.History of studioMDA
Markus Dochantschi established studioMDA, a multidisciplinary design firm with headquarters in New York, in 2002 with the goal of pushing the limits of design.
In addition to working widely domestically in the US, studioMDA has also conducted work abroad in Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Ireland, Germany, Peru, Chile, Cambodia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Malawi. The firm works on a variety of typologies, such as mixed-use, cultural, commercial, institutional, high-end and affordable residential, and design competitions. studioMDA has received numerous awards and has been widely published. The company has become an authority on cultural buildings and has designed over thirty galleries, over 250 art booths, and exhibitions in collaboration with prominent art collectors, artists, and gallerists.
Markus Dochantschi
Markus received his training in Germany, where he attended the Hochschule Darmstadt and earned a Master’s Degree in Architecture in 1995.
Before launching studioMDA, Dochantschi oversaw the Zaha Hadid Architects office for seven years and served as the principal project manager for the Rosenthal Contemporary Arts Center in Cincinnati. In addition to teaching an Advanced Studio at Columbia University’s Graduate School for Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) from 2008 to 2017, he also taught an Advanced Studio at Yale University in 2003 alongside Zaha Hadid, Stefan Behnisch, and Gerald Hines.
Dochantschi was also the director of the Global Cities Architecture Program (GCAP) at GSAPP. He has given talks at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD), and the Architectural Association, Cooper Union, University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, ETH Zurich, and Hochschule für Angewandte Kunst in Vienna have all hosted him as a guest critic.
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Company Culture at studioMDA
studioMDA fosters a dynamic and collaborative culture that encourages innovation and exploration. Their design philosophy emphasizes contextual responsiveness, material experimentation, and sustainability. They value interdisciplinary collaboration, drawing inspiration from art, science, and technology. The studio’s commitment to pushing boundaries and creating meaningful spaces reflects their vibrant culture.
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Architect-US is proud to work in close contact with studioMDA and to be able to ensure the firm gets to know and work with amazing young architects like Angello Reátegui, Romina Revoredo, and Diego Perez whom we helped process and sponsor their J1 Visa as well as find a job in the US through our Job+J1 Visa Program!
Angello Reátegui
Angello is an architect from Peru who graduated from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru from the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism. Before starting at studioMDA, his work experience includes pre-professional practice at Archivo de Arquitectura PUCP [AAPUCP].
Romina Revoredo
Romina is a Peruvian architect who graduated from the Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria, Peru with a Bachelor’s in Architecture, and she also completed an exchange program at Universidad de Mendoza, Argentina. Before starting at studioMDA, Romina’s professional experience includes working as a full-time architect at GRUPO 5 S.A.C. – Builders and Promoters.
studioMDA‘s Selected Projects
PHILLIPS NEW YORK HEADQUARTERS
The Phillips International Auction House moved into a new location in the summer of 2021 at 432 Park Avenue in New York. The current white-glass building known as the «Park Avenue Cube» is home to the new auction house.
By designing the new Phillips headquarters inside the already-existing Park Avenue Cube and concourse below, studioMDA creates a brand-new and distinctive auction house. This eliminates the traditional typology of the «auction behind closed doors» and allows for a direct visual connection from the street to the auction experience, promoting transparency and public engagement. StudioMDA provides sightlines into the auction floor of the underground concourse level by erecting a sunken mezzanine in place of the ground floor of the transparent glass-walled Park Avenue Cube. Selected paintings can be viewed and discussed by prospective buyers or sellers in quiet, intimate private galleries.
StudioMDA created a system of adaptable «zones» within the current concourse space in response to Phillips’ growing auction business. These zones can be closed off into large, column-free areas for exhibition and auction activities, or they can be separated into discrete rooms. In contrast to a gallery or museum, Phillips rotates through many programs every day. With the help of a kit of moveable walls, one may adapt to the way art is exhibited and meet the unique requirements of different curatorial platforms and events. Every area in the recently constructed concourse will be specially designed to fit the size and style of the collections—which include anything from watches to paintings to cars—that are on show. This adaptability honors the dynamic and theatrical aspects of the auction house experience.
EAST 78TH STREET TOWNHOUSE
This 1910 home is situated in one of the Upper East Side’s most prestigious neighborhoods. Situated in a historically preserved landmark district, the townhouse is just a short distance from Fifth Avenue. The entire refurbishment, from top to bottom, began with a new limestone exterior, French-style windows and doors, and ornate cast iron railings. Along with new windows, the rear facade was renovated with a stucco finish. The large foyer, which is opened by the entry vestibule and is dominated by a colossal staircase, leads to the family room and kitchen, which are both generously sized. This 15,000 square foot home, built for a family of six, features three powder rooms spread throughout the house, a home office, a separate service level, and seven bedrooms with en suite baths.
Photos provided by studioMDA
60 WHITE
On May 20, 2023, 60 White, a new 5,000 square foot gallery owned by gallerist Lio Malca, will open in New York with an exhibition by Spanish painter Rafa Macarrón. The multistory area has brick walls that date back to the building’s original construction. The largest wall, which is 35 feet tall, offers the chance to display art in unique ways.
In an interview with The Art Newspaper, Lio Malca remarked, «It has the beauty and the warmth of the neighborhood.» «I like the idea of being able to change spaces, but it needs to start with an energy that makes you feel like you can accomplish something really unique.» Malca claimed that the view of the room’s «dramatic» triple-height open space, 35-foot walls, exposed brick, and natural light coming from the back skylights drew him in right away.
Photos provided by studioMDA
We will be posting more projects by studioMDA in the upcoming 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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