Thursday Salute to Originals: Locksmith > Architect?
As the owner of a small locksmith shop in the West Village of NYC, Phil Mortillaro wanted to differentiate his storefront. Approaching an architect years ago, Mortillaro posed the challenge, “what can I do with this place? It looks like any building on Queens Boulevard, I’m proud to be an American, I’d like you to make this a real American building.”
In response, the architect proposed a traditional design complete with columns, pediment, arched windows, and a cupola to top it all off. For a 125-square foot space, the façade design could certainly be described as overdone.
Though the architect’s design was approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission and full funding was in place, Mortillaro decided to forego the design, stating “it would have been more Disney World”. So what did the small shop owner do next? Staying loyal to the building he has spent over 40 years in, Mortillaro unlocked his hidden creativity and created the façade redesign all by himself. He spent an entire month cladding the exterior of his shop entirely in keys, creating swirling patterns with deep texture. The photos speak for themselves, the surface effect created by the keys is raw, contextual, decorative, and industrial all at once. We can’t help but admire this seasoned tradesman for his rebel spirit (one that probably leaves architects gasping – he didn’t listen)!
Today we salute Phil Mortillaro for taking matters into his own hands and creating a truly unique façade surface! In this case, homespun treatments inspired by extreme dedication are more compelling than any formal architecture could ever be.
Image credits: Scouting NY, Greenwich Locksmiths