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Sleeping Muse

McDonald's - 47 West 57th Street, NYC, NY (1989)

"A fast-food restaurant that makes the customer want to linger is something of a rarity. The McDonald's on 57th Street in New York City, designed by Charles Morris Mount, is almost unrecognizable as a member of the chain that usually boasts golden arches. Eschewing the corporate colors of yellow, red and orange, Mount chose a high-tech, electric blue and fuchsia color palette. Glass bricks, blue tiles and a reflective ceiling give the space a luminous, underwater quality.

Another departure from the fast-food restaurant formula was the installation of a carpet in the seating area, which Mount felt would soften the environment and cut down on noise. The heavily-trafficked main serving area was tiled in a distinctive blue pattern. Easy maintenance of the tiled area, which must be mopped frequently, was ensured by the installation of a slate ribbon between the carpeted and tiled area. The ribbon protects the carpet and also visually defines the curving border between the two floor treatments. The cost per square foot for this project was reportedly no more than a standard McDonald's." (front of house budget listed in 1989 dollars at $450,000)

Designed by Charles Morris Mount, Jennifer Wellmann, and the team of Silver & Ziskind/Mount