Renovated Secretary-General Suite: Conference/Dining Room, UNNY028G, 1973, Austria
Title

Renovated Secretary-General Suite: Conference/Dining Room

Gift ID: 
UNNY028G

The office suite of the Secretary-General serves many purposes, including welcoming important guests for private discussions, holding photo shoots, and other official activities. The suite of rooms was designed in 1973 and then later renovated during the UN’s Capital Master Plan (2009 – 2015). An Austrian architectural team was selected to create a professional yet relaxing environment for important discussions. 

Karl Mang (1922 – 2015) and Eva Mang-Frimmel (1927 – 2000) were a design team that designed more than 40 commercial buildings, over 70 international trade fair buildings and more than 15 business premises. With their 1952 fashion store design they heralded much success. Their award-winning innovative designs were widely known, and the clean, simple designs of other Austrian designers were closely associated with their efforts. Eva Mang-Frimmel won the Silver Medal of Honour and Medal of Honour of the City of Vienna and was of the first women in Austria to study architecture after the Second World War. 

The refurbishment of the office suite consisted of replacing the original wood paneling with walnut wood paneling as well as adding Christal electrical fittings brought directly from Austria. The original furniture was also replaced with new furniture designed and produced in Austria. 

In 1973, a small ceremony was held at the inauguration of the space during which Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim commented on the excellent co-operation of the United Nations in-house trades staff and the Austrian craftsmen involved. To support the Austrian architects, New York architect Gerhard Karplus served as special consultant. 

Donor Region: 
Western European and Other Groups
Donor: 
Austria
Classification: 
Architecture & Mosaics
Materials: 
Wood
Medium: 
Wood paneling and furniture
Location (Building): 
Secretariat (S)
Location floor: 
38th Floor
Donation Date: 
May 3, 1973
Artist or Maker: 
Karl Mang and Eva Mang-Frimmel