r i c a r d o m u l e r o

NEW YORK, NY

OPENED MAY 2014

MUSEUM PLANNING AND EXHIBITION DESIGN

Led the design team at THinc Design Inc. on the U.S. Memorial Museum commemorating the seminal event of September 11, 2001. The exhibition design included overall museum space planning, exhibition style, design development, and selection of colors and finishes for the exhibition. In collaboration with the client, selected and placed key artifacts throughout the museum.

OLD SAN JUAN, PR

EXHIBITION DESIGN

Developing the concept and design for the permanent exhibition presentation of the history of Banco Popular of Puerto Rico. The exhibition narrative will highlight the significant turning points in the history of the Bank -- complemented by contemporaneous relevant events in Puerto Rico and around the world.

The exhibition will be located within the historic Art Deco building from 1938, the tallest skyrise in the Caribbean at the time.

NEW YORK, NY

EXHIBITION DESIGN

Organized and arranged the displays for "Exploring Queer Space: Queer Latino Identity" -- a presentation of photographs depicting gay historic events from the early 1980's through the present, as seen through the eyes of New York-based artist-photographer Luis Carle.

The photographs were organized in thematic groups. Each group was arranged in a random cluster around an iconic image. A visually clean environment, in white, allowed the photographs to be the most prominent objects in the space.

NEW YORK, NY

INTERIOR DESIGN AND PLACEMENT OF ART COLLECTION

Completed the interior design in this prewar-period apartment. The design intent was to create a visually clean environment. Selected furnishings and window treatments that would allow a portion of the client's eclectic art collection be displayed prominently. The art collection includes contemporary photography, quilts, Venetian glass objects, and family heirloom artifacts. In collaboration with the client, selected and placed the artwork displayed throughout the apartment.

NEW YORK, NY

CUSTOM-DESIGNED MILLWORK AND INTERIOR DECORATING

The design update of a charming Art Deco compact apartment in Chelsea included electrical upgrade, renovation of the kitchen, and addition of a custom built-in bookcase and credenza. The selection of furnishings is ongoing.

NEW YORK, NY

INTERIOR DESIGN

Completed the interior design in an 88sf windowless alcove within a contemporary residential apartment. Defined the client's needs and the primary use for this space: a home office. Due to the compact size of this space, opted to limit the number of furnishings in the room and avoid clutter.  The use of a light color palette and light-weight materials, such as glass and stainless steel, created a bright, open and unified environment.

FIRE ISLAND PINES, NY

INTERIOR DESIGN AND SPACE PLANNING

Preserved the original mid-century bayfront beach cottage and updated its interior spaces.

The interior design of the compact cottage was inspired by the interior of a boat. Most of the furniture was designed as built-ins, eliminating clutter. The consistent use of color and materials throughout the house, such as the bleached wood floors and cabinetry, provided a fresh look and unified the interior spaces. The design of the entrance gate and privacy screens was part of the new exterior elements.

NEW YORK, NY

SPACE PLANNING AND CUSTOM BUILT CABINETRY DESIGN

Designed the conversion of a bedroom into a study / home office room. The scope of work included: space planning, design of custom built-in cabinetry and selection of furnishings.

NEW YORK, NY

INTERIOR DESIGN, SPACE PLANNING AND PLACEMENT OF ART COLLECTION

Designed and coordinated improvements in an apartment within a landmarked building. The design intent was to reflect the client's informal low-key lifestyle and feature a portion of his extensive art collection. The design scope included: space planning, a new compact kitchen, selection of interior colors and finishes, and selection of lighting fixtures and some furnishings. In collaboration with the client, also selected and placed the artwork displayed throughout the apartment.

FIRE ISLAND PINES, NY

EXHIBITION DESIGN

An Artist's Beach Studio was the conceptual design approach for the summer presentation of my oil paintings at the beach community of Fire Island Pines.

An understated approach to the design seemed appropriate for a beach environment. I wanted to provide a consistent "look-and-feel" from the arrangement of the art on leaning easel-like panels to the details of the posters, flyers, price lists, and ocean-honed stone paper weights. The simplicity of the art displays complimented the informal setting of this mid-century bay cottage.

NEW YORK, NY

 APRIL 2016

EXHIBITION DESIGN AND SPACE PLANNING

Designed a three-day "pop-up" art exhibition of my oil paintings in a 2000sf loft located in the historic art district of SoHo. The short duration of the exhibition, a limited budget, and a four-hour installation window prior to the show opening called for an efficient and austere design approach. 

I decided to recall the early days of the SoHo alternative art exhibition spaces of the 1970s. Taking the open-raw-loft-in-white approach made the art pieces the most prominent elements in the space. The budget did not allow for any arbitrary exhibition components. Every element served a purpose: title wall, art labels, flower arrangement, and food & bar tables.

The title wall presented visitors with a self portrait of the artist's hands titled "My Empty Hands".  At the center of the exhibition space, a large-scale arrangement of cherry blossoms reminded visitors of the arrival of Spring 2016!

An art oasis located off Times Square in NYC.

Transformed the 2,500 sf landmarked Saint Mary the Virgin summer chapel space into a temporary gallery space for the winter show of my oil paintings.  

ASHEVILLE, NC

SPACE PLANNING WITHIN HISTORIC HOME

NEW YORK, NY

INTERIOR DESIGN AND SPACE PLANNING

Developed schematic design of a new bathroom and a new kitchen. The design scope included the preliminary selection colors and finishes for the apartment.

(The architectural package was a collaboration with Susan E. Young Architect, AIA.)

QUEENS, NY

INTERIOR DESIGN AND SPACE PLANNING

Developed the schematic design for a new 3200 square foot hair salon. The design scope package included planning of the space, selection of interior colors, finishes and furnishings. The concept was to create a loft-like space, taking advantage of the generous ceiling height and ample storefront. During the design process of this project we gained an understanding of the unique requirements of a hair salon.

(The design and architectural package is a collaboration with Susan E. Young Architect, AIA.)

MONTPELIER STATION, VA

OPENED IN 1998

EXHIBITION DESIGN

Designed the first phase of new exhibits in James Madison's ancestral home, Montpelier, as a senior designer at Ralph Appelbaum Associates. The galleries were organized by themes and exhibit furniture was used to organize the storyline. A set of wayside panels was created to highlight points of interests in the property's extensive gardens.  Selected colors and finishes for the walls and the exhibition furniture. The custom sisal flooring helped distinguish the historic floor and define the visitor path.

Award: Communication Arts 1998 Design Annual for Excellence in Exhibition Design

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA

OPENED IN PHASES THROUGH 2011

International advisor and planner. Provided master planning oversight for the project, conceptual design and design supervision for the museum.

Performed the work as a senior designer at THinc Design Inc.

ELLIS ISLAND, NY

OPENED IN 1995

The reading and oral history rooms are located in glass-enclosed courtyards within the Ellis Island library filled with natural light. The design work was performed as a lead designer at Ralph Appelbaum Associates. The scope of work included: space planning, custom designed furniture , and selection of colors and finishes.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

OPENED 1995

Temporary exhibition commemorating 50 years after the liberation of the camps in 1945. Performed work as a lead designer at Ralph Appelbaum Associates.

CHICAGO,IL

OPENED IN 2007

Led the design team at THinc Design Inc. Designed and organized 2,300 artifacts in a permanent exhibition on the anthropology and cultural evolution of the ancient Americas over a 12,000 year span.

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL

OPENED IN 1998

EXHIBITION DESIGN AND SPACE PLANNING

Organized the exhibits around 18 themes including the game's historic roots, techniques, course design, and future direction. The design was performed as a lead designer at Ralph Appelbaum Associates. The project scope included concept and organizational framework of the content, space planning, exhibition design, and creation of custom colors and finishes.

ARLINGTON, VA

OPENED IN 1997 (CLOSED)

The exhibition design included space planning selection of colors and finishes and detailing of major exhibit components including mini theaters, interactive stations, lobby and a museum store. The work was performed as a lead designer for Ralph Appelbaum Associates.