MoMA design store renovation celebrates messiness of 19th-century new york
Peterson Rich Office Renovates MoMA Design Store
The MoMA Design Store in Soho, New York, has reopened following a renovation by Brooklyn-based Peterson Rich Office. Built in 1884, the cast iron and masonry building has been carefully restored to its original footprint, a move that re-centers circulation and opens views into the interior from Spring Street. The updated store creates a contemporary new framework which celebrates the 19th-century ‘messiness’ of its historic home at 81 Spring Street.
designboom attended a preview ahead of the public opening on September 27th, 2025, where lead architects Miriam Peterson and Nathan Rich spoke about the design process and goals for the project.
‘We got a wonderful brief from MoMA,’ says Nathan Rich. ‘The first goal was to create a meaningful dialogue between the Design Store and this historic building. The second was to connect with the public, literally bringing the street in. And the third was to showcase the products themselves in special ways.‘
windows reopened to Spring Street create a stronger dialogue with Soho | images © Eric Petschek
historic details revealed
The MoMA Design Store renovation emphasizes the building’s authentic details, exposing cast iron columns, brickwork, and even portions of the original tin ceiling. Layers of later alterations were stripped back to allow the historic textures to read clearly against new interventions.
‘What we love about working in older buildings is peeling back the layers,’ explains Miriam Peterson. ‘The ceiling had been dropped, columns were covered, and the facade was blocked off. One of the first things we did was reveal the brick and arches and look at archival drawings to relocate the entrance to its original center position.’
The facade, once painted a muddy brown color called Afternoon Tea, has been restored to black with approval from the Landmarks Commission. ‘That subtle change reframed the interior from the street,’ Peterson adds. ‘It creates a stronger frame through which to view the store, while resonating with the masonry context of the neighborhood.‘
perforated steel shelving in MoMA’s signature blue brings a flexible backdrop for products
a contemporary framework
Inside the MoMA Design Store, the 6,600-square-foot space is organized through a system of flexible casework and display structures. Perforated steel shelving finished in MoMA’s signature blue, vitrines, and movable islands establish rhythm and variety, while casters allow the lower level to be cleared for talks and gatherings. A new perimeter shelving system by Rareraw, a Korean family business making its U.S. debut, integrates lighting into a versatile framework.
The architects emphasized adaptability and narrative potential. Nathan Rich describes the approach: ‘Everything here was made by brilliant creators. The store itself should help tell those stories — signage, displays, and layout all work to feature the products in meaningful ways.‘
historic cast iron and masonry details are revealed throughout the space
connecting store, street, and museum
The reopened windows and re-centered entry reinforce the link between the store and the streetscape, creating transparency and drawing the public in. This connection extends to the north wall, now home to a rotating Modern Mural program. The opening installation, LOVE NYC by Nina Chanel Abney, echoes Soho’s urban fabric while referencing MoMA’s collection, turning the wall into both an interior focal point and a street-facing canvas.
‘The mural announces from the moment you walk in that this is MoMA,’ Peterson says. ‘It frames the threshold between street and store, reinforcing the connection between the Design Store and the museum.’
The renovation balances a reverence for the building’s industrial heritage with the precision required of a retail environment. Exposed tin ceilings and rough masonry contrast with crisp steel shelving and controlled lighting. Peterson notes: ‘We embraced the messiness of the old building and saw it as part of the palette that directly engages with the new products.‘
the north wall features Nina Chanel Abney’s Love NYC mural
The news comes shortly after the opening of MoMA’s bookstore in Seoul. Residents and visitors in the Korean city will find the new space in the Dosan Park area of Gangnam, the fast-growing and now-iconic neighborhood south of the Han River. See designboom’s coverage here.
project info:
name: MoMA Design Store | @momadesignstore
renovation architect: Peterson Rich Office | @peterson_rich_office
location: 81 Spring Street, New York, NY
client: Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) | @themuseumofmodernart
mural artist: Nina Chanel Abney | @ninachanel
completion: September 27th, 2025
photography: © Eric Petschek | @cb
The post MoMA design store renovation celebrates messiness of 19th-century new york appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.
