OMA unveils cork-clad Oberon restaurant inside New Museum extension

OMA has unveiled Oberon, a 2,500-square-foot dining and drinking establishment located in its newly completed extension of the New Museum in Manhattan. This space, likened to a "jewel box" or "inverted white cube gallery," features a silver-painted cork exterior that resembles a metallic box, accented by a single strip of frosted glass. Inside, black expanded cork adorns the booth seating and ceilings, creating a dramatic, cavernous ambiance that contrasts with the museum's industrial lobby. An interactive digital piece by Ian Cheng is showcased behind the bar. Visitors can enter the restaurant from the museum lobby or via a distinct entrance on Freeman Alley. The design was spearheaded by OMA New York partner Shohei Shigematsu, with project architect Jake Forster highlighting the eco-friendly cork material, which bonds naturally when heated. The extension, adjacent to the original SANAA-designed structure, opened earlier in 2026.