Ornamentation

As regular readers of this blog (all two of you) know, I love the beautiful and unique architectural ornamentation on many of the old buildings in NYC.  Which is why I wanted to call your attention to two things.  The first is the Brooklyn Museum's Steinberg Family Sculpture Garden. Situated in a small area behind the museum, next to the parking lot, the garden features about a dozen beautiful architectural ornamentations that were saved from demolished buildings.

Cunard Building

The Cunard Building at 25 Broadway is one of those imposing structures with a massive facade that when seen quickly from the street can look like any other Renaissance Revival office building.

It has all the standard features, such as arches, columns, quoins, and cornices...

But when you look closer, you'll start to see what differentiates the Cunard Building from others.

Its ornamentation (like the keystone featuring Neptune above) is all nautical.  The theme relays the business of shipping that went on inside to the passersby outside.  They are treated to images of ships, shells, compasses, mermaids and other sea creatures.

243 Riverside Drive

New York's architecture is often referred to in terms usually associated with nature... SKYscrapers, CANYON of Heroes, etc.   And when you look at 243 Riverside Drive you can see why it's called The Cliff Dwelling.  

The tall orange/yellow brick facade looks like a high cliff facing the banks of the Hudson.  In fact, it is meant to recall the ancient cliff dwellings in Colorado and Arizona...

This Southwestern motif is continued in the awesome ornamentation. Including buffalo skulls..

Grant's Tomb and Riverside Church

Grant's Tomb and Riverside Church are two structures you can't help but look up at.  The problem is many New Yorkers just don't make the trip to Morningside Heights to see them.  I finally did a few weekends ago, and can't believe I've waited so long.  

Situated across the intersection of Riverside Drive and 122nd Street from each other, they are both imposingly beautiful buildings inside and out, from top to bottom.

Let's take a look at both, starting with Riverside Church.  The Neo-Gothic church was built in 1930 and primarily financed by John D. Rockefeller.  I love it's pale exterior of Indiana limestone.  Just looks so fresh and clean.

The exterior buttressing is purely decorative... The structure is supported on its steel frame, and its weight would not be sufficient to counter the weight of the vault. 

The tower holds the world's largest tuned carillon bell and makes Riverside the tallest church in the United States.  It is also the first of its kind to serve a functional purpose, providing 24 floors for the congregation's programs. 

451 Broome

My in-laws were visiting from Europe last week and spent most of their time taking advantage of the weak dollar with never-ending shopping sprees.  So, while they went store to store in SoHo, I stayed outside and looked up at all the awesome buildings.

One that I always found so interesting is 451 Broome.  It's a huge, massive building that stretches from Broadway to Mercer Street.  So big, I couldn't even fit it in one shot.  There's the central part of the facade...

And then the left part of the facade...

And the right part of of the facade...

Massive, isn't it?  Well, yes and no.  When viewed from Broadway, it's a tiny sliver of a building...