Between design and art: an apartment in the Museum Tower in New York

Located in the hub of Midtown Manhattan, the Museum Tower was built in 1984 as part of the project to expand the MoMA - Museum of Modern Art.

Designed by Cesar Pelli and Associates, the tower is a 52-story - 6 of which for the Museum - and includes 240 luxurious apartments.

High ceilings, floor to ceiling windows – including angular ones - and wide spaces: these are the elements that make the apartment very bright and airy, with spectacular views of the city and its skyscrapers. Moreover, through some windows you can enjoy the view of the underlying MoMA's sculpture garden. The individual units were originally designed as small residential contexts including one or two bedrooms.

The recent renovation of an apartment in the Museum Tower - designed by Asdrubal Franco and Andres Azpurua (Domoarchitecture + OnSite) - has been aimed at stressing the exterior views that enrich the large living spaces, by using the interior design.

Not by chance, white has been chosen as the dominant color for furnishings, ceilings and the walls with large windows that so seem framed like large paintings.

The color homogeneity between the different functional areas of the apartment creates continuity and enhances the refraction of light, improving, among other things, the exterior view.

To amplify the striking effect, the designers selected a floor with a whimsical character: Slide - in the Floor Covering and finish Naturplus 2 version - designed by Daniele Lago for Listone Giordano and part of the Natural Genius collection, whose original geometric composition is inspired by the proportions of the "golden number".

Slide trapezoidal modules with oak finish are virtually modular in limitless laying patterns. They together offer a feeling of randomness in the design of the floor, thus enriching the visual and formal impact and subverting the classic image of the parquet flooring. The dark brown tonality, suitable for its combination with the prevailing white interiors, highlights the geometric design of the pavement, creating a dynamic effect of lines, angles and shades that further enhances the apartment, making it contemporary and in line with the surrounding environment dedicated to art and modern design.

Photo credit: Stefano Pasqualetti