On our recent trip to New York City, my kids learned just how deep my love for old architecture is. They couldn’t believe how often I wanted to stop and take a picture, or how often I pointed out a building and said Look at that! Are you looking?
One of my fascinations with the city has always been the tremendous attention to details in the architecture. With homes now being built from molds and buildings that look like boxes, walking through the streets of New York makes me feel human and cared for. Why?
Because it reminds me that there was a time when people cared about what I saw. They cared that our environments were beautiful. Stone masons were in high demand. Architects with vision were in high demand. It was insulting (and, I imagine, embarrassing) to stick a concrete box beside the road and call it okay.
Here is just a sampling of some of the buildings lining New York City’s Manhattan.
I’m accustomed to a fair bit of talking in my posts, but I just want to show more than tell. The images really speak better than I can. Also, I may have to break this up into two posts because I take a lot of photographs. A big part of my heart is in old architecture.
Many of these old buildings have window air conditioning units as structures weren’t built with cooling ducts and insulation in mind.
Something about this row of windows atop the building remind me of Mary Poppins England. And who can resist this beautiful color?
I love the surprise of seeing a beautiful building come into view on piece at a time, especially when it introduces itself in this way.
There’s something to love in every inch of this facade.
These rounded corners are some of my favorite features.
The unfortunate encroachment of modern ugliness into some of these gorgeous buildings.
I was so happy to be able to capture the birds in this photograph. I imagine they have all made their home up there.
This is one of my favorite buildings as I don’t see black very often. It’s so gothic and enchanting.
I was cursing inside that I didn’t have a stronger lens to really capture the entirety of details on this building.
That’s all for now. Hopefully this inspires you to take a look around your own city and see what you can do to live more beautifully. I know that beautiful scenes always have that effect on me. Also, have fun exploring your own city or town. When I set out to photograph my own city, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, I found tons of beauty that I didn’t know was here.
Many of you darlings have told me how you’d like to see posts about my visit to New York with the kids and as soon as I get my act together, I will start posting. It was such an interesting trip!
Side note: I finally started my Instagram page for this blog. Should’ve done it ages ago, but as many of you know, I was up to my eyeballs in social media and sites and projects, so I’m steadily trying to consolidate everything. I’ll be adding as I go. And just to save me a bit of time, if you may, add your IG page to the comments. That would be great of you!
I’ve never been to NY, but I’m hoping to get up there around the holidays this year; it’s a bucket list item for me. đŸ™‚
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There are tons of beautiful places in the winter. There’s ice skating and lights hanging over many streets, really lovely. And in the fall, upstate NY has all the color changes we never get to see in Florida. You’ll have such an amazing time.
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It’s honestly one of my favorite things about New York City as well. I’ve only been twice in my life but I’ve always been so mesmerized about the uniqueness of the architecture as well. I really enjoyed your post.
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Don’t you find it so hard to keep walking? I just want to stop every moment. It’s nice to hear it’s one of your favorite things as well. That makes us related đŸ˜„ Thanks for commenting, I appreciate it.
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NYC is always my fave place..such a lively and fun city đŸ™‚
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Yes, there’s so much to do there. It’s hard to imagine being bored, right?
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haha def…can tour around all day!
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Fine images indeed ☺
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Why, thank you. I’m glad you enjoyed them. It’s difficult to capture the beauty, but I’ve made a go at it đŸ™‚
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You sure did ☺
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Most of my family (mom’s side is bigger) is from New York, so I’ve been there countless times and visited all around. It truly is a gorgeous state as a whole (: these pictures really do a great job to capture that *thank you* and I can’t wait to see more of your trip. My Instagram is the same name as my blog btw
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Coming from someone who’s spent a lot of time there, I’m glad to hear that you feel I’ve done it justice. I’d love to visit upstate in the fall sometime soon, but im afraid it’ll have to wait until next year.
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Whenever you get to it, make sure to bring your camera!
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Lovely shots of the city, Lyz. Loved each one. It made me think of you bumping against people and lamp posts. P.S.: Needless to say, I do the same xx
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Thank you, Dippy. There have been close calls. I’ve got to be like a ninja out there!
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I am assuming Austin and his sister were their mama’s saviours đŸ˜›
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Omg how did you know?!
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Great photos! I’ve never been to New York, but we have a love for architecture in common. I love looking at beautiful homes and buildings as well. Gothic/Victorian style is among my favorite.
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Those are great styles, such romance and detail.
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Ahh it’s so unfair that NY has so much of these great and beautiful buildings and that we, in The Netherlands, only have a couple!!! Haha, loved your post by the way! xo
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Thanks Anne, I’m glad you liked it. Yeah, New York is definitely hogging up a good deal of architectural beauty. It’s funny, I think of the Netherlands and I imagine a lot of charming little houses and beautiful landscapes. Is that true?
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Well, I don’t know exactly what you mean by that but in my opinion, it isn’t true. The Netherlands is a really flat country, we don’t have mountains. The only landscape you might see is a field of grass and some trees. Maybe a little lake but that’s all you get. And in my opinion, we all do have ‘normal’ houses. Especially in the small cities and villages. Amsterdam does have some great architecture and the houses are pretty there, but not in the rest of NL… It’s just my opinion, because I see it everyday and I don’t think NL is charming. But maybe, people who not come from The Netherlands see it differently!!
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Maybe it’s pictures of Amsterdam that I’ve seen. You need to start a nationwide campaign to beautify NL! It does suck that most places have stopped putting an emphasis on the exterior beauty of the structures that they build. I must especially be a drag for architects.
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Haha, if I could do that, I’d done it already. I think the Dutch people could care a bit more about the beauty of the country. It could even attract tourist who don’t only go to Amsterdam!
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I just LOVE east coast architecture. I am from upstate NY but have lived in Seattle for about 12 years now, and the west coast just doesn’t have much of this kind of uniqueness and I miss it quite a bit. The west coast is pretty in its own way, but the buildings just don’t grab me like New York ones do!
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I can imagine since New York is so much older. I think maybe the west was focused on just housing pioneers and gold rushers or something. They didn’t have the same interest in building beautiful cities. Even being in a neighborhood in Jamaica Queens, there was so much beauty. I’d love to spend time in upstate New York. Architecture is definitely one of my favorite things.
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One could photograph NYC without stopping and find new things to see. It is a city of billions of photos and some taken with cameras.
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I totally agree. I could spend my entire vacation taking photographs. It’s a feast for the eyes for sure.
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You write nice
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architecture a new perspective https://declutteringmylifeweb.wordpress.com/2017/08/07/architecture-a-new-perspective/
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Nice pictures. I am also a big fan of architectural styles. I think it’s still valued. However our current times are going for more futuristic and environmental designs (imo). That said, Florida is severely lacking. I’m hoping to enter the construction and architecture space here at some point to ruffle things up.
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You’re absolutely right, Paul. Futuristic and environmental designs are stepping into their moment and it’s so cool to be a witness to it as it happens, particularly environmental which is so new.
I’ve been paying attention to Old South Florida architecture lately. I’m starting to realize just how strong the 1950s aesthetic is around here. It’s cool. But generally speaking, Florida likes to keep tearing down and rebuilding. Lots of new construction with a lack of good design and innovation. It’s awesome that you’ve got intentions to bring some good new energy. Thanks in advance đŸ˜„
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