The Lever House as an Example of Fantastic Public Space

By Eva Dec-Prat

I got the chance to visit the Lever House over the weekend, here are some of my thoughts!

Right across the street from the historical Seagram Building stands the historical Lever House (390 Park Ave). This international style building was designed by Gordon Bunshaft and Natalie de Blois of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. It originally functioned as the headquarters for the soap company Lever Brothers, however, is now a commercial office building.

On this trip to both the Seagram Building and the Lever House, I was genuinely more drawn to the invited public area surrounding the Lever House. Green-ish windows bounced light off of them, almost creating an illusion of plastic windows. The public area below, though covered by the building, was filled with young and old people, sitting and socializing after work or class. There is even a small restaurant, Casa Lever. Its appearance was captivating and reflected its environment, making it feel like it truly belongs in NYC life and innovation.

Overall, the public space in front of the Seagram Building, though genius for its time, has undertones of exclusivity through its lack of seating, showcasing its incredible architectural accomplishments—even with beautiful water features—that, however, are separated from daily New York life, inaccessible on a hot day and are without space to lounge and relax on a hot day (with its lack of shade). Its architectural beauty, however, is undeniable and historically revolutionary. The Lever House, though, has everything that the public space at the Seagram Building lacks.