An Architect Remembers Menachem Stark

Architect Philipp Mohr, whose design studio is based in Williamsburg, worked with Menachem Stark on a number of projects, including five in the last two years. Most were interior design for apartment buildings; all were located in Brooklyn. Above, a design for the renovation of the lobby at 100 South 4th Street in Williamsburg. “I worked very closely with him on a weekly basis and knew him very well,” he said. He writes:

Max met me through a friend who recommended my office to him. Max was very exclusive and would only work with people that he knew or that were recommended. But even when new people were recommended to him he’d rather go back to the old people he already knew, even if they were more expensive.

Generally he was very warm and funny, always very busy and a go getter. He was never mean or in any way offensive. He always signed our proposals and contracts and paid on time. He was always extremely busy and meetings in our office with him lasted a few minutes and then he was either on the phone with someone or he left again. He would usually bring an assistant with him. Often he would pick me up somewhere with his van and look at our design proposals in between driving to a site, being on the phone, meeting someone or driving to a store to pick out appliances or construction materials.

Some days were like a construction frenzy with visits to several projects, meetings with countless contractors, realtors, clients, renters, walk throughs, shopping, driving… He had a big crew of contractors constantly working for him on multiple projects.

It seemed like it was all going very well and he was somehow managing all his finances and all his obligations very well. He would always mention that he would get money for this and that soon.

For the projects we worked on with him he was very interested in the latest in design and the newest and most exciting materials and construction products that were on the market. He got really into modern design and wanted to spend extra money on cool and expensive design ideas. Working with him was really fun, we came up with a lot of very nice interior designs and also architectural features for the exteriors of his buildings.

He wanted to do things right and build great design. At the end he trusted us so much that he would hardly look at our designs anymore but say to his assistant “let’s do it.” Especially for the Bedford Avenue building we insisted that his new sidewalk should have a few tree pits and he agreed with us instantly and let us decide where the trees should go.

In the last few weeks before his tragic death he couldn’t pay our invoices anymore and didn’t respond to any emails or calls anymore.