The New York Times had an article last week discussing some of the major new buildings taking a traditional angle on the Upper West Side and we couldn't help but compare them to some of Harlem's new classics. Limestone bases, cut stone details, architecturally curved corners and intricate metal work has all been trending now after so many years of glass tower development in the city:
LINK. The one's that have caught our eyes uptown have been the Rosa Park at 118th and St. Nicholas (top photo), 50 West 127th Street between 5th and Lenox, (2nd photo down) and 18 Morningside Avenue at 116th Street (last photo) which was modeled after downtown's Singer building:
LINK. Zoning in Harlem is much lower in most areas so the uptown version of the prewar classic is about half the size of those rising further south on Broadway. All three buildings sold out pretty quickly so maybe this should be the new direction in contextual construction going forward?
The NY Times article is very telling in that a developer looking for a style simply looked around his neighborhood for ideas. The same can be done for Harlem developments, we are awash with outstanding architecture that provides plenty of inspiration for new developments. Our Harlem architecture is one of our greatest assets and new buildings should work with what is here rather than clashing with it.
ReplyDeleteLast year, I believe, Architectural Digest showcased a building on Central Park that had been recently constructed. The name/address of the building escapes me. Yesterday on the news it was reported that someone who had purchased an apartment in this building for $10 million had just sold it for $41 million. The building was designed by Robert A.M. Stern.
ReplyDeleteI remember Stern saying that when they considered the design of the building he looked to the classics. Studies had shown that New Yorkers (at least the wealthy ones, lol) favored classical architecture, architecture with classicial references or even buildings constructed in a restrained classical vernacular, such as the ones presented in the pictures above.