History and Culture of MQ Architecture
Established by Miguel Quismondo in 2013, MQ Architecture is a full-service New York City-based practice that blends design and construction management to achieve a very personal, cost-sensible, and precise result. They have comprehensive experience operating and navigating New York City and the Tri-state areas, having produced various levels of projects, as well as we are registered and fully insured in New York State.
Miguel Quismondo, AIA
Born in Spain, graduated from the Polytechnic school in Madrid, started his career in Miami at Perkins+Will and later collaborating with award-winning architect Alberto Campo Baeza in the design and construction of the Olnick Spanu House. He completed his studies with a Master’s degree in Real Estate Development from Columbia University, and another in Construction Management from NYU.
Over the past decade, he has worked for Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu in several fields spanning from design, construction and management. Additionally, he had the opportunity to work with many international artists in order to help them implement and install site-specific projects.
In 2013 he founded MQ Architecture and started working on Magazzino Italian Art in Cold Spring, NY. His designs has been published in la Biennale di Venezia, Architectural Record, A+U, Domus and Casabella.
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Born and raised in Spain, he graduated at the Technical University of Madrid, UPM, in 2019. He also has been teaching assistant in the Architectural Design Department (DPA) at ETSAM during 2017-2018. His final thesis project ‘Decumanus’ has been distinct by ArchDaily / Plataforma Arquitectura as one of the Best Final Diploma Projects in Spain in 2019 and awarded with an urbanism Mention at COAM 19 Awards (Official Architecture Association of Madrid). He has worked in the renowned office Renzo Piano Building Workshop in Genova, but also in estudioHerreros and Jesús Aparicio in Madrid.
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MQ Architecture Selected Projects
Designers: Miguel Quismondo & Jacobo Mingorance
Client: Big Ideas for Small Lots NYC design competition
Built area: 5000 sq.ft.
Competition Date: 2019
Location: 113 West 136th Street, NY
The traditional development of properties in the area of study is based on “brownstone” buildings lined out throughout streets filled with trees. They usually present a four story design with a sandstone façade and stoops on one of its sides that would allow access to the parlor level and the interior is divided lengthwise into two parts, with about a third of it taken up by a staircase on one side and the remaining occupied by the living area. Converted into multifamily apartment buildings, this layout tends to be too long and waste a lot of circulation space. Additionally, the backyard is usually accessible by one dweller only.
Their proposal challenges the traditional approach to structuring small lots with a long and narrow configuration. They suggest revisiting the zoning to reconsider the rear setback of the property line. That will allow them to create a central void, a courtyard of sorts, at the heart of the building, splitting the building in two volumes. This open space will bring light, ventilation, allow vertical circulation and supply a safe and controlled recreational space for all dwellers.
Their proposal gives an alternative answer to in-fill projects in the consolidated urban fabric, creating a new typology structured in three equal modules of 32’. The central module is emptied, allowing for a light staircase to become a celebration of this private communal space and generating staggered floorplates that increase privacy for each dweller. Every units will maximize usable space by reducing circulation. The double façade of each apartment will maximize light and crossed ventilation while the dynamic square serves as the organizing element of the building, providing an open space for residents and centralizing the circulation.
Photos by MQ Architecture
Architect: Miguel Quismondo
Client: Vittorio Calabrese
Location: Beacon, NY
Area: 1,800 sq.ft.
Completion Date: 2015
Collaborator: Jesús Aparicio Alfaro
General Contractor: Monteleone Contracting
The renovation and refurbishment of this rental unit had to deal with a very low budget so we had to focus on upgrading the bare minimum to make the space livable. The program required a live/work space with the intent of having receptions and art presentations, hence the conversion of a one bathroom into a bathroom and powder room.
With the idea of a public space in mind, we decided to have the kitchen at the center of the open space, and we put the effort on a generous white countertop. Most of the furniture was recycled from an Estate Sale, and in order to control expenses we decided to maintain the existing lighting except for two accent fixtures (one in the bedroom and one in the kitchen). The rest of the project included upgrading the existing bedroom and bathroom and providing maximum surfaces for art display.
Photos by Javier Callejas
Architect: Miguel Quismondo
Location: New York, NY
Area: 2,000 sq.ft.
Completion Date: 2021
Collaborators: Miguel Bello, Jorge Monzonis, Jacobo Mingorance
Photography: MAS Photography, Adam Ruiz
Through a holistic approach renovation of a Penthouse in a West End prewar building, this project interconnects all the spaces and usages giving a prime rendition to the client’s emotional connection to Venice through the enhancement in the colors, fabric, furniture and their beautiful Murano Glass Collection.
The layout, makes a clear distinction between the public and the private spaces of the apartment, with bedrooms hiding behind «secret doors» consisting on a 10-foot floor to ceiling pivoting frameless panel. On the other hand, the public space needing to be recognizable, is strongly marked by one axis creating a free-floating public space from the North to the South end of the apartment while adding more privacy between the vestibule and the living room through a prominent art wall and custom made millwork reinforcing its presence to the client’s pieces.
Photos by MQ Architecture
Do not forget that we will be posting more work by MQ Architecture in the coming weeks and months, so keep an eye out for more of their incredible work!! Every Friday we will be posting a new Featured Company, so join us again next week!
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