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Living Room Under Construction In The Middle Of Columbus Circle

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - If you've driven around Columbus Circle lately, you've noticed something happening. They're building something big around the statue in the middle.

WCBS 880's Alex Silverman On The Story

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Christopher Columbus sits atop of a pillar 70 feet over his circle.

"And very few people have ever actually seen the statue of Columbus that's perched up there," Public Art Fund Director Nicholas Baume told WCBS 880 reporter Alex Silverman.

Baume said that will change next month.

Steel scaffolding is already rising.

"On top of the scaffolding will sit a room," he said.

It will be a living room, to be more precise.

"Couches, side tables, lighting, TV," Baume told Silverman.

"TV?" queried Silverman.

"Oh yeah. That's part of the American dream," Baume said.

It's the work of the Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi and you can see it up close, if you're up for a six-flight climb.

"What normally is this remote, distant sculpture is now suddenly welcoming you into his living room," Baume said. "When else will you ever have the chance to come face to face with the statue of Columbus?"

Would you be interested in heading up there? Sound off in the comments section below.

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