BS: Fine but lesser-known buildings

Subject: BS: Fine but lesser-known buildings
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 07:36 AM

We all have favourite buildings ~~ most will admire King's College Chapel, Notre Dame, Yong-ha-Gong Lamasery in Beijing, the Chrysler in NY &c.

In addition, though, I delight in finding some less well-known ones that seem to me to equal these. Any of you know the 1920s American Radiator Building (now I think called Bryant Park Hotel), just behind the NY Public Library on 5th Avenue ~~ the loveliest structure I know in NY for my money? And, talking of NY, don't just admire the Chrysler from outside, or from a distance, but make sure to go into the lobby and look at the elevator doors, some of the most exquisite bits of art deco you will ever see.

Who has other candidates for buildings, or details of them, that should be more widely admired?

~Michael~

Subject: RE: BS: Fine but lesser-known buildings
From: Jeanie
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 09:15 AM

The former Carreras Black Cat Cigarette Factory, Hampstead Road, London NW1 - it is a fabulous building, now restored as office space.
If you google it, you will see just how amazing it is !

- jeanie

Subject: RE: BS: Fine but lesser-known buildings
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 10:34 AM

Thanks, Jeanie: a fine addition indeed ~~ and particularly meaningful for me, as I worked there for 8 weeks for Carreras as a 'bin boy', delivering the huge metal wheeliebins full of tobacco to the machines' during my long-vac from university Aug-Sep 1953. Hard work; but always a pleasure to walk up the steps into the beautiful building.

~Michael~

Subject: RE: BS: Fine but lesser-known buildings
From: Bobert
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 11:02 AM

The old City Hall in Richmond, Va. is a wonderful building... It was slated to be torn down in the 70's but there was push back from the citizens and people from around the state who also love the building...

There's a similar building in D.C. cati-cornered to the Corcoran School of Art... Maybe some of the DC folks will know the name of it but it is another wonderful old building...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Fine but lesser-known buildings
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 11:39 AM

This might not be what you had in mind—it's more of a painter's masterpiece than an architect's—but there's a rather plain old warehouse in St. Louis that's been covered over with trompe l'oeil painting.

Formerly known as the Edison Brothers Warehouse, now the Sheraton Hotel & Suites. I think it was something else in between.

Here are some views:

South face

West face

Subject: RE: BS: Fine but lesser-known buildings
From: gnu
Date: 29 Jan 11 - 01:08 PM

Great stuff.

Jim... the 3D work is excelent.