Which came first, the art or the design? It is impossible
to tell, and in that rich, playful ambiguity lies the beauty
of this interior. The foyer announces the novelty of the
scenario with a telling detail. Gone is the original prewar
crown molding and in its place is a geometric molding
designed by D'Aquino and Monaco. It is almost Cubist,
very origami. One might suppose it to be a site specific
artwork rather than a mere molding, so emphatic is it.
Francine Monaco notes of this molding, "We wanted to
find a new way to celebrate the joint between wall and
ceiling, one which would interpret ornamental history in
a new way. Our client was intrigued and very open to
this alternative perspective."
HYLAND
