Gordon Bunshaft
ABOUT THE ARCHITECT
Gordon Bunshaft was a prominent American architect known for his influential contributions to mid-century modernism. A key figure at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, he embraced the International Style, emphasizing clean lines, open plans, and the expressive use of glass and steel. Bunshaft’s designs often balanced elegance with functional clarity, creating buildings that were both visually striking and highly practical. He was particularly celebrated for his corporate commissions, including the Lever House in New York City, which set a new standard for modern office towers with its curtain-wall façade and sleek, minimalist aesthetic. Beyond offices, Bunshaft also designed cultural institutions, integrating light, space, and proportion to enhance user experience. His work reflects a rigorous attention to detail, a belief in structural honesty, and a commitment to architectural refinement, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to influence contemporary modernist design.
PROJECTS:
LEVER HOUSE
New York City, NY - United States
ACCESS:
Restricted: Access to the building is not permitted to the public, but the courtyard under the podium is accessible to the public.
ADDRESS:
390 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022
DISCRIPTION:
Lever House, designed by Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, is a pioneering glass-and-steel skyscraper on Park Avenue. Completed in 1952, its curtain wall façade and horizontal slab form introduced International Style modernism to corporate architecture in New York City. Its sleek glass-and-steel curtain wall was groundbreaking, introducing a new aesthetic to the city's commercial landscape. The building consists of a slender 21-story slab elevated above a horizontal podium, creating an open public plaza at street level. This modernist approach emphasized transparency, lightness, and functional design. The use of green-tinted glass and stainless steel expressed a futuristic corporate identity. Lever House set a precedent for postwar skyscraper design and reshaped Midtown Manhattan's architectural character.
NOTES:
Kitty-corner is the Seagram Building. These two buildings are the most important international style buildings in New York. Access to the building is limited but there are often sculptural installations at the podium.
500 Park Ave
New York City, NY - United States
ACCESS:
Restricted: Access to the building is not permitted to the public.
ADDRESS:
500 Park Ave, New York, NY 10022
DISCRIPTION:
500 Park Avenue in New York City is a striking example of layered urban architecture, combining a mid-20th-century office base with a contemporary residential tower. The original 1960s building, designed in the International Style, features a curtain wall of large gray-green glass panels and a clean, rectilinear form that exemplifies corporate modernism. Above this, a new residential tower by James Stewart Polshek rises, cantilevering portions over the older structure to maximize space and light while preserving the historic base. The tower’s sleek glass façade contrasts with the textured, horizontal rhythm of the lower floors, creating a visual dialogue between eras. Strategic setbacks and terraces provide residents with panoramic views of Park Avenue and the surrounding skyline. This design harmoniously blends preservation, innovation, and urban density, demonstrating how thoughtful architectural layering can unite functionality, aesthetic refinement, and the evolving identity of a city block.
NOTES:
The designers opted to use 9x15’ glass panes for the curtain wall, which were considered exceptionally larger at the time of construction in the 1960’s. They still are considered a signature element of the building, rarely matched even in modern day.
