Curator Statement
Brooklyn based interior designers Christopher Kraig and Chip Cordelli joined creative forces to craft the 1,535 square foot Greenbelt model apartment. Inspired by Greenbelt’s unique combination of living spaces and performance spaces, the pair opted to fill the home with green goods primarily made locally in Williamsburg and in the surrounding areas. The result: a focused orchestration of art, furniture, and lighting that meets Greenbelt’s strict green codes, teamed with a stunning outdoor space designed by Groundworks, Inc. and Tides. “Building green requires rethinking construction materials that most of America grew up with, materials we were told were safe and earth-friendly,” says Cordelli, “and in vetting many of our normal go-to design resources we discovered that going green is not as widespread as we had thought. Our research into the furniture we selected opened our eyes to the local commitment to building green.” Bringing in fashion design with a green tint, and food from organic and sustainable sources, we hope to expand the notion of design beyond objects and purchases and into the realm of consumer awareness and lifestyle choices.
Chip Cordelli
Chip Cordelli is a magazine writer, set stylist, and interior designer based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where in 1987 he discovered the art, design, and performance scene that was emerging from the lofts and studios of the neighborhood. A frequent contributor to Real Simple magazine, his writing and design work has also appeared in New York magazine, InStyle Home, and Budget Living.
Chris Kraig
Chris Kraig is the founder of Chris Kraig Studio, a New York City-based interior design firm. Previously he was the creative director of the showroom TROY. Among the many projects of Chris Kraig Studio was the creation and development of the Modern Floor of ABC Carpet & Home’s flagship New York City store in 2003. Chris’s design work has been featured in such publications as New York magazine, House & Garden, ID, Harper’s Bazaar, City and many others. He has also appeared on national and local television, including Ultras Space, and makeover segments on CBS’s Living It Up with Ali and Jack, the Fox News Channel, and WABC’s Eyewitness News.
Bahar Shahpar (Fashion Curator)
Brooklyn-based Bahar Shahpar is a self-taught designer with a diverse creative background in multimedia event production, fashion, and publishing. Previously, she has owned an art gallery and designed custom accessories in London and New York. In 2005, she debuted her first womenswear line, agricult, inspired by the American frontier. For Spring/Summer 2007, Bahar launched her eponymous label, focusing on a more modern, less structured form while still drawing from an Edwardian aesthetic. She was featured as part of domino magazine’s 2007 Green List and has been profiled in Lucky, Nylon, Elle, and WWD.