CITY/COUNTRY New York City, USA
FURNISHING Reception
INTERIOR DESIGN HOK Designs
PHOTOGRAPHER Eric Laignel
Transformation is key to what Shiseido is. Founded in 1872, the Japanese corporation has evolved over the last century-plus from a local cosmetics company to a global personal-care giant. Part of that expansion includes the New York-based Shiseido Americas, which alone owns 11 makeup, fragrance, and skincare brands, Laura Mercier and Nars among them. Yet they and their employees were siloed, spread across two buildings and seven disconnected, disparate floors. So when CEO Marc Rey began the search for new headquarters, he had a seemingly simple goal: cohesion. "He requested a place of community where beauty and leadership could shine," begins Bill Bouchey, principal and director of design and interiors at HOK, which won the bid to design the Shiseido Americas workplace.