The design of the 21c St. Louis begins with the history of the building— revitalizing and restoring key historic features that tell a story. Following in the footsteps of the YMCA’s 1920’s mission, the space is a destination welcoming both locals and travelers. It creates an atmosphere that is clearly a museum, but is comfortable and homelike with a little dose of nostalgia. Walls and ceilings were opened to expand visual connections throughout the building using arches and soft curving forms to echo the existing architectural language. A neutral base palette allows experiential engagement with the art – alongside textural layering of pattern and color. New materiality of leather and wood sits considerately within the existing historic fabric offering its own patina and weathered story.

From the historic lobby, the restaurant and bar, Idol Wolf, lures one in with gradating levels of immersion – from the double height naturally lit bar to the intimate firelit private dining room with deeper infusions of color. Materiality, tones, and textures are inspired by flamenco dancing, horseback riding, and tapas culture found throughout Spanish heritage. Hufft also designed and fabricated a series of furniture items that speak to the different functions and needs of the restaurant – an ‘action station’ as a dramatic, oversized bar cart where the staff can serve sangria in a celebratory fashion, a ‘gueridon’ where water carafes, dishes, and plates can be displayed, and a rolling butcher block cutting station where fresh bread is cut on display. All items are made with an amazing combination of hand glued and milled solid maple, then routed on the CNC and carefully placed in powder coated and bent steel frames.

The café, Good Press, was designed as a friendly corner within the existing historic fabric – a refined VW bus with roof rack and café curtains in tow. The library holds a cascading banquette that frames and brings your eye up to the art on the vaulted ceiling above. At the lower level, the Locust Street Athletic Swim Club pays homage to the building’s original YMCA roots with nostalgic blocks of color against an industrial background. The meandering of the halls from reception to the historic pool should feel like a journey— exploring different opportunities for health and wellness and whimsy along the way.