45 East 66th Street

GALLERY

Something that also catches the eye is the building's cornice, which is quite stylish, almost like a French beret and helps contain the very dynamic façades that are full of terracotta embellishments that add depth and shadows.

The doorman building was declared a landmark in 1977 and was acquired ten years later by Martin J. Raynes who converted it to a cooperative.

If you want to visit this building, firstly I don't recommend you going by car because of the traffic problem on Madison Avenue, it will be really difficult to find a place. It is worthy to go to visit the building walking, not only because of its extremely distinctive facades, its wonderful 12-over-12 double-hung windows, but also because its just one block from Central Park so you can visit more places easily.

Talking about mid-rise apartment buildings in New York City, 45 East 66th Street is one of three (the others two are the Alwyn Court at 180 West 58th Street and the Studio Building at 44 West 77th Street) very interesting highly decorative apartments which is designed in 20th Century by Harde & Short.

This trio is described as "the best gingerbread in town" by Paul Golberger, according to him, 45 East 66th Street is "the best of the trio, adding that "The detail is an eclectic mix of Elizabethan and Flemish Gothic, and it is just elaborate enough to be showy, but restrained enough not to compete with the separate, secondary level of texture created by the dozens of 12-over-12 double-hung windows, a veritable curtain of tiny square panes."

Originally, this 33-unit building had its entrance at the base of its rounded corner, and later it was moved to the side street in 1929, due to the considerable traffic on Madison Avenue, this move was intelligent and well done.

The most recognizable features of the building is its attractive red masonry, extremely detailed, the excellent and beautiful fenestration and its rounded corner.