New York is an ideal city for an architecture study trip, with its dense and diverse collection of celebrated buildings. Beyond the famous landmarks, Manhattan and the surrounding areas are full of architecture we had long admired as students. Experiencing these places firsthand allowed us to observe both familiar and new buildings and understand their history, materiality, construction, and atmosphere up close.

A short time was spent in the City where we visited the incredible Donald Judd House / Gallery at 101 Spring Street by artist Donald Judd. Called the Judd Foundation now, this was his gallery and home from 1968, it was restored in 2013. A lesson in conservation and getting around, whilst being compliant with fire regulations! We visited many galleries, The Whitney Museum of American Art, West Village NYC, Renzo Piano Building Workshop and walked the High Line.

We travelled up the Hudson river in a 1966 Chevy pick-up truck to Storm King Art Centre in the Hudson Valley and on to New Haven where we took in the Yale Art and Architecture building, Paul Rudolph and his Temple Street Parking Garage. We explored one of our favourite buildings by Louis Kahn, his last building, the Yale Centre for British Art, New Haven which was worked on by our old boss Shane de Blacam. Across the street we also visited his first building, the Yale University Art Gallery. 

In New Canaan we took a tour of Philip Johnson’s The Glass House and surrounding follies, guest houses and art galleries, many aspects of this house as come into our work. We saw the wonderful Grace Farms, by SAANA, a playful building in a landscape which was realised close to concept. 

We also had the pleasure of recording some handclaps for Ash at Atomic Heart Studios, West 28th Street.