Monday, December 10, 2007

Renaissance Revival


101 Spring St. has a cast-iron facade


Interior, with Judd sculpture

When architect Nicholas Whyte designed 101 Spring Street in 1870, he created an elegant structure for a store and offices that was destined a century later to become the home and studio of a famous American artist, Donald Judd.

The five–story building on the northeast corner of Spring and Mercer Streets has a slender but sturdy exterior cast–iron frame which holds very large windows, with three bays across its Spring Street frontage, and ten bays along Mercer Street. The abundance of light provided illumination, first for the display of merchandise, and later, beginning in 1968, for Judd’s large minimalist sculptures. With his wife and two children, Judd occupied the spacious upper floors. His studio and workshop were on the lower levels along with an exhibit of his colorful large scale sculptures (from New York Architecture Images).

Can you imagine living here? More great photos here and here.

No comments: