Menorah arms or MTA subway map? Ambiguous, thanks to a new/old mix of Orthodox Judaism designed by Studio Dror for a 1,600-square-foot storefront synagogue in Soho. A suspended steel staircase and furniture made through parametric modeling mingle with exposed pipes, raw brick walls, and so-hip-it-hurts single Edison bulbs. And as Co.Design points out, it looks a lot like a nightclub, which may explain why the circular bookcases house prayer books alongside wine glasses.
The synagogue's own mission, as explained by founders Rabbi Dovi and wife Esty Sheiner, is slightly more overt: "If you are an unaffiliated Jew this synagogue was designed for you."
UPDATE: In response to a zoning query raised by one of our commenters, DOB Deputy Press Secretary Ryan Fitzgibbon tells us, "43 Crosby Street is located in a M1-5B light manufacturing district. Houses of worship are allowed under this zoning."
· Studio Dror's Nightclubby Soho Synagogue Aims To Draw Young Worshippers [Fast Co.Design]