Stunning NYC architecture

Interesting website. That building on West End Avenue was a real eye-opener.

The Brooklyn Bridge Park is the only one I've really checked out; I'm a big fan.

The Frank Gehry is something I want to see, even if pictures are on the scary side.

I took another look at the website and like this building: 535 West End Avenue.

Lucien LeGrange designed it. It is unfortunate that he went bankrupt before the project ended.

If you took a look at the building, you would think it has a lot of apartments in it, but in reality, there are only 12 apartments in the entire building. And these apartments take up only a floor or two. So I wonder what is in the rest of the building.

I'm still a sucker for the Art Deco buildings on Park Avenue in the mid 50's and 60's. I think the Deco buildings are truly emblematic of "my" New York - love 'em!

Ha; Art Deco makes me think of Miami.

@ajadedidealist: From my reading about it, I believe Art Deco came from Paris.

@hhusted Ha, good point. I'm still picturing Miami Beach, though.

Yeah, okay, art deco-- I appreciate it too, but I wouldn't build anything new in art deco style. I mean, let it go already, ya know? I happen to like Lucien LeGrange's work, and he has had no end of trouble in this city, getting past local boards and whatnot.

LaGrange has done some impressive things for sure.

I don't think anyone was saying Art Deco isn't something of a historical movement?

Didn't mean to sound grouchy there, BroadwayBK. Just saying that Art Deco doesn't have to be the only style emblematic of NYC, and I really like the newer styles of architecture and find them just as emblematic of this place.

Wow that 535 West End Avenue development is seriously gorgeous! old world NY with new world luxuries.

@Uraniumfish Ahhhh. Agreed; I think Art Deco is emblematic of Paris, if anything. But I'm still seeing Miami.

@uptowngirl I like how they call that building "neauvou prewar." Wonder if it lets in the light any better than an actual prewar apartment?

I'm actually quite keep on Jean Nouvel's stuff and found that Chelsea building of his lovely in person.

I agree with Uraniumfish. Art Deco isn't the only type of architecture in the city of NY. There are many buildings in NYC that are beautiful looking.

@BroadwayBK I live in a pre-war building just checked it dates back to 1941 and because my apartment faces east I get a lot of sun.. I couldnt live without it.. the sun is what makes NYC winters somewhat bearable.

@Uptowngirl: Are you back in NYC, because your post gives the impression you are here now. Otherwise, it is always good to get a lot of sun. So living in a building where your apartment faces the sun is good for you. It does have its pros and cons.

@uptowngirl Are you high up? I have been in a few pre-war apartments, and I wouldn't describe them as very dark - more like lacking in direct sunlight.

@uptowngirl If a building is described as pre-war, doesn't that mean it went up in 1939, before WWII? That's what I always thought.

@everyone I live in a pre-war building that went up in '31, and I understand what you mean about the lack of light. Our apartment isn't exactly dark, but I can't tell what sort of day it is without going to the window and craning my head to see what color the sky is. It's strange because there are tons of windows but less light than you'd expect. But unlike any of the other apartments we looked at in Park Slope, this one is incredibly spacious, with high ceilings - which are some of the best pre-war apartment qualities.

@NeverSleeps I really don't know what the classification is but I guess it was built during the War hence it gets put into the category of pre-war. However it does have the requisite war time accoutrements like bomb shelters!

@BroadwayBK No we are not high up on a low floor but two rooms face the river and get direct sunlight while the bedroom is a bit deprived.

I suppose I can't complain about how pre-wars fail to let in the light. My own apartment doesn't even have a window in the living room. I'd likely be better off in one of those enormous pre-war buildings. My building is a row house, but it was built in the twenties, I think. I somehow doubt that row houses are classified as "pre-war."

For New Year's I ended up at a party in a condo in the 30's and was pretty amazed to see how ugly and ill-lit and small the place was, considering the price tag of any piece of real estate in Manhattan. Call me sticker-shocked, but is that all a couple million buys in the city?

@Everybody: When you say the building was built "pre-war," the question is which war?

@hhusted good point ! but I think they generally mean World War II

@Uraniumfish Yeah, you can't get much for a couple million, can you?

@Uptowngirl: My super told me the other day that the building I live in now was built 100 years ago. That means it was built before WWI. Interesting.

@hhusted so then you live in a Pre-War building ..

I love the Metropolitan Tower (an example of Neo-Deco, as it were - it's meant to look like an old-fashioned cruise ship on the inside, and looks like a glass triangle on the outside) on 57th Street. It's absolutely gorgeous!

@Uptowngirl: Yeah, maybe pre-pre-war? :)

I'm a sucker for the row houses, et al that line the Irving Place area and the West Village.

@JenMac ooh yes, the Inn at Irving Place has to be one of the most romantic locales in NYC.

If the property is built right, row houses can have their charm.

Oooh, what is this place, uptowngirl? I want to go to there!

@JenMac Here's the link http://www.innatirving.com/ many years ago on one of my nyc trips I met an awfully cute guy who managed the place and gave me a tour and I fell in love with the place

OOOh, it's the place over Pure Food and Wine! It looks so lovely! Thanks uptown!

I took a look at the place at the website you provided Uptowngirl, and all I can say is "Wow." What an incredible beautiful place.