Artist Isamu Noguchi and SOM Partner Gordon Bunshaft collaborated for many years to powerfully unite art and architecture—a shared vision that found its earliest expression at Lever House. As Lever House celebrates its 75th anniversary, we reflect on the intersection of art, public space, and architecture, a conversation that remains as relevant and inspiring today as it was when Bunshaft and Noguchi first began working together in 1951.

How did their collaboration ethos shape the evolution of corporate modernism, enliven urban public spaces, and redefine how art and architecture can coexist in service of public enjoyment? 

To explore these questions, we welcomed Nicholas Adams, architectural historian and professor emeritus at Vassar College and author of Gordon Bunshaft and SOM: Building Corporate Modernism, to our New York Studio. In his lecture, “The Case For Public Enjoyment: Gordon Bunshaft and Isamu Noguchi,” Adams explored the history and significance of their creative partnership.

Following the lecture, Amy Hau, Director of The Isamu Noguchi Foundation and Garden Museum, joined Adams for a conversation. Drawing on her decades of work with Noguchi’s legacy, Hau offered valuable insights into the artist’s philosophy, his approach to space and materials, and his enduring commitment to bringing art into the public realm.

A new essay by Nicholas Adams was distributed in a print publication designed by Maiarelli Studio.