Time / Life

The 48 story Time & Life Building is  at 1271 Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue) in Rockefeller Center, NYC.
It opened in 1959 and was designed by the Rockefeller family's architect, Wallace Harrison.
The exterior is really not much to look at, but the interior was incredible.

There is also a Josef Albers installation in the lobby: Portals (1961) carrara glass, nickel bronze and bronze
Portals was installed in 1961 and is 42 feet wide by 14 feet high

Also in the lobby, is Relational Painting #88 (1959) by Fritz Glarner
Source: Lost at E Minor

Relational Painting #88 detail
Source: Blake Gopink

Charles and Ray Eames designed this reception area. 
Source: Time

Another view
Image: Eames Design, Neuhart

Coincidentally, when I was putting this post together, Herman Miller posted a blueprint of the desk above for #blueprintwednesday on Instagram
Source: Herman Miller

The Time-Life Lobby furnishings by Charles and Ray Eames
Source: Eames Office via Eames Designs 


Gio Ponti designed the auditorium on the eighth floor.
Image: Artribune

Interior of the auditorium..lots of Ponti
Source: Time

JFK cruising through
Source: Time

Finn Juhl
Source: Time

Hans Wegner
Source: Time

The largest commercial tenant in the building's bottom floor was La Fonda del Sol, designed by Alexander Girard
Alexander Girard model for the restaurant.
Source: ALEXANDER GIRARD by Todd Oldham & Kiera Coffee

La Fonda del Sol was a happening place
Source: ALEXANDER GIRARD by Todd Oldham & Kiera Coffee

The restaurant closed in 1971
Source: ALEXANDER GIRARD by Todd Oldham & Kiera Coffee

The building is now just a shell of its former self. In May of this year, Time Inc. announced that after 55 years it was even moving out of the building.
Source: Time