Fulgurances is a platform for sous-chefs of Michelin-starred restaurants to come express their creativity and savoir-faire. Each participating sous-chef is invited for a 4-6 month residency during which they have carte blanche to showcase their skills through revolving seven-course degustation menus.

We were tasked to setup a new French restaurant in the US that has its own identity while also relating to its Parisian sister location.

The brief we received called for a relaxed yet boutique atmosphere. The place was originally a laundromat, so we had to remove the concrete curbs on which the machines were sitting before doing any work. Together with the Fulgurances team, we were enthusiastic about keeping some of the distinctive aspects of the space’s past to bring a sense of humor and familiarity to the new restaurant. The LAUNDROMAT writing on the façade is still there; the tin ceiling tiles as well as the raw brick and cement walls were all kept in place.

Re-a.d was the design architect who coordinated all the finishes and additional designers working on the project. Re-a.d also acted as Architect of Record and obtained all the approvals from Landmark, Department of Building, FDNY, required in order to build the kitchen, the bar seating area, as well as both the indoor and outdoor full-service seating areas.

The Chef and the kitchen are clearly the main elements of the space, unapologetically situated in the center. Yet the location of the customer and the kitchen crew looks fluid on purpose: it looks as if the customer can go around the central island and help the chef at any given time or that the kitchen crew can walk around the restaurant, grab a glass of wine and sit with the guests.

The place is welcoming because it’s not ceremonial, everything is open and embodies the idea that it’s a platform for exchange.

All the design pieces in the restaurant are either vintage or custom-made for the space. The wall sconces are handmade in Paris by Ovalum. The chandeliers and all the chairs are purchased second-hand from Hudson antique furniture store Far Out Finds. All the wooden tops – from the tables to the bar, and the cocktail bar open shelves – have been designed by Adrian Dentzel at Atelier 80 and built locally by Brian Welch at Where Good Things Are Made. The wall tiles are by atelier Zelig. The bar canopy was designed in-house by Re-a.d and built locally by custom-metal fabricators at J&J Stainless steel.

We believe Fulgurances Laundromat will offer an elevated experience at a moderate price-point in an eclectic neighborhood. We designed the restaurant to be tasteful and special but also feel like you could come every day for lunch. It’s a laundromat, it’s a restaurant, it’s part of everyday life

There are a few elements that pay hommage to the French tradition: the comptoir is a very important part of every bistrot and we had to design one for this project. There is also the upper shelf located right above it, on which you can store bottles of wine and spirits, tableware, and various tchotchkes as a clin d’oeil to your typical French restaurant. Lastly, the central island is reminiscent of high tables found in markets around the country.

Fulgurances is thought to be more than just a restaurant, it is a platform for sharing food and culture. Fulgurances Laundromat acts as an incubator, welcoming young chefs to take over the kitchen in order to find and refine their identity. We hope the space contributes to hospitality experiences that are fluid across culinary styles and feel free to adjust their positioning through time.