleged sexual harassment. He is though FAIA (a Fellow, American Institute of Architects) and has been for some time; I remember being surprised when I first thought, "Who is this leather clown?" It's a snobby enough profession that the Fellow designation is handed out with some care usually, to someone distinguished or even to someone who advances the profession in quiet, technical ways, but it's generally safe to assume some basis for the F designation.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | November 5, 2021 10:39 AM |
He does impeccable if slightly soulless work. Probably has the best if not the richest clients. I wonder what his wife makes of his outfits.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | November 5, 2021 10:50 AM |
Figures, leather daddy has fabulous knick-nack filled digs in the Hamptons. Now show us the dungeon, daddy
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | November 5, 2021 11:01 AM |
He has a painting of himself in the living room? Um tacky.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | November 5, 2021 11:29 AM |
For those of you who know him, was he always like this? There are lots of gay architects out there, but all the ones I have ever met or worked with have bought into the whole mantra of dressing "professional" for the client, even if they were into other extreme fetish stuff in their personal life.
I's it an attention whore thing he is doing or did he cleverly rebrand himself to be associated with more exotic fashion culture?
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | November 5, 2021 11:34 AM |
^ Well, we're all talking about him, so I guess that's something. Perhaps when your talent isn't enough you have to create controversy
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | November 5, 2021 11:37 AM |
"I wore a plain black t-shirt and jeans"
Do better.
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | November 5, 2021 11:42 AM |
r13 wears his best caftan on casual Friday
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | November 5, 2021 11:50 AM |
Wait he's married to a woman? She's a costume designer? Oh OK that explains it then. Except for this:
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 16 | November 5, 2021 11:57 AM |
R1 Can anyone tell me what does type of chairs and sofas are called? The striped ones. Both the design of chairs and the name of that fabric.
| by Anonymous | reply 18 | November 5, 2021 12:06 PM |
Here's a (20-min.) one-sided interview that I found interesting in which he comes off surprisingly well: smart and thoughtful, not a big thinker on theory certainly, but he has a very practical vantage point, and a solid sense of the feel of architecture and what it's supposed to do.
Once past the gay voice for days and an unplaceable Euro-ish accent that grows thicker and thinner all in one sentence, he manages not to come off as not too fucking full of himself, an accomplishment for most any architect, least of all one with his "look." He discusses his start with Andy Warhol, explains his success with all the luxury brand commissions all via Barney's, and his approach in dealing with clients.
Anyway, an interesting interview for me. I knew of some of his projects but didn't really know anything of him aside from the personal fashion sense.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 19 | November 5, 2021 12:16 PM |
So he was one of Andy Warhol entourage, that explains a lot.
| by Anonymous | reply 20 | November 5, 2021 12:40 PM |
Of course, he's impossible to get. He works all the time
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 21 | November 5, 2021 3:04 PM |
Meet the wife, Jane Trapnell
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 24 | November 5, 2021 3:08 PM |
Quite simply Peter Marino has been at the top of his game for decades now. Knows everyone that matters, and receives commissions worldwide .
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 25 | November 5, 2021 3:12 PM |
I think it's cute that he's trying to match his facial hair dye to his leather, but it's a little too red.
| by Anonymous | reply 26 | November 5, 2021 4:04 PM |
The Peter Marino thread I've waited for
| by Anonymous | reply 27 | November 5, 2021 4:18 PM |
60 Minutes did a segment on him some years ago, if not I would have never heard of him.
Offsite Link| by Anonymous | reply 28 | November 5, 2021 4:42 PM |
I'll bet he does a fabulous dungeon
| by Anonymous | reply 29 | November 5, 2021 5:12 PM |
What happens if he sits down on a leather sofa?
| by Anonymous | reply 31 | November 5, 2021 5:27 PM |
