7 Breathtaking Designs from Snøhetta, the People Behind the New French Laundry

By Food & Wine
Updated July 13, 2017
Credit: © Snøhetta and Luxigon
Today on foodandwine.com, we have an exclusive peek at new designs for The French Laundry, which reopens April 7. Thomas Keller's iconic restaurant hired Snøhetta for the project and to underscore just how blockbuster that is, we're sharing some of the firm's most impressive designs from around the world.
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The September 11 Memorial Pavilion – New York City

Credit: © Jeff Goldberg/Esto

A special reflective treatment of the pavilion’s façade is designed to mirror the changing seasons, highlighting different physical aspects of the building depending on the time of year.

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Le Monde Headquarters – Paris

Credit: © Snøhetta

Snøhetta’s take on the home of one of France’s most well-respected newspapers includes a huge plaza, above which clusters of LEDs move across the roof above it like clouds or stars.

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Norwegian National Opera and Ballet – Oslo, Norway

Credit: © Jiri Havran

The opera house seems to rise straight out of a fjord, and its walls of windows give the public glimpses into the backstage workings of the scenery shop, where sets are made for every show.

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Time Square – New York City

Credit: © Snøhetta and MIR

Snøhetta’s goal in its redesign of Times Square was to create an “outdoor room” in the center of New York City on the bowtie-shaped pedestrian mall. The new surface they used to pave their new “room” will reflect the ever-present neon lights of the billboards and make them dance along the ground.

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The Lofoten Opera Hotel – Moskenes, Norway

Credit: © Snøhetta & MIR

On a rock outcropping north of the Arctic Circle, Snøhetta designed and is building a beautiful modern hotel. Slated to open during 2015, it is the ultimate luxury getaway in one of the most remote places on Earth.

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Bibliotecha Alexandrina – Alexandria, Egypt

Credit: © James Willis

Commissioned in 1989 but not opened until 2002, the 750,000-square-foot re-creation of the ancient library from the time of Alexander the Great includes countless calligraphic inscriptions along its façade recalling many of the world’s ancient civilizations.

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The Obama Presidential Center – Honolulu, Hawaii

Credit: © Snøhetta and Luxigon

One of the finalists to build the Obama Presidential Center, Snøhetta designed its building to be green. The shape of the roof allows rainwater to be collected for use in edible gardens below.

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