How The Upper West Side Revolutionized NYC Apartments | Walking Tour | Architectural Digest

TL;DR

The Upper West Side of Manhattan saw the birth of the penthouse apartment and the emergence of apartment hotels to cater to the upwardly mobile middle class.

Transcript

these two towers could be thought of as the birthplace of the penthouse apartment in Manhattan and possibly the world I'm Nick Potts I'm an architect and today we're going to be doing a walking tour of Manhattan's Upper West Side something that was happening almost uniquely here on the upper west side at the turn of the century it was becoming a ne... Read More

Key Insights

• 🫒 The Upper West Side of Manhattan became a desirable neighborhood for those seeking places to live.
• 🖕 Apartment hotels were a solution for the upwardly mobile middle class, offering centralized services and separation between residents and staff.
• 🏛️ The Dakota building pioneered apartment living for the middle class, with careful planning to separate front-of-house and back-of-house areas.
• 💨 The Bell Clair exemplified the Viennese secession/Art Nouveau style that appealed to those looking to make their way up.
• 🏛️ The Ansonia, along with other large apartment buildings, emerged due to the electrification and increased accessibility of the area.
• 🛟 The Ansonia showcased French Beaux-Arts style and offered lavish amenities, attracting musicians and preserving New York's cultural capital.
• 🧡 The Upper West Side reflected diverse architectural styles in its townhouses, ranging from Moorish to arts and crafts motifs.
• 💋 The San Remo building marked the development of the apartment Tower, with penthouse apartments becoming highly valuable for their views.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was unique about the apartment hotels on the Upper West Side?

The apartment hotels on the Upper West Side were designed to attract the upwardly mobile middle class and focused on separating residents from staff, offering centralized service areas and avoiding cross paths between the two groups.

Q: What were the architectural features of the Dakota building?

The Dakota building, one of the first on the Upper West Side, had separate passenger towers leading to large apartments, with a courtyard and service areas underneath. It adopted a Germanic medieval style, giving it a unique and monumental appearance.

Q: How did apartment living in the Dakota differ from traditional housing at the time?

Apartment living in the Dakota was a new concept, and while it required a certain level of wealth to buy in, it allowed individuals to live next to each other rather than in individual houses. The building's design emphasized the separation of front-of-house and back-of-house areas to minimize interactions between residents and staff.

Q: What was the significance of the Bell Clair building?

The Bell Clair was important as the first major commission by architect Emery Roth, who went on to design other iconic buildings in Manhattan. It exemplified the emergence of the apartment hotel, catering to the needs of the upwardly mobile upper middle class, with lavish ornamentation and a unique Viennese secession/Art Nouveau style.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Upper West Side became a desirable neighborhood for people looking for places to live, leading to the rise of apartment hotels.

• The Dakota, one of the first buildings in the area, pioneered apartment living for the middle class, with a focus on separation between residents and staff.

• The Bell Clair and Ansonia are examples of apartment hotels that catered to the needs of the upper middle class, showcasing unique architectural styles and amenities.