Donald Judd Architecture Office Building fire in Marfa, June 4, 2021.
Today, the Judd Foundation in Marfa reported an early morning fire at 102 North Highland Avenue in Marfa, the location of Donald Judd’s Architecture Office. The interior of the two-story building was said to be severely damaged. At the time of the blaze, the building was empty and under restoration. There were also no injuries reported, and the cause of the fire is, as of the writing, unknown.
Location of building fire, Judd Foundation Properties. Via Judd Foundation.org
Judd Foundation’s restoration plan encompasses all of its buildings in Marfa, with the goal of protecting and restoring spaces and completing architectural plans envisioned by the artist. The three-phase plan, developed in partnership with project architects Schaum/Shieh, with support from the Board of Trustees and Marfa Restoration Committee, follows Judd’s intentions as stated in his 1977 essay Judd Foundation:
“The purpose of the foundation is to preserve my work and that of others and to preserve this work in spaces I consider appropriate for it. This effort has been a concern second only to the invention of my work. And gradually the two concerns have joined and both tend toward architecture.”
Donald Judd Architecture Office Building fire in Marfa, June 4, 2021. Photo Credit: Travis Bubenik @travisbubenik Twitter.
Judge Roy Ferguson, a Marfa-area resident, gave a first-hand account on his Twitter account, stating: “It was still smoldering when I drove through at 8:15 this morning. Massive damage, although brick exterior is still standing. Tragic loss. I hope they can restore it.”
Glasstire reached out to the Judd Foundation in preparing this story, and will report any additional information about the fire. To learn more about the Judd Foundation, please go here.
2 comments
It’s thought the fire may have started late thursday night June 3, which was the 83rd anniversary of Donald Judd’s birth. They were only days away from installing work.
93rd birthday rather.