Building New York

by Bruce Marshall; Introduction Christopher Gray

The evolution of New York's built environment is chronicled in this breathtaking photographic history organized chronologically by site - from architectural masterpieces to engineering marvels. The majestic history of the city unfolds alongside the story of the visionaries whose stamp it bears today. The city's coming of age coincided with the rise of photography, and this incredible trove of photographs culled from the archives of Time Life and the New York Historical Society are the very images that created the larger-than-life reputation of New York that continues to dazzle the world to this day.

Genres: New York

304 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2005

Reviews

[Mike Violano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Building New York is an profusely illustrated time travel guide through the city’s landmarks. A treasure trove of black and white photos takes the reader through New York’s buildings, parks, tunnels, bridges, highways and two world’s fairs. The march through the centuries starts in the 1800s with the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, the South Street harbor and elevated trains up and down Manhattan’s avenues. The lesser known Brooklyn Navy Yard where warships were built from 1812 until World War II gets into the picture as well.
Most of the book features the development of New York City urban architecture in the 20th century as captured in Getty Images. The mansions and clubs of the city’s wealthy class in the early 1900s mimicked French chateau and Italian palazzo styles; a number still remain lovingly preserved in the 21st century. By 1929 there were 180 buildings more than 20 stories high. Skyscrapers of the early 1900s evolved higher and higher. Construction pictures of the Woolworth Building, Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center complete with the Radio City Music Hall are particularly fun to see.
Chapters cover the grand museums, soaring Cathedrals and Broadway theaters in Times Square. The TWA and Pam Am terminals built on landfill usher early International flights at Idelwild Airport (today’s JFK airport) on Jamaica Bay and the creation of LaGuardia Airport serving US domestic flights get photo and text treatment.
The last chapters are devoted to buildings from the 1950s and later such as the Seagram and Lever Buildings on Park Avenue, the World Trade Center and the Trump International Hotel on Columbus Square that replaced the Gulf and Western Building where I worked in the 1990s.

[Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice coffeetable book, some color pictures of recent buildings but I really Like the older stuff which is covered although not as I would want as a spread,very few are covered this way. Most buildings are covered briefly sometimes 2 or 3 pages with mostly black and white period photos. I did not care some for some of the text such as the bourgeois comment and subtle text regarding classes or Criticizing Robert Moses because of displaced families by the same token did point out FDR New Deal(Steal) gave him most of funds,also underhanded praise for The New Deal yet also touches briefly on Democrat-controlled Tammany Hall Corruption. Trump Building, Tower also featured which is great. Could have been a bigger book and featured alot more cartography and buildings,maps,cutaways. It is a nice but brief look at When NY was NY before it got ruined.

[Jacqueline Hankinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful companion to peruse either before or after a visit to New York City. It brings the landmarks in up close and personal connection to the places you visit. As a real estate agent, I was interested in the real estate deal by Peter Minuit for the island Manna-Hattan. East River, Grand central Statio, Central Park, Elle Island, all of theses landmarks became more real to me. The photographs and text were enlightening and intriguing. A must read for visitors to the "greatest city on Earth".

[Mike Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

gorgeous book - I read it in one sitting

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