United We Stand
by habituallychic
10 . 29 . 08
I have always wanted to go on a tour of the United Nations but have just never gotten around to it so when I discovered a book entitled The U.N. Building in my office last Thursday, I was beyond excited. Then I found out that October 24th of every year is United Nations Day. Talk about funny timing! The United Nations looks like a beautifully preserved time capsule of mid-century modernism! I love the fact that no one has ruined it by trying to update it since it looks so perfect just as it is. Now, I am even more determined than ever to go and see it for myself in person but until that happens, I will make due with pouring over the photographs in the book. Enjoy!
14 Comments
omg. check out that paneled wall. Fantastic!
I toured the building on my high school field trip to New York. It was one of the more memorable things we did. Go.
Please, one tour coming your wait, at the blink of an eye, a family member works for the UN!
The panelled walls (photo is third from bottom) is crazy chic, no?
The panelled walls (photo is third from bottom) is crazy chic, no?
that book is very interesting visually but never got any attention when it was first published. i myself never picked it up, but i did see it bought by a fellow who was faster than myself for a dollar in the remainder section. i remarked to him, “that’s an interesting book” and he said “yes it is”
as for the UN tour, it is interesting enough but unfortunately they do not take you around to see many of the places photographed in the book.
best regards,
Those yellow chairs were designed by Finn Juhl, Danish Modern icon. They’d go for tons of money on 1stDibs.
Have you ever seen Sydney Pollack’s “The Interpreter” with Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman? Besides being a fabulous movie, it is the first film ever shot inside the UN HQ! The film was shot in the General Assembly and Security Council as well as regular corridors and spaces in the complex. I highly recommend you add “The Interpreter” to your Netflix queue…
The UN building always reminds me of North by North West. All clean lines, fabulous furniture and stylish Hitchcock-ian drama! I have photogaphed the facade many times and would LOVE to get inside. The photos from this book are superb. Thanks for a taste (and a link to the book)!
James – That wall is pretty fab!
Green Goody – all my friends who grew up in New York said they toured it in school too. I will have to play student/tourist one day and do it too!
Patricia – Are you serious? How amazing would it be to work there everyday?!
An Aesthete’s Lament – very cool!
Anonymous 8:48am – I wonder if they have private tours.
Anonymous 10:43am – I will have to check them out! Thanks for the heads up!
Design Babylon – I have seen the movie and actually own it. Maybe I will have to watch it again soon!
Alice Olive – if you come to New York, maybe we will have to take a tour together!
I wonder if those photographs are historic or contemporary? It looks like something from the set of Mad Men. Funny how what was old and dated has come back into style once again. I’ve always love the post WWII – early 60s New York though, of which the UN building is an epitome.
DCLawyer
I covet one of those world maps with the clocks embedded in it…
Mad Men could certainly be shot in the room with the globe! What a fabulously retro example.
I was fortunate to get a private tour last year ( a friend of a friend kind of thing ). What a time capsule indeed ! What struck me the most was the smell of cigarette smoke still lingering from years ago and the amount of exposed artwork from Picasso to Chagal hanging around in the most unassuming places ! You have me thinking that maybe I should blog about this !
Lisa