The Cuban Artists Fund (CAF) is an arts and culture non-profit organization dedicated to raise global awareness and understanding of Cuban cultural achievements. Over the years, they have built an international network of support and partnerships for the Cuban arts community, and have played a leadership role in promoting better understanding among American, Cuban, and Cuban Diaspora artists, art professionals, academics, and communities. In 2004, AYON Studio Principal was the recipient of the coveted CAF Artist Grant, which he used to prepare a website summarizing the history and development of the Mount Morris Fire Watchtower in Harlem's Marcus Garvey Park. Sixteen years later, CAF catched up with Angel Ayón on social media to discuss his whereabouts and the effect of the grant on his personal and professional development. To read the full exchange between Angel Ayón and CAF Executive Director Carlos Pomares, click here.
Discussing 50+ Years of Advocacy at the HDC Preservation Conference
On March 7, 2020 Principal Angel Ayón moderated a plenary session at the Historic Districts Council's 26th Annual Preservation Conference. The speakers included Pratt's Historic Preservation program coordinator Vicki Weiner, Historic Preservation consultant Gregory Dietrich and Real Estate salesperson and dedicated preservationist Christian Emanuel. Focusing on the next 50+ Years of Advocacy, the panelists discussed what future preservation efforts may consists of, including issues of cultural significance and underrepresentation; climate heritage and protection of historic properties along coastal communities; value-based historic preservation perspectives and community-based planning; reconciliation of historic preservation and real estate interests and perspectives; revisions and updates to designation report narratives; and the imperative to focus on salvaging and protecting not only buildings, but also people, small businesses and the communities they create, among other topics. For more about the Historic Districts Council, click here.
Angel Ayón, Gregory Dietrich, Vicki Weiner and Christian Emanuel at the HDC conference. Photo by R. L.
Reglazing Modernism Book Talk at AIA NY
AYON Studio Principal Angel Ayón and Uta Pottgiesser from Delf University of Technology gave a lively book talk on February 27, 2020 at the Center for Architecture in NYC. Moderated by Kyle Normandin from WJE and sponsored by AIA NY Historic Buildings Committee and Docomomo NY / Tri-State, the presentation and following Q&A highlighted the findings and recommendations included in Reglazing Modernism - Intervention Strategies for 20th Century Icons (Birkhäuser, 2019). For more information on the book, click here.
Kyle Normandin, Uta Pottgiesser and Angel Ayón at the Center for Architecture. © AYON Studio, 2020.
Reglazing Modernism Launched at the TWA Lounge
Reglazing Modernism - Intervention Strategies for 20th Century Icons (Birkhäuser, 2019), a book on conservation of Modern architecture by Principal Angel Ayón, Uta Pottgiesser and Nathaniel Richards was presented at the TWA Lounge in Lower Manhattan. Mimicking the sunken lounge of Saarinen's landmark TWA Flight Center at JFK airport—one of the three local case studies included in the book—the TWA Lounge was an ideal place for the event. A unique mix of friends and family, clients and colleagues, came together on February 13, 2020 to celebrate the release of the book in the US. For more information on the book, click here.
TWA Lounge at One World Trade Center. Photo by AYON Studio.
Docomomo International Reviews Reglazing Modernism
Docomomo International, the leading organization dedicated to the documentation and conservation of buildings and sites from the Modern movement, has published an extensive review of Reglazing Modernism. Authored by AYON Studio Principal Angel Ayón (with Uta Pottgiesser and Nathaniel Richards), Reglazing Modernism - Intervention Strategies for 20th Century Icons (Birkhäuser, 2019) explores twenty international case studies of culturally significant Modern buildings in the US and Europe where the exterior glazed assemblies have been subjected to various types of interventions. Penned by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Joseph Tomlow, the Docomomo International review deems Reglazing Modernism "a first class lesson for all who have to decide on Modern Movement heritage and who ask how they get a road map to meet [its] inherited complexities." To read the Docomomo International review, click here. To learn more about the book, click here.
Existing 1976 non thermally-broken replacement aluminum-frame curtain-wall at the Bauhaus Dessau workshop. Photograph by Angel Ayón, 2016.
New Year, New Horizons!
We are super excited to start the New Year facing new horizons! Here is our awesome view of the NYC skyline as seen from our new office on Union Square. We like this location, and our building, and we are lucky to get into a new office space as AYON Studio grows and expands. Happy 2020!
Reglazing Modernism Presented at APT Miami Author's Forum
Last Saturday, November 23, AYON Studio's Principal presented his forthcoming book on Reglazing Modernism at the Association for Preservation Technology annual conference in Miami. Moderated by Kyle Normandin from WJE, the APT Author’s Forum included presentations about new publications by (from left to right) Chandler McCoy from the Getty Conservation Institute, Rosa Lowinger from Rosa Lowinger & Associates, Ilene Tyler from Ann Arbor, MI (formerly with Quinn Evans Architects), Angel Ayón from AYON Studio, Diana Waite from Mount Ida Press, Janet Null from Argus Architecture & Preservation, P.C. and Michael Schuller from Atkinson-Noland & Associates, Inc.
Meet us in Miami
AYON Studio will be in Miami attending the APT conference where Principal Angel Ayón will be presenting his book on Reglazing Modernism at the APT Author’s Forum and chairing a session titled "Miami and Caribbean Case Studies" as part of the "Diversity, Population Change, and Gentrification in the Preservation Dialogue" track. See the full conference schedule here.
The Restored Harlem Fire Watchtower Opens
NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver and AYON Studio Principal Angel Ayón at the Fire Watchtower opening.
AYON Studio Principal Angel Ayón celebrated the opening of the restored Mount Morris Fire Watchtower this past weekend with the Harlem community, NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver and many colleagues, friends and family. Click here to view the live Tweet of the event by @NYC_Parks. (Forward to 3:25 for an interview with with Angel!)
Harlem Fire Watchtower Reopens this Week
This Saturday, October 26th, join AYON Studio and the Harlem community as we celebrate the Mount Morris Fire Watchtower in Marcus Garvey Park. Originally designed by Julius Kroehl and constructed in 1857, this cast iron structure is the last surviving tower of its kind in New York City. Since 2000, Principal Angel Ayón has been advising all stakeholders in the fight to save and restore this beloved neighborhood landmark. Read the article in the NY Times here.
Reglazing Modernism Presented at the Frankfurt Book Fair
Reglazing Modernism - Intervention Strategies for 20th Century Icons (Birkhäuser, 2019) was presented at the Frankfurt Book Fair this week. Co-authored by Angel Ayón with Uta Pottgiesser and Nathaniel Richards, the book explores twenty international case studies of culturally significant Modern buildings in the US and Europe. It takes a close look at the deterioration of the exterior glazed enclosures of 20th century buildings, and outlines intervention strategies—to either restore, rehabilitate, or replace their curtain walls, window walls and ribbon windows. Check it out online here!
Visit Westbeth during Open House NY
On October 19th and 20th, Westbeth Artists Housing, located at 155 Bank Street in the far West Village was open to the public as part of Open House New York Weekend. As the largest artist community in the U.S., if not the world, Westbeth has provided affordable housing and studios for artists and their families since 1970. Its 13 buildings were formerly the site of Bell Laboratories and now offers 384 live-work spaces. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009 and designated a NYC Landmark in 2011.
Click here to learn more.
Columbia University GSAPP lecture: Reglazing Modernism
On Thursday, April 18, Angel Ayón will present Reglazing Modernism: Strategies for Interventions on Steel Frame Glazed Enclosures at Columbia University. Part of GSAPP’s Spring 2019 Historic Preservation Lecture Series, Angel will share his analysis of the approaches followed for interventions on steel frame glazed enclosures in Modern buildings. The event will take place at 6:30 pm in 209 Fayerweather Hall and is free and open to the public. Visit GSAPP’s event page for more info.
Angel Ayón Talks Theater Plasterwork at APT_NE Symposium
Principal Angel Ayón once again addressed APTNE’s membership at its 2019 Annual Meeting. This year’s symposium, titled “Restoring Historic Theaters in the 21st Century,” took place on Friday, February 1, 2019 in Jersey City, NJ. Angel joined his colleagues François Furieri, Marie Ennis and Jay Cardinal to share their expertise in rehabilitating character-defining interior plasterwork as part of their presentation, “The Last Act: Temporary Plaster Removal and Salvage as a Conservation Measure.” He discussed two ongoing projects: Times Square Theater and the former RKO Keith’s lobby in Flushing, Queens. Check out the full program here.
Nitehawk Cinema Opens in Park Slope
The much-anticipated Nitehawk Prospect Park cinema in Park Slope opened to wide acclaim on December 19, 2018. Featured in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Bklyner, and Brownstoner, the former Pavilion Theater (debuted in 1928 as the Sanders Theater), experienced significant deterioration over the years and closed in 2016. AYON Studio advised the Nitehawk on the $15-million rehabilitation this former movie house, to make it watertight and help restore the theater’s most significant original details. We continue to work with the Nitehawk on coordinating the review and approval of additional exterior repairs by the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission.
LPC approves proposal for the Brooklyn Museum South Facade
At a public hearing this month, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) approved AYON Studio’s proposal for the partial removal of the existing pre-cast curtain-wall at the rear (south) façade of the Brooklyn Museum, an individually designated Landmarks. The project, which is been developed as part of the renovation of the museum’s Education Department, will include the installation of a new metal-and-glass curtain wall with a historically appropriate exterior finish, as discussed with the LPC Commissioners. Click here to read more about it.
Angel Ayón joins local and state politicians at NYLC event
Angel Ayón addressed the New York Landmarks Conservancy and their guests during a discussion of “Planning, Preservation, and Community Participation: Through the lens of New York's Neighborhoods” on Thursday, April 6th. Sharing the stage with NY State Senator Liz Krueger and New York City Councilmember Steve Levin, among others, Angel shared his perspective on the impact of NYC’s growing population and how to balance both historic preservation and new development. See more about the event here.
Angel Ayón discusses Modern glazing at APTNE Symposium
At the 2017 Annual Meeting of the Association for Preservation Technology Northeast Chapter (APTNE), Principal Angel Ayón shared his knowledge about historic, metal-frame glazed enclosures in Modern architecture. His presentation, titled “Reglazing Modernism: The American and European Experience to Date: Part 1 Steel Frame Assemblies,” summarized the findings of his grant-funded research developed in collaboration with Prof. Dr.-Ing. Uta Pottgiesser from the University of Applied Sciences in Detmold, Germany and Nathaniel Richards from W&W Glass in New York. The single-day symposium, “Coming of Age: Preserving Buildings of the Modern Era” took place in Albany, NY, also featured in-person area building tours the following morning. Click here for more info.
See us on TV with NY1
AYON Studio is pleased to report that Principal Angel Ayón's advocacy to protect cultural resources at risk in Harlem was featured in a segment on NY1 that aired last Sunday, March 27. Angel is a founding member of Save Harlem Now!, a not for profit advocacy organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and celebrating Harlem's irreplaceable built heritage. Click here to see the NY1 coverage.
