What Are the Most Common New York Apartment Types?

TL;DR

New York City showcases diverse apartment styles, each with unique features. Brownstones are iconic mid-19th century homes, while railroad apartments feature a linear room layout. Classic six apartments provide spaciousness with separate dining areas, lofts originated from repurposed industrial spaces, and studio apartments represent efficient living, transforming over time from luxurious spaces to affordable options.

Transcript

hi i'm michael weitzner and i've been an architect in new york city for 35 years today i'm going to break down the architectural details of some of new york city's most popular apartment layouts first up the brownstone apartment so a brownstone is just one house in a series of row houses along the street that's actually made out of brownstone which... Read More

Key Insights

• 🪟 Brownstone apartments were developed as a popular residential choice in the mid-19th century, featuring distinct architectural elements like arch windows and bay windows.
• ✈️ Railroad apartments, with their room-to-room layout, were initially crowded and lacked light and air. The addition of air shafts improved living conditions.
• 🚾 Classic six layouts, commonly found on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side, provided spacious living areas with separate dining rooms, maid's rooms, and limited closet space.
• 🧑‍🎨 Loft apartments in SoHo were repurposed manufacturing spaces that attracted artists due to their large, well-lit interiors. However, gentrification pushed artists out of the area.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are some distinctive features of brownstone apartments?

Brownstone apartments were built together as developments, with identical arch windows on the top floor, bay windows, and stoops leading to the main entrance.

Q: How did railroad apartments adapt to improve light and air?

Initially, railroad apartments lacked windows and air circulation. However, air shafts were later added to provide light and air, although they also created sanitation issues.

Q: What are some characteristics of classic six layouts?

Classic six apartments typically have six or seven rooms, including a main living room, separate dining room, kitchen, bedrooms, and a maid's room. They were built with minimal closet space due to lesser possessions at the time.

Q: Why did loft apartments become popular among artists?

Loft apartments in SoHo were initially manufacturing spaces, but artists found them suitable for creating large artworks. The vast open spaces and ample lighting attracted artists to these rough yet affordable living spaces.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Brownstone apartments were popular in the mid-19th century and were built as developments with identical features such as arch windows, bay windows, and stoops.

• Railroad apartments feature rooms that lead into each other, similar to a train car. These apartments were crowded with little privacy, but later improvements added light and air.

• Classic six layouts are found on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side. They typically consist of six or seven rooms with a separate dining room, kitchen, bedrooms, and a maid's room.

• Loft apartments originated in SoHo and were initially used as manufacturing spaces. Artists later moved in, but as the neighborhood gentrified, they were priced out.

• Studio apartments, originally luxurious spaces for wealthy artists, now refer to one-room apartments that are more affordable for solo living.