Top Dutch Designers Transform the United Nations Delegates’ Lounge into a Bright, Open Space

Thanks to a group of leading Dutch designers, NYC's <a href="http://inhabitat.com/united-nations-hq-goes-green/">United Nations Building</a> has a bright and airy new Delegates’ Lounge. The Dutch Majesty Queen Máxima, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Frans Timmermans unveiled the renovated space just yesterday, and the character of the new lounge is decidedly open and transparent, with tall windows, even higher ceilings, and loft-like floor space for international representatives to mingle in. Dutch designer <a href="http://www.jongeriuslab.com/">Hella Jongerius</a> led the redesign project with the help of a team made up of <a href="http://www.oma.eu/">architectural firm OMA</a>, artist <a href="http://www.gabriellester.com/">Gabriël Lester</a>, graphic designer <a href="http://www.irmaboom.nl/">Irma Boom</a>, and theoretician <a href="http://www.designacademy.nl/Study/Master/Departments/LouiseSchouwenberg.aspx">Louise Schouwenberg</a>.

To create the large, open lounge one of the design’s most significant alterations was the removal of the <a name="OLE_LINK2"></a><a name="OLE_LINK1"></a><a href="http://inhabitat.com/the-drents-museums-submerged-extension-adds-a-lush-green-public-park-above-ground/">mezzanine</a>. This allowed the design team to restore the open character of the original space and have unimpeded views of the <a name="OLE_LINK4"></a><a name="OLE_LINK3"></a><a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/the-east-river-blueway-project-goes-foward-with-8-million-in-the-bank/">East River</a>.

The original UN Building was first constructed in the early 1950’s and after being the place of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/cop17-talks-in-durban-end-with-failure-to-cut-current-global-emissions/">international policy</a> for over 60 years, the aesthetic of the space was in dire need of a redesign.

Without walls or other features, the lounge floor is long, open and almost <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/clever-425-sq-ft-manhattan-micro-loft-stacks-upwards-for-more-space/">loft-like</a> space.

Opposite from the windows, the UN walls are now adorned with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/italian-artist-andreco-creates-worlds-first-pollution-fighting-mural/">large mural paintings</a> hanging over a large section of seating.

Privacy screen equipped computers for the international delegates to use.

<a href="http://www.jongeriuslab.com/">Hella Jongerius</a> created the winning design and assembled the Dutch design team consisting of the <a href="http://www.oma.eu/">architectural firm OMA</a>, artist <a href="http://www.gabriellester.com/">Gabriël Lester</a>, <a href="http://www.irmaboom.nl/">Irma Boom</a>’s expertise as a graphic designer, and theoretician <a href="http://www.designacademy.nl/Study/Master/Departments/LouiseSchouwenberg.aspx">Louise Schouwenberg</a>.

The lounge is just one of the first <a href="http://inhabitat.com/synagogue-turned-east-village-penthouse/">recent renovations</a> to be finished. Located just a few feet away the General Assembly Hall is also in the midst of a project spanning all the way up to its domed, 75-foot high ceiling.

In 2010, Netherland representatives decided to adopt the lounge and handle the renovation themselves.

The new lounge was unveiled just yesterday.