About Us
Queer Spaces Studios is a fictional architectural and interior design studio based in New York founded by four queer architects and interior designers. The point of this firm is to highlight not only the achievements of these queer architects and designers below, but also to showcase a variety of queer spaces and their function and importance. To tie these spaces and designers together and for the sake of the exhibition, I've illustrated these four people as the "partners" of the firm and the queer spaces I've chosen as "projects" done by the firm. I've also included my favorite projects by each architect/designer in their bios.
Charles Renfro- Principal and Partner
Charles Renfro (b. 1964) is an architect and partner at world renowned interdisciplinary design firm,
Diller Scofidio+Renfro. Renfro has been working in New York since 1989 and he joined DSR in 1997. DSR focuses on the influence of media technologies on architecture and creates stunning sites and installations based on that intersection. Based in New York, this firm has worked on countless innovative and stunning projects around the world. One of the key projects was the High Line which was completed in 2014 and there's a picture of that next to Renfro above. Charles Renfro is somewhat of a rarity in the field of architecture as he is an openly architect and he has risen to such a highly regarded position. Renfro said his interest in architecture started when he was a young boy. He would get bullied growing up in Baytown,Texas a small town outside of Houston and one day he told his mother that he “didn’t want to go to school anymore.” Following that, he and his mother took a trip and went around exploring the new buildings and developments in Houston. This caused his initial interest in architecture and he credits the small town he grew up in for inadvertently putting him onto his path. Other projects by DSR that are my favorites are the Shed and the Heavenly Bodies exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Met Cloisters.
Courtney Sloane- Partner
Courtney Sloane is a lesbian interior designer who draws from her background in interdisciplinary design to create a unique design identity. She was born in 1962 in Jersey CIty, New Jersey. Sloane is also a board member at Hudson Pride Center which is a non-profit organization based in Jersey City that advocates and provides resources for the “physical, mental, social, and political well-being” of the LGBT community and its allies. Sloane has an impressive portfolio and string of clients such as Queen Latifah, Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs, Jay-Z, and more. She has also done projects for Disney, Sony Music, and BET among others. She has also come into the home decor market and collaborated with her wife, Cheryl Riley who designed the first collection of products. On top of her impressive works thus far, Sloane also has made great strides as a philanthropist.
As mentioned before she has been involved with the Hudson Pride Center as well as other organizations such as Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). She also founded Project Inspire in 2005 which creates internships for high school students in the design industry. I've attached some of my favorite works by her below. What I admire about her design sensibilities is how classic and modern design comes together through the materials and colors she chooses.
Benjamin Noriega Ortiz- Partner
Benjamin Noriega Ortiz is a gay interior designer who was born in 1956 in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. He studied architecture at University of Puerto Rico before moving to New York to attend Columbia University for his second master’s degree. Noriega has traveled around the country for a star studded list of clients featuring Lenny Kravitz and Laura Esquivel. He is also the author of “Emotional Rooms, The Sensual Interiors of Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz” (2007). Ortiz has also made strides to give back to the LGBT community by participating in projects such as "It Gets Better" in which notable figures encourage and inspire LGBT youth to not give up. In his episode along with other gay interior designers, Ortiz mentioned how it wasn't easy growing up gay in Puerto Rico because of the cultural stigmas, but how he made it out nonetheless and followed his dreams. I really admire the bright and modern style that Ortiz has. I also love how he brings in accent colors as the main event like he did with his Miami residence.
Joel Sanders- Principal
Joel Sanders is an architect and principal at Joel Sanders Architects based in New York City. He is also a Professor of Architecture at Yale University. JSA has been certified by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce which an organization that advocates for the expansion of the LGBT business community. In addition to that, Sanders is the editor of the book, Stud: Architectures of Masculinity, which is a collection of essays discussing the role of gender identity and sexuality in architecture as well as the idea of gay spaces. This book was put together in the 80s during the initial rise of gender and queer studies. JSA has done many projects relating to queer exhibitions and events such as Gay Gotham: Art and Underground Culture in New York and Queer Catwalk at FIT. JSA has also dedicated research to redesigning the domestic space in a way that it fits singles, roommates, LGBT couples, and more. The idea is to design a space and shelter that fits a mold outside of the nuclear family. This non-heteronormative way of thinking is leading to more practical design for people of today and tomorrow. My favorite works by JSA are some of his residential projects because of his use of bright light often let in through big windows and open concept floor plans.
Charles Renfro- Principal and Partner
Charles Renfro (b. 1964) is an architect and partner at world renowned interdisciplinary design firm,
Diller Scofidio+Renfro. Renfro has been working in New York since 1989 and he joined DSR in 1997. DSR focuses on the influence of media technologies on architecture and creates stunning sites and installations based on that intersection. Based in New York, this firm has worked on countless innovative and stunning projects around the world. One of the key projects was the High Line which was completed in 2014 and there's a picture of that next to Renfro above. Charles Renfro is somewhat of a rarity in the field of architecture as he is an openly architect and he has risen to such a highly regarded position. Renfro said his interest in architecture started when he was a young boy. He would get bullied growing up in Baytown,Texas a small town outside of Houston and one day he told his mother that he “didn’t want to go to school anymore.” Following that, he and his mother took a trip and went around exploring the new buildings and developments in Houston. This caused his initial interest in architecture and he credits the small town he grew up in for inadvertently putting him onto his path. Other projects by DSR that are my favorites are the Shed and the Heavenly Bodies exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Met Cloisters.
The Shed, New York
Heavenly Bodies Exhibit at the Met
Courtney Sloane- Partner
Courtney Sloane is a lesbian interior designer who draws from her background in interdisciplinary design to create a unique design identity. She was born in 1962 in Jersey CIty, New Jersey. Sloane is also a board member at Hudson Pride Center which is a non-profit organization based in Jersey City that advocates and provides resources for the “physical, mental, social, and political well-being” of the LGBT community and its allies. Sloane has an impressive portfolio and string of clients such as Queen Latifah, Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs, Jay-Z, and more. She has also done projects for Disney, Sony Music, and BET among others. She has also come into the home decor market and collaborated with her wife, Cheryl Riley who designed the first collection of products. On top of her impressive works thus far, Sloane also has made great strides as a philanthropist.
As mentioned before she has been involved with the Hudson Pride Center as well as other organizations such as Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA). She also founded Project Inspire in 2005 which creates internships for high school students in the design industry. I've attached some of my favorite works by her below. What I admire about her design sensibilities is how classic and modern design comes together through the materials and colors she chooses.
Chelsea Residence
Exsto Showroom
Benjamin Noriega Ortiz- Partner
Benjamin Noriega Ortiz is a gay interior designer who was born in 1956 in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. He studied architecture at University of Puerto Rico before moving to New York to attend Columbia University for his second master’s degree. Noriega has traveled around the country for a star studded list of clients featuring Lenny Kravitz and Laura Esquivel. He is also the author of “Emotional Rooms, The Sensual Interiors of Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz” (2007). Ortiz has also made strides to give back to the LGBT community by participating in projects such as "It Gets Better" in which notable figures encourage and inspire LGBT youth to not give up. In his episode along with other gay interior designers, Ortiz mentioned how it wasn't easy growing up gay in Puerto Rico because of the cultural stigmas, but how he made it out nonetheless and followed his dreams. I really admire the bright and modern style that Ortiz has. I also love how he brings in accent colors as the main event like he did with his Miami residence.
BNO Miami Residence
Kravitz Residence
Joel Sanders- Principal
Joel Sanders is an architect and principal at Joel Sanders Architects based in New York City. He is also a Professor of Architecture at Yale University. JSA has been certified by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce which an organization that advocates for the expansion of the LGBT business community. In addition to that, Sanders is the editor of the book, Stud: Architectures of Masculinity, which is a collection of essays discussing the role of gender identity and sexuality in architecture as well as the idea of gay spaces. This book was put together in the 80s during the initial rise of gender and queer studies. JSA has done many projects relating to queer exhibitions and events such as Gay Gotham: Art and Underground Culture in New York and Queer Catwalk at FIT. JSA has also dedicated research to redesigning the domestic space in a way that it fits singles, roommates, LGBT couples, and more. The idea is to design a space and shelter that fits a mold outside of the nuclear family. This non-heteronormative way of thinking is leading to more practical design for people of today and tomorrow. My favorite works by JSA are some of his residential projects because of his use of bright light often let in through big windows and open concept floor plans.
Queer Catwalk at FIT
Broadway Penthouse
Mercer Village Loft
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