Why New York Destroyed 3 Iconic Landmarks

Why New York Destroyed 3 Iconic Landmarks | Architectural Digest

День тому

Michael Wyetzner of Michielli + Wyetzner Architects returns to AD, this time to look at the history and creation of three New York City landmarks that have since been demolished-but are far from forgotten. From the once (and future?) majesty of Penn Station to the New York Herald building and the original 19th-century Madison Square Garden, Michael gives expert insight into these three historic architectural landmarks, why they were laid to ruin, and what came to replace them.
Director: Alice Roth
Director of Photography: Ben Dewey
Editor: Tristen Rogers
Hosted By: Michael Wyetzner
Producer: Skylar Economy
Associate Producer: Landrie Hatcher
Production Manager: Melissa Heber
Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
Camera Operator: Brittany Berger
Audio: Brett Van Deusen
Production Assistant: Ryan Coppola
Post Production Supervisor: Andrew Montague
Post Production Coordinator: Holly Frew
Supervising Editor: Christina Mankellow
Assistant Editor: Billy Ward
Additional Editor: Paul Tael
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КОМЕНТАРІ: 1 100

@fabiana.carchi967 Рік тому

The worst mistake was allowing the demolition of Penn Station... Such a masterpiece.

@Menstral Рік тому

They literally should have retrofit the building to have columns through the existing Penn Station in some graceful way, and then going up about 2-4 stories and then build another building on top of it. Alternately, they could have disassembled Penn station and moved it somewhere else. I read the Phaidon monograph on Penn Station

@brandons2199 Рік тому

there’s a proposal to move msg to Hudson Yards and then rebuild penn station in its original style. Look up rethink Penn station

@CJODell12 Рік тому

And such a terrible insulting replacement for it

@MrRezRising Рік тому

Pete Hamill.

@jdj8168 Рік тому

@@brandons2199 that would be so weird and dumb. people dont want a rplica

@rainbowbunniie Рік тому

I still want to cry every time I see a picture of the old Penn Station. How they could have let such an amazing piece of architecture get torn down is criminal.

@karenryder6317 Рік тому

What happened to Pulizer's building?

@TheRandCrews Рік тому

@@karenryder6317 demolished replace by an entrance to the new Brooklyn bridge

@d.e.b.b5788 Рік тому

Like everything else in America, it was decided on the basis of MONEY. The railroads were all going bankrupt, and dragging their real estate holdings down with them; there are so many great stations which have been destroyed or still falling into disrepair. It's a shame.

@jed-henrywitkowski6470 Рік тому

@@karenryder6317 Pulizer, as in Pulizer Prize

@TheJRSvideos Рік тому

The modernist/brutalist architectural movement of the 60s and 70s was an absolute disaster. No appreciation whatsoever for what had come before, and what's worse, they replaced much of those iconic buildings during what is arguably this country's worst era of architecture.

@DementedDistraction Рік тому

It's always baffling to me when I see how many magnificent gilded age buildings have been lost and how more often than not, have been replaced with mediocre, uncharismatic concrete slabs.

@karenryder6317 Рік тому

The question is, why were they replaced by such mediocrity? Does it all come down to high classical style needing more maintenance and that pedestrian square cubes with no ornamentation are simply more economical? If so, then are we saying that profit is king and businesses can't support even a few specimen buildings that add to the aesthetic appeal of the community?

@BZK-. Рік тому

or even worse, parking spaces

@thealmightyaku-4153 Рік тому

@@karenryder6317 It all came down to ideology. Certain architecture schools simply believed that older architectural styles _had_ to be gotten rid of, for various reasons - none of which made any sense. They simply believed the past should be forgotten and destroyed, just because.

@satanified7089 Рік тому

dirty and inhospitable concrete slabs at that!

@ML-ov7wo Рік тому

You got it Karen Ryder. It’s all about demoralizing the population to be surrounded by bland depressing “economical” architecture. Building the prison around you.

@jj6282 Рік тому

The loss of Penn Station is deeply sad and it should not only remind us to maintain our built environment, grand and modest structures alike, but it should also be an example of why we need to reinvent buildings or places so that they continue to be useful to the community they serve. Michael, I would love to see a video of what you think are some of the best examples of adaptive reuse projects where a potentially endangered building or group of buildings has been given new life. I absolutely love this series.... please keep up the great work

@derek20la Рік тому

As mentioned, the station was built and owned by the PRR. As the country deindustrialized, and interstates and jet planes came about, their two core businesses - moving freight and passengers - dried up. Not only were all their properties taxable by local municipalities, but at the time freight tariffs and passenger fares were also set by the government. The company was bleeding cash and answerable to their shareholders. The political climate at the time would likely not have supported a public agency purchasing the property, as what happened for Grand Central in 2020 (replacing MTA's 280 year lease). Oh how things changed in 1963.

@RocketHarry865 Рік тому

@@derek20la Imagine going back in time to the late 40's and exposing the damage caused by car and airline dependency.

@cancerino666 Рік тому

@@derek20la More like the US decided to join the car-brain cult. Train stations were kept and even extended in europe.

@RcsN505 Рік тому

I mean, it was nicer than the current building but it was so unoriginal. It looks so silly for buildings in the Americas to copy Greek and Roman styles. It's like they were trying so hard to be European/Mediterranean.

@Huels Рік тому

There is a building in St. Louis called Union Station and it is one of the most famous train stations build in the 1890s. Instead of being torn down when the last train left in the 1970s, they turned it into first a shipping mall and later a family tourist attraction with an aquarium and a farris wheel. The original front and fountain still remain as well as the train shed that they have fountains in now and other stuff.

@thelorax9622 Рік тому

As an Australian who has never visited NYC, I really have no right to be mad about the original Penn Station being demolished - but it was a truly amazing structure and thankfully Grand Central Station was spared the same fate. Thanks for the video, Michael.

@fourzerozerozero Рік тому

it's especially sad considering how madison square garden (the new one at that site, not the one talked about in this video) is so ugly

@TheAmericanCatholic Рік тому

@Phillip Banes true

@yuckyool Рік тому

Terminal

@mooonlight778 11 місяців тому

agreed

@tanr9104 7 місяців тому

Penn station reminds me of the Musee D’Orsay which was once a train station.

@mikev.2945 Рік тому

If you can find a copy of the 2001 book "The Destruction of Penn Station" I highly recommend it. The photographs are both stunning and ultimately sad as well. I guess (as noted in the video) the one good thing to come of tearing it down was the move to prevent things like this from happening again.

@thomasklugh4345 Рік тому

To Mike V. ... Yup. I've ordered it! It's a Big Book! And, yes, I agree... The original Penn Station was beautiful; one of a kind.

@OSTARAEB4 Рік тому

Yes Mike. I bought that book years ago. It’s beautiful but also difficult to see. I believe they started the destruction in October, 1962 and finished in late 1965 or 1966. I remember getting a cab with my late mother along the Seventh Avenue side to exit through the columns. I remember it was cavernous. A real tragedy she wasn’t saved. Seeing the jackhammers destroy her beauty is painful to witness.

@mikev.2945 Рік тому

@@OSTARAEB4 I'm not old enough to have seen Penn Station, but I remember the first time I walked through Grand Central and later learned that it was saved from being torn down. It was astonishing to me that such a thing would even be considered..

@OSTARAEB4 Рік тому

@@mikev.2945 I vaguely remember Penn Station. I was a young child but remember how high and ornate the enclosed area that ran the length of the station was where one hails a cab or ride. Yes, The Grand Central Terminal was indeed threatened and the late First Lady Jackie Kennedy was highly influential inbreeding campaign to save GCT as I believe it was slated for destruction also. Grand Central is the third terminal on that spot the predecessors leading back to mid-late 19th Century and both were quite interesting from the photos and steam to electric trains too. Union Station in Washington, D.C. was also threaded in the 1970’s also as many of these stations fell into disrepair and havens for homeless. Luckily, they refurbished Union Station and the trend to mall atmosphere with retail and restaurants and they did a great job in refurbishing the station sometime in the 1990’s like New York City’s Grand Central after cleaning the grime that adhered to the ceiling after decades and “sandblasting, pointing, whatever” to the exterior every so number of decades. Unfortunately, Chicago Northwestern Station was another beautiful, much smaller station in downtown Chicago that was demolished in 1984. However, New York Pennsylvania Station was from the pictures truly a beauty. Her demise was truly a travesty.

@cthomas025 11 місяців тому

Losing Grand Central and having Jackie Kennedy help to save Penn would've probably been a much better outcome for the city.

@akhillmufc19 Рік тому

Seeing these images of the old Penn Station is so depressing

@Secretlyanothername Рік тому

Why? It looks pretty interesting actually.

@elliepurser7867 Рік тому

@@Secretlyanothername it's depressing that they demolished such a beautiful building.

@jj-if6it Рік тому

@@Secretlyanothername seriously? lol

@Secretlyanothername Рік тому

@@elliepurser7867 oh, but they built something better there instead. So that's good.

@VermyScrubs Рік тому

@@Secretlyanothername No it hasn’t, commuters coined Penn Station has a dirty, cramped, dark hellhole that made them feel like animals, as one person said “One who used to enter into the City like a god now scuttles in like a rat” having been there before the opening of the Moynihan Train Hall, it was really depressing. All that destruction only to build a half functional sports arena

@pjeverly Рік тому

I would like to hear about the famous residential buildings in New York City. Or pretty much anything Mr. Wyetzner feels like talking about. Great series.

@mikeydibiase9978 Рік тому

His breakdowns are always mad cool and informative.

@dfinite4089 Рік тому

Rich and so valuable!

@everetthamby5005 Рік тому

Mad cool, eh?

@asm-6547 Рік тому

He’s the best they have! I click every time i see him

@step2058 Рік тому

@@everetthamby5005 They're probably from New York haha.

@daduck87 Рік тому

If only he actually talked about ALL of the MSG's and not ONLY the first two. Hell he has the current MSG on the thumbnail and never even talks about it.

@brianrussell7691 Рік тому

I love your quote, “we’re not judged by what we build, rather what we demolish”. Wise words indeed. Thank you for a terrific video on architectural history in New York and their international inspirations.

@avengemybreath3084 9 днів тому

Why not both?

@timdella92 Рік тому

One of those who opposed the demolition of Penn Station was Jane Jacobs who moved to Toronto later that decade is one of the most instrumental figures of how we were able to preserve our Street Car system.

@skipads5141 Рік тому

The Singer Building destruction was one of New York's biggest demolition travesties. It came as people really rebelled against losing great architecture for modern boxes to replace it.

@wuzeltownphl 8 місяців тому

Don't forget his towering neighbor, the City Insurance Building, which was torn down at the same time.

@marinedrive5484 Рік тому

An interesting fact about Stanford White is that he had no formal architectural training - not unusual at the time. He was apprenticed and then toured Europe before joining an architectural firm - and yet, he designed some of the most beautiful and theatrical buildings of the Gilded Age.

@avsystem3142 Рік тому

Near verbatim copying of 500 year old European architectural detail doesn't show much imagination or creativity.

@chuckschillingvideos Рік тому

@@avsystem3142So you say. But the beauty of his designs, the grandeur of his structures, cannot be denied. What has been erected in their place is the epitome of characterless, collectivist ugliness.

@InfinitePlain 8 місяців тому

So he nicked some designs.

@muscledavis5434 7 місяців тому

@@avsystem3142being inspired by sonething and copying something is NOT the same thing. And i would rather have buildings inspired by greatness, than boring boxes.

@avsystem3142 7 місяців тому

@@muscledavis5434 Except that White did copy European architectural styles and details verbatim. The only creativity was in adapting them to the current project.

@LJB103 Рік тому

How about a video on 3 demolished opera houses: the Academy of Music, the Manhattan (Hammerstein) Opera, and the original Metropolitan Opera?

@susanbaker2796 Рік тому

Great suggestion, Louis!!!!

@OSTARAEB4 Рік тому

Yes, imagine never tearing down the original Opera House on Broadway and West Fifties.

@LJB103 Рік тому

@@OSTARAEB4 I wish that I had been able to see a performance in that house. I do have to say that unfortunately there seem to have been many very serious shortcomings with the backstage/rehearsal areas.

@OSTARAEB4 Рік тому

@@LJB103 it’s also a shame the old Hippodrome on Sixth Avenue from East side of 43/44th only lasted from about 1905-1939 too. Imagine if they built the Empire State Building somewhere else and the original Waldorf-Astoria remained on 5th/34th. I think Lincoln Center in it’s sixty-year existence needs something new. However, haven’t been there in ages.

@LJB103 Рік тому

@@OSTARAEB4 The issue with the Waldorf-Astoria is that the hotel was already considered dated by the standard of newer luxury hotels and wanted to "follow society" uptown. 401 Fifth Ave (still standing) is much more beautiful than the current Tiffany & Co., but they did the same thing (and 401 5th was already a 2nd location of the company). I'm not the greatest fan of Art Deco architecture, but the plans (killed by the Depression) for a new Metropolitan Opera on the site of Rockefeller Center would have been more pleasing than Lincoln Center.

@sofianester3201 Рік тому

I love when Michael explains NY architecture. He’s super knowledgeable and i could listen to him talk for hours

@benabadie7351 Рік тому

Research Tartaria. This guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about

@krissp8712 10 місяців тому

@@benabadie7351 if we're going to believe in conspiracy theories I'd like to suggest the Empire State building is Mount Olympus and the Champs d'Elysee is a symbol of Atlantis

@theklamoris 8 місяців тому

I hope he has a class. I want to listen to him talking about architecture nonstop

@michaelimbesi2314 Рік тому

The loss of Penn Station is a tragedy and is probably the greatest indictment possible of the federal highway-building mania of the 1960s.

@VanillaMacaron551 Рік тому

Thanks Big Oil and Big Steel.

@theultimatereductionist7592 11 місяців тому

@@VanillaMacaron551 Thanks to antiMarxist antiCommunist conservative fanatics: both republicunts and democraps.

@RCAvhstape 11 місяців тому

@@VanillaMacaron551 I was a buggy whip maker. They durka jerb!

@DrPeculiar312 9 місяців тому

Penn Station was a cheap imitation. Rock on a steel frame, like a pig in lipstick. Might have looked nice but poorly constructed. Would cost a fortune to maintain

@Riley-uy5pe 3 місяці тому

the destruction of black neighborhoods to build those highways is worse clown

@ElusiveTy Рік тому

I'm always so happy when Michael is brought back - please keep it up, AD!!

@craibinator5 Рік тому

what's extra gauling about the Penn Station teardown is that they totally could have kept the facade, and at least some of the ornate features and scale and still turned it into a modern spots arena

@aidancollins1591 Рік тому

That costs money to maintain.

@sammavacaist Рік тому

I saw a documentary on it and they were literally throwing carved marble statues in the trash!

@Lv-nq9qz Рік тому

@@sammavacaist a lot of them ended up in the swamps of New Jersey

@Lv-nq9qz Рік тому

The appeal of the new Penn Station and MSG was that their glass facades would be easy to maintain, the office building would bring in money, and the scaled back train station would reflect the increase in automobile use versus public transport.

@sammavacaist Рік тому

@@Lv-nq9qz Yes! That's what I saw in this doc. Throwing them in the NJ swamp! Unbelievable

@jakobdees3489 Рік тому

love this guy! He explains so clearly. I hope this series never end. Love every episode. keep it up! thank you!

@benabadie7351 Рік тому

Research Tartaria. This guy doesn’t know what he’s talking about

@francogiobbimontesanti3826 11 місяців тому

@@benabadie7351bro where would tataria even be? Tartars are still around today in Tatarstan. They tell their own history ands it’s very different to what you internet people claim. Go touch grass mate.

@tomeis8499 Рік тому

Its time for a new "renaissance" of classical architecture! I'm done with the faceless and lifeless lined up cubicles of glass and metall, that were forced to live and work in.

@avsystem3142 Рік тому

Feel free to open your checkbook to construct such reactionary architecture, no one else is going to.

@kelvinsurname7051 Рік тому

Classical and traditional architecture!

@avsystem3142 Рік тому

@@kelvinsurname7051Traditional architecture? You mean like log cabins?

@kelvinsurname7051 Рік тому

@@avsystem3142 no, I am referring to more traditional building methods, usimg more local building materials, but also incorporating more traditional ornaments. N9t only those of beautiful Ancient Greek and Roman empire. Hope you understand what I am reffering to.

@avsystem3142 Рік тому

@@kelvinsurname7051 My comment was sarcastic. Ancient Greek and Roman architecture cannot be copied verbatim in the contemporary world for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is economic. All that can be done is create pseudo-classical mashups that may appeal to those ignorant of the principles of appropriate design. There are plenty of examples of modern architecture that is of stunning beauty.

@crazyguy_1233 Рік тому

One building I'm so upset that was demolished was the Singer tower and its neighbor the City Investing Building. Both were so beautiful especially Singer which is my favorite building that ever existed. I've read that out of every old building they demolished Singer Tower is the one New York regrets losing.

@crazyguy_1233 Рік тому

@@annasolovyeva1013 I've seen pictures of that one. It shares a ton of similarities. Singer had a lot of beautiful buildings.

@r62aguy85 8 місяців тому

@@crazyguy_1233twin towers were better

@LRM12o8 6 місяців тому

@r62aguy85 Nah, Twin Towers were ugly AF! If they hadn't been the tallest buildings of their time, nobody would've given a flying f@ck about their architecture. Being BIG is literally all they had to show for.

@andrewbrendan1579 Рік тому

Fascinating....and grievous to watch and listen to. All of these demolitions are tragic, but the one that I find particularly sad is that of Penn Station.

@gandalflotr2898 Рік тому

Let's hope someone build a replica

@DrPeculiar312 9 місяців тому

It was a cheap imitation. Cheap stone on a steel frame. Already crumbling when they tore it down

@LJB103 Рік тому

I never got to see Penn Station. My hometown wanted to get one of the eagles during demolition, but the price asked was too high. The reason for wanting an eagle is that they were carved in Milford, MA (my hometown) where all of the pink granite for the building was quarried (Boston Public Library, Allegheny County Court & Jail in Pittsburgh, and the Glessner House in Chicago are still standing examples of this stone). The other two were razed long before I was born. All were beautiful buildings. Excellent video.

@gvs376 Рік тому

Interesting. I believe two of the eagles are still missing. Most likely stolen during demolition.

@Bill.Pearson Рік тому

The statue of Diana from atop Madison Square Garden was saved and is on display in the Great Stair Hall of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It was conserved and restored about 10 years ago.

@mrkrimpet58 Рік тому

I knew that statue looked familiar!

@Paulco67 Рік тому

Michael knocks it out of the park again with another excellent presentation

@jefflawrentz1624 Рік тому

I’d like to see you do a story on historic sites in New York where the property owners are allowing “ demolition by neglect”. I once read an article on a building from the 1600s that barely survived and the owner is allowing it to fall into ruin so they can develop the property. I’ll try to locate that article.

@qjones6109 Рік тому

14 gay street?? West village

@thewordshifter Рік тому

I work with historic buildings. It happens ALL the time.

@jefflawrentz1624 Рік тому

@@qjones6109 The property I was thinking of is stone- was a tavern in the 1600s and in an area that was like commercial warehouses. But I’m glad to know about the property you mentioned. Thanks!

@lexikropff7690 Рік тому

@@thewordshifter i😢😢😢😊

@lexikropff7690 Рік тому

Lo😮

@olivernaufal 13 днів тому

To this day my heart aches every time I watch a documentary about how Penn Station was destroyed

@BreakfastAtDior912 Рік тому

I love his breakdowns and genuinely look forward to them! I would love to see a Breakdown of the history and design of the NYC Airports!

@samanthab1923 Рік тому

I worked for the PA of NY&NJ Aviation Dept. Tons of photos in the cafe in WTC One.

@veronicamdissues Рік тому

Wonderfully informative!!! Things often overlooked about old Penn Station's demise: The building was filthy, the roof leaked, was freezing in the winter and broiling in the summer. Everybody smoked then, and cars spewed full-out fumes, and nobody then knew how to "restore" buildings or single-pane ceiling glass. There WAS no better glass then. Plus Penn Central was BANKRUPT, zero budget for dreamy ideas! Realistically, if we put ourselves in their 1960s shoes, what would we have done? Today we've learned a bit, and might have found a way to finance its rehabilitation. But that was a wild idea at the time.

@eddieafterburner 11 місяців тому

The demolition happened before the Penn Central merger and subsequent bankruptcy. With that said, I hear ya. People seem to forget it was private property, and with passenger service falling off a cliff post WWII, it was probably the best option at the time. The PRR corporation wasn’t in the business of building and maintaining monuments to the past. By the way, all the same things said about Penn Station could have been said about DC Union Station, which fortunately did not meet the same fate and was fully restored in the early 80s, perhaps only due to the fact that it wasn’t solely owned by PRR.

@brianarbenz1329 Рік тому

This video was one of the most enlightening 13 minutes I’ve spent online. I’ve spent very little time in NYC and my knowledge of it is limited to the generalities we’re always hearing. This was a wonderful look at some specific places and the wonderful and sad stories surrounding them.

@daddythomas1389 Рік тому

Always truly enjoy your videos!! That New York Times quoted had really struck me in the '80's when I was made aware of the tragedy of the destruction of Penn Station. And it will always resonate. Such a true and powerful quote. Thank you for all your work!

@ingmarvanderhoek6314 Рік тому

Always a good start of the day when Michael has a new feature. Informative, clear and hugely entertaining.

@theblackdaria_ Рік тому

I LOVE these! They're so informative. I had no idea there were multiple iterations of MSG and Penn Station. So sad we lost these beautiful historical buildings.

@markvenaglia1548 Рік тому

Casual and inviting presentations, loaded w great info and details. All of these posts are superb. Your request- I'd especially enjoy your unique observations of (demolished) Singer Tower.

@davidoffhutchercitronllp967 Рік тому

Great series, hosted by an even greater Architect, one episode more fascinating than the next! Well done AD and MW, keep it up, one of the best things to watch on UKposts!!

@raymondkearney6571 Рік тому

What a marvelous presentation--interesting, clear, concise, with great graphics (and photos). Thank you so much for the discussion so well presented! One of the best ever!

@Eggmancan Рік тому

This is fantastic. I love learning about cities through the histories of their buildings. It's so sad that these were torn down, especially since these buildings harkened back to historical styles and had some ornamentation, things which are virtually absent in modern architecture.

@jakemoore1973 Рік тому

Michael - echoing others, I love this series you are doing. Your mix of detail and perspective is perfect. In this episode I enjoyed all the details, the changing infrastructure is really interesting, such as the L train on 6th and the trolly system on Park. I wonder what we have to learn about changes to transportation in NYC in the past that might help us understand how NYC and other cities will be shaped if cars take up less public space in the future. Maybe you could do the airports? Or public housing (or lack thereof) through NYC history, tenements to Projects. I know you have done tenements before.

@donnalannan2978 3 місяці тому

Your programs are fascinating as well as historic. So glad I happened upon these programs.

@michaelv2297 Рік тому

I love hearing Michael break down NY history and architecture. He's a great teacher! Look forward to more from him!

@aholguin618 Рік тому

YESSSS!!! Keep the Wyetzner videos coming. Less "3 interior designers massacre the same space" and more of this haha

@matthewalexander6050 Рік тому

This guy is the best, I always get excited when I see a new video with him!

@susanbaker2796 Рік тому

Same!

@rgandin Рік тому

I love these Michael Wyetzner videos! Keep them coming AD.

@PhD777 11 місяців тому

Outstanding and fabulous video! Not only architectural but historical as well! Thank you!

@filippobenedetti7183 Рік тому

This video was amazing! I would love to watch one about Ernest Flagg's Singer Building (1908) which was also a New York City landmark that sadly was demolished in the late 1960s.

@mariasanchezcalvo5755 10 місяців тому

This is a very sad story, but very greatly told! The series are brilliant 🙌🏽

@JxH 8 місяців тому

It's nice to listen to the 'design elements' or 'design vocabulary' of architecture being explained so well. Thank you.

@3yebeams Рік тому

Marvellous - just marvellous - especially the historical provenence and antecedents with antiquity. What is fascinating is the use of materials in the structures of these modern buildings. This is just a superb series of explications. Excellent. More please.

@adriannademadriguera4859 Рік тому

this series should win awards. just fabulous. thank you for sharing your knowledge.

@natalieeis9284 Рік тому

This is my favourite series on UKposts and I am not even an architect

@mermade6516 Рік тому

The celebrity videos are probably AD's bread and butter but I love these videos best.

@AR11210 Рік тому

We love Michael videos! I always leave feeling smarter and more cheerful. Thank you :)

@garyrutledge7639 11 місяців тому

"Ultimately, we are judged, not by the monuments we create, but by those we have destroyed."

@PaulDiCesare Рік тому

I know there's a bunch of videos on UKposts about the singer building but would love to see a real architect like Michael explore that building and why it was eventually taken down.

@sutherlandA1 Рік тому

Lack of office floor space apparently

@itsjoekent Рік тому

This was such an amazing video. I love every video this guy narrates.

@bloodtypena Рік тому

I love these videos , I want more of these type of videos where an architect talks about iconic buildings in the cities

@JRatermann Рік тому

I don't know if only does videos on NYC buildings, but I would love to see a video on the St Louis waterfront that was demolished to make room for the Arch grounds. I've heard that it had the largest collection of ornate cast iron building fascades outside of New York.

@jasonjackson2425 Рік тому

You asked for structures torn down that would be interesting to learn about, so here are a few that I'd like to learn about in Brooklyn: Fulton Ferry terminal, all the different horse tracks, grand hotels along the waterfront, and the reservoir which stood near Prospect Park.

@JLange642 Рік тому

Absolutely love your style and way of delivering your presentation. Very interesting topic-will be watching more of your videos!

@Wilma.Flintstone Рік тому

Yay, another video with Michael! I would so love to have lunch with him and just listen to him talk about NYC for hours :)

@bonniechalek8958 Рік тому

Can you discuss the Singer building? I just admired the Little Singer building on Broadway. Love your videos.

@LUIS-ox1bv Рік тому

After the devastating loss of Penn Station, my second choice for a tremendous loss for NYC,was the demolition of Ernest Flagg's, incredible Singer Tower. The decision to bring down such an iconic structure is unforgivable.

@roey6541 Рік тому

I would listen to michael talk about nyc architecture for hours on hours, please never stop this series

@deanpowers8393 8 місяців тому

So informative...so heartbreaking. I love your comparisons to European architectural history, including construction and choice of materials. There's so much information imparted, but not too much, and not too quickly to be absorbed and enjoyed. If I had the aptitude for architecture, I would have loved having you as a professor! Fantastic video....the kind that UKposts was made for!

@walterzielinski6654 Рік тому

Of the three grand buildings depicted and discussed in this great video, my favorite one is The New York Herald building. If only there had been a Historic Landmarks Preservation in its time. If only! So many possibilities for re-purposing this architectural jewel box.

@grandcarriage1 Рік тому

I'd like to see some of Frank Lloyd Wright's demolished buildings discussed. The Larkin building, etc... Incidentally. This felt like a short lecture in the art and architecture university class of my dreams. ALL I can say is "MORE!"

@anthonyxuereb792 Рік тому

Frank Lloyd Wright's demolished buildings would be difficult viewing.

@grandcarriage1 Рік тому

@@anthonyxuereb792 . Like these buildings, there is lots of photographic documentation.

@anthonyxuereb792 Рік тому

@@grandcarriage1 Just as well and I'll say it if I must, "it's better than nothing." To be fair, maintaining these structures isn't cheap and sometimes they have to go. Look at the retired ship SS United States, what will its ultimate fate be? They brought the huge steam loco "Big Boy" back into running condition but you couldn't do that with the ship and it's costing a lot just in berthing fees.

@Schloetz Рік тому

The extra bits of info that I would have never known otherwise such as sources of inspiration and building material is really what makes this simultaneously lovely yet heartbreaking to watch. It's such a shame that beautiful architecture gets demolished in favor of ugly and soulless modern/post modern styles.

@TheSushmaHomeSellingTeam 5 місяців тому

Appreciate this special information not just about architecture but also history. ✨

@karyng5587 Рік тому

I always look forward to his information. He’s awesome

@Evanb91 Рік тому

You definitely need to do a video on the Singer Building. Great analysis btw

@crazyguy_1233 Рік тому

Singer is by far my favorite. I've read that out of all the buildings demolished in New York Singer is the one the city regrets losing.

@william_at Рік тому

Is so fun see, at the time, how obsessed was about imitate European's architecture, maybe to looking for a sort of 'allure' or 'glamour'? In any case, thanks for share this excellent video.

@BertoBeats 8 місяців тому

Seeing Penn torn down fills me with such intense rage

@thwingerpodthvet4302 11 місяців тому

How could you forget about the Singer Building! It’s one of NYC’s most iconic demolished buildings. Another very interesting building in NYC is One Times Square, which has a surprising history to it.

@benrub Рік тому

I would like to see a discussion of the original Metropolitan Opera House.

@johnsutcliffe3209 11 місяців тому

How could anyone with a heart be in any way involved with the destruction of such beauty.

@nycstarport8542 9 місяців тому

They do not Care. It is all about $$$.

@JoannaLouise200 Рік тому

HI from London! ~ I'm so enjoying Architectural Digest and am learning something new every time about New York City and more. It's so hard to believe that anyone would give the go-ahead to demolish any such buildings, especially the stunningly magnificent Penn Station. When you consider all the investment of materials, expense, artistic input and the phenomenal amount of sheer time and energy it took to construct such a finely detailed grand 'classical palace', for it to be then entirely erased from the streetscape after just 50 years! ~ it makes a person weep.

@ashyclaret 9 місяців тому

London has done the same and continues to do so.

@minixtvbox 9 місяців тому

London is a pit, even going demolish m&s art deco in Oxford Street.

@hughmcaloon6506 10 місяців тому

Excellent presentation and analysis! Thanks for sharing!

@truthserum6808 10 місяців тому

Such a beautiful masterpiece the original Penn Station was!

@Ben-tt3cg Рік тому

❤ Michael Wyetzner videos

@luciusvorenus9445 8 місяців тому

Fantastic video! Cannot believe these beautiful buildings were demolished.

@williamtyre523 10 місяців тому

Thank you for a fascinating video and for including the Herald building, which I didn't know much about, but was quite wonderful. How sad we only have black and white photos to remember these buildings by today.

@OSTARAEB4 Рік тому

Of course, We miss the Singer Building and the old Hippodrome on Sixth and 43rd Steet NE corner in 1939. Also, the old Roxy Theater behind the old Taft Hotel which was razed in 1960 and the old famous hotels that were sadly demolished like The Savoy across from The Plaza Hotel on Fifth and 58/59th Street, the Rector/Claridge; The Astor, The Hotel Manhattan on the NW corner of Madison and 42nd demolished circa 1930. So many of the old beautiful hotels built 1900-1925 are long gone. Sad to see the old Hotel Pennsylvania across from Pennsylvania Station being replaced by another mega skyscraper. Thank you for your wonderful presentation Michael.

@williamstringer6519 11 місяців тому

I find it immensely sad that these beautiful buildings were so heedlessly destroyed. I moved to London in 1960 when there was still much evidence of damage done during world war II. Among the ruins were still virtually intact buildings which were lovingly repaired and restored. The magnificent St. Pancras station gives triumphant testimony to this. There were other examples, so that London still remains a delight for enthusiasts of the monumental buildings built in the past, but still much loved and cared for today. One need only think how much some of these buildings would cost to build today, even if it were possible. The stone masons, sculptors, stained glass artists and the like are not available nowadays, when in the past they were often commonplace artisans earning a living wage.

@AllanArmstrong Рік тому

SINGER BUILDING, please. Thanks for the great content! Always interesting, & always glad to see a notification for a new video by you! Your perspective on The Singer would be awesome. Thanks again.

@jackspence1 Рік тому

Would love to hear (and see photos) of the beautiful Singer building. Thanks for your informative videos. Wonderful to watch.

@markdeboer437 Рік тому

I would love to hear about the Singer Building, which was the tallest building in NYC purposely torn down. This video was excellent!

@stephaniemedina1848 Рік тому

I am 68 and did not know any of this ..I love history and architecture🐱 it hurts my heart to think of having destroyed these wonderful buildings 🌹

@StarterClap Рік тому

These Michael Wyetzner videos are so good. He knows his stuff

@vieuxbal1253 Рік тому

Thank you so much for the great video. Can you please make another video on the Singer Building, which was torn down in the 60ies?

@bloatedtreeful Рік тому

Gorgeous video as always, but I think there’s a small error at around <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="158">2:38</a>: In the interior photo of the entrance, if 33rd St. is at the top of the pic and 31st. St. is at the bottom, the photographer would be looking uptown (north), which means that 8th Ave. should be on the left (west) and 7th Ave. should be on the right (east). In the photo they’re reversed.

@johnpaulsmajda Рік тому

I just wrote the same thing then found your comment! Kudos!

@johnpaulsmajda Рік тому

The sunlight also tells you we are looking north. Either the picture is inverted or the labels are wrong.

@BernardJTarver Рік тому

As a New Yorker, a history buff and a frustrated architect wannabe, I really enjoy these videos.

@shmookins 6 місяців тому

The green owl eyes shining at night is such a cool idea. The ending quote is such a powerful one as well.

@lisaharrington6488 4 місяці тому

This as very interesting. I hope you are able to do more videos like this. Thank you!

@mrhyd388 Рік тому

I just came across this channel and love it. I've always been a of Detroit's buildings and architecture would be cool to see your take on them

@rumplestiltskin951 Рік тому

Detroit's architecture is very unique.

@mrhyd388 Рік тому

@@rumplestiltskin951 I agree and a lot is being restored

@Suz-e-K Рік тому

Super interesting. I love hearing about the references to ancient architecture. Its a shame that we don't value historic buildings (talking to you, Austin, TX) because they are beautiful, and so much craftsmanship went into them, another thing lacking in contemporary structures.

@salemeister5478 8 місяців тому

I'm so happy union station didn't get torn down like this, the story of how it was saved is really inspiring.

@nukingjapanwasok6265 Рік тому

We need more of this series

@ericbarritt304 Рік тому

I'm fascinated by all the brick, stone & plaster shapes & status, tin & copper cornices & coping & brass & steel windows . New York City must have been humming with deliveries, staging & scheduling & frustrated project managers. Were a lot of the building materials formed & assembled around NYC? I can just imagine what an architect's office library must have looked like.

@jeanne-marie8196 Рік тому

An 1890’s retractable roof? I’m blown away!

@msnewbootylicious Рік тому

I love his videos!! Also, I’ll never be over them demolishing old Penn Station 😭

@walterzielinski6654 Рік тому

I would love to see Michael Wyetzner discuss the history of H.H. Richardson's 'lost' Marshall Field Wholesale Store, a visionary 'form follows function" statement that helped to spark the Modernist International Style in the United States. Michael, it goes without saying that your AD reviews are a pleasure to watch, even when the subject is the loss of treasures such as these iconic structures.