Andrew Alpern

Andrew Alpern is an American architectural historian, attorney, and author known for his extensive work documenting New York City's architectural history, particularly its luxury apartment buildings and residential architecture. As an architect and architectural historian, Alpern has written numerous books focused on Manhattan's apartment houses, including "Apartments for the Affluent: A Historical Survey of Buildings in New York" and "New York's Luxury Apartments: With Original Floor Plans from the Dakota, River House, Olympic Tower and Other Great Buildings." His research has provided detailed documentation of floor plans, architectural features, and the social history of these significant buildings. Alpern's dual career as both an attorney and architectural expert has informed his writing about New York City's building regulations and development. His work "The New York Apartment Houses of Rosario Candela and James Carpenter," published in 2001, has become a definitive reference on these influential architects of the early 20th century. Through his publications and research, Alpern has contributed significantly to the preservation and understanding of New York City's architectural heritage. His books serve as important references for architects, historians, and others interested in the development of urban residential architecture in New York.

Readers consistently praise Alpern's meticulous research and detailed documentation of New York City's architectural history. Reviewers frequently cite his inclusion of original floor plans and archival photographs as valuable resources. What readers liked: - Comprehensive historical information about specific buildings - High-quality architectural drawings and floor plans - Well-organized chronological presentation - Technical accuracy and attention to detail What readers disliked: - Text can be dry and academic in tone - High price point of hardcover editions - Limited coverage of more recent buildings - Some books lack color photographs Ratings across platforms: Amazon: Average 4.5/5 stars across titles Goodreads: 4.2/5 average rating LibraryThing: 4.3/5 average rating One architect reviewer noted: "Alpern's floor plan collections are indispensable reference materials for anyone working on pre-war apartment renovations." A common criticism from casual readers: "The writing style prioritizes factual documentation over engaging narrative." Most reviews come from architecture professionals, historians, and serious enthusiasts rather than general readers.

The New York Apartment Houses of Rosario Candela and James Carpenter A comprehensive examination of the luxury apartment buildings designed by architects Rosario Candela and James Carpenter in New York City during the early 20th century, including detailed floor plans and architectural analysis.

Apartments for the Affluent: A Historical Survey of Buildings in New York A historical documentation of New York's high-end residential architecture, chronicling the evolution of luxury apartment buildings from the 19th century through modern times.

New York's Luxury Apartments: With Original Floor Plans from the Dakota, River House, Olympic Tower and Other Great Buildings A detailed architectural study featuring original floor plans and historical information about New York City's most notable luxury apartment buildings, including iconic structures like the Dakota and River House.

Christopher Gray Wrote the Streetscapes column for the New York Times for 30 years, documenting NYC's architectural history and building transformations. His research methods and focus on historical documentation of New York buildings parallel Alpern's approach.

Robert A.M. Stern Has authored comprehensive works on New York City's architectural development including the multi-volume series "New York" covering different periods. His detailed documentation of building histories and development patterns matches Alpern's systematic study of Manhattan's residential architecture.

Paul Goldberger Serves as architecture critic and has written extensively about New York City's architectural evolution and urban development. His work "The City Observed: New York" provides similar detailed analysis of Manhattan's building heritage.

Elizabeth Hawes Wrote "New York, New York: How the Apartment House Transformed the Life of the City" which examines the social and architectural history of NYC apartment buildings. Her focus on the development of luxury residential architecture aligns with Alpern's research interests.

John Tauranac Created works focusing on Manhattan's architectural history including "The Empire State Building: The Making of a Landmark". His methodical documentation of building histories and architectural details reflects Alpern's analytical approach to architectural history.