New York Art Deco: A Guide to Manhattan's Buildings

New York Art Deco: A Guide to Manhattan's Buildings maps the Art Deco architectural legacy of 1920s and 1930s New York City. The book provides detailed walking tours through Manhattan's neighborhoods, highlighting over 200 significant Art Deco structures and their histories. Author Anthony W. Robins draws on his expertise as a former landmarks preservationist for New York City to document both famous and overlooked Art Deco buildings. The text includes period photographs, architectural plans, and contemporary images to illustrate the evolution and preservation of these structures. This comprehensive guide examines the social and economic forces that shaped Art Deco's rise in New York, from the boom years through the Great Depression. Beyond famous landmarks like the Chrysler Building and Radio City Music Hall, the book reveals Art Deco elements in apartment buildings, offices, theaters, and retail spaces across Manhattan. The work stands as both a practical field guide and a deeper exploration of how architectural styles reflect their historical moments. Through its focus on Art Deco, the book reveals patterns of urban development and the cultural aspirations of 1920s and 1930s New York society.

Readers praise this guidebook's detailed photos and maps for leading them through Manhattan's Art Deco architecture. Multiple reviewers note the walking tour format helps them discover buildings they'd walked past but never noticed. What readers liked: - Clear neighborhood organization and routes - Historical context for each building - Mix of famous landmarks and hidden gems - Quality of photographs - Portable size for walking tours What readers disliked: - Some found the writing dry and academic - Limited coverage of outer boroughs - Price ($29.95) considered high by some - A few wanted more interior photos Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.5/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (41 ratings) Representative review: "Finally a guide that explains the details I see on buildings. The author clearly knows his stuff but keeps descriptions accessible. Perfect for architecture buffs and curious New Yorkers." - Amazon reviewer

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🏙️ Author Anthony W. Robins served as the survey director for Manhattan's Art Deco buildings at the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. 🗽 The book showcases over 200 New York Art Deco buildings, with detailed descriptions and walking tours covering both famous landmarks and lesser-known architectural gems. 🏢 The Chrysler Building, prominently featured in the book, held the title of world's tallest building for just 11 months before being surpassed by the Empire State Building in 1931. ✨ Art Deco architecture in New York reached its peak during the building boom of the 1920s and early 1930s, coinciding with the city's dramatic vertical expansion. 🎨 The term "Art Deco" wasn't used during the movement's heyday—it was coined in the 1960s, referring to the 1925 Paris Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes.