535 Fifth Avenue, The Ruppert Building
A subdued work that suggests the Colonial Revival writ extra large, 535 Fifth Avenue, the Ruppert Building, was designed by H. Craig Severance in 1930. It is one of three similarly proportioned buildings on its side of Fifth Avenue, neighbored by the Lefcourt Building to the south and the Fred F. French Building to the… Continue reading
330 Fifth Avenue, The Astor Building
A typically restrained work by an architect famed for his country houses, 330 Fifth Avenue, The Astor Building, was built in 1926 to plans by Charles Adams Platt for the Astor Family. New windows have somewhat obscured the prim elegance of the original Colonial Revival design. In addition to his work as an architect, Platt… Continue reading
319 Fifth Avenue
The polite and well-tended little Colonial Revival building at 319 Fifth Avenue was built in 1917 and makes an interesting contrast to the opulence of the Kaskel Building located cater-corner – to say nothing of 321 Fifth directly to the north. The building stands on the site of the original Knickerbocker Club, now located further… Continue reading
51 Fifth Avenue
51 Fifth Avenue is an uncharacteristically restrained performance from Thomas W. Lamb, an architect known better for lavish theaters; one of his best buildings remaining in New York is the Pythian Temple (now a condominium) at 135 West 70th Street, a building dominated by theatrical Babylonian and Egyptian details that suggest Cecil B. DeMille. For this Fifth… Continue reading
45 Fifth Avenue
Built in 1925, 45 Fifth Avenue is a conservative facade from Sugarman & Berger, who were better known for their interiors. A similar, smaller design stands at 29 Fifth Avenue. Sugarman & Berger also collaborated with Harvey Corbett Willett on the latter’s magnificent One Fifth Avenue as well as the creation of the Washington Mews. … Continue reading