The Jackie Robinson Museum opens after more than a decade of planning, a New York firm forms the U.S. architecture industry’s firm private-sector union, and the chair that never goes out of style. All that and more in this week’s Five on Friday.
The history of a chair in Kourtney Kardashian’s house
Photo courtesy of 1stDibs
Refurbished originals and unofficial reproductions of Swiss architect Pierre Jeanneret’s iconic Chandigarh chair continues to saturate the market more than half a century after its inception. The model is a common fixture in many celebrity homes, including that of Kourtney Kardashian. How did this design garner such a legacy? Architectural Digest dives into its history, from its humble but sturdy composition to its acquisition by dealers in the early aughts as they devoured the treasures of Le Corbusier’s utopian Chandigarh, India. Le Corbusier has previously been cited as a muse by other members of the Kardashian clan. See here for more.
Calling all dancing queens! ABBA’s former home is for sale
Mamma Mia! The home formerly owned by Swedish supergroup ABBA is currently on the market for $3.95 million in Tierra Verde, Florida. Listed for the first time in nearly four decades, the Swedish Longhouse served as a retreat for the band to rest their angel eyes during their time away from London. Dwell reports that the 4,500-square-foot home comprises six bedrooms and four-and-a-half baths, as well as an oversized hot tub overlooking Tampa Bay. Originally designed in 1982 to accommodate two couples, the interior features a mirrored floor plan with each side offering its own primary suite, loft area, and dual bedrooms.
The Jackie Robinson Museum opens in New York
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Following nearly 15 years of planning, New York’s Jackie Robinson Museum has opened in Tribeca. Despite the popularity of the trailblazing Brooklyn Dodgers player and civil rights activist, establishing a museum dedicated to his legacy was no easy task. Artnet reports that the impact of two global recessions, Hurricane Sandy, and the COVID-19 pandemic were each a factor in delaying the development of the $38 million project. Heralded earlier this week with a ribbon-cutting by Robinson’s 100-year-old widow Rachel Robinson, the new museum is home to 4,500 artifacts sourced from the Robinsons’ personal collection as well as institutions like the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the Library of Congress.
Bernheimer Architecture becomes industry’s first private-sector union
Malin and Goetz’s Williamsburg, Brooklyn store, designed by Bernheimer Architecture; photo by Alan Tansey
New York-based Bernheimer Architecture is set to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, becoming “what appears to be the country’s only formal union at a private-sector architecture firm,” The New York Times reports. The 22-person firm, which specializes in affordable housing and residential projects, tells The Times, forming the union came out of a collective desire to spark an overdue conversation regarding exploitation in architecture and design. “We know that architecture is a discipline and profession that has a legacy of exploitation,” says Bernheimer principal Andrew Bernheimer, who is also an associate professor at the Parsons School of Design. “I am of the opinion that one possible way for things to improve is for educators and professionals to show that they value the people who make all of our architecture happen.”
Listen now: Victor Body Lawson brings affordable housing to the forefront
The founder of New York firm Body Lawson Associates Architects and Planners, Victor Body Lawson chatted with editor in chief Stacy Shoemaker Rauen during an episode of HD’s What I’ve Learned podcast, highlighting his mission to bring affordable housing the forefront. Among the many projects in the firm’s portfolio is the ambitious La Peninsula in the Bronx, New York, which will combine affordable housing with public space, amenities, healthcare, retail, and other community resources. As he says, “It’s important that we give from where we are to make sure that future generations are better off.” Listen to the inspiring episode here.
