StudioMDA explained

studioMDA
Type:Private company
Location:Manhattan, New York
Key People:Markus Dochantschi,
Num Employees:18
Industry:Design

studioMDA is a full-service design firm offering services from zoning analysis, programming through full technical documentation and project implementation with the mission of challenging the boundaries of design.

Our work includes a wide range of typologies including cultural, commercial, institutional, mixed use and both affordable and high-end residential projects.

Over the past 20 years, the studio has become the catalyst for the revitalization of two art districts in New York, designing and building over 30 galleries in Chelsea and Tribeca, where the office has emerged as the unofficial planner of New York City’s new arts district growing between Walker Street and White Street.[1] StudioMDA has emerged an authority on art spaces and other cultural buildings working extensively with renowned art collectors, artists, and gallerists like Marian Goodman Gallery, Alexander Gray Gallery and Karma Gallery, among many others.

The largest projects to date for the office are the 55,000 sqft Phillips Auction House Headquarters in New York City completed in 2021, the 80,000 sqft Center for Advanced Mobility in Aachen, Germany, completed in 2022, the new 35,000 sqft Marian Goodman Gallery in Tribeca, completed in the Fall of 2024, and a 100,000 sqft private contemporary art museum in Thailand starting construction in 2025.

The office has worked extensively in major historic districts in Manhattan and has worked closely with the Landmarks Preservation Commission to obtain approvals for a range of projects at different scales and complexities. With a sensitivity towards preservation and incorporating historic elements of each building to modern building techniques, the office has been able to add unique and notable characteristics to many galleries in Tribeca and Chelsea, highlighting their respective identities.

studioMDA has also worked with large developers and has performed zoning analysis for potential sites and projects across Manhattan. Working closely with Related Companies, the office has studied the second phase of Hudson Yards, west side lots in Chelsea and Midtown as well as areas of Brooklyn.

Within the art world, studioMDA has designed over 300 art fair booths at global art fairs like Art Basel, TEFAF and Frieze for Helly Nahmad Gallery, Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Art, David Nolan Gallery and Nahmad Contemporary, among several others. Working closely with gallery clients to design their booths has added a very important scale to the portfolio of the office, providing a deeper understanding on circulation, lighting and the way art is viewed at its most optimal environment.

Before starting studioMDA, Markus Dochantschi ran the office of Zaha Hadid Architects for seven years and was Head Project Manager on the Rosenthal Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati. He has taught an Advanced Studio at Yale University with Zaha Hadid, Stefan Behnisch and Gerald Hines (2003), and an Advanced Studio at Columbia University’s Graduate School for Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) from 2008 until 2017. Dochantschi has also served as the director of the Global Cities Architecture Program (GCAP) at GSAPP. He has lectured at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design (GSD) and has been a guest critic at the Architectural Association, the Cooper Union, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, ETH Zurich, and the Hochschule für Angewandte Kunst in Vienna.

Selected Projects

Completed

Cultural

Residential

Institutional

Commercial

Exhibitions

Art Fairs

Dirimart Gallery Istanbul

Helly Nahmad (New York art collector), NY

Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Art

Paul Kasmin Gallery, NY

Nahmad Contemporary, NY

Richard Taittinger, NY

Malborough Gallery, NY

Anton Kern, NY

Van de Weghe, New York

Johyun Gallery, South Korea

Hammer Galleries, New York

Fine Sound Group

Gary Nader Art Center, New York

Conceptual

In Progress

Selected Awards

Notes and References

  1. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/26/arts/design/tribeca-art-gallery-markus-dochantschi-architect.html His Soft White Cube is Conquering TriBeCa. The New York Times. March 27, 2023
  2. Web site: Luhring Augustine Joins the Influx of Galleries Opening in Tribeca with a New Space Launching Next Year. Eileen Kinsella. ARTnews. 17 September 2019. 17 September 2019. 18 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190918050734/https://news.artnet.com/market/luhring-augustine-to-launch-new-tribeca-gallery-space-1651858. live.
  3. News: Auction house Phillips reveals new 432 Park Ave. Headquarters. Lois Weiss. New York Post. 30 October 2019. 5 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191105133842/https://nypost.com/2019/10/29/auction-house-phillips-reveals-billionaires-row-headquarters/. live.
  4. Web site: Designs revealed for Phillips auction house's new home in 432 Park Avenue's white cube base. Devin Gannon. 6sqft. 30 October 2019. 30 October 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191030185102/https://www.6sqft.com/phillips-auction-house-will-move-into-432-park-avenues-white-cube-base/. live.
  5. Web site: ARTnews . Andrew Russeth . 28 November 2018 . ARTnews . 28 November 2018 . 29 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181129012717/http://www.artnews.com/2018/11/28/andrew-kreps-gallery-heads-tribeca/ . live .
  6. Web site: Faurschou Foundation to Inaugurate 12000-Sq. Foot Space in New York with Fall Exhibition Featuring Artists from Louise Bourgeois to AI Weiwei . ARTnews . 16 September 2019 . 17 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190917165408/http://www.artfixdaily.com/artwire/release/6417-faurschou-foundation-to-inaugurate-12000-sq-foot-space-in-new-yor . live .
  7. News: Developers Bet Big on Manhattan Art Galleries . Keiko Morris . Wall Street Journal . 2017-12-03 . 22 April 2017 . 2022-05-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220527134612/https://www.wsj.com/articles/developers-bet-big-on-manhattan-art-galleries-1489363940?mod=rss_newyork_real_estate . live .
  8. Web site: Daniel Buren Injects Color Inside Bortolami Gallery's New Manhattan Space. Interior Design Magazine. 8 June 2017. 27 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220527134637/https://interiordesign.net/designwire/daniel-buren-injects-color-inside-bortolami-gallery-s-new-manhattan-space/. live.
  9. Web site: Rodney Graham . 303 Gallery . 27 April 2015 . 27 April 2015 . https://archive.today/20150427173934/http://www.303gallery.com/index.php?exhid=163&p=pr . live .
  10. Web site: 303 Gallery to Open Second Location . Duray, Dan . 27 August 2012 . 303 Gallery . 27 April 2015 . 4 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304062420/http://observer.com/2012/08/303-gallery-to-open-second-location/ . live .
  11. Web site: 303 Gallery. Archinect. 27 April 2015. 30 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150530015623/http://archinect.com/studioMDA/project/303-gallery. live.
  12. Web site: Paul Kasmin Gallery, 27th Street by StudioMDA' . Dezeen . 2012-07-25 . 22 April 2015 . 2016-02-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160208191546/http://www.dezeen.com/2012/07/25/paul-kasmin-gallery-27th-street-by-studiomda/#disqus_thread . live .
  13. Web site: Paul Kasmin Gallery by StudioMDA' . Sanjay Gangal . AECCAFE . 2012-11-08 . 22 April 2015 . 2013-07-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130723173244/http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-showcase/2012/11/08/paul-kasmin-gallery-in-new-york-by-studiomda/ . live .
  14. Book: Calendar Main Event – Art Happenings. . Manhattan. . 2008 . 64.
  15. Book: Savino, Chiara. . Gallerie D'arte. . Milano: Motta Architettura. . 2009.
  16. Web site: One Duplex Remains at Almost – Complete 137 Franklin Street . Dailey, Jessica . 30 January 2013 . NY Curbed . 27 April 2015 . 27 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220527134610/https://ny.curbed.com/2013/1/30/10279126/one-duplex-remains-at-almost-complete-137-franklin-street . live .
  17. Book: Quinn, Bradley . Go With the Flow . ELLE . 2012-09-01 . 160–169.
  18. Book: Elgort, Robert . Tomorrow's Party . Vogue Living . Winter 2007 . 122–127.
  19. Book: Dupuis, Fabienne . Manhattan Transfert . ArtTravel . October 2007 . 112–117.
  20. Book: Remetsch, Christiane . Loft in new York . AIT . Feb 2009.
  21. Book: "studioMDA". Editorial. . Interior Design. . 2011 . 232–233.
  22. Web site: Thanks to studioMDA for FLH Office Remodel. Friends of the High Line. 13 April 2015. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082134/http://assets.thehighline.org/original_site/newsletters/013106.html#story08/. live.
  23. Web site: Audi Showroom. 2015-04-28. 2015-05-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20150512202818/http://www.mikeklausmeier.com/. live.
  24. Web site: Tracy Anderson Dance Studio by StudioMDA'. 4 November 2009 . Architizer. 2016-11-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20161126001707/http://architizer.com/projects/dance-studio-in-tribeca/. live.
  25. Web site: WhatIf? Office Building by StudioMDA'. Archello. 14 April 2014. 27 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220527134625/https://archello.com/en/project/whatif-office-building#/. live.

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