New York 2000: Architecture and Urbanism Between the Bicentennial and the Millennium [Hardcover]

Robert A.M. Stern (Author), David Fishman (Author), Jacob Tilove (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 1, 2006 | ISBN-10: 1580931774 | ISBN-13: 978-1580931779 | Edition: First

Touted by Publisher's Weekly as "an unprecedented record," the new book in the New York series, New York 2000, is indeed an exceptional survey of this great city's architectural heritage. As the world's financial and cultural capital, New York demands the best in architectural design and balances the constant pressure to build with the need to preserve its historic fabric.

Author Robert A. M. Stern and his colleagues trace the rise and fall of the real estate market, the impact of the designation of historic districts and new zoning on development, and the emergence of new commercial and residential centers. The survey is organized geographically, moving north from Lower Manhattan and covering the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island as well.

New York 2000 documents milestones in the city's architectural history over the past forty years—the development of Battery Park City, the rebirth of Harlem and Times Square, the creation of the cultural precinct around the new MoMA, and the reclaiming of the waterfront along the East and Hudson Rivers as recreational parkland—and celebrates the achievements of internationally recognized architects such as Sir Norman Foster, Cesar Pelli, Richard Meier, and Renzo Piano.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The architect's brilliant fifth installment of his appraisal of the city from 1880 on" -- The New York Times, December 10, 2006

Let's open the big presents first. The season's whopper, in every way, is "New York 2000." - William Grimes -- The New York Times, December 15, 2006

Simply put, Robert A. M. Stern's "New York 2000," together with its four preceding volumes, represents the fullest and finest historical account of any city ever attempted. In all, these volumes constitute more than 5,000 full-sized pages and more than 10 million words, consecrated to the architectural and urban development of New York from the aftermath of the Civil War to the present day. -- James Gardner, The New York Sun, November 8, 2006

This fascinating book by architect Robert A. M. Stern and fellow historian completes his epic five-part series on New York City from the post-Civil War era to the present. The authors chronicle the most recent chapter of a complex ongoing story, the built life of a great American city. They tell the tale neighborhood by neighborhood, from the development of Battery Park City to Harlem, renascent again, from the reinvention of the waterfront to the outer boroughs. Tolstoyan in length, at 1,520 pages, in specificity of detail and in a perspective that balances individual efforts and the forces of economics, politics and popular culture, this book is a monumental achievement--and a great, brilliantly illustrated read. --Judith Nasatir -- Veranda Magazine, November-December 2006

About the Author

Robert A. M. Stern is the founding partner of Robert A. M. Stern Architects. He is also a renowned historian of American architecture and dean of the Yale School of Architecture.

David Fishman and Jacob Tilove are architectural historians at Robert A. M. Stern Architects.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1520 pages
• Publisher: The Monacelli Press; First edition (November 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580931774
• ISBN-13: 978-1580931779
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 3 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #707,227 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Worthy of New York! August 24, 2009

By Pierre Gauthier

Format:Hardcover

This mammoth 1500-page chronicle covers an astonishing number of issues pertaining to New York's architectural and urban development between 1975 and 2004. By its sheer size and range, some may say it truly reflects the City's unabashed mentality!

Topics are organized geographically and cover the five boroughs, though understandably the focus is placed essentially on Manhattan. In fact, many districts, such as Battery Park City, «MoMAland» or Times Square, are covered in such detail that the material could easily constitute a distinct publication.

The authors' sources are numerous and draw notably on contemporary newspaper coverage, profuse quotations being provided. No specific methodology is mentioned however and the criteria leading to the choice of buildings included are not specified: size, cost, architectural value, media coverage?

One of the co-authors was himself an important player on the New York development scene over the period covered. This situation is seamlessly dealt with, and his buildings are, at least to the eyes of a foreign reader, discussed as objectively as those of any other architect.

Though this book is meant to be read, or at least referred to, and is in no way strictly destined for the coffee table, photographs are abundant, pertinent and sometimes even artistic. Surprisingly though, no map locating the buildings or even the areas discussed is provided, the authors assuming presumably readers to have an intimate knowledge of the City.

The book is exceptionally well written and its prose per se provides very easy reading. Materially, it is however extremely heavy and cannot be read without resorting to a tabletop. Is this an omen for any possible future instalment _ New York 2020(?) _that may not be printed on paper at all but only accessible electronically?

In the meantime, New York 2000 is very highly recommended to anyone with a passion for New York City or indeed for architecture and city planning in general. Non New Yorkers may find special comfort and pleasure in drawing similarities between situations they experience directly and those reported for that great Metropolis.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars NewYork grandeur February 13, 2007

By Edmond Junker

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

NewYork as I know and love it.This is an exceptional book,it explains why the city is like it is.Every outstanding architecture is well described and it is readable by everyone.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars NYC January 15, 2007

By Shannon Deason

Format:Hardcover

At 1300 pages this is quite comprehensive and exhaustively researched. NYC has had a real resurgence in skyscraper building in the last ten years or so and many good buildings have been built..like the Time Warner Bldg. the Bloomberg Tower, and the New York Times building..and so far it looks like the world trade center site is going to have some specacular buildings, frankly im still not sure about the Freedom Tower(please find a new name, lord)design but it's so much better than that untenable Libeskind designed, frankly I love the Norman Foster design but whatever, but I digress...as for this book it's fantastic and if you love NYC you will have to have this in you collection, really a complete, thorough book on current architecture in NYC, buy this book you wont be disappointed.