Gone are the days of poorly-lit office cubicles organizing our workforce. What’s in, instead, are chic, art-clad spaces that fuel inspiration, filled with amenities sparked by partnerships, curated design furniture, and perks for those that choose to work in-office post-Covid. This concept is one Ciarán McGuigan was at the forefront of when he founded The Malin in New York City in 2021.
The idea was a neighborhood office space that inspired you to work efficiently in an appealing environment. No dreading going to the office; no cringing at the sight of aesthetically unpleasant filing cabinets and fluorescent-lit conference rooms. The appeal quickly took off with workers in Manhattan, allowing for The Malin to expand from SoHo to Brooklyn, the West Village, and even Nashville. Soon, a new location in New York’s NoMad neighborhood will crop up, as will outposts in Austin, TX and Savannah, GA.
Each location, unique and reflective of the community it’s found in, embraces contemporary art, luxurious materials, and an attention to details often overlooked—such as those found at a check-in desk, in a bathroom, or by the kitchen. The starting point for the workspaces began with layout design, mixing open floor plans with a suite of private spaces that foster focus, stimulation, and connection. Throughout, thoughtful details harness the power of creating welcoming spaces that offer a sense of belonging. Here, members are encouraged to be in an oasis rather than a workroom, evoking a sense of freedom to feel inspired and motivated.
South Gulch Location courtesy of The Malin, Photography by Alpha Smoot
Whitewall spoke with McGuigan to discuss the intentions behind the intentionally curated workspaces at The Malin, how flexible work is the future, and what he’s looking forward to unveiling next.
Wedgewood Houston Location courtesy of The Malin, Photography by Sean Robertson
The Malin’s Vision in Crafting Inspiring Workspaces
WHITEWALL: The Malin was established post-pandemic as a place that would inspire people to come to the workplace. What does The Malin offer that does this?
CIARÁN MCGUIGAN: We were clear about wanting to do one thing, and doing it very well—no cutting corners. We set out to create a network of exceptionally designed work-focused member’s clubs, with the functionality and focus of an office.
When you come to The Malin, you know you’ll have people looking after you. Our team comes from some of the country’s leading hospitality brands and are experts in providing that high-touch, concierge-level support. You’ll be connected to some of the best neighboring businesses via our member benefits program and inspired by rich, layered interiors.
South Gulch Location courtesy of The Malin, Photography by Alpha Smoot
WW: Its first location opened in New York in SoHo, followed by a location in Brooklyn and the West Village. Most recently, it opened a space in Nashville. Why did you choose these locations?
CM: We aim to bring our brand to the most sought-after neighborhoods in cities across the US. Each club provides an amenity to the community it serves. In New York, our SoHo location has become a downtown base for members across the city, and has expanded to four floors and the rooftop to accommodate the demand, while Williamsburg and West Village are really serving as third spaces for residents that can easily walk or bike over. Next is NoMad at 387 Park Avenue. We’ll be opening a club that is conveniently situated for locals and commuters alike, equidistant to Grand Central Station, Penn Station, and Union Square.
We were drawn to Nashville as a vibrant professional and cultural city—home to brilliant entrepreneurs and creatives. We first opened in the Wedgewood Houston neighborhood and have just opened in South Gulch. We’re also expanding to East Austin, with a club opening this summer at 1515 East Cesar Chavez Street. The community there is already vibrant and thrilled, a leading tech and venture capital hub. All of these are progressive neighborhoods seeking to prioritize placemaking efforts and often offer residents a “15-minute city” lifestyle.
Wedgewood Houston Location courtesy of The Malin, Photography by Sean Robertson
The Malin’s Unique Touch in New York and Nashville
WW: The first location in SoHo was designed by Jean Morana and Jordan Trinci-Lyne, in collaboration with Fettle Design. Can you tell us about the special details they infused in this space?
CM: Our in-house design team really set the tone with the first location. The custom oak millwork, banquets, and travertine tables have become the united design language amongst all of our locations. Fettle helped lay a foundation and our design team used color, pattern, and texture to make our first location vibrant and comfortable – our interiors are incredibly high-end but they are also warm and timeless.
WW: What about the Brooklyn, West Village, and Nashville spots? What does each space’s design say about its neighborhood? Its locals?
CM: We cater to what the neighborhood needs in terms of size and types of workspace. The design is reflective of the location, too. The West Village, for example, is in the old American Railway Supply Building which dates back to 1911. We honored the building’s architectural history by stripping back the ceiling to expose original wood beams and introduced custom millwork designed to resemble train cars. The space also offers a more cozy and intimate environment, which is fitting for the neighborhood.
We also partner with local businesses to enrich the club experience and seamlessly integrate The Malin into the lives of our members who already have relationships in the neighborhood.
South Gulch Location courtesy of The Malin, Photography by Alpha Smoot
WW: The Malin features an array of gorgeous artworks in its locations. Can you elaborate on how they are curated and placed?
CM: Our in-house design team curates original art based on the design language of each location. One highlight is Jennifer Bartlett’s art in The Malin West Village. The building was the iconic artist’s home and we thoughtfully restored door frames for the building that feature her original painted work. Having Bartlett’s art there today is a great bridge between the building’s creative past and present. We also love featuring the work of Nashville local photographer Eric Ryan Anderson throughout The Malin Wedgewood Houston. It has a strong tie to the community.
Wedgewood Houston Location courtesy of The Malin, Photography by Sean Robertson
WW: Each space also hosts a plethora of design objects, furniture, and lighting—from brands like Flos, Roll & Hill, The Future Perfect, and Calico Wallpaper—and even some custom detailing, like chairs with mohair patterned fabrics and charging outlets in the bases of couches. How does featuring these brands, and adding in these small custom details, create a big impact?
CM: We are living in a highly visual culture. Our perspective is that beautiful spaces cultivate good work and The Malin is designed to reflect that ethos. We match that aesthetic beauty with a high level of service – providing the same hospitality as a five star hotel without the distractions. The Malin becomes a part of each of our members’ businesses, it is the backdrop in which they do their own work and host others – it sets the tone.
WW: What does the name “Malin” lend meaning to?
CM: Malin is a French term to refer to something as “clever” or “crafty.” It represents ingenuity and savviness, which are key traits that inform our brand, business, and member base. We also like that it’s not definable in English, so we can allow for our member experience to speak for the name, rather than the name provoking preconceived notions. The Malin is about professional success, what would be more clever?
Wedgewood Houston Location courtesy of The Malin, Photography by Sean Robertson
The Malin’s Approach in Expanding Communal Work
WW: Is communal working the future?
CM: Modes of working continue to diversify and morph. Naturally, our perspective is that flexible work is the future. This allows people to work in a way that works for them, which allows them to reach their own productivity and success. Many of our members have taken private offices and frequent our meeting and board rooms, we also have business travelers purchasing day passes for a familiar home base on trips – the variety of the way our members are interacting with our clubs is what makes them so vibrant and interesting.
WW: Post-pandemic, many people are divided on mandatory back-to-office policies and want to work from home. The Malin offers something that feels somewhere in-between the two. What are your thoughts on going back to the office?
South Gulch Location courtesy of The Malin, Photography by Alpha Smoot
CM: Our work is driven by collaboration and teamwork, so sharing space and connecting with our members really fuels us. Our team works from and connects with members at all of our locations. I’m on the road all the time—in different cities across the U.S. and back and forth to Europe every other month—so having a home base with my team here in New York is imperative. But I also recognize the reality of needing to be mobile, which is the reality for so many and our impetus for what we do—helping facilitate the future of work and providing our members with a new and better way of working.
WW: What’s next?
CM: We’re so excited to be opening our new location in the South Gulch neighborhood, with interiors by Róisín Lafferty and joining esteemed local businesses like The Catbird Seat, The Patterson House, and Maíz de la Vida. This property is part of a new development, Paseo—an innovative, live-work-stay-play placemaking initiative for the city that we’re excited to be a part of as the official workspace provider. It’s taking the 15-minute city concept and effectively turning it into a 15-second city.
We’ll have an East Austin location opening! We’re quite excited to be expanding into another new market. Finally, we’ll be opening our fourth New York City location in NoMad. Overall, we have a robust development pipeline bringing The Malin to the most exciting cities across the U.S. and beyond.
