INABA, the Los-Angeles based architecture firm who brought us the pool noodle roof last summer, has designed another temporary eventspace in New York CIty, providing the Whitney Museum with a sandwich bar during its just-opened biennial.

The space is characterized by three varying large-scale lanterns that occupy the museum's interior courtyard, suspended over a 24-foot long counter, communal tables, high-top counters and 'droopy' seat cushions. The following description from INABA discusses the choice of color and material palette in the context of the post-war character of Marcel Breuer's building:

However bold in form or expressive in materials, it was striking to us that postwar architecture is vulnerable to appearing cold, incomplete and lacking in detail. Depending on the character of the interior design, even the strongest statements of modern architecture can today sometimes verge on feeling unadorned, like a dentist office waiting area. We wanted to add another scale of detail and information to the Breuer building's interior. Only instead of using stark simple forms and exposed natural materials, we tried to enhance the space, to 're‐humanize' it, with curved shapes and a palette of synthetic materials (fiberglass, resin, nylon, acrylic and vinyl).

The concept for the restaurant was developed by Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group and features the work of their best chefs. See the full menu and hours of operation here.

Finally, check out these wonderful t-shirts, designed just for the occasion.

All photos by Naho Kubota via Abitare