Over time, the stones at Rhythm Zero have transitioned from design "moments" to functional parts of the community. The rock near the mirror, originally intended as a visual focal point, has become a favorite sitting area for regulars. What began as a surprising aesthetic choice has been absorbed into the daily life of the cafe, proving that even the most avant-garde design can find a practical purpose through human interaction.
As for the rock in the bathroom—a feature that both Rhythm Zero and Gem Home share—the motivation appears to be rooted in the power of surprise. Somorai explained that she wanted to play with the expectations of her customers. In a dark, minimalist bathroom, the sudden appearance of a large boulder prompts a moment of genuine wonder. “I wanted them to be like, ‘Why is there a rock here?’” she wrote.
While Flynn McGarry was unavailable for a direct interview regarding the geological choices at Gem Home, his representative confirmed that the "rock in the sink" is a recurring signature for the chef’s projects. The now-closed Gem Wine and a third project, Cove, both featured similar stone installations in their restrooms. It suggests a cohesive brand identity that values the tactile and the elemental, even in the most utilitarian corners of a business.
At Pizza 4P’s, the boulders are part of a broader, international philosophy. While the chain has dozens of locations across several countries, no two are alike. Each space is custom-designed to reflect a specific theme relevant to its location. In Indonesia, the design focuses on biodiversity; in the United States, the guiding concept is “what the earth told me.”
Kubota explained that the team approaches stones with the same reverence they show for their ingredients. The goal is to identify something beautiful in the natural world and then perform the necessary work to showcase it without over-processing it. In the context of a restaurant, this means building a host stand out of a New Jersey boulder rather than a piece of milled plywood.
However, the lifespan of a decorative rock in the city is not always eternal. During a recent visit to the Greenpoint Rhythm Zero, the rock that once sat outside the bathroom was gone. It was a casualty of a recent renovation, but its story did not end in a landfill. Instead, the rocks were moved to nearby Transmitter Park. Somorai described the move as a return to form, noting that the park is “where they belong, I guess.”
The departure of the stones from Rhythm Zero marks the end of one chapter, but the trend shows no signs of slowing down elsewhere. As New York’s dining scene continues to move away from the sleek, polished surfaces of the past decade, the arrival of the boulder represents a move toward something more grounded, permanent, and unapologetically heavy. Whether it’s a two-ton monolith in a dining room or a rust-stained slab in a sink, the message is clear: in the middle of the urban jungle, there is still a profound desire to touch the earth.
