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Collectible, the fair for 21st century design.

© Simon Leung

Pillow Talks

Charlap Hyman & Herrero x Nick Poe

November 2024

Pillow Talks is a concept from COLLECTIBLE In-Depth. This series of articles  instigates design encounters in a playful setting. The idea is simple: we pair designers from the CURATED section and each duo then freely chooses three questions to ask to each other. They can tackle any subject, within the realm of design - or not! Today’s duo is Charlap Hyman & Herrero x Nick Poe.

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Charlap Hyman & Herrero: What are a few of your biggest inspirations in the way you approach making spaces?

Nick Poe: A lot of my design work is inspired by my upbringing in an old loft building in the city. The philosophy of loft living is somewhat antiauthoritarian, and unconventional, and those sentiments resonate with me. There’s also a sense of hybridism and diversity of influence, being part industrial but part rustic, part futurist but part historic, part minimal but part maximal. I sometimes think about how monocultures in biology are weak and susceptible to disease, and in the arts, it’s sort of the same, there’s strength and beauty in braiding ideas and influences. Sometimes I’ll save an idea for years to finally weave into a project.

Charlap Hyman & Herrero: When you are working on a space for someone, when do you feel that your job is done?

Nick Poe: There are ideals and realities. The ideal is that it’s never really done, that it’s a lifelong, growing, changing project, like your own home- perhaps with a nurturing client relationship of inspiring patronage and friendship. The realities are shorter timeframes and busy lives, but still I’d say it’s still usually a soft dissolve. There are milestones, like the last deliverable, invoice, or punch list item, but usually we take a project down off our board when we realize after some weeks– hey it’s been quite a while, I think it’s done-done.

Charlap Hyman & Herrero: I feel like you are in touch with the spirit of old-school Downtown New York, and it shows in your work - are you intentional about this, or is it just totally organic?
Nick Poe: Yes, I was raised in the 90’s NY loft era, and that culture is certainly a big part of my identity and shaped my world view. It's largely organic and intuitive, but since it’s still a conscious choice I’d say it’s also intentional. There is definitely part of me that sees what I do as part preservationist, trying to keep some of that humble beauty alive, in a landscape where imported marble gets splashed around too often.
Collectible, the fair for 21st century design.

Crate Lamp (2024) © Simon Leung

Nick Poe: What’s your Fuck, Marry, Kill for materials?

Charlap Hyman & Herrero: Polished Chrome, Cobalt Blue Silk, Fake Antique Mirrors.

Nick Poe: What is your dream project description and location?

Charlap Hyman & Herrero: My dream project is to do the architecture and the interiors for a house built into a cave on the coast of Maine. I would be really interested to explore the austerity of New England architecture, and find a way to integrate the psychology and history of grottos with it. Grottos are always on my mind as they represent to me the original home and are spatially interconnected to the way we understand the depths of our minds.

Nick Poe:  What would you do if you won $100 billion tax free?
Charlap Hyman & Herrero: First, I would clean the oceans of plastic. Then, I’d make sure every queer person on the planet had a home, and afterwards, I’d start thinking about a dream home for myself — which would probably entail buying an island with a recursive island within it. And then, I’d give all my friends, colleagues, and employees $100,000,000 each!
Collectible, the fair for 21st century design.

Grotto Lantern (2023) © Charlap Hyman & Herrero

Collectible, the fair for 21st century design.

© Simon Leung

Pillow Talks

Charlap Hyman & Herrero x Nick Poe

November 2024

Pillow Talks is a concept from COLLECTIBLE In-Depth. This series of articles  instigates design encounters in a playful setting. The idea is simple: we pair designers from the CURATED section and each duo then freely chooses three questions to ask to each other. They can tackle any subject, within the realm of design - or not! Today’s duo is Charlap Hyman & Herrero x Nick Poe.

Back to Editorial

Charlap Hyman & Herrero: What are a few of your biggest inspirations in the way you approach making spaces?

Nick Poe: A lot of my design work is inspired by my upbringing in an old loft building in the city. The philosophy of loft living is somewhat antiauthoritarian, and unconventional, and those sentiments resonate with me. There’s also a sense of hybridism and diversity of influence, being part industrial but part rustic, part futurist but part historic, part minimal but part maximal. I sometimes think about how monocultures in biology are weak and susceptible to disease, and in the arts, it’s sort of the same, there’s strength and beauty in braiding ideas and influences. Sometimes I’ll save an idea for years to finally weave into a project.

Charlap Hyman & Herrero: When you are working on a space for someone, when do you feel that your job is done?

Nick Poe: There are ideals and realities. The ideal is that it’s never really done, that it’s a lifelong, growing, changing project, like your own home- perhaps with a nurturing client relationship of inspiring patronage and friendship. The realities are shorter timeframes and busy lives, but still I’d say it’s still usually a soft dissolve. There are milestones, like the last deliverable, invoice, or punch list item, but usually we take a project down off our board when we realize after some weeks– hey it’s been quite a while, I think it’s done-done.

Charlap Hyman & Herrero: I feel like you are in touch with the spirit of old-school Downtown New York, and it shows in your work - are you intentional about this, or is it just totally organic?
Nick Poe: Yes, I was raised in the 90’s NY loft era, and that culture is certainly a big part of my identity and shaped my world view. It's largely organic and intuitive, but since it’s still a conscious choice I’d say it’s also intentional. There is definitely part of me that sees what I do as part preservationist, trying to keep some of that humble beauty alive, in a landscape where imported marble gets splashed around too often.
Collectible, the fair for 21st century design.

Crate Lamp (2024) © Simon Leung

Nick Poe: What’s your Fuck, Marry, Kill for materials?

Charlap Hyman & Herrero: Polished Chrome, Cobalt Blue Silk, Fake Antique Mirrors.

Nick Poe: What is your dream project description and location?

Charlap Hyman & Herrero: My dream project is to do the architecture and the interiors for a house built into a cave on the coast of Maine. I would be really interested to explore the austerity of New England architecture, and find a way to integrate the psychology and history of grottos with it. Grottos are always on my mind as they represent to me the original home and are spatially interconnected to the way we understand the depths of our minds.

Nick Poe:  What would you do if you won $100 billion tax free?
Charlap Hyman & Herrero: First, I would clean the oceans of plastic. Then, I’d make sure every queer person on the planet had a home, and afterwards, I’d start thinking about a dream home for myself — which would probably entail buying an island with a recursive island within it. And then, I’d give all my friends, colleagues, and employees $100,000,000 each!
Collectible, the fair for 21st century design.

Grotto Lantern (2023) © Charlap Hyman & Herrero