Bricks and Brownstone: The New York Row House 1783-1929

by Charles Lockwood, Robert Mayer (Photographer), Madeleine Isom (Photographer)

Bricks and Brownstone: The New York Rowhouse 1783–1929 was first published in 1972, and remains the only book ever written on the New York row house. It has been met with impressive critical praise ever since and Rizzoli is proud to publish this revised and updated edition as the introductory volume in the new Rizzoli Classics program, dedicated to keeping in print important architecture titles.

Charles Lockwood looks at different architecture styles of the New York row house. The book is comprehensive, examining the history of New York's changing neighborhoods and the history of the various row house architectural styles--the Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, and Second Empire, as well as the eclectic but picturesque styles of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The text and illustrations also delve into the architectural details, paying meticulous attention to all features, including doorways, glass, mantels, staircases, ceiling ornaments, and ironwork.

Twenty years later, this edition is updated to include specially commissioned new color photographs of interiors and exteriors of some of New York's most impressive homes. Also included is Best of the Brownstones Walking Tours, carefully detailed and illustrated with color photographs.

Genres: Architecture, New York, Art

303 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Charles Lockwood was an American writer and consultant on green business strategies.

Reviews

[Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating history covering the evolution of the brownstone and the migration of the people who could afford them, beginning in Lower Manhattan and progressing up 5th Ave., eventually to the Upper West Side and beyond.
Sad that so many incredible mansions have been torn down, many were converted to lower income housing or put to commercial use after being abandoned by their ultra-rich tenants. Also I learned Brooklyn had its fair share of elaborate mansions and still retains several due to less of a mania for rebuilding and re-purposing than the city. the book tends to drag a little about 3/4 of the way through due to some redundancy. If you are interested in the growth of NYC and architecture in general, this book is worth a read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't get enough of this book. . . too bad I only borrowed it from the library! I'll have to keep my eyes open for a used copy somewhere. If you are interested in architecture and New York City history, this is your book.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an outstanding overview of the history of New York City, as seen by the architectural trends of the row house. I have the fortune of living in a historic district featured throughout this book, and during the onset of the pandemic became interested in learning more about the beautiful and varied facades I would see on my twice-daily dog walks. Enter Lockwood's brownstone bible. Through incredible (and often historic) photography, floorplans and narrative, I learned about the different styles, culture (Dutch, English, colonial, Italian, etc.), influence, and history of neighborhoods of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Lockwood goes into how events of the day, such as the Civil War or subsequent financial panics, influenced development in the city. I have learned to spot when a mansard roof was added or a stoop removed, to keep up with the Joneses (or Whitneys, Astors, Lefferts) of the day. The photos of interiors are just a bonus. Highly recommend for anyone interested in NYC row house architecture. I imagine there is no better book on the subject.

I'll end with an apparently controversial quote from a NYC newspaper at the turn of the 20th century, "like a black silk, Connecticut brownstone never goes out of style."

[R.J. Gilmour · Rating 4 out of 5]

After finishing Charles Lockwood's Bricks & Brownstones: The New York Row House, 1783-1929: A Guide to Architectural Style and Interior Decoration for Period Restoration (New York: Abbeville Press, 1972) I picked up some of his other books on architecture. Lockwood's writing on architecture is engaging and enjoyable. His writing invites readers to tag along, indeed while reading I had my handy Streetwise Manhattan in my hand, in order to follow him in his explorations through the city for the development of styles in residential buildings. I am now reading his Manhattan Moves Uptown: An Illustrated History (New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1976) and find myself enjoying it just as much as his writing on New York brownstones. Lockwood's love of his subject, the development of New York City and its unique American architecture infuses all his text. Indeed while reading the book, one feels him beside the reader inviting one to become intoxicated with his love of all-things New York. It is a joy to find an author who is able to transmit his own passions through his writing and texts.

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting but a little lopsided. focuses almost exclusively on lower manhattan

[Ariel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of pictures and learned enough to be able to ask "is that house Italianate or Neo-Grec?" so can't complain!

[Scott Fuchs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abbeville Hardcover