Led by New York-based Architecture Research Office (ARO), a team of consultants and engineers have restored the interiors of the five-storey residence at 101 Spring Street, where Judd lived and worked from 1968 until his death in 1994 and amassed a collection of over 500 artworks.

The project involved maintaining the open-plan layout created by Judd and reconditioning the timber floors and exposed plaster walls. The team also had to replace an existing spiral staircase to bring the building in line with current health and safety standards.

"Our goal has been to preserve Donald Judd's vision for the building and make it accessible to the public, while satisfying contemporary building requirements," said ARO principal Adam Yarinsky. "The entire design team worked with creativity, diligence, and sensitivity to resolve the complex challenges involved in reconciling these objectives."

The team meticulously catalogued the situation of every sculpture, painting and object in the house, including pieces by Judd himself as well as works gifted by artist-friends such as Claes Oldenburg, Carl Andre and Dan Flavin, plus older artworks by Marcel Duchamp, Ad Reinhardt and more. Following the restoration, each object was returned to its exact position.

The ground floor of the house was previously used by Judd as a living room and will now serve as an event and lecture space for the Judd Foundation, the charity responsible for the building. As visitors arrive, one of the first things they'll spot is a sculpture by Andre comprising a stack of bricks.

A Judd-designed kitchen with a wooden table and central stove features on the first floor, while the fourth floor accommodates a bedroom with a fluorescent lighting installation by Flavin along one side.

The restoration also included the exterior of the building, where the team replaced around 13,000 cast-iron pieces.

See more recent projects in New York City, including a stripy replica of a Frankfurt bar and a Camper store filled with ghostly white shoes.

Here are a few words from the Judd Foundation:

When Donald Judd's New York City building in the SoHo Cast Iron Historic District opens to the public in June 2013 after a three-year restoration, visitors will experience Judd's home and studio as originally installed by the artist. The restoration of 101 Spring Street began on June 3, 2010 (the artist's birthday) and will conclude three years later. Donald Judd lived in the building with his family beginning in 1968, and it was his New York studio until his death in 1994.

Guided visits will be offered for small groups by appointment through an online ticketing system and by telephone. Visitors will be guided through all floors of the home, including Judd's studio, kitchen, and his stately fifth-floor bedroom, which is installed with a floor-to-ceiling 1969 Dan Flavin fluorescent light piece, extending the length of the loft space.

Each floor will remain as installed by Donald Judd with pieces from his collection of over 500 objects, including original sculpture, paintings, drawings, prints, and furniture designed by Judd and others. Judd installed artworks by Jean Arp, Carl Andre, Larry Bell, John Chamberlain, Marcel Duchamp, Dan Flavin, David Novros, Claes Oldenburg, Ad Reinhardt, Lucas Samaras, and Frank Stella throughout the building, all of which viewers will be able to explore.

Overseen by board members Flavin Judd and Rob Beyer, the restoration project shares the same goal and mission of Judd Foundation: to preserve Judd's living and working spaces and promote a wider understanding and appreciation of Donald Judd's legacy. The New York City design firm Architecture Research Office (ARO), led Judd Foundation's project team of consultants, which includes a preservation architect and engineers.

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by Architecture Research Office appeared first on Dezeen.

The stand, for hand-crafted furniture and products brand Onn, comprised a room with walls made from traditional Hanji paper, stained to create a natural gradient from dark to light.

VOID planning added narrow openings at each end to allow visitors to walk though the space over a gravel pathway that spanned the interior.

Furniture was positioned at the edges over a dark mirrored surface reminiscent of water.

"Walking along inside of the exhibition space reminds of taking a walk on a wet foggy lakeside in the morning," say the architects.

Smaller items were presented on a raw timber shelving unit that formed an obstacle across the pathway.

VOID planning's past projects include a stone-clad art gallery and a headquarters for a cosmetics company. See more architecture and interiors in South Korea.

Photography is by the architects.

Read on for more details from VOID planning:

2012 Craft Trend Fair [Onn] by VOID planning

The Onn booth of '2012 Craft Trend Fair Seoul' shows the direction successfully under the title of 'Beob Go Chang Shin' (which means create new one based on the old one).

Onn is a brand of masterpiece which is carefully classified and selected under the present standard of values and tastes of Millenary Jeonju culture. These premium handcrafted products are well blended traditions with modern designs by cultural asset masters. Materials and colours, products of Onn are inspired by nature and it lights up the traditional peculiarity.

The exhibition booth was constructed to remind a scene of nature as Onn desired, and the space becomes an art piece itself harmonised with the products by Onn. Walking along inside of the exhibition space reminds of taking a walk on a wet foggy lakeside in the morning. Gradation effect of Muk on Hanji which is traditional colour and paper of Jeonju stands becoming the wall and gravels are spread on the floor. All of these extraordinary scenes of nature reflected through the black-mirrored pathway on the floor. This collaboration seemed like watching an epic oriental painting as it was.

Design: VOID planning
Design Director: Shin-Jae Kang, Hee-Young Choi
Art Director: Woong Chul Choi
Location: COEX, 135-731 Samsung-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Floor area: 90m2

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by VOID planning appeared first on Dezeen.

As one of three architect-designed installations for the Urban Stories exhibition of contemporary living, Kengo Kuma's Naturescape was designed as an interpretation of a traditional Japanese Zen garden.

Cascading stone strata formed a series of undulating curves around the room. Pools of water formed at some of the lowest levels, while others contained clusters of bamboo trees planted in gravel.

"The clean and pure Pietra Serena stone is used so as to recreate a topography that, as in real landscapes, moulds the shape of water, guides our walking and gives a context to the objects to better admire them," says Kengo Kuma and Associates.

The installation was located in one of the buildings of the Porta Nuova Varesine complex, a new skyscraper district designed by architects including Cesar Pelli, Stefano Boeri and Nicholas Grimshaw. It was used as a showroom for furniture between 9 and 14 April, alongside spaces designed by Michele de Lucchi and Diego Grandi.

Other recent projects by Kengo Kuma include an experimental house in Japan and a fashion boutique in China. See more architecture by Kengo Kuma.

See more projects from Milan 2013, including offices of the future imagined by Jean Nouvel and a courtyard installation of rotating cork platforms by the Bouroullecs.

Photography is by Giovanni Desandre, apart from otherwise stated.

Here's some more information from the exhibition organisers:

In the spectacular skyline of Porta Nuova Varesine in Milan, on the occasion of the Fuorisalone collateral event, three exceptional architects are 'staging' three extraordinary suggestions of contemporary living.

Michele De Lucchi, Diego Grandi and Kengo Kuma, 'tell' their Urban Stories, through unique and thrilling installations, for an eagerly-awaited event, which supplements the busy schedule of Fuorisalone events.

Urban Stories, organised by MoscaPartners, with the collaboration of Hines, is a spin-off from the extraordinary success of Bologna Water Design 2012, the exclusive event dedicated to water design, which involved the city's most prestigious venues during the Cersaie show in September.

The limelight is therefore cast on Urban Stories and its stars, who thanks to the enthusiastic participation of major leading companies in a variety of industries will give rise to charming captivating set-ups.

The focus of Urban Stories is the Porta Nuova Varesine complex, which is the result of an ambitious urban and architectural replanning project involving large areas of the Isola, Varesine and Garibaldi districts, developed and implemented by famous architects, including Cesar Pelli, Stefano Boeri and Nicholas Grimshaw, under the direction of Hines Italia Sgr, promoter and investor.

The original installations created by Michele De Lucchi, Diego Grandi and Kengo Kuma will transform the important display spaces of the 'new centre of Milan' into an exceptional cultural box, ready to welcome the curious multifarious public who animates the most important and eagerly-awaited international design event every year.

Urban Stories are therefore not just simple installations, but proper 'seductions', resulting from a sensitive way of designing to imagine the landscape within our cities and outside them.

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by Kengo Kuma appeared first on Dezeen.

Spanish designer Carbonell hung loops of silicone tubing from metalwork angled at 45 degrees then filled them with blue LED lights, creating a chandelier commissioned by fashion brand Vionnet (top).

He also exhibited a chair with wings of steel cubes and marble sculptures that resemble cat-giraffe hybrids.

Among the 15 other artists and studios that presented work, JamesPlumb contributed a sofa with a cast concrete seat and Maarten Baas showed his purposefully inaccurate time-keeping device for Laikingland.

A cabinet shaped by a mathematical calculation to absorb noises by Dirk Vander Kooij and a yellow mobile prototype lamp from Front's lastest collection were also on display.

Open for Milan's design week earlier this month, the exhibition was located in the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum - a 19th century family house converted into a museum to preserve its interiors and display the family's decorative arts collection.

A small wire-mesh house designed by Italian studio CLS Architetti was constructed underneath the grand staircase to host the museum's shop, also curated by Orlandi.

Elsewhere in Milan, Moooi presented their new collection among giant portraits and Jean Nouvel has set out his vision for the office environments of the future.

See all our coverage of Milan 2013 »
See more architecture and design exhibitions »

Here's the press release from the museum:

2.0 an Exhibition at the Bagatti Valsecchi Museum - Milan

Two Landlords and two Ladies, plus a magnificent Mansion have created an exhibition that opens up a dialogue between past and present trends.

Like one would do with a flower composition, 16 artists display their pieces in an untouched environment of blissful past beauty developed over the centuries by a generous family who later wished to share their home with everyone.

Fausto and Giuseppe Bagatti Valsecchi, together with patroness Goga Ashkenazi and Rossana Orlandi who provided the creative inspiration for it, are celebrating a new interpretation of a red thread bridging the Past with the Contemporary spirit.

From Home to Home, the endless and timeless journey of artworks and exquisite pieces that are made to last is marked by a softly inspirational beginning, as Rossana Orlandi did it, almost silently and cosily placing 14 chairs into the rooms of the Museum for the watchmen to rest and proving that beautiful objects never clash but rather nurture each other. Nacho Carbonell's magnificent Chandelier inspired by Maison Vionnet is one of the multi-faceted interpretations of the concept of mixing forty-five degrees and blue.

The rooms host artworks from Front Design, Studio Deform, Paul Heijnen, Niels Hoebers, Tomas Libertiny, Yukiko Nagai, Frederique Morrel, Dirk Vander Kooij, Maarten Baas, Martin Smith, President Von Pelt, Enrico Marone Cinzano, Massimiliano Locatelli Cls Architetti, Manuela Crotti and Giampiero Milella.

A rejuvenating feeling around a family museum and the beginning of a passionate endeavour.

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by Rossana Orlandi appeared first on Dezeen.

Arranged in small room layouts within a large warehouse, the display featured furniture and products such as lamps formed from upside-down buckets and bathtubs by Belgain artists Studio Job, and a family of red tables by Chinese designers Neri&Hu.

Portraits and images by Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf were blown up to divide the space and provide backdrops for the products.

The dark space was illuminated by a range of table, floor and pendent lamps from the collection and a small number of spotlights mounted on rigs that criss-crossed the beams in the former industrial space.

Black, cream and orange manequins sporting no clothing could be spotted standing by furniture or reclining on chairs.

The Frame Moooi award winner, a compact furniture production line designed by Design Academy Eindhoven alumni, was announced in the space on 10 April.

Before the collection was unveiled in Milan, Moooi sent us a set of product sketches by the designers that contributed to the collection.

Moooi's Unexpected Welcome was located in the Tortona district, not far from where Dezeen set up a video studio in the MINI Paceman Garage as part of our Dezeen and MINI World Tour.

Photography is by Valentina Zanobelli.

See more designs by Moooi »
See all of our Milan 2013 coverage »

Moooi sent us the following information:

Find your way home to Moooi’s ‘unexpected welcome’ at via Savona 56

On occasion of the 52nd edition of the Salone del Mobile, Moooi has prepared an entire collection of refreshing new designs and surprising experiences that will be revealed at an unexpected location: via Savona 56. From the 8th to the 14th of April Moooi is taking up residence in the imposing space of 1.700 m2 and transforming it into a stylish assembly of colourful living quarters, new product displays, lounges, an artistic exhibition, along with the Frame Moooi award nominees exposition, panel discussion, exclusive ceremony and VIP cocktail evening.

Moooi’s biggest gift to the public is to reveal how a wide empty space can be magically transformed into several iconic, rich and colourfully dressed living quarters. This assortment of interior environments is decorated with an inspiring variety of patterns and colours to embrace any kind of space and make people of different ages, cultures and personalities fall in love with their homes. Of course Moooi will make sure to dress and accessorise all the interior sets with an irresistible blend of exquisite richness, nurturing warmth and colourful playfulness.

The living quarters will be furnished with items from the current collection & many new, exciting creations by Marcel Wanders, Studio Job, Joost van Bleiswijk, Edward van Vliet, Neri & Hu, Nika Zupanc, Moooi Works/Bart Schilder, Bertjan Pot, Raimond Puts, Lorenza Bozzoli and ZMIK (Mattias Mohr & Rolf Indermuhle). You are welcome to enjoy, amongst others, the artistic temperament and intimate nature of Marcel Wanders’ Canvas, Zliq and Cloud sofas, the retro atmospheres of Nika Zupanc’s Golden Chair and the sophisticated brightness of ZMIK’s Kroon chandeliers. Take some time to walk around and study the high-stream inventiveness of Joost van Bleiswijk’s Construction lamps, the pragmatic playfulness of Studio Job’s Bucket & Tub lamps and the graceful symbolism of Lorenza Bozzoli’s Juuyo lamps.

The new designs can also be admired and observed in detail along an extensive ‘catwalk’ presentation, in which they ‘pose’ individually to share their pristine beauty with the public. This unexpected home vision brings to life a whole world of new ideas and inspiring settings to brighten up daily life with a touch of magic. It represents a place where visions converge and where every traveller can stop to admire the perfect eclectic mix of culture & experiences that make a home environment more beautiful and unique.

Celebrating the successful cooperation and friendship between two highly creative souls, Marcel Wanders has asked renowned photographer Erwin Olaf to join the Moooi presentation with a grand selection of photographs from his personal work. Interior design meets artistic photography and they connect, creating the perfect balance between two inspiring, stylish and playful realities. The photographs unfold their stories and feelings on a large scale, reaching a stunning height of 4,5 meters especially for this exhibition.

Admiring them feels like stepping into a world of exceptional sophistication, permeated with the sharp intensity of human emotions and enveloped in a dreamy haze of subtle tension. Although cleverly concealed, their hidden stories instinctively appeal and connect to our deepest sense of being, revealing the strong frailty of the human spirit. Erwin Olaf has chosen to challenge the public with pieces for his series Grief, Fall, Keyhole and Berlin which respectively challenge everyday notions, dwell on sensations of shame & guilt, or show the transcendent relation between people in a different light. A real must-see during the Salone del Mobile!

Especially for this occasion the Moooi presentation will be inhabited and characterized by a number of colourful mannequins by Hans Boodt. Combining 25 years of experience in visual merchandizing, creativity and know-how, the world-famous, high-quality mannequins of Hans Boodt never fail to make a great impression with their strong charisma. They will make themselves at home at Moooi’s presentation, bringing an extra feeling of intimacy to the living quarters and resembling peoples’ personality, style & taste. Real and surreal at the same time!

This year the exclusive Frame Moooi Award ceremony, VIP cocktail evening and panel discussion will also take place in via Savona 56. On the 10th of April a selected crowd of design professionals is invited to attend a unique cocktail evening dedicated to the celebration of creativity and design. Jana Scholze (Curator of Contemporary Furniture at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum) will crown the winner, who will receive a tempting award of €25,000. Detailed information on the 10 shortlisted designs will be available throughout the entire week of the Salone on artistic, informative panels at via Savona 56.

Are you looking for inspiration? Would you like to admire all these creations with your own eyes? Then take a break and find your way home to Moooi’s Unexpected Welcome in via Savona 56!

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by Moooi appeared first on Dezeen.