Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-18
COSMOPOLITAN ARCHITECTURE.
New York's Variegated Display Of
Foreign Designs in Building.

From the New York Sun.
New York Is no less cosmopolitan in
its architecture than in its population.
Crowded together within the narrow
boundaries of Manhattan Island will be
found examples of every recognized
architectural style, and many which are
not. often in violent contrast to eacn
other. little search will reveal many
Interesting corners sometimes block
or more of buildings which might have
been transplanted bodily from some for
eign city.
Many of these reproductions have been
carried out with great fidelity, ana tne
illusion of being in foreign city IS
perfect. New York's famous sky line
is composed Of lines borrowed from
several countries. 1t Is almost 1mpos-
.sible, indeed. to walk for a block on
any street without meeting with some
suggestion in the facades of the
many countries from which the popu-
lation is drawn. The styles are besides
borrowed from many periods. many or
them very ancient, so that the famous
ent, are represented.
There is more than a suggestion of
ancient Rome in several New York
streets. The colonnade Of the new post
office, for example, with its full score
of great columns, would have been
worthy of Rome at it's height. The col
onnade has been carried out with
classic severity and correctness which
would doubtless have won high praise
from Roman critics. The colonnade be-
fore the new Municipal building. al
though of somewhat more modern lines.
would have looked well facing the
Roman forum The facade of a great
bank on Broad street and a familiar
block on Lafayette place hold the same
suggestion. The doorways, windows and
other details Of many modern office
hov
from the famous Roman originals that
a citizen of ancient Rome would feel
very much at home in such surround
ings.
influence upon New York's architecture
than Paris In many sections of the
older part the mansard roof. or some
adapta ton of it. lends a suggestion Of
are hundreds of examples of modern
Partisan architecture in all parts Of the
city. Many of the newer apartment
houses and hotels might have been
transplanted bodily from Paris. so
closely do they follow the originals:
Scores OF examples might be sighted of
doorways in the newer office buildings.
hotels and apartment houses which ex-
actly reproduce Partisan originals. The
beauties of the French chateaus have
been freely borrowed. A famous cha
teau has been almost perfectly repro
duced on Riverside drive. and the sur
rounding lawns ana trees cOulplete lHe
picture.
The influence of London on New York
architecture has naturally been great.
although less than that of Paris. Half
century ago many blocks of houses
were built exactly reproducing London.
One of the most interesting of these
will be found in a narrow street in
Greenwich village, which might have
been transferred intact from White
chapel. The bracket lanterns and the
absence of cornice of any kind give the
block a surprisingly foreign appearance.
In the neighboring streets and squares
of Greenwich village one could easily
imagine himself in London of the past
generation. Several of the smartest
shops on 9Th avenue and the side streets
are closely copied from originals in
Bond or Regent street. The sky line of
New York is broken by scores Of church
spires. more or less In the spirit of Sir
christopher Wren, and almost all of our
church architecture strongly suggests
ENGLISH originals.
The Italian influence is clearly shown
in many Of New Works newer resi-
dences on the unper East Side. The gen.
eral design of famous originals. especf-
ally in Milan. has been freely used.
The most notable example is probably
the new residence occupying the entire
block on 5th avenue. formerly the site
of the LenoX Library. The Italian loggia
is the most beautiful of it's kind in the
city
1t is surprising that New York, be-
cause of it's Dutch ancestry. has not
more of the architecture of Holland.
either ancient or modern. The original
town Of New Amsterdam has, of course,
long since been buried and not q
years, however. an attempt has been
made in several parts of the city to in
troduce the architecture of modern
Holland.