25 Fifth Avenue

A sedate example of the Colonial Revival, 25 Fifth Avenue is typical of its block – but something of an anomaly for its architects. Rouse & Goldstone were better known for opulent and unusual buildings, such as the eccentrically shaped Riviera Apartments on Riverside Drive, or the jaw-dropping splendor of the penthouse at 1107 Fifth Avenue (more about which later…).

25 Fifth frames its ground floor with a tidy garden that exudes semi-suburban dignity.  Doors for offices (shown above) flank the wider central entrance. Above each of the office doors a Georgian pediment has been merged with a Federal fanlight: a playful yet understated detail.

The building replaces the house of Mabel Dodge, one of the most celebrated of Greenwich Village’s bohemian hostesses.  She later moved to Taos, where her unique pueblo-style estate still stands as a hotel.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.