Modernist must-see: Tour the Upper East Side’s Paul Rudolph-designed Modulightor Building
Photo © Joe Polowczuk (L) and © Annie Schlechter (R), Archives of the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation
A must-see for modern design fans: The four-story Modulightor Building at 246 East 58th Street was designed by Paul Rudolph from 1989-1994 as a residential and commercial structure to house the lighting company by the same name which he founded with Ernst Wagner. The Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation hosts monthly First Friday open house tours at the Rudolph-designed duplex apartment on floors three and four–NYC’s only Rudolph-designed residence regularly open to the public. Explore the space, furnished with unique furniture designed by Rudolph and items from his personal collections, on Friday, August 2 from 6-9 P.M.
Photo © Joe Polowczuk, Archives of the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation.
Rudolph co-founded Modulightor to create the kind of lighting he needed to compliment his own work–and then designed its glowing headquarters in midtown Manhattan’s design district. This masterwork of high Modernism embraces compositional complexity and layered space while supporting multiple functions. Floors five and six were added from 2007-2015 by the original project manager using Rudolph’s preliminary sketches for a six-story design.
Photo © Anne Broder, Archives of the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation.
Photo © Anne Broder, Archives of the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation.
Docents will be on hand to provide information and answer questions; make sure to bring your camera and sketchbook! Tickets for the tour are $20; all proceeds from the tour benefit the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation.
Photo © Peter Aaron/OTTO, Archives of the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation.
Photo © Peter Aaron/OTTO, Archives of the Paul Rudolph Heritage Foundation.
The Foundation recently submitted an application for landmark status for the iconic home. Find out more and reserve your spot here.
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