New York 1930 [Hardcover]

Robert A.M. Stern (Author), Gregory Gilmartin (Author), Thomas Mellins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 15, 1988

This highly acclaimed volume is the ultimate reference on this period, closely documents the alternately giddy and depressed decades between the two world wars when New York first transformed itself into a skyscraper city. Every important building of the era is described with vital background information and ample archival photographs.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This exuberant, lavishly produced volume chronicles the decades between the wars, when New York City was transformed into a mecca for art, entertainment, business, and commerce. The tumultuous period witnessed the contruction of many of the architectural monuments that have come to define New York: the Chrysler Building, the Empire State, Rockefeller Center, and the George Washington Bridge. While focusing on these landmark structures, the authors consider other components of the built environment as well: the public housing projects, highways, parks, and commercial, residential, and entertainment districts. Their delight in their subject is evidenced by the lively text and careful selection of over 600 period photographs and illustrations. Highly recommended.H. Ward Jandl, National Park Service, Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Robert A. M. Stern is Dean of the Yale School of Architecture, and has authored many books on architectural subjects. Gregory Gilmartin is an architect at Moore, Pennoyer & Turino. Thomas Mellins is an architectural historian and writer. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 500 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (December 15, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847806189
• ISBN-13: 978-0847806188
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,731,788 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent record of the idealized city, June 23, 2000

By 

Arthur Appel "Artman" (Yorktown Heights, New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: New York 1930: Architecture and Urbanism Between the Two World Wars (Paperback)

This is an encyclopedic description of New York as I remember it from my student years. The numerous neat clean photographs and drawings present an idealized city. But what is additionally fascinating are the rich background histories that illustrate the social and economic complexity of Gotham. I enjoy this book at two levels: one, as a valuable artistic document, two, as an encapsulation of the memories and fantasies of my youth. I bought a sport coat at Finchleys; I lived in the Greenpoint Housing Project; I wanted to work or live in those buildings; I wanted to draw like those architects and engineers. I loved these last embodiments of Art Deco construction and the grand civic projects.

This history presents New York from the viewpoint of the upper crust and the insulated, the planning was grand and well funded. The slums, the dirt, the menace of some streets and the ethnic tapestry are ignored. Just as memory tends to purge the unpleasent, so does this book, which is probably why I enjoyed it so much.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Golden Age of New York City, November 17, 2001

By 

saskatoonguy (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: New York 1930: Architecture and Urbanism Between the Two World Wars (Paperback)

When people talk about New York's Golden Age, they're usually referring to the late 1800s, but I would argue that New York's true Golden Age was the 1920s. With over 800 pages, this tome is difficult to handle, but nevertheless, it covers New York at its peak of glory, and is the best of Robert Stern's books about New York architecture (e.g., New York 1880, New York 1900, New York 1960). Especially noteworthy are the beautiful b&w photos, averaging more than one per page. There are also approximately 40 floor plans, although most page space is given over to text. The authors give attention to both exteriors and interiors of the era's buildings. Each chapter covers a specific type of building, with a special emphasis on Rockefeller Center, the 1939 World's Fair, 57th Street, and the works of architects Kahn, Walker, and Hood.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GOLDEN AGE OF NYC ARCHITECTURE, January 21, 2007

By 

Shannon Deason (Houston) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: New York 1930: Architecture and Urbanism Between the Two World Wars (Paperback)

This is the New York people fall in love with, the iconic Art Deco skyline, the great skyscrapers of the 20's and 30's. When you see pictures of the skyline of the late 30's you can't help but be impressed by the awesome beauty of the all the spires. The modern skyline today is full of mediocre "modern" skyscarpers and post modern pretenders, I mean have you seen the pictures of the proposed Freedom Tower of SOM's David Childs, the very definition of bland; 1,776 feet of boring. As for this fantastic book, it's perfect; the images are well presented and the text scholarly, really an education on NYC architecture between the Great Wars. Highly Recommended.