The lounge has an encompassing glass wall on that runs from the right foreground of the page to the background of the left side of the page, behind it a blue underwater seascape with swirling current and fish. Steel beams curving upward into arches from the floor to an unfinished ceiling, it encloses three floors and a large spiral staircase of the modern lounge. On the first floor foreground are two people and a trail of circular tables, from the foreground along the edge of the wall into the background. A bar with red chairs is drawn to the left of the staircase, underneath a second story landing. The minimalist staircase curves graciously to the left and is supported by vertical white lines on either side of the railings, running to a third floor landing. The landing is a circular platform with tables, chairs, and people and sits in the background. The second floor landing is similar: a circular platform with tables, chairs and people, but is in the middle ground and only half rendered by the artist. The drawing itself was drawn on dark blue paper giving it a darker ambiance and minimal color incorporation besides the red chairs, light gray gradients to represent qualities of the landings, stairs, and some tables, two green plants, and turquoise and blues for the ocean iself. It has realistic aspects and stylized aspects, with the most detail drawn into the ceiling, beams, stairs, and underside of second and third floor landings.

There is one other image of this object. See our image rights statement.

Object Timeline

1955	Work on this object began.
1975	Work on this object ended.
1988	We acquired this object.
2016	We photographed this object.
2019	We photographed this object.
2024	You found it!

Drawing, Design for Undersea Lounge: Scheme 3 Interior Perspective

This is a Drawing. It was created by Russell Heston and designed by Russell Heston and from the office of Donald Deskey Associates and Donald Deskey Associates and the design director was Donald Deskey. It is dated ca. 1960s and we acquired it in 1988. Its medium is pastel crayon on blue wove paper. 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

H x W: 49.8 × 65 cm (19 5/8 × 25 9/16 in.) Mat: 71.1 × 91.4 cm (28 × 36 in.)

It has the following markings

Printed gray adhesive stamp, lower right: DONALD DESKEY ASSOCIATES, INC. 630 Fifth Avenue, New York 20, N.Y.; watermark on verso: VIDALON-LES-ANNONAY-ANCnes MANUFres CANSON & MONTGOLFIER

It is signed

Signed in white and black pastel crayon, lower right: R HESTON

It is inscribed

Inscribed in white pastel, lower right: UNDERSEA LOUNGE - SCHEME 3;

Cite this object as

Drawing, Design for Undersea Lounge: Scheme 3 Interior Perspective; Russell Heston (American, b. 1929); Design Director: Donald Deskey (American, 1894–1989); Office of Donald Deskey Associates; USA; pastel crayon on blue wove paper; H x W: 49.8 × 65 cm (19 5/8 × 25 9/16 in.) Mat: 71.1 × 91.4 cm (28 × 36 in.); Gift of Donald Deskey; 1988-101-1507

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2Dsqk/
Accession Number 1988-101-1507
Object ID 18624515