{"id":529198,"date":"2026-01-20T06:18:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T06:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/529198\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T06:18:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T06:18:17","slug":"opa-architecture-and-laube-studio-design-ny-sober-club-the-maze","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/529198\/","title":{"rendered":"Opa Architecture and Laube Studio design NY sober club the Maze"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>New York-based studios Opa Architecture and Laube Studio have designed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/tag\/members-clubs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">members&#8217; club<\/a> The Maze in Chelsea, tailored specifically for the sober and sober-curious.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.themazenyc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">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<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2283610 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/the-maze_opa-architecture_laube-studio-design_dezeen_2364_col_0-852x1278.jpg\" alt=\"Lobby with a dark green palette and mosaic tiles, plus a lacquered burgundy desk\" width=\"1576\" height=\"2364\"   loading=\"lazy\"\/>A dark green palette and mosaic tiles greet members arriving at The Maze<\/p>\n<p>Designing a club that caters to a growing, underrepresented audience was a challenge met by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opa.space\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Opa Architecture<\/a> founder Aria Jahanshahi and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laube-studio.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Laube Studio<\/a> founder Adrienne Lamb.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;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,&#8221; Laube told Dezeen.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2283614 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/the-maze_opa-architecture_laube-studio-design_dezeen_2364_col_4-852x542.jpg\" alt=\"A sports lounge featuring a variety of soft seating for flexibility\" width=\"2364\" height=\"1503\"   loading=\"lazy\"\/>The sports lounge features a variety of soft seating for flexibility<\/p>\n<p>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<p>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<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2283613 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/the-maze_opa-architecture_laube-studio-design_dezeen_2364_col_3-852x1089.jpg\" alt=\"A pool table and large TV screens within a dark green lounge\" width=\"1849\" height=\"2364\"   loading=\"lazy\"\/>A pool table and large TV screens are available for use<\/p>\n<p>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<p>&#8220;The greatest challenge was the bar itself,&#8221; Jahanshahi told Dezeen. &#8220;We had to listen closely to our clients&#8217; 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.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2283612 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/the-maze_opa-architecture_laube-studio-design_dezeen_2364_col_2-852x580.jpg\" alt=\"Antique mirrors and banquette seating in a bistro-style dining space\" width=\"2364\" height=\"1609\"   loading=\"lazy\"\/>Antique mirrors and banquette seating create a bistro-style dining space<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;While the visual preparation of mocktails was important, the actual display of NA spirits was not a priority,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;The mission was to create a fun, elegant but understated bar experience.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Green tones continue into the adjacent sports lounge, where tennis-influenced geometries meet an Italian cafe ambiance.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2024\/09\/08\/eight-members-club-interiors-lookbooks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"191\" height=\"191\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/soho-house-mumbai-sq-191x191.jpg\" class=\"excludeLightbox wp-post-image\" alt=\"Soho House Mumbai\" decoding=\"async\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\"   loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p> Eight sumptuous members&#8217; clubs united by luxury interiors\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>While the rooms feature a pool table and large TV screens for watching games, the layout of soft seating also lends itself to small gatherings or events.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The flexibility in function extends through the main restaurant and sports lounge,&#8221; Laube said. &#8220;Unlike typical membership clubs, the space is not only oriented toward nightlife activities but is activated all day long.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2283616 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/the-maze_opa-architecture_laube-studio-design_dezeen_2364_col_6-852x546.jpg\" alt=\"A speakeasy area decorated in darker burgundy tones, complemented by wood panelling\" width=\"2364\" height=\"1515\"   loading=\"lazy\"\/>The speakeasy area is decorated in darker burgundy tones, complemented by wood panelling<\/p>\n<p>In the speakeasy, the palette shifts to darker burgundy tones complemented by richly grained millwork, evoking a sense of intimacy.<\/p>\n<p>A cosy niche with banquette seating is tucked behind curtains, and a private room accommodates large meetings or group dining.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-2283618 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/the-maze_opa-architecture_laube-studio-design_dezeen_2364_col_8-852x497.jpg\" alt=\"A cosy niche with wraparound seating tucked behind curtains\" width=\"2364\" height=\"1379\"   loading=\"lazy\"\/>A cosy niche with wraparound seating is tucked behind curtains<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Speakeasies as a design concept function mostly as a cloistered bar,&#8221; said Laube. &#8220;Ours is intended to be more of an intimate social space.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>After a pandemic-prompted decline, members&#8217; clubs are on the rise again in New York City \u2013 popular for offering spaces to both work and socialise.<\/p>\n<p>Other recent openings include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dezeen.com\/2025\/04\/19\/bench-architecture-east-williamsburg-154-scott\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SAA in a former Brooklyn warehouse<\/a>, which was renovated by local studio Bench Architecture.<\/p>\n<p>The photography is by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.christianharderphoto.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christian Harder<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Project credits:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Architect:<\/strong> Opa Architecture<br \/><strong>Interior designer:<\/strong> Laube Studio<br \/><strong>Contractor and millworker:<\/strong> De Lux Construction<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New York-based studios Opa Architecture and Laube Studio have designed members&#8217; club The Maze in Chelsea, tailored specifically&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":529199,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[648,1032,3990,1033,171,140295,405,403,92915,94466,67,132,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-529198","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-arts","9":"tag-arts-and-design","10":"tag-bars","11":"tag-design","12":"tag-entertainment","13":"tag-members-clubs","14":"tag-new-york","15":"tag-new-york-city","16":"tag-sectionall","17":"tag-sectioninteriors","18":"tag-united-states","19":"tag-unitedstates","20":"tag-us","21":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115925975448917556","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=529198"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/529198\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/529199"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=529198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=529198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=529198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}