One of my favorite things is the “9″ sculpture in front of 9 West 57th Street. To accompany the sleek and sloped office building designed by SOM in 1974, graphic designer Ivan Chermayeff (who, with his partner Tom Geismar, designed the Mobil, PBS, and Chase logos) created a big shiny red number. The steel sculpture makes for a dramatic entrance and a 3-d version of a hot modernist poster.
Fun fact: since the number actually sits on city-owned property, it costs $100 in monthly rent. Totally worth it…
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I’m sorry, but that’s wrong. The late Steve Feinberg, a friend of my family, designed that 9. That he’s not credited is probably part & parcel of the immense screwing over he got which led to his dying in destitution.
April 2nd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I never knew that - that’s interesting. Ivan Chermayeff is always credited for designing the “9.” Why have people tried to screw over Steve Feinberg?