O/D\O is a product design and fabrication company based in the historic Brooklyn Navy Yard founded by architect, Paul Lee, and furniture/cabinet maker, Anthony Abbate in May of 2019. Informed by past experience of the founders from their respective places in the typical designer/fabricator divide, O/D\O believes that design and its intended beneficiaries are best served when the gap no longer exists between design and fabrication know how. Consequently, O/D\O approaches product design by integrating meticulous consideration of fabrication techniques, material properties, supply chain limitations, maintenance issues, etc in the design process from its earliest inception. Simplicity and tectonic clarity serves as an overarching aesthetic quality in all of O/D\O’s designs but one also discovers a richness and variety of textural, figurative and chromatic details which are the result of embracing the resolution of technical issues to become an essential part of our designs.
**
Paul Hwan Lee, AIA
FOUNDER
Paul Lee has been practicing architecture for over 20 years, setting out in the profession with his early mentor, Diane Lewis, and continuing his professional formation during his 16 years with the internationally-acclaimed Tsao & McKown Architects. In private practice, he has followed an atypical path by collaborating with the general- contracting firm of Richard Baronio & Associates as the design half of several high end residential design/build projects as well as working with Box Furniture Co. to reconcile design and fabrication challenges for residential cabinetry and furniture commissions.
Throughout his career, Paul has worked on an array of projects that is both figuratively and literally peripatetic. He has worked on product design, residential interiors, hospitality design, retail, ground up commercial construction, civic restoration and urban master planning. The range of projects are located in several European countries and countries throughout Asia in addition to local ones in New York. The central lesson learned from working on different project types, with different clients, in different market segments and with different cultures is that while design methodology has a certain universality, an objectivity of mind is critical to truly understand the design challenges, the aspirations of design constituents and to nimbly visualize design solutions.
Education:
Harvard University, Master of Architecture
Columbia University, Bachelor of Arts
The Lawrenceville School
lph-ab.com
Anthony Abbate
FOUNDER
Anthony Abbate founded Box Furniture Co. in 2001 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
As a custom furniture and fabrication studio, Box has worked closely with designers and architects on a variety of commercial, residential and retail furniture and millwork projects.
Collaborations include:
Calvin Klein Home
Urban Zen
RW Guild
Tsao & McKown Architects
Bonetti Kozerski Studio
Matt Murphy Design
Madison Cox Associates
Fulton Landing Inc.
Product And Design Development
Additionally Box has a developed focus in high end audio providing contract manufacturing services for DeVore Fidelity Ltd loudspeakers, as well as the Box line of HiFi equipment stands for the finest stereo installations.
Education:
New York University, Bachelor of Arts
The Lawrenceville School