The Architecture of New York City: Histories and Views of Important Structures, Sites, and Symbols [Paperback]

Donald Martin Reynolds (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 29, 1994 | ISBN-10: 0471014397 | ISBN-13: 978-0471014393 | Edition: 2nd

From the reviews of the first edition of Architecture of New York City. "It should provide joy to anyone even vaguely interested in this city and its artifacts.. It is very likely to turn them into enthusiasts." --New York Times Book Review ".weaves the little-known stories of 80 buildings and landmarks into a colorful tapestry of New York's whirlwind history.. This richly illustrated guide can be read from beginning to end with great pleasure." --Publishers Weekly ".Reynolds takes a new look at the older glories of New York. The architecture is freshly seen and is clearly researched. Reynolds' splendid photographs present highly original views of familiar (and not so familiar) important structures and sites." --Adolph Placzek, former president of the Society of Architectural Historians The history of New York City is a rich pageant of culture, commerce, social change, and human drama stretching back five hundred years. And when we know where to look for it, it is all there for us to see, vividly etched into the cityscape. Now in this celebration of New York's architecture, Donald Martin Reynolds helps us to see and appreciate, as never before, the city's monuments and masterpieces, and to hear the tales they have to tell. With the help of nearly 200 striking photographs (20 of them new to this edition), Dr. Reynolds takes us on an unforgettable tour of five centuries of architectural change and innovation--from 16th-century Dutch canals and 18th-century farmhouses, to the elevator buildings of the 1870s (precursors of skyscrapers) and the Art Deco, Bauhaus, and Post-modern buildings that make up New York City's celebrated skyline. Floor by floor stone by stone, detail by detail Dr. Reynolds lovingly describes 90 of the city's most striking buildings, bridges, parks, and places. He tells us when, why, and how they were built and who built them, and in the process, he evokes the illustrious and exciting history of this restless, ceaselessly seductive metropolis.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This 1984 guide was revised to touch on changes to the city's skyline over the past decade.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Publisher

Gives historical, artistic descriptions plus original photographs of more than 90 major structures, sites and symbols--from Indian coves and trails and Dutch canals to contemporary skyscrapers. Contains a comprehensive analysis of the major architectural styles that have helped create the New York City skyline.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 2nd edition (April 29, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471014397
• ISBN-13: 978-0471014393
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #231,394 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, December 29, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Architecture of New York City: Histories and Views of Important Structures, Sites, and Symbols (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book that extensively covers the architecture of buildings in New York, from past to present. Full of interesting background information. I can recommend this book to anyone that is interested in New York architecture. Unfortunately, photographs are kept to an essential minimum. Other than that, it was everyting I hoped for.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good book for a visitor to NYC, June 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Architecture of New York City: Histories and Views of Important Structures, Sites, and Symbols (Paperback)

I bought this book a few days before my first visit to New York City. However, just reading very first part of this book gave me good knowledge of both history and architectures of NYC.

This book starts with the born of New York City in 17th century, and covers many famous (and not so famous) architectures with about 200 photos taken by the author. It covers Georgian influence of 18th Century, Greek revival of 19th century, the Chicago school...etc. The Art Deco Skyscrapers, such as the Empire State building and the Chrysler building are well described. A whole chapter is devoted to Rockefeller Center. The history of MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) is interesting...

For me, this book seems to have some small shortcomings. This book lacks "up to date" information. (This revised edition was first published in 1994.) Also, as a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, I hope Guggenheim Museum have been covered more.