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The renovated home of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra features a 12-foot-high band of ceramic fritted glass from Bendheim, allowing occupants to see out without being seen. Photo courtesy of Bendheim.
The renovated home of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra proved to be a challenging restoration for the firm Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architecture. Though the renovation of Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall focused primarily on the interior, the exterior redesign was quite an endeavor.
This was due to the need to strike a balance between illuminating the building’s exterior and providing a view and privacy for the building’s occupants. To achieve balance, the architects installed a 12-foot-high band of ceramic fritted glass from Bendheim, allowing occupants to see out without being seen.
The glass is framed by tapered pillars of the concert hall’s portico, providing a projection screen for lighting along the top tier. The final specifications include ceramic fritted glass laminated to Bendheim’s “vision glass,” which creates a one-way view from the inside. The glass was provided in 5- x 12-foot panels totaling approximately 8,000 square feet.
