The initiative for the reconstruction was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands; In addition to Koolhaas and OMA, the project involves Dutch designer Hella Jongerius, graphic designer Irma Boom, artist Gabriel Lester and theorist Louise Schouwenberg.
The interior of the salon with the bar was created at the same time as the entire building - in 1952. The space was "decorated" with panoramic views of the East River, opening through the fully glazed facade, as well as spectacular angular vistas. The mezzanine floor, built in 1978, hid these views, but now everything will return to its original state.
In addition, the entrance and bar will be redesigned, the interior will be equipped with screens made of "electronic paper", a new carpet and curtains made of beads. The interior will be composed of both new and original pieces, including Knoll and Eames armchairs. Numerous works of art accumulated over the past decades in the room (as well as in the entire UN building) - gifts from the participating countries will be hung and arranged in a new way.
Koolhaas described the project as "preserving change", quite in the spirit of his new theory of heritage preservation, especially since the UN building is a key monument of "classical" modernism, a period that is of particular interest to the architect.
The renovated salon should open next year.
N. F.
