This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information and to make an appointment, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.
The Max Gordon architectural records and papers documents the architectural career and life of the internationally renowned architect. The collection is composed primarily of project files, architectural drawings, photographs, correspondence, legal papers, personal diaries, and student sketchbooks.
Series I: Project Records covers Max Gordon's architectural career from his student work at Cambridge, the Architectural Association School of Architecture, and Harvard University to his later work under his own London based practice, Max Gordon Associates. The series is made up of three subseries:
Series II: Office Records contains papers related to Gordon's partnership with Chapman Taylor Partners and Louis de Soissons Partnership, including legal papers and correspondence. The series also includes material associated with Max Gordon Associates, including his desk diaries and promotional portfolios and photographs.
Series III: Student Work contains architectural drawings, sketches, class notes, and student writings created by Gordon while he was a student at University of Cambridge and the Architectural Association in London during the early 1950s. The material is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Series IV: Personal Papers is made up of personal diaries, biographical information, clippings, slides, and collected ephemera. The material is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
1944-2010
This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information and to make an appointment, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.
Permission to publish must be obtained in writing from the Director, Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, 1172 Amsterdam Ave., MC 0301, New York, NY 10027.
Max Gordon architectural records and papers, 1944-2010, bulk 1944-1990. Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.
Associated Materials--Researchers interested in Max Gordon's involvement with the advisory board of the Museum of Modern Art, New York and the advisory board associated with the construction of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sophia, Madrid should consult the Papers of the architect Max Gordon located at the Tate Archive, London. The collection housed at the Tate Archive also documents Gordon's role as a patron, curator and collector and include correspondence, invoices, plans and photographs, lecture notes and printed material.
Source of acquisition--David Gordon. Method of acquisition--Donated;; Date of acquisition--2010. Accession number--2010.024.
Columbia University Libraries, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library
This collection was processed in 2010 by Shelley Hayreh, Archivist, Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architecture and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University.
2011-01-11 File created.
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
Max Gordon was born June 10, 1931 in Cape Town, South Africa. He received his architectural education at the University of Cambridge, the Architectural Association in London, and the graduate School of Design at Harvard University. At Harvard, Gordon studied Urban Design under Professor Jose Luis Sert and graduated with a Master of Architecture degree in 1956.
Gordon's professional practice began in New York working for Skidmore, Ownings and Merrill. In 1962, Gordon returned to England as a partner in the London based firm Chapman Taylor Partners. After ten years with Chapman Taylor, Gordon left to become a senior partner at The Louis de Soissons Partnership. He remained with Louis de Soissons until 1981 when the firm relocated its offices outside of London.
At that time, Gordon established his own practice in London, Max Gordon Associates. After only a few years, Gordon soon became an internationally sought-after designer of and consultant for exhibition spaces and art galleries. At the time of his death, a New York Times obituary described Gordon as "the architect of choice for museums, dealers' galleries and private collectors from Los Angeles, Chicago and New York to London, Madrid, Athens and Helsinki."
One of Gordon's breakthrough commissions was the Saatchi Gallery located at 98a Boundary Road in London. In 1984, Charles and Doris Saatchi approached Gordon about converting a former paint factory into an exhibition gallery for their contemporary art collection. Gordon converted an old industrial factory in St John's Wood into, as one critic at the time described as, "one of the most blissful spaces of its kind."
His most prominent commissions include, among others, Annely Juda Fine Art, Brooke-Alexander Gallery, Paula Cooper Gallery, James Corcoran Gallery, Fisher Landau Center, Koury-Wingate Gallery, Lorence-Monk Gallery, Luhring-Augustine Gallery, Maeght-Lelong Gallery, Marlborough Fine Art Galleries, and gallery space for the Centro d'Arte Reina Sophia. Gordon also did significant residential design work for clients such as artist Richard Serra, Joel Shapiro, and Jennifer Barlett, art collectors Asher Edelman and Lewis Manilow, and musician Brian Ferry. Gordon worked closely with architects Richard Goldsbrough and Richard Gluckman on many of these projects.
Alongside his work as an architect, Gordon was a member of the trustees' committee on architecture and design at the Museum of Modern Art and a member of its international council from 1978 to 1985. In London, he was a founding committee member of the Patrons of New Art at the Tate Gallery and a trustee of the Whitechapel Art Gallery Foundation.
Max Gordon died on August 24, 1990 in London.
Box 1 Folder 3
8 items; Other Creator: Richard Goldsbrough DesRCA MCSD
Tube 2 Roll 4
3 items
Tube 2 Roll 5
51 items
Box 1 Folder 4
82 items
Box 1 Folder 5
48 items
Drawer 86 Folder 1
2 items
Box 1 Folder 6
2 items; Other Creator: Richard Gluckman Architects
Box 1 Folder 7
22 items
Tube 3 Roll 6
15 items; Other Creator: Richard Gluckman Architects
Box 1 Folder 8
5 items
Tube 2 Roll 7
3 items
Box 1 Folder 9
2 items
Tube 3 Roll 8
1 item
Tube 3 Roll 9
2 items
Box 1 Folder 10
30 items; Other Creator: Sue O'Brien
Tube 3 Roll 10
8 items
Box 1 Folder 11
6 items; Other Creator: Richard Goldsbrough Des RCA MCSD
Tube 4 Roll 11
5 items
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7 items
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14 items
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10 items
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5 items
Tube 6 Roll 16
10 items
Box 1 Folder 12
55 items
Box 1 Folder 13
5 items
Box 1 Folder 14
56 items; Other Creator: Lehrecke & Tonetti
Box 1 Folder 15
3 items
Drawer 86 Folder 2
2 items
Drawer 86 Folder 3
4 items
Box 1 Folder 16
18 items; Other Creator: Acheson Thornton Doyle Architects
Box 1 Folder 17
4 items
Box 1 Folder 18
3 items
Box 1 Folder 19
11 items
Tube 6 Roll 17
1 item
Box 1 Folder 2
18 items
Tube 1 Roll 1
12 items; Other Creator: Louis de Soissons Partners
Tube 1 Roll 2
16 items; Other Creator: Louis de Soissons Partners
Tube 1 Roll 3
Box 1 Folder 1
4 items
Box 1 Folder 20
14 items
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4 items
Box 1 Folder 21
16 items
Box 1 Folder 22
4 items
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5 items
Box 1 Folder 23
19 items
Tube 7 Roll 20
15 items
Tube 8 Roll 21
18 items; Other Creator: Architects M. Photiadis & Associates
Tube 8 Roll 22
6 items
Tube 8 Roll 23
15 items
Tube 9 Roll 24
6 items
Drawer 86 Folder 4
4 items
Tube 9 Roll 25
2 items
Box 1 Folder 24
1 item
Box 1 Folder 25
6 items; Other Creator: Acheson Thornton Doyle Architects
Box 1 Folder 26
10 items
Box 1 Folder 27
20 items; Other Creator: Frederick Fisher
Tube 9 Roll 26
3 items; Other Creator: John Vinci Inc.
Tube 9 Roll 27
4 items; Other Creator: John Vinci Inc.
Tube 10 Roll 28
24 items
Tube 11 Roll 29
9 items
Box 1 Folder 28
34 items
Box 1 Folder 29
31 items
Drawer 76 Folder 1
6 items
Tube 11 Roll 32
1 item
Tube 11 Roll 31
4 items
Box 1 Folder 33
11 items; Other Creator: Richard Goldsbrough DesRC MCSD
Box 1 Folder 34
15 items
Tube 11 Roll 33
4 items
Box 1 Folder 30
1 item; Other Creator: Wasserman & Waterhouse Architects
Box 1 Folder 32
21 items
Box 1 Folder 31
9 items
Tube 11 Roll 30
6 items
Tube 12 Roll 34
12 items
Box 1 Folder 35
Box 1 Folder 36
1 item; Other Creator: Richard Goldsbrough DesRC MCSD
Tube 13 Roll 35
17 items
Tube 14 Roll 36
15 items
Tube 15 Roll 37
16 items
Tube 16 Roll 38
26 items
Box 1 Folder 37
3 items
Box 1 Folder 38
4 items
Tube 17 Roll 39
20 items
Tube 18 Roll 40
7 items
Drawer 76 Folder 2
14 items
Box 1 Folder 39
14 items
Box 1 Folder 40
5 items
Box 1 Folder 41
11 items
Box 1 Folder 42
6 items
Tube 18 Roll 41
7 items
Box 2 Folder 1
8 items; Other Creator: Richard Gluckman Architects
Drawer 86 Folder 5
2 items
Box 2 Folder 2
8 items
Tube 19 Roll 42
12 items; Other Creator: Robert Atkinson & Partners
Tube 19 Roll 43
2 items
Box 2 Folder 3
7 items; Other Creator: Richard Goldsbrough DesRC MCSD
Box 2 Folder 4
11 items; Other Creator: Richard Goldsbrough DesRC MCSD
Box 2 Folder 5
10 items; Other Creator: Richard Goldsbrough DesRC MCSD
Box 2 Folder 6
13 items
Tube 19 Roll 44
1 item
Box 2 Folder 7
19 items; Other Creator: First City Partnership
Box 2 Folder 8
6 items
Tube 19 Roll 44
2 items
Box 2 Folder 9
37 items
Tube 20 Roll 45
11 items
Box 2 Folder 10
1 item
Box 2 Folder 11
Box 2 Folder 12
Box 2 Folder 13
Box 2 Folder 14
Box 2 Folder 15
Box 2 Folder 16
Box 2 Folder 17
Box 2 Folder 18
Box 2 Folder 19
Box 2 Folder 20
Box 2 Folder 21
Box 2 Folder 22
Box 2 Folder 23
Box 2 Folder 24
Box 2 Folder 25
Box 2 Folder 26
Box 2 Folder 27
Box 2 Folder 28
Box 2 Folder 29
Box 2 Folder 30
Box 2 Folder 31
Box 2 Folder 32
Box 2 Folder 33
Box 2 Folder 34
Other Creator: Richard Gluckman Architects
Box 2 Folder 35
Box 3 Folder 1
Box 3 Folder 2
Box 3 Folder 3
Box 3 Folder 4
Box 3 Folder 5
Box 3 Folder 6
Other Creator: Acheson Thornton Doyle Architects
Box 3 Folder 7
Box 3 Folder 8
Box 3 Folder 9
Box 3 Folder 10
Box 3 Folder 11
Box 3 Folder 12
Box 3 Folder 13
Box 3 Folder 15
Box 3 Folder 17
Box 3 Folder 18
Box 3 Folder 16
Box 3 Folder 14
Box 3 Folder 19
Box 3 Folder 20
Box 3 Folder 21
Box 3 Folder 22
Box 3 Folder 23
Box 3 Folder 24
Box 3 Folder 25
Box 3 Folder 26
Box 3 Folder 27
Box 3 Folder 28
Box 3 Folder 29
Box 3 Folder 30
Box 3 Folder 31
Box 3 Folder 32
Box 3 Folder 33
Box 3 Folder 34
Box 3 Folder 35
Box 3 Folder 36
Box 3 Folder 37
Box 3 Folder 38
Box 3 Folder 39
Box 3 Folder 40
Box 3 Folder 41
Box 3 Folder 42
Box 3 Folder 43
Box 3 Folder 44
Box 3 Folder 45
Box 3 Folder 46
Box 4 Folder 5
12 items ; includes CD-ROM storing installation images.
Box 4 Folder 6
9 items; Installation shots of Naum Gabo 1890-1977 Centenary Exhibition
Box 4 Folder 3
1 item
Box 4 Folder 7
49 items
Box 4 Folder 8
39 items
Box 4 Folder 9
38 items
Box 4 Folder 10
39 items
Box 4 Folder 11
22 items
Box 4 Folder 12
21 items
Box 10 Folder 38
Glass Plate Negatives.
Box 10 Folder 39
Glass Plate Negatives.
Box 10 Folder 40
Glass Plate Negatives.
Box 4 Folder 13
5 items
Box 4 Folder 14
12 items
Box 4 Folder 15
5 negatives
Box 4 Folder 16
16 items
Box 4 Folder 17
40 items
Box 4 Folder 18
29 items
Box 4 Folder 19
Projects include Manilow, Ferry, Brody, 120 Mount Street, Annely Juda, Fischer-Landau, and Saatchi Gallery.
Box 4 Folder 20
39 items
Box 4 Folder 21
35 items
Box 4 Folder 22
1 item
Box 4 Folder 23
18 items
Box 4 Folder 24
5 items
Box 4 Folder 25
1 item
Box 4 Folder 4
39 items
Box 4 Folder 1
8 items
Box 4 Folder 2
21 items
Box 4 Folder 26
13 items
Box 4 Folder 27
6 items
Box 4 Folder 28
13 items
Box 4 Folder 29
52 items
Box 4 Folder 30
3 items
Box 4 Folder 31
51 negatives
Box 4 Folder 32
4 items
Box 4 Folder 33
19 items
Box 4 Folder 34
12 items
Box 4 Folder 35
68 items
Box 4 Folder 36
32 items
Box 4 Folder 37
18 items
Box 4 Folder 38
18 items
Box 4 Folder 39
11 items
Box 4 Folder 40
1 item
Box 4 Folder 41
16 items
Box 4 Folder 42
88 items
contains papers related to Gordon's partnership with Chapman Taylor Partners and Louis de Soissons Partnership, including legal papers and correspondence. The series also includes material associated with Max Gordon Associates, including his desk diaries and promotional portfolios and photographs.
Box 4 Folder 43 to 48
6 folders
Box 5 Folder 1 to 5
5 folders
Box 5 Folder 6 to 9
4 folders
Box 5 Folder 10 to 12
3 folders
Box 5 Folder 13
Box 5 Folder 14
Box 5 Folder 15
18 Photographs; including projects Maeght Lelong Gallery, Paula Cooper Gallery, Brody Residence, Shapiro Loft, Luhring Augustine Gallery, Andy Warhol retrospective, and Koury Wingate Gallery.
Box 5 Folder 16
17 Photographs; including projects Saatchi Gallery, Brooke Alexander, Maeght Lelong Galleries, and 120 Mount St.
Box 5 Folder 17
Box 5
3 items
Box 6
16 items
contains architectural drawings, sketches, class notes, and student writings created by Gordon while he was a student at University of Cambridge and the Architectural Association in London during the early 1950s. The material is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Drawer 86 Folder 6
17 drawings
Box 7 Folder 1
17 photos/negatives
Drawer 86 Folder 7
29 drawings
Drawer 86 Folder 8
23 drawings
Drawer 86 Folder 9
9 drawings
Box 7 Folder 2
Box 7 Folder 3 to 16
14 folders; courses include Advance Construction, Building Construction, Design and Construction, English, History, and Structures.
Box 7 Folder 17 to 22
5 folders
Box 7 Folder 22
Box 7 Folder 23 to 24
2 folders
Box 8 Folder 1 to 31
31 folders
Box 9 Folder 1 to 31
31 folders
Box 10 Folder 1 to 5
5 folders
Box 10 Folder 6
Drawer 86 Folder 10
20 drawings
Drawer 86 Folder 11
28 drawings
Drawer 86 Folder 12
23 drawings
Box 10 Folder 7
is made up of personal diaries, biographical information, clippings, slides, and collected ephemera. The material is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Box 10 Folder 8
Box 10 Folder 9
Box 10 Folder 10
3 items
Box 10 Folder 11
Box 10 Folder 12
Box 10 Folder 13
Box 10 Folder 14
Box 10 Folder 15 to 19
19 items
Tube 20 Roll 46
Harvard University, M.Arch.; Architectural Association; Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Box 10 Folder 20
Box 10 Folder 21
Box 10 Folder 22
Box 10 Folder 23 to 27
5 folders
Box 10 Folder 28
Primarily from Cambridge University student groups, but also includes a booklet entitled "Architecture: Careers for Men and Women/series 4," issued by the UK's Ministry of Labour and National Service.
Box 10 Folder 29
Box 10 Folder 30
Box 10 Folder 31
Box 10 Folder 32
Box 10 Folder 33
18 Minox Slides.
Box 10 Folder 34
11 items
Box 10 Folder 35
118 items
Box 10 Folder 36
36 items
Box 10 Folder 37