Header: Jason Varney
The Midtown Manhattan skyline has always been a playground for architectural statements, but few buildings provoke quite as much conversation as 550 Madison Avenue. Originally built in 1984 by Philip Johnson and John Burgee as the AT&T Building—and later known as the Sony Tower—this 37-storey postmodern icon with its famous Chippendale pediment has undergone a major transformation.
New York-based architecture and interior design practice Rockwell Group has unveiled the final layer of the building’s multi-year revival: a collection of three restaurants anchoring the ground, lower-ground, and mezzanine levels. Owned by the Olayan Group and Chelsfield, the tower now uses hospitality to turn a corporate landmark into a social focal point for the neighbourhood.
Bar Chimera: A new civic square on the ground floor
At street level, Bar Chimera acts as an indoor extension of the nearby public plaza. The studio looked closely at how people interact in historic European town squares, using that research to arrange the massive 60-foot-tall space. At the centre, a stone fountain and curved seating wrap around a 23-foot-tall Norfolk pine tree, flanked by two smaller pines. This indoor greenery is backed by a glowing piece of art on the north wall: a bright yellow neon installation by Turner Prize-winner Martin Creed that states ‘DON’T WORRY’.
To make the vast room feel more intimate, Rockwell Group put in a 16-foot wood boundary made of warm oak and ceramic tile inlays that wraps around the walls. Two massive arches covered in hammered metallic plaster and weathered leather frame the mezzanine above, mirroring the curves of Johnson’s original building exterior. Hanging between these arches are three large glass pendant lights inspired by traditional Tiffany glasswork and the historic lights of the nearby Theatre District.
Massive 60-foot windows face out onto Madison Avenue, with heavy sheer fabrics and lower café curtains added to let daylight filter through while keeping diners hidden from the busy street. Underfoot, custom wool rugs designed for The Rug Company feature changing shades and abstract patterns meant to look like autumn leaves dropping onto old cobblestones.
The venue divides its identity across three separate bars, each with its own special focus but sharing a similar design language:
- The Wine Bar: Located next to the arrival desk, this station features warm copper panels and dark leather. High marble tables in pink sit next to a winding bar ledge fitted with custom leather wine buckets. The main counter is made of polished pewter with an ivory volcanic stone base, while the back wall features a pink mirror framed in terracotta.
- The Martini Bar: Sharing the same ivory stone base and pewter counter as the wine area, this spot is styled with sage green accents and mirrored shelves that bounce light around the room.
- The Whiskey Bar: This space feels darker and moodier, filled with heavy timbers, rich amber glass, and cognac-coloured leathers. A custom ladder with leather rungs helps bartenders reach rare bottles on the highest shelves.
COTE 550: Red glows and subterranean gold
To get to COTE 550, the second New York location of the famous Michelin-starred Korean steakhouse, guests walk down a dark staircase made of semi-clear resin. Above the stairs hangs a second neon piece by Martin Creed, pulsing between pink and blue light.
At the bottom, the mood changes entirely. The beef dry-ageing room stands out with an intense red light, surrounded by a rounded, pill-shaped bar with a dark red marble countertop and a concrete base. Blackened steel wall lights and a lively DJ booth bring a late-night energy to the lounge, where a third neon sign reads ‘EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT’.
Beyond the lounge lies a green corridor that serves as a quiet reset before visitors enter the main dining room. This space takes its visual inspiration from El Dorado, the legendary South American city of gold. Rockwell Group interpreted this myth through a calm, hidden-garden aesthetic. A gold mesh sculpture hangs from a mirrored ceiling, creating long shadows and reflections that make the room feel endless. At the centre sits a bright turquoise water feature surrounded by tables with charcoal grills built right into the stone tops, all framed by living green walls. Even the bathrooms are styled with custom wallpaper inspired by historical Korean architecture, paired with a round ceiling light meant to mimic the moon.
A cultural anchor for Midtown
What Rockwell Group has built is essentially a two-act play housed inside a postmodern shell. The ground floor captures the loose, sunlit energy of a city square, anchored by towering glass globes and pink marble, before a dark resin staircase drops guests into a hidden, theatrical world where red marble counters and gold mesh sculptures mimic the glow of a subterranean campfire. It is an exercise in contrast, proving that the best way to handle a massive architectural icon is not to mimic its past, but to challenge its hard edges with deep colour, rich textures, and unexpected shadows.
Project Information
Project Name: 550 Madison (Bar Chimera and COTE 550)
Location: 550 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, USA
Interior Design: Rockwell Group
Client: The Olayan Group and Chelsfield
Restaurateur: Simon Kim (Gracious Hospitality Management)
Artwork: Martin Creed (Commissioned via Artline)
Photography: Jason Varney
