Lavishly illustrated volume provides detailed mini-histories of the Gramercy, Ansonia, Hotel des Artistes, Joseph Pulitzer's palatial residence, and many other luxurious lodgings. 175 illustrations — many from private sources — depict interiors and exteriors. Introduction. Index.

Magnificently illustrated directory of 73 of Manhattan's most splendid addresses includes mini-histories of each building, noting the architect, builder, date of construction, and more. 221 photographs and drawings.

Full-page photos & text document 20 historic structures-the Dorilton, Gainsborough, San Remo, etc. - most dating from early 20th century. Over 50 photos include many rare views.

Once upon a time in upper- and middle-class America it was socially unthinkable for more than one family to live under one roof, even though the Europeans had been at it for centuries. But once the idea of apartment dwelling caught on, Americans took it up with a vengeance. And nowhere was the concept of the luxury apartment taken up in greater, more flamboyant style than in New York City. This magnificently illustrated book-there are over 100 line drawings of representative apartment floor plans and over 100 black-and-white photographs splendidly reveals the architectural and decorative details of life at the top in Manhattan. From the East Side to the West, here are the vital statistics on seventy-three of New York City's best luxury apartment addresses, from vintage structures such as the Dakota and the Dorilton to the more contemporary Olympic Tower. Along with the many illustrations, author Andrew Alpern, AIA, includes fascinating mini-histories of each building, noting the architect, builder, date of construction, and subsequent alterations, and elaborating on the building's design, decor and social history. The range in style of the buildings included is dazzling. The Majestic is pure Art Deco. The Kenilworth is French Second Empire. One tenant called the Dakota "Middle-European Post Office." 44 West 77th Street was originally so outrageously ornate that The Architectural Record once called it "An Apartment House Aberration." Butterfield House and the Tower East offer crisp, modern contrasts. -- from book cover.

The supreme addresses of choice in New York are on Park Avenue and on Fifth Avenue, but merely living on either of these famous boulevards is not enough. The ultimate aspiration is to dwell in a suite of rooms designed by one of the two masters of apartm

An illustrated tour of the elegant entrances to New York City’s most celebrated apartment houses This handsome, oversized book introduces us to the grandest entrances of New York City’s residential buildings. These posh portals come in an array of forms and styles, such as the porte cochere, with a passage to admit carriages or motor cars; the classic awning, originally meant to be retracted in good weather; and Neoclassical, Romanesque, and Gothic revivals. Architectural historian Andrew Alpern highlights approximately 140 entrances, from the nineteenth century to the present, including those of the Dakota, the first true luxury apartment house in New York; San Remo, one of Central Park West’s most impressive apartment houses; and the Ansonia, at one time the largest hotel in the world. Each entrance is accompanied by a description of its signal features and the history of the building that surrounds it. All are represented in splendid color photographs, and many by charming watercolor drawings. These ornate entrances offer a glimpse into New York’s past, as well as its future—for today, once again, entryways have begun to feature heavily in the marketing of residential buildings. Posh Portals will be an inspiration for architects and a delight for city dwellers.