Absurd Juxtaposition on Third Avenue
New York City, by it ever-changing nature, is a City of odd, jarring and sometimes compelling architectural juxtapositions. But this one of Third Avenue near E. 6th must count as one of the most egregious and sick-making side-by-sides in burg history. Let's see: Three-story brick building; enormous, convex, glass-and-metal jackknife into the sky; four-story brick building. I get queasy just looking at the grouping. Talk about not taking the surrounding environment into account.
If I were the squat, dormer-window affair to the left, I'd be nervous. I mean, Jesus Christ!, am I seeing things or isn't the Cooper Square Hotel missing a big chunk of it base? Where's the rest of it? Somebody stick in the missing puzzle piece before it all topples over!
What a horrible, horrible building. I wonder if the architect has any inking that the tiny, 200-year-old house that now lives in his skyscraper's shadow is 100-times better a structure than his invention can ever hope to be?
UPDATE: A reader tells me the small building is owned by the hotel and will be torn down. I got a better idea. Still it in that big hole in the hotel! It'll just about fit.
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4 comments:
The hotel bought the building and the lot to the north (or left as you describe it) so it will also be torn down and integrated into the hotel.
What a shitty building. Isn't it on 3rd Ave?
I hate that building so much. I just saw it in all its "glory" a few weeks ago and was horrified.
Unfortunately, the Landmarks Preservation Commission did not see fit to landmark this federal house, despite its fascinating history. New York is still a town of philistines. We still have the "Penn Station" mentality. Development to the detriment of the history and context of communities.
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