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What’s Old is New Again

by habituallychic

04 . 05 . 12
The Joe Fresh store isn’t your typical New York store on Fifth Avenue.  It’s located in a landmarked building designed by Gordon Bunshaft for Skidmore Owings and Merrill in 1954 and is considered a Modernist masterpiece.  Originally built for the Manufacturers Trust Company, it was eventually was bought by JP Morgan Chase who had removed the famous 70 foot long Bertoia screen and mobile before it was sold again.  Since they were created for the space, they were ordered to be returned and now JP Morgan Chase will allow them to be on permanent loan as long as the building remains landmarked. I loved seeing these old photos of the space when it was the bank compared to the colorful clothing store it is today.  Looks pretty good for a building over 50 years old.  We should all be so lucky. 

Photos from The Architects Newspaper

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  1. Glamour Drops April 5, 2012 | 8:40 am

    An absolute masterpiece! Fabulous to see these original images, which so beautifully display the drama and scale of what must have been an amazing, almost shocking perhaps, building when it was first built.

  2. kathryn April 5, 2012 | 11:14 am

    Thank you for this wonderful post. I’d forgotten about this very special building and its fabulous sculpture. Sigh!

  3. MJH Design Arts April 5, 2012 | 3:36 pm

    I’ve got to have that screen. I’m glad that it’s going back to it’s home. Thanks. Mary