How can architecture elevate the customs of smoking & the associated glassware, while appealing to a range of populations and cultures?
For better or worse, many Americans associate certain images with cannabis. The “stoner” subculture has a pejorative bent for many, despite the fact that cannabis-use is widespread: from musicians and artists to business owners and financiers.
So, for one of Upstate New York’s first cannabis lounges after the decriminalization of the plant, Arch&Type explored how a built-space could destigmatize smoking & glassware. The answer: atmosphere. By honing a space that is about mood, subtle lighting, plush seating, and carefully-selected materials, this glass shop and lounge invites the entire spectrum of cannabis users while also enhancing the act of “getting high.”
Seen here are visions of the exterior, the shop and the main lounge.
The façade emphasizes the material of glass through the use of vertical, clear glass block windows, allowing light to filter in & out, with a bit of privacy as well. Additionally, the natural aluminum mansards & textured rubber contribute subtle texture
Upon entering the shop, a long display wall & case greet patrons with glassware amidst textured walls and a brass ceiling that carry an elemental feel in what can often be a sterile, clinical experience.
Lastly, the main lounge space presents a dimmer atmosphere of textured pewter walls with light filtering through the aforementioned glass blocks. With an assortment of open seating options in the primary space, as well as private booths tucked away, patrons have the opportunity to explore cannabis in whatever way suits their comfort level.
Not shown are the in-house glass studio & rear garden space. The studio will offer residencies to glass artists and is visible to both the main lounge & Main Street, tying the craft of glassware to its use. In the rear garden, several covered shelters allow patrons to imbibe in the open-air.
