{"id":11033,"date":"2026-01-20T13:36:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T13:36:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rutha.org\/index.php\/2026\/01\/20\/flexibility-in-function-prioritised-for-design-of-sober-club-in-new-york\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T13:36:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T13:36:57","slug":"flexibility-in-function-prioritised-for-design-of-sober-club-in-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rutha.org\/index.php\/2026\/01\/20\/flexibility-in-function-prioritised-for-design-of-sober-club-in-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"“Flexibility in function” prioritised for design of sober club in New York"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The<\/div>\n

New York-based studios Opa Architecture and Laube Studio have designed members’ club<\/a> The Maze in Chelsea, tailored specifically for the sober and sober-curious.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Maze<\/a> on West 24th Street occupies a 4,200-square-foot (390-square-metre) space that contains a restaurant, a sports lounge and a speakeasy, and is entirely alcohol free.<\/p>\n

\"Lobby
A dark green palette and mosaic tiles greet members arriving at The Maze<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Designing a club that caters to a growing, underrepresented audience was a challenge met by Opa Architecture<\/a> founder Aria Jahanshahi and Laube Studio<\/a> founder Adrienne Lamb.<\/p>\n

“The sober and sober-curious lifestyle is a dynamic one, and the space needed to be versatile to facilitate many types of meetings and conversations,” Laube told Dezeen.<\/p>\n

\"A
The sports lounge features a variety of soft seating for flexibility<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The dark green reception area with matching mosaic floors leads directly into the main dining room, where the majority of activity takes place.<\/p>\n

Here, members can grab coffee, host meetings, co-work throughout the day and enjoy dinner in the evening. A weekly program of events is also offered.<\/p>\n

\"A
A pool table and large TV screens are available for use<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The focal point of this space is the bar, which is fronted by green tiles, topped with a green stone counter and framed by large antique mirrors.<\/p>\n

“The greatest challenge was the bar itself,” Jahanshahi told Dezeen. “We had to listen closely to our clients’ personal experiences in the sober lifestyle to better understand how they would even approach a bar \u2013 what typical design elements would not be priorities or could be triggering in some way.”<\/p>\n

\"Antique
Antique mirrors and banquette seating create a bistro-style dining space<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“While the visual preparation of mocktails was important, the actual display of NA spirits was not a priority,” he continued. “The mission was to create a fun, elegant but understated bar experience.”<\/p>\n

Green tones continue into the adjacent sports lounge, where tennis-influenced geometries meet an Italian cafe ambiance.<\/p>\n