Morningside Heights: A History of Its Architecture and Development Revised Edition

by Andrew S. Dolkart (Author)

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ISBN-13: 978-0231078511

ISBN-10: 023107851X

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Morningside Heights, the institutional heart of New York City, is also one of the city's most architecturally distinguished neighborhoods. The high plateau that forms Morningside Heights is geographically isolated within the city and remained largely undeveloped even as neighboring Harlem and the Upper West Side became prestigious residential communities. At the end of the nineteenth century, institutions relocated to the plateau where sizable plots were available at a convenient distance from the built-up city. In 1887 Episcopal Bishop Henry Potter announced plans for the construction of a great cathedral at the edge of the plateau. The cathedral was soon followed by Columbia College and St. Luke's Hospital, which contemplated grand complexes, and by newer institutions such as Barnard College and Teachers College that were intent on establishing a presence in the rapidly growing city. Thus, Morningside Heights became indelibly associated with New York's educational, medical, and religious foundations, and was appropriately dubbed "the Acropolis of New York."

In this extensively illustrated book, Andrew S. Dolkart explores the architecturally varied complexes built by these organizations. He traces the successes and failures of each building project, as trustees and supporters struggled to raise funds in order to construct great campuses in a city where residents were not always generous in their support of such endeavors. Commissioning designs from some of city's and the nation's leading architects, the Morningside Heights institutions created a richly diverse ensemble of buildings.

The book tells the stories of the excitement surrounding the initial plans for an Episcopal cathedral and the ultimate failure of this grandiose project; the efforts of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to build a rival nondenominational church (Riverside Church); the development of Charles McKim's inspired designs for Columbia's campus; the efforts of Barnard and Teachers College to build impressive campuses adjacent to Columbia; and the later projects of Union and Jewish theological seminaries and the Institute of Musical Art (late the Julliard School) to erect buildings that would be part of the larger institutional concentration, but world provide each with a unique architectural identity.

Dolkart also traces the history of the surrounding residential neighborhood, providing the first comprehensive analysis of the design and construction the early-twentieth-century speculative apartment houses that typify so many New York neighborhoods. Based on extensive research and incorporating more than 200 photographs, Morningside Heights will appeal to anyone interested in architecture, urban development, or the history of New York City, as well as those associated with the neighborhood or its institutions.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Combines recondite research with bare-knuckle history, interweaving the nuts and bolts of neighborhood-building with a messy human drama of rivalry, greed, marketing, bigotry and idealism. ― The New York Times

Thorough analysis of this architecturally rich neighborhood. ― New York Observer

Every town, hamlet, and neighborhood deserves an historical portrait by Andrew Dolkart. His history of Morningside Heights is a magnificent work of scholarship that grows out of a true love of urbanism and a profound respect for the contribution of architects and developers, whether high-minded or not-so, to the vitality of place. -- Robert A. M. Stern

While Dolkart focuses on aesthetics, his analysis of taste and design is informed by a penetrating knowledge of Manhattan's social history. The resulting book, gracefully written and generously illustrated, will appeal to historians, residents, and anyone whose search for scarce parking on the Heights has taken them past buildings which astonish and delight.... Dolkart adeptly explains the social implications behind... artistic decisions.... the work is a remarkable social portrait. ― New York History

About the Author

Andrew S. Dolkart teaches at the Columbia University School of Architecture and has written and lectured extensively about New York's architecture and development. He is the author of the Guide to New York City Landmarks, has curated numerous exhibitions, and is well-known for his walking tours of New York City neighborhoods.

Product details

Publisher : Columbia University Press; Revised edition (June 15, 2001)
Language : English
Paperback : 544 pages
ISBN-10 : 023107851X
ISBN-13 : 978-0231078511
Item Weight : 2.4 pounds
Dimensions : 7.04 x 1.16 x 10.04 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #485,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #199 in Architectural Criticism
- #502 in Architecture (Books)
- #571 in Architecture Reference (Books)

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Exhaustive architectural history of major institutions

Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2005

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This book is NOT an architectural survey, per se. It does not attempt to catalogue all the historic or important structures of the neighborhood as, say, an AIA Guide does. Instead, it considers in some detail the architectural history of the neighborhood and its major institutions. We know which ones: Columbia University, Barnard College, Riverside Church, Union Theological Seminary, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and St. Luke's Hospital. As a tool for practicing architects or as a source for architectural historians, this book is about as good as they get. As a piece to enjoy for the general, curious reader it's a bit academic. Photographs are all black and white, and are technical and pragmatic rather than artistic.

One more point: The narrative seems largely absent of knee-jerk political correctness and fadish multi-culturalist rhetoric, which is refreshing. Thus, the author has stopped at nothing in order to maintain the highest academic and scholarly standards in the book. Well done, in that regard.

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