Founder

John Beckmann

Axis Mundi was launched by one John Beckmann in 2004. He studied architecture, interior and industrial design, and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Environmental Design from Parsons School of Design. During his studies, he apprenticed with master minimalist Joseph P. D’Urso and, after graduating, collaborated with various other design luminaries (who shall remain nameless). Throughout his career he has honed an astute understanding of the intersections between architecture, design and contemporary art.

John Beckmann, Founder and Principal Designer
In 2004, John Beckmann laid the foundation for Axis Mundi, drawing upon his scholastic roots in philosophy and visual culture from the New School. His multifaceted education in architecture, interior, and industrial design at Parsons School of Design further enriched his creative repertoire. During his time at Parsons, Beckmann, under the mentorship of minimalist luminary Joseph P. D’Urso, earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Environmental Design.

Beckmann's career is punctuated with accolades, including the ArchMarathon's Best Residential Interior award for 432 Park Avenue in 2020. New York Architects also acknowledged him as one of the 15 Best Residential Architects and Designers in New York in the same year. His scholarly endeavors include editing and contributing to "The Virtual Dimension: Architecture, Representation, and Crash Culture" (Princeton Architectural Press, 1998), an influential exploration of the impact of digital technologies on architecture and design. His work has been featured in over 100 publications, including The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, Designboom, Dezeen, The Architects Newspaper, Interior Design, Platform, and Casa Vogue, among many others. John received a MacDowell Colony Fellowship and is a grant recipient of the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts.

Beyond his design achievements, Beckmann has left an indelible mark in academia, serving as a visiting critic at esteemed institutions such as Yale School of Architecture, Pratt Institute, and Parsons, the New School for Design. His media presence includes featured appearances on Bloomberg TV and NBC's Open House. Additionally, Beckmann boasts two nominations for HGTV's Designer of the Year, solidifying his influence across diverse realms of design and architecture.

Catherine Readick, Designer
Catherine Readick studied Art History and Comparative Literature at Sarah Lawrence College. Since 2021, she has collaborated with John Beckmann at Axis Mundi, a studio known for stripping interiors down to their architectural essentials. Their projects include the Zizhu Yacht Villas for a Shanghai real estate developer, the reconfiguration of two Gwathmey Siegel apartments at Astor Place into one coherent 4,000-square-foot residence, a brutalist ballroom dance studio, and an upcoming furniture collection through FORM Portfolios. Her forthcoming essays dissect visual culture through unexpected intersections. Proof, Speed, and Magic: Notes on the Polaroid traces instant photography’s links to military optics, nuclear testing, and artificial intelligence. PROMPT/POESIS/PARANOIA: Horace, AI, and the Collapse of the Image considers how classical theories of art align with machine-generated visuals—and where they fall apart. She has also hosted classical music programs for Marfa Public Radio. She lives in the East Village.