When walking by the corner of 149th and Convent Avenue in Hamilton Heights, some of the more knowledgeable architect buffs out there might have bit of déjà vu when walking by the Church of the Crucifixion (top photo). Built in 1967 by mid century architect Costas Machlouzarides, the boldly shaped temple of worship bares a striking resemblance to Le Corbusier's Chapel of Nôtre Dame du Haut which was built in Ronchamp France twelve years earlier (lower photo). Machlouzarides' work is definitely a little out of place on the borders of the the various West Harlem historic districts but the curvilinear elements of the building was copied from one of the best of this particular genre and has a dramatic sculptural quality to it. In our opinion, the same probably can not be said for the former Harlem Casino which had its facade updated in 1966 by the same architect to make way for a new church:
LINK. Lower photo via the
Reinier De Jong site
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