In the rarefied world of Swarovski crystal there is a new jewel'the Daniel Swarovski Corporation headquarters. Situated on the tranquil eastern shore of Lake Zurich, in M'nnedorf, Switzerland, the new building, designed by D'sseldorf-based Ingenhoven Architects, is as beautiful a work environment as one could imagine. For 118 years, since Daniel Swarovski invented the precision-cutting machine that revolutionized the crystal-glass industry, the company has grown to manufacture decorative products that are irresistible to such iconic fashion houses as Chanel, Schiaparelli, Balenciaga, and Dior, making Swarovski a tony household name. Fast forward to 2010, when the $2 billion'plus company charged Ingenhoven
Designed by Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the Manufacturers Hanover Trust building's glass curtain wall and luminous interiors communicated a new transparency for financial institutions when completed in 1954. But the building that attracted 15,000 visitors on its opening day made less auspicious headlines in October 2010 when exiting tenants removed its site-specific Harry Bertoia sculptural screen and mobile. The change was just the latest in a long list of modifications that diminished 510 Fifth Avenue's original design. Flanked by two popular retail corridors'the established Flagship Row between 49th and 59th Streets and the Bryant Park area