Object Timeline
|
1955 |
|
|
1975 |
|
|
1988 |
|
|
1991 |
|
|
2016 |
|
|
2024 |
|
Drawing, Design for Undersea Lounge: Scheme 3, Main Level
This is a Drawing. It was created by Russell Heston and from the office of Donald Deskey Associates and Donald Deskey Associates and drafted by Russell Heston. It is dated ca. 1965 and we acquired it in 1988. Its medium is pastel crayon on blue wove paper mounted on presentation board. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.
In the early 20th century, steamships and ocean
liners provided tremendous inspiration for
designers who looked to the future. This design
for an undersea lounge was a collaboration with
Russell Heston, whom Donald Deskey hired when
he saw his concept for an undersea lounge. Their
design features a geodesic dome of steel and
double-glazed, tempered, and laminated glass
accessed by a pressure chamber at left. Below the
seafloor, the dome’s foundation houses mechanical
and back-of-house facilities. Heston’s use of jeweltone pastels heightens the shimmering allure of
the subaquatic environment, while his skill as a
technical draftsman impresses upon the viewer the
plausibility of such a space.
This object was
donated by
Donald Deskey.
It is credited Gift of Donald Deskey.
Its dimensions are
50.3 × 65.1 cm (19 13/16 × 25 5/8 in.) Other (Including Labels): 51.3 × 76.4 cm (20 3/16 × 30 1/16 in.)
It has the following markings
Gray adhesive label with printed text, lower right: DONALD DESKEY ASSOCIATES, INC. 630 Fifth Avenue, New York 20, N.Y.
It is signed
Signed in white color pencil, lower right: R Heston
It is inscribed
Inscribed in type on adhered label, lower right: UNDERSEA LOUNGE--SCHEME 3-MAIN LEVEL [underlined] / The dome, of double-glazed, tempered, and laminated glass and steel structure, / floats high over the main floor hosuing it from the sea. This floor has dining and / night club activity. A suspended winding staircase goes aloft to floating mez- / zanine areas, also suspended from the main structure. These mezzanines contain / additional dining and observation areas. Pressurized atmosphere with the dome / helps equalize exterior water pressure.; in white pasel, upper right: WATER LINE; in white pastel, lower right: UNDERSEA LOUNGE - SCHEME 3
Cite this object as
Drawing, Design for Undersea Lounge: Scheme 3, Main Level; Russell Heston (American, b. 1929); Office of Donald Deskey Associates; USA; pastel crayon on blue wove paper mounted on presentation board; 50.3 × 65.1 cm (19 13/16 × 25 5/8 in.) Other (Including Labels): 51.3 × 76.4 cm (20 3/16 × 30 1/16 in.); Gift of Donald Deskey; 1988-101-1502
This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition The Cooper-Hewitt Collections: A Design Resource.
