HOST on Howard: Founding Partners of AvroKO Debut Hospitality Focused Gallery in NYC

The four Founding Partners of the global, award-winning design firm, AvroKO – Kristina O’Neal, William Harris, Greg Bradshaw and Adam Farmerie – are pleased to announce the opening of HOST on Howard, a functional and high-concept love letter to hospitality. The gallery and gathering space will showcase “tools for gathering” including hospitality grade furniture and lighting, service trolleys, and other elevated art and design objects. The space opens November 20 on the ground floor at 21 Howard Street in Manhattan.

A hospitality focused gallery from the Founding Partners of AvroKO makes its debut in NYC

Kristina O’Neal, Founding Partner and Principal of AvroKO says:

“HOST is our celebration of hospitality as a ritual for both gathering and belonging. As part of our daily business we are constantly creating objects that bring people together and enhance our shared experiences – warm lighting that makes everyone at the table softly glow, height adjustable tables that work for cocktail or dining height depending on the time of day, or moveable screens that can be moulded to illuminate a corner or better create privacy.”

Partner William Harris adds:

“For the last 20 plus years, our job has been to be inventive in the creation of these tools for gathering and find new ways to make people feel comfortable, delighted, and considered through the lighting, furniture, serving tools, and spaces we design.”

O’Neal adds:

“Hospitality, at its core, is about creating meaningful connections that remind us we’re all part of something bigger. Through our design process, we’re not just shaping hospitable objects; we hope we’re creating experiences that foster a more connected and hospitable world.” 

THE PRODUCTS: Inventive, story-driven items created for hospitality environments and hospitality-for-the-home applications

With a focus on craftsmanship and the timeless, core tenets of hospitality, HOST showcases the best custom designs from AvroKO, as well as a mix of thoughtfully-curated pieces from makers and designers admired by the AvroKO Partners. The products range from approachable, easy-to-specify items to singular art objects.

All pieces are available to order in the HOST on Howard brick and mortar gallery or via the website:

● High – Design Service Trolleys – trolleys and carts for tableside or independent service including: ice cream, dessert, bar, and dim sum offerings
● Lighting – soft glow chandeliers, pendants, sconces, and table lamps
● Furniture – hospitality-centric seating and height adjustable tables
● Art Objects – created by the four Founding Partners and other artisans

THE PARADISA: The first story of belonging: the walled garden or the Edenic Paradisa

HOST on Howard creates new collections on an ongoing, annual basis with exhibition shows opening in the Fall of each year, in addition to new offerings quarterly. Fall 2024’s debut showcase presents the story of “The Paradisa” channeling the utopian allegory of Eden’s walled garden; illustrating the foundations of hospitality as an abundant gift.

The Paradisa is a place where everything belongs and is welcomed; standing in total, and working harmoniously together. Each exhibition will be complemented by a capsule collection of furniture, art, lighting, unique service tools and objects. The five service trolleys, the Elara line of lighting, all art features, as well as the Modifieds (pre-existing artifacts made into new artistic objects) were specifically created for The Paradisa.

DESIGN: This downtown Manhattan gallery is a love letter to hospitality

HOST on Howard is located in the heart of Soho. “It has been our dream to open a ground floor gallery on Howard Street since opening our firm decades ago,” notes Founding Partner Adam Farmerie “we have designed a place to house both stories and objects in unison, with the intent to welcome in others who care deeply about the world of hospitality too.”

Upon entering the gallery, guests step into a vibrant hall, painted in rich variations of moss and hunter green. Passing through the first arch, the space opens up to a room arranged in thoughtful vignettes displaying the furniture and lighting, set amongst Paradisa-esque sculpture and photographs. The highlight of this space is the five high-design service carts elevated on jewel-toned platforms. As guests turn their attention toward the back of the space, past the threshold of a second grand arch, they are met with a massive horseshoe-shaped bar and the crown jewel of the space. The functional bar is outfitted with top-of-the-line bar equipment as well as a stocked back bar and seats for 10 guests.

EVENTS: A place for connection

Complete with a full bar and event infrastructure, HOST will be a gathering space celebrating the nature of hospitality, supported by unique and artful approaches to connection. HOST-curated events will be at the intersection of hospitality, art, and design and will range from private salons, food and beverage celebrations and collaborations, lectures or panel discussions, like-minded launches and pop-ups, and more.

HOST on Howard is located on the ground floor of 21 Howard Street in Manhattan. The gallery is open Monday-Friday, by appointment only.

HOST on Howard, 21 Howard Street, New York, NY 10013

Instagram: @HOSTonHoward
Pinterest: HOST on Howard
Facebook: HOST on Howard
Website: www.hostonhoward.com

Event images: Krista Schluete