The Ford Foundation office building in Manhattan is the pinnacle of comfort and closeness to nature. The lush garden is enclosed in a glass atrium, additionally supported by concrete pillars. The building was designed by the office of Eero Saarinenen – the most famous Finnish architect in the United States. It is noteworthy that after the Finn’s death, Kevin Roche and John Dinkeloo became the firm’s directors. Their designs began to emphasise modern glass and ubiquitous greenery. The Ford Foundation Building is one of the most interesting examples of 1960s architecture.
The growing demand for offices for foundations was linked to the changing fields supported by Ford. Education, social issues, the arts and science became paramount. The gigantic fortune of the car magnate’s family boosted the foundation’s accounts, which in turn made it the richest institution of its kind in the world. Incidentally, it is worth mentioning that today the Danish pharmaceutical-related Novo Nordisk boasts this title.
Concrete philanthropy
The new edifice on East 43 Street was built on the plot formerly occupied by the Hospital for Special Surgery. In the 1960s, the construction of an astonishing and rather expensive headquarters for a philanthropic institution was a rare occurrence. However, both Ford and Roche wanted to create a building that would fit in with the neighbourhood and represent the foundation with dignity. The height of the Ford Foundation Building is just 55 m, which is slightly less than the surrounding buildings.
From the outside, the headquarters resembles a cube with glass in one corner. The whole is supported on concrete columns lined with South Dakota granite. The windows are recessed into the block and set in steel frames. Interestingly, the glazing on the twelfth and thirteenth floors has been extended and is mounted flush with the concrete façade. Due to New York’s building regulations, the architect had to use weathering (weathering) steel. The rest of the walls consist of stone and up to two rows of wide windows.
Roche’s main design objective was to make the building comfortable and welcoming. For this reason, the offices are arranged along two perpendicular walls. With this treatment, the employees were to ‘feel that they are creating something together and have a common goal’. The windows of the offices overlook an unusual courtyard with glazing and a lush garden. The architect wanted the greenery enclosed in the glass atrium to become a place around which the life of the foundation would revolve.
The green heart
The arrangement of the plants in the atrium is no accident. The selection of suitable flora was handled by Dan Kisley, a well-known landscape architect in the USA. Kisley created a garden in which plants fought a battle for survival according to Darwin’s theory. The greenhouse conditions suited only the strongest species. In the past, shrubs, ivies, aquatic plants and trees, including eucalyptus trees brought from California, could be found inside. A renovation carried out a few years ago changed the landscape of the wild atrium, and Kisley’s flora was replaced with easier-to-maintain plants.
The architecture of the interior itself is also worth mentioning. The undulating roof is supported by orange-coloured steel frames. The entire structure of the atrium is supported by concrete pillars, which provide a pleasant contrast to the greenery. In turn, the balconies located just below the roof provide a great view of the courtyard. The fountain, which is the focal point of the atrium, is also an important element of the interior. The garden is accessible and visible from the street to every passer-by, which was rare in the 1960s.
The innovative 1960s.
The interior of the offices is also stunning in its aesthetics. Designer Warren Platner opted for brass reminiscent of dark gold. Such details go well with mahogany floors, wool carpets and leather. This décor is particularly true of the top two floors, where the CEO’s office and conference rooms are located.
The Ford Foundation Building in New York is simply great and timeless architecture. The innovative idea of a publicly accessible glass atrium is standard in many office buildings today. The 1967 building is still recognised today as one of Manhattan’s most treasured landmarks, which outlined new trends in office architecture.
Source: Ford Foundation
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