The demolition of facade pieces from a Tribeca building sparked an innovative project for designer Rafael Prieto involving salvaged architectural elements. As the ornate elements of a 1908 Beaux-Arts structure—originally designed by Frederick C. Browne—were being discarded, Prieto salvaged sixteen pieces. This initiative has blossomed into an extraordinary furniture exhibition, preserving the building’s essence in a novel way.
The Creative Process Behind the Piece Transformation
Prieto, based in Tribeca, spent a year and a half studying the rescued fragments in his studio. By photographing, scanning, and conceptualizing these remnants, he developed a unique design language rather than replicating the originals. This approach, akin to archaeological exploration, informs the design of tables, chairs, and sculptural objects. The exhibition artfully embeds the building’s identity into each piece, highlighting their impact on contemporary work.
A Building’s Legacy Reimagined
366 Broadway, now Collect Pond House, once housed the Royal Typewriter Company and later became a residential co-op. Its lavish facade featured copper cornices and marble columns, witnessing over a century of change. During a recent historical renovation, crucial terra cotta units were replaced; however, some fragments never returned to the building.
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These salvaged items inspired Prieto’s work, especially visible in the red lacquered chair with stepped, ribbed leg profiles, echoing the building’s architectural motifs. This project transforms discarded ornamentation into a narrative-driven collection that speaks to architectural design principles.
Highlight Pieces and Their Stories
A key piece features a large carved stone cornice block beneath a flat black tabletop, engaging visually and structurally. Another, a cube-shaped form, prominently displays a smaller fragment behind vertical bars. These designs integrate “Architectural Fragment” alongside painted birch materials, showcasing both actual stone and its stylistic influences.
The all-red chair, with its fluted, stacked legs, interprets 366 Broadway’s design language in vibrant lacquer. Its counterpart in natural birch utilizes a similar aesthetic, accentuated with red arm brackets. A console table juxtaposes a salvaged Ionic stone volute with a fabricated red plinth—a testament to historical and modern contrasts.
Exhibition Experience and Reflections
Unaltered keystones, including a bearded face in a plumed helmet, rest in the gallery, preserving the building’s story. Large-scale murals from Prieto’s analog photography dominate the space, created in collaboration with Wallpaper Projects. This transforms the gallery into a modern-day ruin, bearing witness to New York’s architectural grandeur.
Prieto’s exhibition, “The Future of the Past,” runs at the Emma Scully Gallery through December 12, inviting viewers to ponder whether furniture crafted from a building’s fragments carries its memory. As the bearded keystone seems at peace, it’s clear the collection leaves more questions than answers, inviting reflection rather than resolution with their inherent character.
Source: yankodesign.com
Frequently asked questions
What was the source of inspiration for Rafael Prieto’s furniture exhibition?
The source of inspiration for Rafael Prieto’s furniture exhibition was the salvaged architectural elements from the demolition of facade pieces of the 1908 Beaux-Arts structure at 366 Broadway.
How long did Rafael Prieto study the architectural fragments?
Rafael Prieto spent a year and a half studying the rescued architectural fragments in his studio.
Where is Rafael Prieto’s furniture exhibition being held?
Rafael Prieto’s exhibition, “The Future of the Past,” is being held at the Emma Scully Gallery.