If you thought Vintanthromodern was like any other second hand shop, boy were you W R O N G. The simple explanation in rhetorical question form: When has Take ever bothered to cover the ordinary? Nestled on State Street in the East Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut, Vintanthro (we’re on a first name basis) is a headquarters of all things vintage and, even more importantly, all things local and artisan-made.

Photo courtesy of Vintanthromodern

First thing’s first: I bet you’re curious about the name. Prayers answered, here it is broken down:

(pronounced: vin-tan-throw-modern)

vintage: of lasting interest and importance / anthropology: the science of humans and their work /  modern: pertaining to present and recent time

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet? W R O N G. A name more suitable doesn’t exist because while Melissa Gonzales, founder and curator, is sure to keep a stock of the most perfect vintage things in all the land (“all the land” being Connecticut, New England, and occasionally the deep South), she has an eagerness to give back by supporting local artisans and crafts people’s (anthropology) current work (modern) whether it be screen printers like Black Unicorn Studios, wood workers like B Meyer Studio, or natural beauty product makers like Poor & Pretty. Everything is thoughtfully hand picked by Gonzales, in turn crowning her the colab-queen of a healthy and roaring arts-and-commerce collective in her community of New Haven.

Photo courtesy of Vintanthromodern

Too good to be true? Well, don’t bother visiting before you peep the 360-degree virtual tour on their website. Be prepared for the denim galore (seriously, what’s a vintage space without this particular rolling rack), floral afghans, antler-print neckties, silk scarves, handmade garlands, satin peep-toe kitten heels, and needlepoint perfection that you’ll come across. If you’re like me, and the typical ramshackle haphazardness of second hand shops gives you severe anxiety, and causes you to rush out gasping for relief from that unmistakable mothball meets old-lady-tea-party smell, but at the same time you’re raring to get your hands on that special find that will only reveal itself after 30+ minutes of digging…this place is your salvation.

Another awesome feature on the Vintanthro website is the look book—because vintage clothing can be daunting and sometimes we need help working it naturally into our wardrobe. (There’s a fine line between rocking that floor-length pastel skirt and looking like you’re on your way to Tuesday night bingo at the Legion.) Fear not, Vintanthromodern has your back on that one. In the words of Gonzales herself, “Vintage doesn’t have to be costume.” Further, their Instagram (by now, you know about my acute obsession with feeds of this nature) is simply TDF (to die for, not to be mistaken with DTF), and if that ration of “vintage porn” doesn’t reel you in, their floor-to-ceiling shop window will.

If there’s one thing Vintanthromodern loves more than their old and new finery, it’s their customers—which means, if you come upon something particularly meant for you, don’t expect to escape without your picture getting snapped, posing with your new find. No doubt this is a common occurrence, because Gonzales has a thought-out concept for every piece that enters her doors. “I almost sort of envision who would wear the piece or who would be attracted to the piece,” she says, “and so there’s a sense of excitement that not only I am discovering something, but later on somebody else will be having that same discovery.”

Whether you have a gift to buy, a craving for vintage, or just need a cozy space for inspiration, find your way to Vintanthromodern. Because they’d love to meet you.

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Aaron Forrest and Yasmin Vobis met in architecture graduate school at Princeton University and established their love of architecture through informal projects together. After years of moving to various cities and pursuing different projects, Ultramoderne was born.

Ultramoderne is an award-winning architecture and design firm located in Providence, RI, run by Forrest and Vobis. According to their website, “The principals are driven by an experimental approach that leads to conceptually rigorous and well-executed designs. The office has experience working at a wide variety of scales, from single-family residences to urban-scale planning.” What makes Ultramoderne so unique, according to Forrest, is their focus and dedication to public space projects. They’re driven and passionate about figuring out different ways to engage with a broader public.

“Providence has been amazing,” Forrest says. The space they occupy within Rhode Island is certainly significant to them. They lived and worked in New York before moving to Providence, and both experiences were incredibly different. Forrest and Vobis truly seem to love the region in which they work now.

SOUTHLIGHT Performance Pavilion + Public Garden 2016, project in collaboration with RISD students and faculty | Photo by Jo Sittenfeld

“The thing I love about Providence are the many old industrial buildings that exist around the city.” explains Vobis. “Many of these are incredible spaces — large, open spaces with lots of natural light and a clear expression of structure. The challenge we face will be to understand how to reuse many of these buildings in the future — how we breathe new life into them and re-imagine them — instead of tearing them down and replacing them with cheaper, faster and less flexible buildings, which happens all too often.”

But Ultramoderne is just getting started. While they’ve had lots of business thus far, with past clients including the Van Alen Institute, National Parks Service, Chicago Parks District, and the Boston Society of Architects, they are ready for the next challenge. “I would like to see Ultramoderne tackle larger public projects,” explains Vobis. “Our office started with small-scale installations, which were a great opportunity for us to test new ideas and techniques… we relish the idea that architecture can be for everyone, not just those that can afford to have something commissioned.”

Forrest adds, “We’d love to be so lucky to continue what we’re doing and find out how architecture can do more to help the community at large.”

Weir Farm wayfinding project with Jessica Forrest, Noah Klersfeld, Suzanne Mathew, and Dungjai Pungauthaikan 2015

Yasmin Vobis received her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Berkeley and her Master’s Degree from Princeton University, where she was awarded the Butler Traveling Fellowship and the Suzanne Kolarik Underwood Thesis Prize. She has taught at Princeton University and currently teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Aaron Forrest (AIA, NCARB) is a licensed architect who teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design. He received both his Bachelor’s Degree and Masters in Architecture from Princeton University. He has extensive professional experience, having practiced in New York with Bernheimer Architecture and Guy Nordenson and Associates Structural Engineers, and in Madrid with Ábalos & Herreros Arquitectos.

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