'Richly illustrated with vivid photographs, vintage illustrations, and
maps, this book about strolling and looking, about observing and
wondering serves as a winning homage to its famous subject. Architecture
and history buffs will be enthralled.' - Publishers Weekly
Fifth Avenue: From Washington Square to Marcus Garvey Park presents an
in-depth exploration of architecture along one of the world's most
iconic streets: New York City's fabled Fifth Avenue. Through six
fact-filled walking tours, this accessible illustrated guide takes
readers along the entire length of Fifth Avenue, studying its
architecture block by block, building by building, offering the chance
to discover exceptional and unusual structures across Greenwich Village,
Midtown, the Upper East Side, and Harlem.
Heavily illustrated with more than 300 images and practical graphic maps
that mark the stops along each route, Fifth Avenue spotlights hundreds
of buildings, from familiar tourist destinations to lesser-known gems.
Featured are, of course, major monuments including the Empire State
Building, New York Public Library, Rockefeller Center, and Saint
Patrick's Cathedral; luxurious shops such as Tiffany's, Cartier, and
Bulgari; elegant hotels like the St. Regis and the Plaza; and the art
treasures of Museum Mile on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the
Guggenheim, the Jewish Museum, and the Museum of the City of New York.
Each of the walks offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of
architectural styles, from the Beaux-Arts mansions of the turn of the
twentieth century to the striking contemporary structures such as the
glass flagship stores of Nike, Armani, and the towering One Vanderbilt.
Highlights also include works by distinguished architects such as
Richard Morris Hunt, Stanford White, and Frank Lloyd Wright and
contemporary leaders like Rem Koolhaas and Bjarke Ingels.
Written as both a fireside and curbside read, this new book is essential
for the curious architecture lover touring the New York streets, as well
as anyone looking to gain a comprehensive understanding of the historic,
social, and economic forces that shaped Fifth Avenue's growth and
character.
