New York Stories

I was absolutely amazed after watching this video. In such a densely populated city like New York, many of us are always complaining that we do not have enough space- to live, to breathe, to do anything, really. In addition, developers may find it challenging to build new apartments that are eco-friendly. I think that this gentleman in Hong Kong may have the answer for both residents and developers when it comes to maximizing the use out of small spaces and developing a “green” apartment. I feel that an apartment like this would definitely be a step in the right direction if built in New York CIty, and I would not mind living in such a space.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4yJGTPUR_0

Built in the late 19th Century, this was the Germania Bank (after numerous mergers and acquisitions, it is now better known as J.P. Morgan) Building. The six-story, 72-room bank was bought by artist Jay Maisel in 1966 for $102,000, who remains its current owner. Estimates of the buildings worth run from a conservative $30 million to a whopping $70 million.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/03/how-skyscrapers-can-save-the-city/8387/

I thought this was a great article that is very relevant to what we discussed when we covered the architecture topic. The author, Edward Glaeser (whom I have mentioned earlier on this blog), argues for building skyscrapers in large metropolises, that they greatly increase available housing, making living in an attractive area affordable. In addition, an area that accommodates a large number of offices and businesses promotes communication and interaction, which, the author argues, is crucial in the globalized world of today. Although the article reads biased, the author offers a number of counterarguments to building skyscrapers.

I think that we cannot say that skyscrapers are ideal in the cities of today and to take a side for or against, one has to place the question in context. Skyscrapers seem to belong on Wall Street or on streets40’s streets on the east side, but I would not want to see very tall buildings encompassing Central park from all four sides. After researching a number of houses a few weeks ago, I know that there are a number of them that are not only beautiful but historically important in architectural sense. And I think that should be preserved. This also brings up another point that came up in the article; the unique example of Paris (although I believe it applies to a number of other cities). The majority of buildings in Paris, as well as Rome, and St. Petersburg (which is really a copy of Rome), to name a few cities, are integral parts of history and preserving those beautiful old cities is not optional.

So it seems impossible to take sides. I agree that if we are going to build we should build as high as we possibly can. If the difference in price between building a 40-story apartment building instead of 20-story one is relatively small, there is no reason why we should not strive to create the extra space. However, if the question is whether we should remove an old 3-story brownstone to create extra space, I would probably say no more often than not. While tall, tall buildings seem like the natural skyline of New York, there are many areas that are also majestic and grandiose but do not have the intimidating, disconsolate atmosphere blocks of skyscrapers can sometimes have.

A bit off topic, I was surprised to read that Otis did not, in fact, invent the elevator. As a matter of fact, elevators are believed to have existed 2,200 years ago (according to the article). What Otis did was invent the safety brake that made the elevators safe and changed the public’s perception about this construction. Otis made the elevators popular.

The “Leaning Brownstone of Brooklyn”

The discussion in class about the horizontal add-on to the building (that Professor Eversley told us about) reminded me of a piece I saw a few days ago about a few buildings in Brooklyn. There are a number of brownstones that are “leaning,” although not in a danger of collapsing. I have never noticed this and even now highly doubt I would unless consciously looking for it. This brings to mind a few reasons. New Yorkers will probably never be aware of their environments. Most of us are always in a rush, even when we are not late, a trait that must be ingrained in early childhood; and thus, always missing the oddities of this city. And second, most New Yorkers are too arrogant and self-centered in their day-to-day life to notice what does not immediately concern the self, which might be a necessity to “make it” in New York.

In addition, it also reminded me that New York is supposed to sink eventually, which is unimaginable, and a false myth as far as I am concerned. Yes, global warming is really happening and it will have horrific effects on our planet but New York, perhaps above anything else, is resilient and resourceful and cannot disappear.

I just wanted to post a video that went on the internet 2 months ago. Some of you may have seen it as it was posted on the popular site Gizmodo. It’s about this urban explorer, Andrew Wonder, who taped this adventures of sneaking into out-of-use subway stations, a city sewer, and on top of the Williamsburg Bridge

I thought it was great that he did all this. Personally, whenever I’m on the 6 train going downtown, I sort of have the urge to try and stay on once it reaches City Hall because rumor has it that there’s a lot of things to see past the the City Hall station (perhaps graffiti or some great architecture).

Here’s the Video: Undercity

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This is a clip from the film, The Red Velvet Swing”  (1955).  It recreates the moment when the Harry K. Shaw (a jealous husband)  murders New York architect Stanford White in 1906.  White had an affair with the model and showgirl Evelyn Nesbit, who was Shaw’s wife.  The sensational murder trials that followed were referred to as “The Trial of the Century” in the Hearst newspaper, The New York Journal.  Manhattan Transfer refers to this moment in the opening section, “Nine Days’ Wonder.”  White, the designer of the Washington Square Arch, the New York Public Library and the American Academy in Rome, among others, famously kept a red velvet swing in his loft apartment.  He invited women (in various stages of undress) to ride it.  In the novel, Phil Sandbourne declares, “A man’s moral’s aren’t anybody’s business.  It’s his work that counts”  (167).  How do you think this detail and Sandbourne’s declaration informs your understanding of New York in Dos Passos’s novel?