physically as a consequence of its genesis as a residential area later transformed into a business center. The street walls of Midtown Manhattan are generally closed visually, reflecting lesser reason for a connection between what happens on the street and what happens inside these buildings than in urban areas dominated by retail uses. This condition has become a hallmark of well-known Midtown restaurants that tend to be invisible to passersby. The Modern was destined for a space that was similarly segregated from the street by virtue of its location off the former Museum lobby. From the outset we wanted to create a distinct passageway with a recognizable architectural character that would draw visitors from the street. The arcing illuminated wall which you see in the final plan (Figure 1D) grew in importance as an organizing element for the whole space, defining the entry as well as the plan of the bar. Place-making is as much about identifying a center as it is about marking a transition from one area within a space to others around it and when possible from inside to outside. Look closely again at the plan of Gramercy Tavern and you will notice plan elements that subtly break up the spaces without causing abrupt visual separations (Figure 6). We reinforce these connections with prominent markers using art as a focal point or a change in elevation that permits a view out over the adjoining spaces. (Figures 7 A,B,C).
Figure 6: Gramercy Tavern: Openings between rooms differentiating spaces while permitting visual connections
Figure 7 A,B: Anchoring elements within spaces to provide intermediate scale between the person and the room
Figure 7C: Elevation changes establishing areas and views
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