roman and williams buildings and interiors is a manhattan-based american design firm founded by robin standefer and stephen alesch in 2002 .

recipients of a 2014 cooper hewitt national design award for interior design , roman and williams has been called " one of the most sought-after design outfits " by w magazine and was named one of america ’s 50 most influential designers by fast company in 2011 .

known for what the wall street journal has named " slow design , " with its emphasis on craft and substance , the firm undertakes building design , interior design , branding , as well as the design of custom furniture , lighting , and plumbing fittings and fixtures .

roman and williams

roman and williams for waterworks – r . w . atlas hardware — roman and williams
custom wall sconces in cast glass and copper were designed by roman and williams . . .
glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it ' s like to work at roman and williams , including salaries , reviews , office photos , and more . this is the roman and williams company profile . all content is posted anonymously by employees working at roman and williams .
roman and williams founders robin standefer and stephen alesch , on their redesign of the royalton hotel lobby .
golden globe awards for ' tennessee williams ' the roman spring of mrs . stone '
gwyneth paltrow tapped roman and williams to design her goop mrkt pop - up shop in manhattan .
click here to see the slide show of roman and williams ' s new colections for waterworks .
the wife - and - husband creative team is behind the architectural and interior design firm roman & williams .
roman & williams buildings & interiors is somewhat better than a sharp stick in the eye .
an original roman and williams drawing showing the design for the new restaurant upland in new york city .
standefer and alesch ' s east 4th street loft ( left ) ; the roman and williams offices ( right ) .
a rendering of roman and williams’s design for the royalton lobby reveals one of the space’s several sunken seating areas .
roman and williams’ custom - designed furnishings at upland capture the californian spirit and aesthetic of upland . the fi . . .
* by tennessee williams , from the roman spring of mrs . stone , copyright ©1950 by tennessee williams . use by permission of new directions publishing corp .
viceroy new york chose local interior designers roman and williams to refashion this venerable mid - town address just off . . .
the main parlor of a brooklyn home designed by stephen alesch and robin standefer , the husband - and - wife team behind roman and williams buildings and interiors .
partners in both work and life , robin standefer and stephen alesch founded their firm , roman and williams buildings and interiors , after successful careers as hollywood production designers ( portrait by jim morrison ) . top : the library in the roman and williams–created home of actors ben stiller and christine taylor , featuring
custom wall sconces in cast glass and copper were designed by roman and williams . visit upland at 345 park avenue south at 26th street .
hartshorne plunkard architecture and roman and williams convert an athletic club into a hotel , imaginatively combining modern and historic architectural flourishes for an updated approach to play and respite .
the dutch wanted a fresh take on american classic design , so they hired roman and williams to custom make everything by . . .
“the new book by roman and williams reveals the inspiration behind the design duo’s most famous projects but also a deeply passionate and incredibly creative world . ”
a grand procession of pewtered - steel chandeliers with hand - blown glass shades , designed by roman and williams , hang from . . .
we interviewed roman and williams principals robin standefer and stephen alesch about emotions and food , how the badlands differ from socal surfer culture , and how to create a relaxed vibe through materials .
the new book by roman and williams reveals the inspiration behind the design duo ' s most famous projects but also a deeply passionate and incredibly creative world .
roman and williams gave the master bedroom in the home of actress kate hudson a highly textured , white - on - white scheme . photo by alexia b
i applied online . the process took a week . i interviewed at roman and williams ( new york , ny ( us ) ) in january 2015 .
stephen alesch and robin standefer , co - principals in the architecture and design firm roman and williams , have very definite opinions about the minimalist aesthetic that has prevailed in manhattan for almost two decades .
roman and williams are interested in spaces and objects that people can truly use and things that genuinely last . they are devoted to rebelling against disposability and the common stereotypes of what it means to be “modern” today .
roman and williams buildings and interiors is a new york - based design studio known for their work on hotels , restaurants , retail spaces , homes , and product design . founded in 2002 by principals robin standefer and stephen alesch , the work of roman and williams employs a range of ideas , materials , objects , and references - from the unexpected to the pedigreed - and is instilled with a heightened sense of narrative .
the floors throughout upland are # 1 common white oak . the antique mirror on the back wall was sourced from mirror fair and customized by roman and williams with a white oak frame .
firm principals robin standefer and stephen alesch founded roman and williams buildings and interiors in 2002 , naming it after their grandfathers . having worked together for a decade designing sets for significant hollywood films , the pair took their first steps away from the movie biz when they were asked to design a home in los angeles ; roman and williams was born and the firm hasn ' t looked back since .
stephen alesch and robin standefer , co - principals of the architecture and design firm roman and williams buidlings and interiors , are the first to take a stand against the modernist mandate that has gripped so much of the manhattan skyline .
after completing castilian and new moon , robin and stephen closed their los angeles office and opened roman and williams studio , a full floor in an old shoemaker’s factory on lafayette street , just three blocks from their fourth street home .
the duo behind renowned new york city studio roman and williams give dwell a first look at the interior they designed for upland , a new restaurant from chef justin smillie and acclaimed restaurateur stephen starr .
1 . / 2 . stephen alesch and robin standefer , the duo behind roman & williams , did the interior of new york’s ace hotel and set the standard for the worldwide haute - lodge trend .
“we created this apartment for someone who is confident and stylish , ” explains robin standefer , a principal of roman and williams . “this is someone who isn’t a slave to trends and embraces an unexpected combination of pieces old and new . ”
in 2013 , replay partnered with roman and williams to explore an immersive retail experience , starting with a flagship location that worked to re - establish the brand’s position as the top tier in italian denim and international fashion . as a result of an intensive study of the brand’s history , values , and factory visits exploring the process involved in both denim design and the signature to replay’s products , roman and williams conceptualized a strong vision .
and , as if to add a capstone to their days as up - and - comers , rizzoli published a hefty leather - bound monograph devoted to the pair last month titled “ roman and williams buildings and interiors : things we made . ”
where starck’s 1988 scheme was a see - and - be - seen marvel of conspicuous contemporary design , roman and williams have opted for a sumptuous , laid - back vibe . gone are the french provocateur’s signature tusk tables and famous—or infamous—catwalk - style promenade . instead , there is a monolithic fireplace of striated blackened steel and cozy seating arrangements where craft and materiality are at the fore . “we wanted it to be known simply as the royalton , ” says stephen alesch , who runs roman and williams with partner robin standefer , “not as a starck hotel or a roman and williams hotel . the poor company has been under that thumb for so long . ”
the name roman and williams comes from alesch and standefer’s grandparents and is nostalgic of the calmer perspective that generation had . they deliberately shied away from naming the firm after themselves , considering it too pretentious and self - inflated , attributes they resolved to reject as much as possible . the appreciation for things that have aged and stood the test of time is something roman and williams strive to demonstrate in their work , avoiding the pitfalls of fads and trends that tend to be fleeting , preferring a classic and timeless aesthetic instead .
all the lighting in the restaurant was custom designed by roman and williams . herves descottes from l’observatoire served as lighting designer on the project ( who also worked on the firm ' s interior lighting for the dutch and lafayette ) .
for an actress , her musician husband , and their children , roman and williams completed a total stripdown to stud and redesign of what was fundamentally a drywall box ( with good light ) . designing and coordinating all interior architecture and custom decoration of the project with sheer energy and completely rule of everything mundane .
robin standefer and stephen alesch’s architectural aesthetic has hit the luxury - recession sweet spot , and their firm , roman and williams , is behind many of the new new york spaces so reassuringly steeped in the old . just don’t accuse them of nostalgia .
it was also at doney that williams had his first meeting in 1950 with the legendary roman actress anna magnani , whom he had in mind to play the widow serafina in “the rose tattoo . ”
we paired them with olollo , and together they built a credenza . the sideboard is made from sapele , and features an open storage and display area , two side doors and removable shelves to accommodate a special curation of porcelain by bavarian brand nymphenburg . it is completed with brass hardware and pulls from roman and williams’ rw atlas collection
the roman and williams aesthetic is a richly textured , purposefully nostalgic and largely handmade one : full of massive , dark woods and animal skins and re - purposed industrial materials , like that factory door . it’s the kind of sturdy design that’s meant to last 500 years—if only trends would permit .
the furniture that’s easiest on the planet is the furniture that doesn’t have to be made in the first place . take some tips from roman & williams , and source originals and antiques ( there’s a lot that can be accomplished with a great re - upholsterer and restorer ) .
credo : “we revere what is genuine ; we love to strip things down to their essence and excavate for integrity and character . ” highlight : opening of roman and williams guild ny . notable clients : gwyneth paltrow , ben stiller , kate hudson . ► new york ; urltoken
since the husband - and - wife team of mr . alesch and ms . standefer founded the architectural and interior design concern roman & williams in 2002 , their aesthetic of a rugged americana lifted from a make - believe past has gained dominion over swaths of new york , especially downtown manhattan and brooklyn .
flawless craftsmanship , smart and elegant design - roman & williams is a visual voice that is creating the look and feel for the new century while rooted in a distinctively american sensibility and history . a great book filled with many wonderful ideas that you can bring into your own home .
new york–based roman and williams was founded in 1998 by hollywood set designers robin standefer and stephen alesch . the pair began by designing celebrity residences . in 2009 , the firm completed the award–winning ace and standard hotels in new york as well as notable residential building at 211 elizabeth street . t…
another much - anticipated opening was the thirty - story viceroy hotel on 57th street in new york city , a roman and williams - designed building from the ground - up with bespoke interiors and sweeping views of central park , featuring striking restaurant kingside and a 29th floor bar , the roof .
as the personal residence of roman and williams ' principals robin standefer and stephen alesch , the 4th street loft was converted from an industrial work space into an iconic downtown new york city residence that has been published in design magazines across the globe and serves as a source of inspiration for many .
by now an international celebrity , williams made regular appearances in the roman society papers . yet his fame was still not such as to prevent him from engaging in another activity of which rome offered manifold new possibilities : cruising .
from its high - gloss black floors to its carefully constructed glass enclosed library , the loft stands as a hallmark roman and williams design , expressing the firm ' s commitment to the use of natural materials , expert craftsmanship , and vintage furnishings and objects . it is a perfect merging of their work and life and represents their inimitable style .
most recently , roman and williams has created their most personal work to date : roman and williams guild ny . showcasing their collection of original furniture , lighting , and accessories designed by the firm , as well as items collected from the workshops of the world ' s best artisans , the space is home also to celebrated french cafe la mercerie , helmed by chef marie - aude rose . it is a modern - day guild , a guild of the senses that gathers the best of everything the firm makes and loves , and helps others to do the same for themselves .
for the latest in its series of design dialogues , the contemporary design magazine surface joined up with 1stdibs to present a rousing panel discussion between stephen alesch and robin standefer , the co - founders of much - in - demand design firm roman and williams , and dennis freedman , passionate collector and creative director of barneys new york .
williams wasn’t alone in this assessment . his social circle at the time included the poet frederic prokosch , truman capote , “that unhappy young egoist gore vidal” and a number of other american writers and artists who , like williams , were gay or bisexual , and had found in rome a degree of creative and personal freedom unheard of back home . they also tended to share another of williams’s well - known traits : a love of drink .
roman and williams strives to create projects which consistently find the tension between spontaneity and rigor , refinement and rebellion , and past and future . the firm was founded by stephen alesch and robin standefer as a vehicle to pursue these dichotomies and reflect their diverse aesthetic interests . from the world of film they cultivated a feel for specificity and storytelling , which the pair soon employed designing residences for notable personalities such as ben stiller , kate hudson and gwyneth paltrow .
roman and williams’ collection of work has been honored and recognized with numerous awards and accolades throughout the years , including the lawrence israel award and three consecutive years as members of the prestigious ad 100 . most notably , in 2014 the firm received america’s highest honor for achievement in design , the smithsonian’s national design award for excellence in interior design .
on the site of the former pearl brewery in san antonio design firm roman and williams - with their passionate and rigorous approach to historic architecture - have transformed a 19th century brewhouse into hotel emma , an extraordinary 146 - room boutique hotel with three inventive culinary venues that will richen and diversify the options in the area . located near the northern end of the san antonio river walk , in an already lively district with an outdoor amphitheater and a year - round farmer’s market , hotel emma serves as the magnificent focal point of the surrounding pearl neighborhood and a connection to its craft past . the hotel represents the first collaboration between silver ventures and design firm roman and williams .
if one was wondering who began the trend of naming hipster brands after grandfathers — justin timberlake’s fashion label , william rast ; robbie williams’s brand , farrell ; gabriel stulman’s restaurant joseph leonard — one might cast blame on roman alesch and william winters , the couple’s maternal grandfathers .
new york–based roman and williams was founded in 1998 by hollywood set designers robin standefer and stephen alesch . the pair began by designing celebrity residences . in 2009 , the firm completed the award–winning ace and standard hotels in new york as well as notable residential building at 211 elizabeth street . their lauded projects include the dutch and lafayette with chef andrew carmellini , the freehand hotel in miami , the thirty - story viceroy hotel in new york , and a product line with waterworks and lalique . recent projects include an eatery for facebook , a restaurant with alain ducasse , and the news room and set for huffington post live . each roman and williams project demonstrates a comprehensive design vision , marking their work as a unique user experience .
with the union of forward - thinking minds , ben weprin of aj capital partners , fellow chicagoan john pritzker , and roman and williams team , the aim was to make the c . a . a into a new hotel and locale that would regain new life , while honoring a long - standing history within its home city .
roman and williams have always implemented their signature style and business sense in the work they produce together . their creative work is typically done at night , which alesch calls the “psychic quietest” time of the day . working from their residences in manhattan and montauk , respectively , they consider their creative marriage a very critical aspect of their success .
roman and williams’s moment officially began in the fall of 2009 , when a pair of ultrachic new york hotels designed by the husband - and - wife partnership of stephen alesch and robin standefer opened more or less simultaneously . between them , the standard and the ace hotel generated a level of buzz not seen since the early - 1990s hotel reign of philippe starck .
others call their work inauthentic , which is something roman & williams actually embrace . “authenticity is over - fetishized , ” mr . alesch said . “everything is a set . the first fire inside a cave was a set with buffalo furs all around it . ”
roman and williams ' projects strive to consistently find the tension between spontaneity and rigor , refinement and rebellion , and past and future . spanning paris to tokyo , among them : ace hotel new york , the boom boom boom room and the standard highline , la rotonde de la muette , freehand hotels , and le coucou . in a project of cultural and civic significance , the firm has been award the commission to re - design the british galleries at the metropolitan museum of art .
honors them with the prestigious lawrence israel prize . the award , given each year to an individual or firm whose projects provide inspiration for fit’s students , will be presented tonight at fit’s katie murphy amphitheatre , accompanied by a talk by roman + williams co - founders robin standefer and stephen alesch .
the sideboard is made from sapele , a subtly grained african wood similar to mahogany , and features an open storage and display area , two side doors and removable shelves to accommodate a special curation of porcelain by bavarian brand nymphenburg . the credenza is completed with custom brass hardware , brass pulls from roman and williams’ rw atlas collection , and black leather - lined drawers that perfectly complement the delicate nymphenburg tableware .
never limited by what they designed last , the roman and williams aesthetic is constantly evolving , reflecting the diverse interests and profound curiosities of the firm’s principals , a practice that has earned them many devoted followers and accolades , including being honorees of the architectural digest top 100 since 2011 . the result is an oeuvre of instant classics — projects that transcend architecture and interiors and rise to the level of cultural polemics .
but after meeting with aaron sittig , facebook’s charismatic bowtie - loving product architect , roman & williams agreed to the project , turning a soulless 1980s building into a mess hall with heavy wooden rafters , old schoolroom benches and arrows stenciled on the floor that guide employees to buffets , a silicon valley heorot .
when invited to design a collection of plumbing fittings and accessories as well as an accompanying tile line for waterworks , the partners at the new york city firm roman and williams buildings and interiors began with a surprising objective in mind . “nondecorative was our goal out of the gate , ” says stephen alesch , who heads the company with his wife , robin standefer .
following a career as hollywood production designers , stephen alesch and robin standefer founded roman and williams buildings and interiors in 2002 . the new york firm’s scope includes buildings , interior design , and product lines , where they place a premium on such aesthetic juxtapositions as high / low and spare / baroque . former surfing magazine editor jamie brisick writes for the new york times and details , and has authored two books , including have board will travel . actor and film director / producer ben stiller is a prolific talent . standefer and alesch did the production design for zoolander and duplex and designed his homes .
to complete the r . w . atlas plumbing , tile , and lighting collections , roman and williams has created twenty - two unique pieces of hardware . from cabinet knobs and handles to towel bars and latches , the hardware is distinctive for its exceptional details and refined touch , creating a uniquely luxurious hand feel . the substantial pieces feature a slotted screw , with carefully placed knurling and noticeably intricate base details . no element is too insignificant for consideration .
following a career as hollywood production designers , stephen alesch and robin standefer founded roman and williams buildings and interiors in 2002 . the new york firm ' s scope includes buildings , interior design , and product lines , where they place a premium on such aesthetic juxtapositions as high / low and spare / baroque . former surfing magazine editor jamie brisick writes for the new york times and details , and has authored two books , including have board will travel . actor and film director / producer ben stiller is a prolific talent . standefer and alesch did the production design for zoolander and duplex and designed his homes .
roman and williams designed the interiors of upland in new york city , a restaurant from chef justin smillie ( formerly of il buco alimentari ) and his partner , acclaimed restaurateur stephen starr . named after the southern california town where chef smillie was born , upland opened on october 28 , 2014 , and offers california - inspired cuisine in manhattan ' s burgeoning nomad district , on park avenue and east 26th street .
for their tenth anniversary , the design studio roman and williams buildings and interiors presents projects that blend the spirit of our collective history with a modernist edge . roman and williams’s style honors craftsmanship , the use of natural materials , and the overlooked in unexpected ways . their understated , glamorous sensibility is imparted in manhattan’s ace hotel interiors and restaurant the breslin , the standard hotel , with its iconic boom boom room , and the royalton lobby . for such popular restaurants as the dutch , the duo created environments with textured backdrops that reference a rich past with a contemporary sensibility . their innovative work has captured the attention of firms such as facebook—they recently completed its campus food hall—and their residences for celebrities such as ben stiller and gwyneth paltrow are equally imaginative . this book surveys the firm’s prestige projects , presented with alesch’s architectural hand drawings and sketches and detailed views . also included is their loft and montauk home , which serve as design laboratories , and a collection of furnishings and fixtures .
robin standefer and stephen alesch founded roman and williams buildings and interiors in new york city in 2002 . having worked together for a decade designing sets for significant hollywood films prior to establishing their firm , standefer and alesch have forged an ability to create projects without boundaries or borders , employing a range of ideas , materials , objects , and references — from the unexpected to the pedigreed to the mundane — and , through the lens of their own singular viewpoint , create alchemy .
, waterworks’ ceo . “together with roman and williams , we went to great lengths to create fittings and tile that combine function with a profound sense of beauty and refinement . this product marries a heritage of great american design perspective with decades of experience engineering and producing the highest quality products . throughout the process , we were inspired by the idea of utilitarian objects that are made exceptionally well and that work beautifully for generations , and this is our hope for r . w . atlas and district tile . ”
but just a decade since its founding , roman & williams is looking to cash in . “we’re not getting any younger , ” ms . standefer said the other day . the company’s most recent projects have jettisoned the scruffy bohemianism of places like the ace hotel for the offices of hip corporate america .
designers stephen alesch and robin standefer , the husband and wife team who head roman and williams firm , have provided the interior decorations for such well - known venues as the standard hotel , ( and its top floor hot spot , the boom boom room ) , the ace hotel , and countless other projects . the versatile couple recently designed the john dory oyster bar at the ace hotel , and we interviewed them to see how their activities together have shaped their sexy , chic aesthetic :
there is an east coast meets west coast vibe to what we do , ” says steven alesch , a wisconsin - born , l . a . - trained , surf - loving architect who—along with his wife , robin standefer , a former hollywood production designer raised in new york—makes up one half of the in demand and critically acclaimed design duo roman and williams .
they had little use for the ache of the new . “i don’t want to be tabula rasa , ” she says . at the same time , they don’t want to be known for a particular style either : roman and williams will do whatever they’re hired to do , whatever makes sense for the film the client sees himself ( and his future customers ) in .
the years after his “golden time” in rome were not particularly kind to williams . much of his later work was ignored by the public and panned by critics . many close friends died prematurely , including merlo and magnani , who succumbed to cancer , he in 1963 and she in 1973 . returning with decreasing frequency to the italian capital , williams sank into depression and drug use , which contributed to his own death in 1983 .
inspired by denim’s connection to rebels of all kinds , from hollywood to the homestead , the stage was a product of roman and williams’ principals calling upon their own deep - rooted experience in set design and art direction in the film industry . they transformed a concept of a soundstage , into a store , showcasing the storied sets with equipment and back - of - house scenes that embody the world of filmmaking .
for their tenth anniversary , the design studio roman and williams buildings and interiors presents projects that blend the spirit of our collective history with a modernist edge . roman and williams ' s style honors craftsmanship , the use of natural materials , and the overlooked in unexpected ways . their understated , glamorous sensibility is imparted in manhattan ' s ace hotel interiors and restaurant the breslin , the standard hotel , with its iconic boom boom room , and the royalton lobby . for such popular restaurants as the dutch , the duo created environments with textured backdrops that reference a rich past with a contemporary sensibility . their innovative work has captured the attention of firms such as facebook - - they recently completed its campus food hall - - and their residences for celebrities such as ben stiller and gwyneth paltrow are equally imaginative . this book surveys the firm ' s prestige projects , presented with alesch ' s architectural hand drawings and sketches and detailed views . also included is their loft and montauk home , which serve as design laboratories , and a collection of furnishings and fixtures .
ever wish you could sneak a peek at gwyneth paltrow’s new york apartment ? this holiday season , you can get a pretty good idea of what it’s like . just drop by the actress’s goop mrkt pop - up in columbus circle’s time warner center to check out paltrow’s home away from home , expertly realized by city slicker firm roman and williams .
standefer remarks : “in our relationship and us working together , we sometimes contradict each other and contrast and there’s voltage between us and it creates sometimes a sense of authenticity because it’s not just about branding or marketing . it’s just about a sense of truth and what you love . ” she went on to say , “i see other couples and i think , okay , what do they talk about , because we’re always talking about that third thing , which is that thing we’re making in roman and williams … life and art for us are one kind of cycle together . “
this meeting would prove the beginning of a decades - long collaboration and friendship that would profoundly influence both of their lives . williams and magnani , both temperamental artists who were fearless in their determination to live unconventional lives , had a deep understanding of each other , and beyond the roles he explicitly wrote for her , from 1950 on , williams’s female characters began to resemble magnani : passionate , sexually vital , complicated and self - confident .
throughout the 1950s , williams , merlo and magnani spent countless nights on her terrace above the piazza minerva overlooking the pantheon and at fashionable venues like rosati , which is still a pleasant place to people - watch over negronis .
unsurprisingly , calderwood shares roman and williams’s quasi - academic mystical design language . “narrative is a very , very important word both for us and them . we like to explore and celebrate a narrative in terms of an item or object , ” he says . “we share a mutual interest in kind of manufacturing techniques and materiality and an appreciation for a sense of history but not being slavish to an absolute re - creation . it hopefully feels like it was collected and curated over time , has a sort of residual feeling . ”
and if one was wondering whom to thank for turning hotel lobbies into communal hives for high - tech movers ( see the ace hotel ) , for the renaissance of tile work ( the standard , high line ) and for the popularization of once - shunned casement windows ( everywhere ) , a thank - you note could be sent to roman & williams’s sixth - floor office on lafayette street .
the space or project can dictate the sources . each has its own distinctive personality—whether it’s gwyneth paltrow’s home or le coucou here in new york , there’s a story within each space we create and that narrative leads us to explore a variety of sources . as we seek and find for roman and williams guild ny we’re thinking about how we live and the objects we want to be surrounded by daily . we’re ultimately sharing our way of seeing and we always try to inspire people to do the same .
at a recent meeting at roman & william’s neo - industrial offices , mr . alesch wandered in and out of the conference room while ms . standefer and andrew carmellini , a restaurateur , debated where to hang succulents in his new restaurant .
much of the appeal of roman & williams lies in ms . standefer and mr . alesch themselves . if they create spaces in which one can star in a dream role — bohemian entrepreneur at the ace hotel , latter - day rat pack at the standard’s boom boom room , hungry schoolboy at the dutch — clients similarly buy into the couple as an idealized version of the husband - and - wife team .
in some ways the two roman and williams interiors couldn’t be more different—“a silk high heel and a big muddy boot , ” according to alesch , the firm’s de facto architect , draftsman , and furniture designer ( standefer could be considered its creative director ) . the standard has a throwback polish , evoking milanese bachelor pads and the golden age of railway travel . the ace is moodier , with salvaged - wood floors , post - and - beam ceilings , and pendant lamps fashioned from plumbing joints . but both share a kitsch - free nostalgia—allusive , paradoxically modern - feeling , and resonantly cool .
so they started a “buildings and interiors” firm called roman and williams ( neither is a registered architect , though alesch trained as one ) , named , with the same create - a - legacy ethic that has come to mark everything they do , after their maternal grandfathers . in 2004 , in the midst of doing a los angeles house for kate hudson , they quit their rental in silver lake and moved back to the loft they owned in noho .
the collaboration started three years ago when peter sallick , the ceo of waterworks , was flipping through a magazine and came across images of roman and williams’s interiors . at the time , alesch and standefer had just wrapped up manhattan’s standard and ace hotels , hip spots that cemented their firm’s reputation for warm , inviting rooms layered with tough , textural materials that evoke an immediate sense of history . “the environments they created conveyed something i had an emotional , impulsive connection to , ” sallick recalls .
black - pipe flanges , filament bulbs , vintage turntables , taxidermy and other old - timey curios — these industrial - chic tropes have come to signify good taste today , and much of it can be traced to mr . alesch , 46 , and ms . standefer , 47 . it is a world in which the newer the space , the older it looks . call it the benjamin button school of design , with roman & williams as its headmasters .
alesch and standefer , unsurprisingly , are workaholics , with a firm named after his grandfather roman , a painter , and her grandfather william , a jeweler . “hardworking guys , working class , ” says standefer . “old school , money under the mattress . ”
williams’s first place of residence was a top - floor room at the ambasciatori palace , a grand neo - renaissance hotel along the tree - lined via veneto . today , like many of williams’s former haunts , both the boulevard and the hotel feel somewhat past their prime . via veneto is still upscale , but its touristy trattorias and chain hotels would be sadly ill - fitted to its former incarnation as the glorious main drag of “la dolce vita , ” the 1960 federico fellini classic . still , despite its depressing subterranean breakfast buffet , the ambasciatori retains a faded elegance that makes it easy to imagine the looks of disdain williams recalls receiving when , on his second night in the city , he brought home a raggedly dressed roman teenager whom he calls “raffaelo” in his memoirs .
for williams , rome offered freedom — an escape from the puritanism that plagued his life back home . in a 1949 letter to his publisher , jay laughlin , williams recounted a dinner with ingrid bergman and roberto rossellini shortly after the hollywood star and the italian director had begun their highly publicized collaboration and extramarital affair . their indifference to the scandal , he wrote , “is very beautiful and should have a salutary affect on discrediting those infantile moralists that make it so hard for anyone to do honest work and live honestly in the states . ”
roman and williams has added lighting to its r . w . atlas housewares for waterworks with two collections , spunflower and cupper . robin standefer , a founder of roman and williams , described the burnished nickel and brass lights as “fairly muscular and sturdy , but with a fine tactility . ” in all , there are two pendants , two sconces and a chandelier , any of which can be described as industrial . but a closer look reveals some frills . the spunflower pendant , for instance , has three tiers of milky white glass crowned with a rim of metal with tiny perforations . ms . standefer said these dots would temper any harshness . the quality of illumination in industrial fixtures is often “pure , tough and authentic , ” she added , “but a light still has to be soft and beautiful . ” prices range from $ 1 , 200 to $ 3 , 500 . the cupper ceiling - mounted four - light pendant , shown , is $ 3 , 500 . information : 800 - 899 - 6757 or waterworks . com .
roman and williams ( who did the redesign of the royalton as well as the interiors of the standard hotel and its restaurant , the standard grill ) are currently at work on two other spaces in the ace — a restaurant called the breslin , which will be run by the spotted pig’s ken friedman and april bloomfield , and a branch of portland’s stumptown coffee ( for which the designers chose a 1960s milanese look ) . when both open in the fall , this still - scruffy neighborhood won’t know what hit it .
the breslin restaurant in new york . photo by katie sokoler . alesch and standefer founded roman + williams in 2002 , after years of working on set designs for the likes of martin scorcese . they’ve brought that filmic sensibility to hotspots across the city , including the royalton hotel , andres balazs’ standard hotel , and the ace hotel—iconic spots with a timeless style that students are likely to study well into the future . the event begins at 6 pm and is free and open to the public , with no reservations required .
in late january 1948 , tennessee williams arrived for the first time in rome , a city that the playwright , then 37 , would quickly call “the capitol of my heart . ” after more than a decade toiling in poverty and obscurity , williams had been catapulted to national fame three years earlier when his loosely autobiographical “memory play , ” “the glass menagerie , ” became an instant critical and commercial hit . its follow - up , “a streetcar named desire , ” opened in 1947 to packed broadway houses and rave reviews , cementing williams’s position as a major figure in the american theater establishment . four months later , he set out for europe .
much like its inhabitants , new york city ' s buildings are famed for their directness . from the skyscrapers of manhattan to the brownstones of brooklyn , to postcard favorites such as the flatiron building , the city is populated with bold residential and commercial architecture , in every conceivable style . the city was shaped by a who ' s who of architecture ' s past three centuries , and it continues , not without some controversy , to be a showcase for cutting - edge modernism . all things considered , when given the opportunity to design a multi - unit residence in the nolita neighborhood , new york city - based roman and williams buildings and interiors felt the weight of expectation upon them .
to be able to put a building on a site in new york city is a big honor ,
says robin standefer , a native new yorker and partner in charge with stephen alesch at roman and williams .
i am hoping this building outlasts us .
once he got standefer on the phone , it didn’t take long for him to be convinced that roman and williams was a perfect match for waterworks . “i heard robin tell a story about how when they’re conceiving a project , they’re reflecting on and reinterpreting common memories and experiences , ” sallick says . “this project adhered to that . while the designs aren’t specific to any one historical period , they have elements we all respond to , for reasons that are associated with our pasts . ”
a long , railroad apartment in new york city’s noho is the incubator for some of the most influential interiors in america . “it was a rabbit warren of drywall and old boxes when we got it in 1997 , ” says stephen alesch , principal with his wife robin standefer in roman & williams buildings and interiors , the firm that famously started an irresistible , can’t - put - a - finger - on - what - it - is style that’s a combination of louche and livable .
we knew they would be busy putting the finishing touches to their interiors for the chicago athletic association hotel ( see w * 196 ) , but we had to ask : would roman and williams , the creative duo behind the wave of industrial - edged interiors that have taken over the world and the holders of a prestigious 2014 cooper - hewitt museum design award , be so kind as to contribute to our handmade project ? they said they would .
after a brief , disappointing stopover in france ( “i found nothing very good about paris but the quality of the whores , ” williams wrote his friend and longtime collaborator elia kazan ) , rome won him over instantly .
on a recent tuesday evening , the sprawling restaurant felt like the set of one of those garry marshall ensemble romantic comedies . it’s the place where ashton and julia would eat on their magical first date . like the dutch , one of mr . carmellini’s other restaurants , lafayette was designed by roman & williams , the husband - and - wife firm behind the ace hotel as well as the sets of movies like zoolander and addicted to love . they are masters of golden - glow maximalism .
the kitchen area—near and dear to paltrow’s heart—looks sleek and sophisticated in a palette of gray , black , and brass .
2017 will mark the opening of a project that is as unique in the roman and williams portfolio as it is in the pantheon of new york city buildings : a luxury building near the high line , clad in jade green terra cotta with interiors and exteriors designed for jds / largo from the ground - up . the fitzroy is already being hailed as the vanguard of a movement towards the use of traditional , hand - made materials that express a new luxury , whose trademark is disciplined craft and quality .
roman & williams , the design firm founded by robin standefer and stephen alesch , won fame for its scene - setting interiors for manhattan’s trendy ace and standard hotels , as well as the restaurants , bars and cafes within them . now it’s moved on to product design , with bath fittings for waterworks . the r . w . atlas collection , which was inspired in part by a 1930s leica camera and by an old microscope displayed in the designers’ offices , has a strong industrial sensibility ; it would look at home in any vintage factory setting .
rosati ( piazza del popolo 5 ; urltoken ) was one of williams’s favorite drinking spots and is still a great place to people - watch over negronis , which cost €15 at the table , but just €5 at the bar .
in san antonio , design studio roman and williams has applied its signature rugged yet refined aesthetic to a former 19th - century brewery reborn as the inviting hotel emma . thick concrete beams , exposed pipes , and leftover machinery give the space an industrial cool that’s softened by vintage leather sofas , lively tilework floors , and loads of antique carpets . the magic is in the mix , according to the firm’s principals , robin standefer and stephen alesch : “this was a place where luxury met the primitive and untamable on the edge of the prairie , and we think it still holds that energy . ” rooms from $ 325 / night ; urltoken
robin standefer and stephen alesch of roman and williams are so busy designing spaces for new yorkers to have fun in that they rarely get to have a cocktail there once they’re finished , leaving the ace hotel lobby ( and the breslin ) and the boom boom room at the standard hotel to the players . but on weekends , their home in montauk , n . y . , becomes the center of a rolling house party , where the food and friends are as exquisitely arranged — yet seemingly haphazard — as their décor . here , the bon vivant masters of tableaux vivants are at their best .
in 2015 roman and williams completed concept work for wework and finished interior work on an unparalleled landmark american building , the chicago athletic association in chicago , for client john pritzker . later in the year they proudly announced the transformation of a 19th century san antonio brewhouse into hotel emma . in paris , the firm is working closely with the renowned costes family to design and introduce a restaurant in the 16th arrondissement and , in another major coup , they were selected as the designers for a global food market at pier 57 on manhattan ' s west side , with renowned food writer and television journalist anthony bourdain . in 2016 their impact on the business landscape was marked by robin and stephen ' s selection for the fast company
most creative people in business
list . their engagement in projects of cultural and civic significance is also apparent in their recently announced collaboration with the metropolitan museum of art for the re - design of the british galleries . in this rare and competitive commission roman and williams are working with the met to create a spectacular , narrative - rich , and profoundly sympathetic setting for the works of art , telling the highly relevant story of creativity in britain ' s entrepreneurial society .
alesch and standefer continue to stay true to their principals and can be skeptical of corporate clients who do not immediately respect their vision . they are very selective of who they choose to work with ; the key being their joint vision of wanting to create something great and original . in honor of their 10th anniversary , roman and williams have released a book chronicling a decade’s worth of work and achievements . the book , published by rizzoli , is entitled things we love , a mantra often used by the pair , showing just how important their personal touch is in all of the work they produce .
these places , as well as many others—including the top of the standard and the ace hotel in new york , la rotonde de la muette in paris , and the freehand hotels in miami , chicago , and los angeles—are the brain children of new york–based interior design firm roman and williams . founded in 2002 by robin standefer and stephen alesch ( a duo who in person are as charismatic , energetic , and appealing as their work suggests ) , the firm has become one of the most sought - after and admired in the industry , with a list of accolades that includes a national design award and , most recently , a james beard award ( for le coucou , which was named best new restaurant , 2017 ) .
2010 marked the opening of roman and williams’ first ground - up building at 211 elizabeth street in manhattan , with the building and interiors for this residential development earning the firm a palladio award . shortly afterward they designed and opened the dutch , the first of two restaurant collaborations with andrew carmellini , followed by the popular lafayette . the firm was also awarded a commission by facebook to design their most prominent indoor - outdoor dining hub for the entire campus , exploring working environments with the opening of a social and communal food hall at the company’s headquarters in silicon valley .
just west of lake michigan , and centered upon millennium park , the chicago athletic association reawakens the dormant 1893 venetian gothic building originally designed by henry ives cobb , a building boasting more than a century’s age . a quintessential roman and williams project , the chicago athletic association hosts a story that couldn’t be resisted . originally founded by a collection of families synonymous with american sport and athletic commerce ( such as wrigley , comiskey , and spalding ) and architecturally developed during the columbian exposition , the c . a . a . was almost lost to plans of demolition in 1997 - - all but save the original façade .


the ford world rally team , also known as the ford motor co . team prior to 2005 , is ford motor company 's full factory world rally championship team .

in its current form , it has been a competitor since the 1997 season , when ford motor company 's motorsport arm selected the malcolm wilson motorsport company to run its factory team , entering the ford escort world rally car .

the new team took their first victory in the 1997 acropolis rally .

ford world rally team

ford world rally team has extended its partnership in the fia world rally championship with italian racewear manufacturer sparco .
2011 monster world rally team ford fiesta rs wrc pictures , photos , wallpapers .
the m - sport world rally team has officially pulled the covers off its ford fiesta rs for the 2016 world rally championship .
the ford fiesta rs world rally car unveiled on thursday will race in the 2012 fia world rally championship .
world rally : ford escort - the rally car dreams are made of . | feature
“no . it’s the m - sport world rally team now , a private team with some technical assistance from ford . ”
2011 monster world rally team ford fiesta rs wrc pictures , photos , wallpapers . | top speed
m - sport ford world rally team’s sébastien ogier and julien ingrassia missed out on vict . . .
m - sport ford world rally team’s sébastien ogier and julien ingrassia continue to lead r . . .
ken block and the monster world rally team’s new ford fiesta rs wrc and livery reveal plus 2011 event program .
1 sebastien ogier / julien ingrassia ( red bull ford m - sport world rally team fiesta rs wrc ) .
joins prodrive as team manager for its allstar rally team and secures european championship in team’s first year with driver krzysztof holowczyc .
becomes project manager for m - sport and the team’s ford focus fleet that competes in the fia world rally championship .
four - time world champion sebastien ogier has signed to drive for the m - sport world rally team next season .
“ford left the world rally championship at the end of 2012 , ” i said .
ford of europe has introduced an exciting new look for its 2008 fia world rally championship campaign . the focus rs world rally car , which powered ford to the manufacturers’ world title in both 2006 and 2007 , sports a striking modern livery while the squad will be named the bp ford abu dhabi world rally team for 2008 .
the m - sport world rally team ford fiesta rs wrcs will be adorned with an evolution of last year’s popular livery for the 2016 fia world rally championship ( wrc ) .
for their first world rally championship appearance of 2012 , the monster world rally team will—for the first time ever—have not one , but two ford fiestas rs entered for wrc mexico .
ken block and the monster world rally team’s new ford fiesta rs wrc and livery reveal plus 2011 event program . - urltoken
continued in the same team for compete in the eight rounds of world rally championship 1995 .
m - sport world rally team is a racing team , owned by a former rally driver malcolm wilson and it is located in cockermouth ( cumbria , england ) . it currently competes in the world rally championship with ford fiesta wrc cars .
continues to fulfill its contract with ford with new
ford escort world rally car
and the management of the team pass to the boreham to malcolm wilson .
( ford sierra cosworth gr . a . ) . results in the world rally championship :
ford world rally team has extended its partnership in the fia world rally championship with italian racewear manufacturer sparco . the agreement ensures that sparco , which currently supplies overalls , boots , balaclavas and racing gloves to ford . . .
the extension of the partnership comes at an exciting time for the valvoline - backed ford world rally team which last month signed former world champion colin mcrae to drive the new ford focus rally car for the next two seasons .
the ford escort rs cosworth is a group a rally car featured in dirt rally .
the ford focus rally car ' 99 is a rally car produced by ford . it first appears in gran turismo 2 .
the new ford fiesta rs world rally car livery was revealed on thursday when the company ' s official team unveiled the new colors that will adorn the car in the 2012 fia world rally championship .
m - sport world rally team’s mads østberg and éric camilli will continue their 2016 fia world rally championship campaign next week – piloting their ecoboost - powered ford fiesta rs wrcs at the popular rally racc catalunya - costa daurada .
joins with toyota team europe to compete in the world rally championship with celica four gr . a .
citroen world rally team principal pierre budar felt kris meeke was out of control and left . . .
citroen team principal pierre budar believes the design of the manufacturer ' s c3 world rally . . .
four - times world rally champion sebastien ogier will race for the m - sport ford team next wrc season following volkswagen ' s withdrawal .
ford ' s wrc campaign boosted by partnership with abu dhabi bp - ford world rally team has strengthened its fia world rally championship title challenge by agreeing a new partnership with the abu dhabi tourism authority ( adta ) . the . . .
kris meeke would welcome sebastien ogier as his citroen team - mate for the 2017 world rally championship season .
in 2012 , ford motor company announced that it would be withdrawing its sponsorship from the ford world rally team which saw an end to the ford m - sport wrc partnership . however , m - sport continued to race under new sponsorship and would occasional receive support from ford but would no longer be racing under the ford world rally team name . ford however continued to race as a registered manufacturer with the support of m - sport in other rally series such as s2000 .
m - sport reveals its new look ford fiesta rs wrc for the 2015 world rally championship , beginning with the monte carlo rally .
the ford world rally team will take to the streets of león in mexico next week to raise money for uk - based charity , sport relief .
the monte carlo rally kicks off the 2017 fia world rally championship and marks the great return of the citroën racing team to the circuit .
one of the subaru impreza rally cars that mcrae drove during the 1996 world rally championship season .
reigning three - time european rally champion kajetan kajetanowicz will move into the world rally . . .
salonen finished the season 14 th in the driver world championship and helped the team to a sixth - place finish in the manufacturers world championship . in 1988 , in his final season with mazda rally team europe , salonen finished fifth in the driver world championship with the team finishing fourth in the manufacturer world championship .
working with ford’s mainstream engineers in england and germany , the ford world rally team designers have placed all major components low down and within the wheelbase of the rally car in a quest to create the perfectly balanced car .
the m - sport world rally team ford fiesta rs wrcs will be adorned with an exciting new livery this year as elfyn evans and ott tänak tackle the diverse nature of the 2015 fia world rally championship ( wrc ) .
today in england at the autosport international show , ford ' s all - new fiesta rs world rally car was unveiled in its new 2011 specification and color scheme . team driver mikko hirvonen and ford of europe motorsport chief gerard quinn revealed the colorful car , which is one of three to compete for the newly named ford abu dhabi world rally team .
ford’s last wrc year as a full manufacturer team was in 2012 . pic : lat
joins with toyota team europe for three years , but but after they sanctioned this team by the fia and not to run in the world championship , returns to ford .
( ford sierra cosworth gr . a ) . compete for the first time in rounds of world rally championship :
“the ford focus has many outstanding attributes which are a great foundation for creating a rally car , ” confirms malcolm wilson , director ford world rally team . “as a result , we have produced a sensational rally car with the unmistakable style of the focus . ”
the ford focus rs rally 2007 is a 2000s rally car featured in dirt rally , introduced to the game with modern masters update .
continues with volkswagen motorsport team with race touareg . win rally dakar argentina - chile win silkway rally in russia
this year , the formidable frenchman joins forces with the m - sport world rally team , piloting the all - new ford fiesta wrc throughout the 2017 season .
jani ' s old rival manfred stohl was building his own team for the season 2004 and paasonen was invited to drive one of the omv world rally team ' s group n mitsubishi in the 2004 fia production car world rally championship series .
in 2010 , martin and wilson continued to campaign another full fia world rally championship for the stobart m - sport ford rally team . the pair ' s best result was fifth at jordan rally and they helped the team to finish fourth overall in the manufacturers ' championship .
body : 1986 ford rs200 group b rally car ( 1 of 200 units built for the world rally championship ' s legendary group b homologation ) .
the ford focus rs rally 2007 is an up to 2000cc ( 4wd ) rally car in dirt 4 .
qatar m - sport world rally team’s ford fiesta rs wrc was on display at the uk’s traditional start to the motorsport season at the autosport international racing car show in birmingham today as the team revealed the livery of their new challenger for the 2013 fia world rally championship ( wrc ) .
a significantly different route for rally gb 2018 , britain ' s world rally championship round , . . .
the 2017 world rally championship could be one of the most open in the series ' history , reckon leading team bosses .
renews his contract with toyota team europe and becomes the first team driver with the same car .
in ford’s most visible worldwide programs , ford fiesta drivers mikko hirvonen and jari - matti latvala of the ford abu dhabi world rally team finished second and fourth in the world rally championship after a spirited battle that went down to the final event . the ford wrc duo captured three wins during the season . in all , fiesta had its most successful year in rally , capturing 16 regional and national championships worldwide .
ford did not officially enter any cars for these seasons after winning the 1979 world rally championship season , they instead concentrated on development of the stillborn ford escort rs 1700t . [ 5 ] however , ari vatanen did win the 1981 drivers championship in a rothmans liveried ford escort rs , this was run by david sutton cars , and not an official works ford world rally team .
in its 20 - year involvement with the world rally championship , the subaru team , in conjunction with its long - term partner , the banbury - based rally preparation specialist and engineering concern prodrive , won six world rally championship titles .
this time next month , ogier could be leading the m - sport world rally team , with his name and number one on the monte carlo rally entry list next to a ford fiesta rs wrc .
a ford dealership based on orkney have lent their historic reg numbers to top world rally championship team m - sport . you can find out how that came about here .
ford bp rallye sport will launch the new fia world rally championship ford focus rs wrc 04 in new zealand . the team earlier tested the new focus in portugal on gravel roadsm and were quite pleased with the changes . the new ford focus rs . . .
ford bp rallye sport will launch the new fia world rally championship ford focus rs wrc 04 in new zealand . the team earlier tested the new focus in portugal on gravel roadsm and were quite pleased with the changes .
we have a new generation of world rally cars , and a new team - it ' s certainly an exciting time .
responsible for the running of the entire team , our team principal , team manager and tyre specialist form the technical and logistical hub of the m - sport world rally team . devising the tactical approach taken by the team on each rally , these individuals assess everything from weather to changes in surface characteristics and car performance to determine the optimum strategy for each event .
the experienced fred gallagher , who partnered ari vatanen in the ford world rally team for two events this season , will co - drive for both rådström and jean - joseph .
the ford escort rs cosworth is a group a rally car in dirt 4 .
some see volkswagen ' s decision to quit the world rally championship as inevitable .
the ford focus rally car , like the road car , is all - new , sharing few parts with the ford escort which won more rallies than any other competition vehicle over the past 30 years . the ford world rally team designers - led by project manager guenther steiner - worked closely with the ford focus team from the small and medium vehicle centre at dunton , essex and cologne , germany to ensure unparalleled access to ford’s technology and resources .
the faw - vw rally team wins both the manufacturers ' and drivers ' titles .
to suit the latest world rally regulations , ford evolved a new escort , the world rally car , for 1997 . this version won two world championship rounds in double world champion sainz ' s hands , the tough acropolis rally in greece and rally indonesia - the escort ' s final victory at world championship level . in a desperately hard - fought series , the escort wrc also took second in the manufacturers ' standings .
provide the team with the clothing that allows them to perform on all rounds of the fia world rally championship - from the sub - zero temperatures of rally sweden to the blistering heat of rally mexico .
m - sport team principal malcolm wilson was impressed with world rally champion sebastien ogier ' s performance as he tested the 2017 ford fiesta rs wrc for the first time on friday .
last year ' s rally gb winner elfyn evans feels the revamped route for wales ' 2018 world rally . . .
total is proud to be a partner of team peugeot hansen in the 2014 fia world rallycross championship .
in 2011 , martin returns to the wrc for the sixth year alongside wilson . the duo will be competing under the m - sport stobart ford world rally team banner alongside team - mates mads østberg and henning solberg . they will contest the season in ford ' s all - new challenger for 2011 – the ford fiesta rs wrc .
throw $ 30m – probably about the cost of one of its nascar teams – in wilson’s direction and the ford world rally team would ape volkswagen global domination for the next four years .
ford will not win the world rally title this year - but they have certainly given the impression that they might in the future .
qatar m - sport world rally team revealed the livery of their new challenger at the autosport international racing car show in birmingham , england .
m - sport also operates a thriving customer business for private teams . it assists ford drivers with programmes world - wide involving the focus rs wrc , the ford fiesta s2000 , the ford fiesta r2 , gpn ford fiesta st , the ford fiesta r1 and , new for 2013 , the all - new ford fiesta r5 as well as the ground - breaking ford fiesta rrc and rs wrc .
the second ford focus world rally car entered for the china rally will be driven by either rådström or solberg , a decision which will made midway through the 1999 season .
sebastien ogier will decide between two options for his world rally championship future this week .
m - sport reveals its new look ford fiesta rs wrc for the 2015 world rally championship , beginning with the monte carlo rally . m - sport has taken the wraps off the car it will campaign it the 2015 world rally championship , complete with a new design that evokes iconic liveries in ford’s past .
from the world endurance championship ( wec ) , volkswagen just announced its intent to close its largely dominant world rally championship ( wrc ) team . while volkswagen has remained publicly tight - lipped ,
in the year of its debut , the focus rs won the wrc opening rally in monte carlo driven by marcus grönholm . it also won another eleven rallies which earned bp ford world rally team their wrc manufacturer ' s championship .
m - sport is mostly known as a company which runs a team in the world rally championship but the other part of their business is also important , as m - sport grew up into world’s leading company for rally cars preparation , working for numerous customers all around the world .
they will be partnered by former world champion petter solberg and chris patterson , who signed one - year agreements to drive the team ' s second fiesta rs wrc in all 13 rounds . the experienced solberg won the world title in 2003 , and the 37 - year - old norwegian driver has 13 world rally wins . it will be solberg ' s second stint with ford , having launched his world rally career with the team in 1999 .
ford had a long and successful history in rallying , winning the world rally championship ( wrc ) in 1979 with the ford escort rs1800 and drivers hannu mikkola , björn waldegård and ari vatanen .
compete in rally lisboa - dakar with volkswagen touareg , win five stage , 9th . 1st rally transibérico ( portugal ) 2nd morocco rally 2nd rally uae desert challenge ( dubai ) champion of the fia ' s world cup rally cross country . winner rally shalymar with skoda fabia wrc
the 2010 wrc season was the last for ford focus rs wrc , a ford fiesta rs wrc was introduced for 2011 . mikko hirvonen and jari - matti latvala were driving two new cars ( # 3 and # 4 ) for ford abu dhabi world rally team while four drivers were chasing points in the # 5 and # 6 cars for m - sport stobart world rally team : henning solberg , matthew wilson , mads ostberg and evgeny novikov .
ford world rally team director malcolm wilson and ford of europe motorsport chief gerard quinn unveiled the livery for the fiesta rs wrc at the autosport international racing car show in birmingham , england , motorsport ' s traditional start - of - season showcase event .
ford’s commitment to achieving success in the fia world rally championship was highlighted again today with the announcement that it will have a squad of four drivers with which to contest the 1999 series . three more drivers today joined the ford world rally team line - up to partner lead driver colin mcrae in a move which emphasises the company’s goal of securing manufacturer and driver world titles in the new millennium .
wrc - rally italia sardegna 2018 / m - sport ford wrt : sunday . . .
wrc - rally italia sardegna 2018 / m - sport ford wrt : saturda . . .
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joins with prodrive to compete in the world rally championship with subaru impreza 555 group a .
the fia is planning a comprehensive overhaul of the world rally championship feeder categories from 2019 .
as technical manager for jolly club spa in milan , italy , steiner helps lead the team to three straight italian rally championships while competing in group a of the fia world rally championship .
characterising the passion , skill and determination of the rally course , ms - rt is a unique collaboration with racing legend malcolm wilson . with more than 30 years’ experience at rallying’s highest level – much of it with ford – in 1996 wilson took over management of the ford world rally team .
steiner and his team of seven were tasked to build one of the team’s two group a mazda 323s . by 1987 , in just their second season competing in group a , steiner and his team led finnish driver timo salonen to his first win in the swedish rally , which was only the second race of the season . salonen finished the season 14th in the driver world championship and helped the team to a sixth - place finish in the manufacturers world championship . in 1988 , in his final season with mazda rally team europe , salonen finished fifth in the driver world championship with the team finishing fourth in the manufacturer world championship .
the introduction of new world rally championship technical regulations in 2010 could provide prodrive with an opportunity to re - enter the championship with a new team .
“when designing this year’s livery we were keen to produce something fresh and exciting whilst celebrating ford’s long and prestigious standing within the fia world rally championship , ” said m - sport team principal malcolm wilson .
2017 fia world rally championship for manufacturers – positions after round 7 : 1 . m - sport world rally team - 234pts 2 . hyundai motorsport - 194pts 3 . toyota gazoo racing wrt - 143pts 4 . citroen total abu dhabi wrt - 97pts
the efforts of the ' flying finn ' and his compatriot co - driver miikka anttila also meant that the bp ford abu dhabi world rally team scored more points on the final round of the season than the team above , finishing second in the manufacturers ' standings .
ford ' s new world rally championship headquarters in cumbria was officially inaugurated by jacques nasser today ( saturday ) when the ford motor company president and chief executive officer made a flying visit to the uk .
while wilson and martin are competing in 13 rounds of this year’s world rally championship ( wrc ) on behalf of the stobart m - sport ford world rally team the pair have still managed to fit in training for the challenging tour de corse between travelling the world for various rally events . a small break in the wrc calendar during the month of june , between rally portugal and rally finland , has allowed a window for the duo to take part in the charity event .
subaru legacy ( 1993 ) : mcrae moved to the world stage full time with the subaru world rally team in 1993 , driving a legacy rs . he claimed his first wrc win in new zealand that year
in 1996 , malcolm wilson motorsport was chosen by ford as an operating company for their wrc participation with ford escort rs cosworth converted into the ford escort wrc , so the team started the 1997 season under a new name .
ott tänak , evgeny novikov and francois delecour form the all new m - sport ford world rally team , new leading ford’s privateer . according to team’s official release , main goal is to try and emulate successes of it’s predecessor , stobart team , and two young hopefuls and monte first - timers , tänak and novikov , are joined by experienced french veteran and monte winner , delecour .
between 1977 and 1980 he also competed on selected world championship events , initially for the official ford team and then , after its withdrawal from the sport at the end of 1979 , for the semi - private rothmans rally team . he took his debut win at the 1980 acropolis rally and became the world rally champion in 1981 . he remains the only privateer driver ( i . e . not driving for an official factory team ) to have achieved this feat .
2017 has seen the start of yet another stellar year at world rally championship . competing with four - time world champion sebastien ogier as the team’s number - one driver , the ms - rt supported team won the season opener – the monte carlo rally . they also lead both the drivers and manufacturers championships .
during his time with ford world rally team and m - sport , mcrae was able to achieve nine rally victories and sixteen total podium finishes in the focus . in 2001 , he completed the season in 2 nd place for the overall driver’s championship .
running the ford wrc team cars since the 1997 season , m - sport is key to the blue oval’s ambitions in the world rally championship . for 2017 , the dovenby - based company and racing team took to modify the all - new fiesta to challenge for victories .
wrc - rally de portugal 2018 / m - sport ford wrt : saturday re . . .
wrc - ypf rally argentina 2018 / m - sport ford wrt : sunday re . . .
wrc - ypf rally argentina 2018 / m - sport ford wrt : friday re . . .
wrc - rally italia sardegna 2018 / m - sport ford wrt : best of . . .
the frenchman and co - driver julien ingrassia have won the last four world rally championship titles in a row , with 38 rally wins .
“the ford focus rs world rally car is one of the strongest packages on gravel stages . solid and dependable , it ' s one of the defenitive rally cars of recent years . ” — car viewer description the ford focus rs wrc is a pro - class rally car in dirt 3 .
aa patrol brian evans of aberystwyth helped ford world rally driver jari - matti latvala to a great ' finnish ' at the wales rally gb last week with second place in the drivers ' championship .
rally monte carlo kicks off the 2017 fia world rally championship and marks the exciting return of the citroën racing team to the circuit . complying with the new fia regulations , which see the introduction of a new generation of very spectacular world rally cars , c3 wrc heralds the return of citroën as a works team in a discipline in which the brand holds a record 96 race wins and eight world titles . 2017 opens with a challenge for the citroën racing team : hoisting the brand to the highest level of the world competition with c3 wrc !
the ford escort rs cosworth is a 90 ' s - class rally car featured in dirt 3 .
images in motorsport truly tells you more than thousand worlds . please review my long rally career by clicking the images found from my galleries . in my rally career i ' ve rallied with several rally cars from rwd ford escort rs 2000 to highly competitive and top speed world rally cars .
this is a great day for motorsport , for abu dhabi and for the united arab emirates . this valued partnership for the current season sets us all on - course for continued international awareness , and from 2008 , the bp - ford abu dhabi world rally team will be seen competing across the globe ,
said sheikh sultan .
we have total faith in the partnership between abu dhabi and the bp - ford world rally team .
team principal , malcolm wilson obe , said : “the 2015 livery was immensely popular so rather than changing it completely , the team opted for an evolution which has created a bold look for our 2016 fia world rally championship campaign .
from timo makinen to richard burns just about every world rally champion from the past 30 years has competed in a ford escort rs at some stage or another .
britain ' s first world rally champion died ten years ago . check out some of his finest drives
it begins immediately and the team ' s ford focus rs world rally cars will carry a revised livery bearing abu dhabi signage from the next round of the championship in finland next month . united arab emirates driver khalid alqassimi and co - driver nicky beech , leaders of the fia middle east championship , will drive a bp - ford - entered focus rs wrc on four of the remaining eight rounds of the championship - in finland , germany , spain and ireland . the team will be renamed bp - ford abu dhabi world rally team from the start of the 2008 season .
a year into driving the ford fiesta rs wrc after years spent sitting behind the wheel of the subaru impreza wrx sti , ken block is gearing up for the 2011 rally season by unveiling the 2011 monster world rally team ford fiesta rs wrc armed with a year’s worth of rally experience and , in the case of his refreshed ride , a host of freshly updated livery .
“it’s important that we plan not just for 1999 , but beyond , and the decision to sign three drivers to partner colin lays a solid platform for the future which we hope and believe will bring the reward of world championship success , ” said ford world rally team director malcolm wilson .
ford team rs director jost capito , bp - ford team director malcolm wilson and championship leader marcus gronholm were all present in abu dhabi as adta chairman sheikh sultan bin tahnoon al nahyan announced details of the new partnership to a large gathering of media .
ford focus wrc ( 1999 ) : ford made a bold move by snapping up mcrae to drive the new ford focus wrc in 1999 . mcrae claimed the car ' s first victory on its third event , the safari rally
when designing this year ' s livery we were keen to produce something fresh and exciting whilst celebrating ford ' s long and prestigious standing within the fia world rally championship ,
said m - sport team principal malcolm wilson .
replacing the m - sport stobart ford world rally team as the wrc’s leading privateer , the m - sport ford world rally team will be hoping to emulate the successes of its predecessor’s final season and get its own 2012 campaign off to a flying start . the stobart team recorded its best ever season since its creation in 2006 last year with three podium finishes – two second places for mads østberg and a third place finish for henning solberg – and with some of rallying’s most promising young talents under the m - sport banner , the team will be hoping for future podiums of their own .
prior to that , atkinson had come off of a career - best season in 2008 as the number two factory driver for the subaru world rally team alongside petter solberg .
continues with volkswagen motorsport team with race touareg . 1st rallye dos sertoes , brazil . 1st silk way rally , russia . retired in rally dakar by accident
stepping up to the main citroen team in 2010 , six podiums included two outright victories at both the vodafone rally de portugal and the rally of japan .
m - sport’s greatest racing achievement came in 2006 when ford won the world rally constructors championship in the ford focus rs wrc . they also managed to retain the title for the following season . 2006 was the first time ford had won the title since they started competing back in 1981 .
the partnership was welcomed by ford of europe president and ceo john fleming , who said :
ford is delighted to welcome adta into the wrc and , more specifically , into the successful bp - ford world rally team . having won the world title last year with the focus rs wrc , we ' ve made a strong start to the 2007 season and currently lead both the manufacturers ' and drivers ' championships .
when a world champion speaks , it ' s kind of rude not to listen . when a four - time world champion speaks , it ' s contemptible not to act on what he ' s saying . so , ford , time to get yourself back into the world rally championship .
as the works team then concentrated on developing new models for the 1980s , another famous member of that victorious 1979 team , ari vatanen , spearheaded a privately - financed escort team which contested the world rally championship in 1980 and 1981 . after winning the acropolis rally in 1980 , ari went on to win three more events in 1981 to become the first and only privateer to win the world drivers ' championship .
steiner moved to banbury , oxfordshire , u . k . , in 1997 to join prodrive as the team manager for its allstar rally team . steiner led the new team to the european championship in just its first season with driver krzysztof holowczyc .
ford is staring at an open goal in terms of global appeal and publicity right now . the world championship is waiting .
established by ex - factory team driver malcolm wilson , m - sport was selected to run ford’s world rally championship programme in 1997 , and achieved considerable success over the next 14 years , including two manufacturers’ titles in 2006 and 2007 .
fordâ€™s 1999 world rally challenge revealed full details of fordâ€™s challenge for top honours in the 1999 fia world rally championship were revealed today during a special presentation at the companyâ€™s product development centre at dunton , . . .
citroën and michelin share so much history together , on both the manufacturing and motorsport fronts . together , the two companies have claimed five fia world rally championship titles and five fia cross - country rally world cups .
world rally championship organisers are mounting a new push to get privateers back in the series ' . . .
after a world rally championship season without victory , ford campaigned a new ford focus rs wrc based on the mk2 version of the road - going focus for their participation in 2006 wrc season . it boasts a duratec rally engine developed by the french engine specialist , pipo moteur .
serves as assistant team manager for top run srl in the fia world rally championship . driver grégoire de mévius finishes second in back - to - back seasons in group n .
he said : “being avid motorsport fans – especially anything ford or powered by a ford engine – my father and i both thought this was an ideal opportunity for m - sport to emphasise their position in the 2017 world rally championship .
ford ' s management will be relieved about that , for they swept through the team with a new broom ahead of this season .
two more world rally championship victories followed in 1996 . a privately - prepared escort rs cosworth driven by private - owner patrick bernardini won the monte carlo rally while carlos sainz won the rally of indonesia .
other ford motor company guests included richard parry - jones , group vice - president product development , nick scheele , chairman , ford of europe and martin whitaker , european director of ford racing .
back in december vaughn was invited out to gymkhana grid at irwindale speedway by ken block and the monster world rally team to drive ken’s 1978 ford escort mkii . vaughn had a ton a fun blasting the escort around the track and coincidentally was …
after a rapid rise through the ranks , including british championship titles in 1991 and 1992 , mcrae broke onto the world stage with the prodrive - run subaru world rally team . he claimed his first wrc win in a subaru legacy in 1993 .
“the 2015 livery was immensely popular so rather than changing it completely , the team opted for an evolution which has created a bold look for our 2016 fia world rally championship campaign .
when designing this year ' s livery we were keen to produce something fresh and exciting whilst celebrating ford ' s long and prestigious standing within the fia world rally championship .
after further testing in britain and norway , the ford focus world rally car will make its competition debut on january 17 when two of the valvoline - backed cars driven by mcrae and jean - joseph will start the monte carlo rally - the opening round of the 1999 fia world championship .
antoine l ' estage and his codriver alan ockwell of the yokohama canada rally team won the 2014 edition of the rallye defi by winning every stage of the rally .
sebastien ogier’s maiden voyage with m - sport in the world rally championship now has a visual to accompany it .
the final registration date for wrc teams to contest the fia world rally championship for manufacturers is 16 march 2010 .
m - sport was strong enough to continue running several teams . sponsored by the state of qatar , the main team entered the 2013 wrc season as qatar m - sport world rally team , fielding two cars for mads ostberg and evgeny novikov . thierry neuville was a full - time driver in the third car for the satellite qatar world rally team , with juho hanninen and nasser al - attiyah using the fourth car in selected events .
it will also appear on the upgraded ford fiesta r5 of elfyn evans , who is confirmed to start rally monte carlo and rally sweden in the wrc2 category .
bp - ford world rally team has strengthened its fia world rally championship title challenge by agreeing a new partnership with the abu dhabi tourism authority ( adta ) . the agreement announced this morning in the middle east will provide a significant boost to the bp - ford squad , winner of the manufacturers ' crown in 2006 and clear leader in both the drivers ' and manufacturers ' standings at the halfway point of the 2007 season .
ford ' s director of european motorsport , martin whitaker welcomed the extension of the partnership .
we ' re very pleased to continue our agreement with sparco . safety is one of the most vital aspect in motorsport and sparco produces top - quality equipment which the ford world rally team is privileged to use .
guenther steiner , team principal of haas f1 team in the fia formula one world championship , has accepted that challenge multiple times in a nearly 30 - year motorsports career that has taken him across the globe .
team principal , malcolm wilson obe , said upon the unveil :
the 2015 livery was immensely popular so rather than changing it completely , the team opted for an evolution which has created a bold look for our 2016 fia world rally championship campaign .
brian joined the team for the full week in cardiff as part of a job swap with rally technician ashley fowler who works for m - sport , based in cockermouth , cumbria , which prepared and ran all the official ford focus rs wrc cars in the fia world rally championship ( wrc ) .
the new car appeared in 1999 with british driver colin mcrae and immediately grabbed headlines for recording the fastest stage times during the monte carlo rally – the new team’s first event . m - sport scored its first world rally championship victory in its third event of the season at the safari rally in kenya . a month later , mcrae scored his second win in a row at the rally of portugal . steiner led the team to a fourth - place finish in the manufacturer world championship and mcrae finished sixth in the driver world championship .
“with colin mcrae we have the world’s fastest rally driver and our target is to put him in the world’s fastest rally car , ” he continued . “to partner him , we have decided to take a bold approach and give three highly promising young drivers with specialist experience a chance to demonstrate their natural talents and acquire world rally experience . ”
1999 marked the beginning of a four - year relationship between mcrae and ford ; it was also the first season that ford would be using their new focus wrc . upon joining the ford world rally team , run by world - renowned cockermouth - based m - sport , he was able to prove his worth right off the bat , achieving a 3rd place finish in monte carlo , the inaugural round of the 1999 wrc season . unfortunately , the team was using an illegal water pump , ultimately resulting in mcrae’s disqualification .
apart from its own team , m - sport also runs cars for private teams and individuals , which is why fiesta rs world rally cars are such a common sight on entry lists .
mikkelsen ' s management team has been in negotiation with toyota , hyundai and citroen in its efforts to get the former volkswagen driver back into the world rally championship ' s top class .
in 1984 , vatanen signed to drive the peugeot 205 t16 for peugeot ' s factory team . from the 1984 1000 lakes rally to 1985 swedish rally , vatanen won five world rallies in a row . he was tipped to win the 1985 world title , but at mid - season was trailing his team - mate timo salonen after a series of accidents and mechanical problems .
a little bit of orkney will travel with world rally champion sebastien ogier and co - driver julien ingrassia this season as well as with their team - mates ott tanak and martin jarveoja .
stilo are renowned as a world leader in the motorsport industry and provide the team with class - leading helmets , intercoms and headsets . urltoken
the team ' s 1996 world champion , hill will attend the annual motorsport show to start celebrations of the 20th anniversary of his title .
“this has been an outstanding season for the ford fiesta in rallying , winning so many championships around the world , “ said gerard quinn , ford of europe motorsport chief . “in its competitive debut the ford fiesta rs wrc took a podium lock - out at rally sweden and finished the season in similar fashion at the final round , wales rally gb . as a factory prepared rally car or in the hands of private competitors the ford fiesta is proving to have the competitive dna that has seen ford so successful in rallying over many decades . “
the fia world rally championship’s most keenly anticipated season has just started . great number of changes was introduced concerning technical and sporting regulations and as a result more powerful and new - look world rally cars showed up on special stages .
fords compete in the world rally championship , but ford itself is shying away . for the good of its reputation , and sebastien ogier , it needs to become a proper player again
serves as head of reconnaissance for jolly club spa in the fia world rally championship and helps lancia win the manufacturers world championship in back - to - back seasons in group a .
1999 marked the beginning of a four - year relationship between mcrae and ford ; it was also the first season that ford would be using their new focus wrc . upon joining the ford world rally team , run by world - renowned cockermouth - based m - sport , he was able to prove his worth right off the bat , achieving a 3 rd place finish in monte carlo , the inaugural round of the 1999 wrc season . unfortunately , the team was using an illegal water pump , ultimately resulting in mcrae’s disqualification .
as henry ford once famously said ,
if everyone is moving forward together , then success takes care of itself .
this video commemorates our team and trade partners who have aided the m - sport outfit to two manufacturer world rally championships and countless rally wins and podiums over the years . show less
jani ' s first rally with the ford focus wrc was swedish rally , where he retired . the second trip to sweden was much more successful , when he became the first foreigner to win south swedish rally .
since that first season , nearly forty years ago , ford has built their fair share of extremely successful rally cars , while pushing the limits of technology and innovation . some of the most notable rally cars that have been a product of the ford world rally team are the mk1 and mk2 escorts , the monstrous and fabled rs200 , the escort rs cosworth , the focus rs wrc and most recently , the fiesta wrc .
ford ' s new world rally championship headquarters in cumbria was officially inaugurated by jacques nasser today ( saturday ) when the ford motor company president and chief executive officer made a flying visit to the uk . for its new role , the . . .
guenther steiner , team principal of haas f1 team in the fia formula one world championship , has accepted that challenge multiple times in a nearly 30 - year motorsports career that has taken him across the globe . start with a blank sheet of paper . build a championship - caliber team .
the only team yet to lead a rally is citroen , and it has only scored one stage win with stephane lefebvre .
kankkunen won rally australia in 1989 and 1993 driving a toyota celica , while in the australian rally championship the toyota team run by neal bates took six drivers’ titles between 1993 and 2008 and continues to draw a big following for his 1980 toyota celica world rally car in the classic series .
buag ' s management has has assisted young drivers to reach the top of the rally world for over 30 years .
malcolm wilson is targeting sebastien ogier as m - sport ' s number one driver in the 2017 world rally championship .
sebastien ogier , right , secured his fourth straight world rally championship title in 2016 with co - driver julien ingrassia .
m - sport has taken the wraps off the car it will campaign it the 2015 world rally championship , complete with a new design that evokes iconic liveries in ford ' s past .
the following year he returned to the wheel of a ford , driving the ford escort rs cosworth for a semi - private team , and then being co - opted into the ford factory team where he stood in for the injured francois delecour . his most notable result that year was a podium finish on rally argentina , the first time he had contested the event since his accident there nine years previously .
positioned at the heart of the football field - sized final assembly area , the inaugural plaque reads
this stone was unveiled by jacques nasser , president and chief executive officer , ford motor company , to inaugurate dovenby hall as the headquarters of m - sport limited and the ford world rally championship team , 1st july 2000
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besides world rally cars , m - sport’s factory produced hundreds of other rally cars , starting with ford fiesta s2000 which was launched in 2009 . today , m - sport offers r1 , r2 , s2000 , rrc , r5 and wrc variants of ford fiesta . in recent time , with an expansion of rallycross , m - sport built many fiesta rx cars . the last project was the ford focus rs - rx , prepared together with ford performance and hoonigan racing division for the 2016 fia world rallycross championship .
“drawing inspiration from what continues to be a strong technical partnership with ford , this year’s colour scheme creates a fresh look for our new team .
at the end of that season , ford selected the team to take over the running of its wrc programme . despite desperately little time to grow from a small company to one capable of running a two - car wrc programme , malcolm wilson motorsport became m - sport and the team won two rounds of the series and ford finished runner - up in the manufacturers ' championship . it built the all - new ford focus world rally car in 1998 to rally in 1999 and the model continues to win events around the globe .