The Beresford is a luxurious apartment building on Central Park West. Designed by famed architect, Emory Roth in the late 1920's, the Beresford is one of the most prestigious addresses in New York City. But what makes the Beresford shine is its Beaux Arts style architecture featuring three towers and an ornately decorated facade. The Beaux Arts movement flourished during the Gilded Age but fell out of favor around the Great Depression. The Beresford is said to be the last grand Beaux Arts apartment building to ever be constructed.
A little background on the Beresford's architect, Emory Roth. Emigrating from Hungary when he was only 13 years old, Roth had a gift for design and architecture. This attracted the attention of some of the great architects of his day. Roth worked as a draftsman for the renowned firm, Burnham and Root during the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. The World's Columbian Exposition was held in Chicago. Daniel Burnham was in charge of the fair and his design aesthetic won rave reviews. The fairgrounds were so ethereal especially lit at night that it was called "The White City."
The Library of Congress Digital Collection Columbian Exposition known as The White City
Unknow Postcard from The World's Columbian Exposition
Richard Morris Hunt was so impressed with Roth's work at the Exposition that he hired Roth on the spot. Unfortunately, due to Hunt's untimely death, Roth left Hunt's firm and began working with Odgen Codman Jr. who was an architect and interior designer. Codman was revered for the design style. So much so that Codman collaborated with Edith Wharton to create the book, The Decoration of Houses. This book is still a standard in interior design today. Roth finally decided to branch out on his own and create his firm. His firm would eventually include his sons. A proficient architect, Roth, over his five-decade career, designed more than 500 apartments. Some of his greatest designs were attributed to his mastery of the Beaux Arts style.
But what does Beaux Arts mean? The movement was described by Jackie Craven in an article for ThoughtCo. stated that "Beaux Arts is a late and eclectic form of Neoclassicism. It combines classical architecture from ancient Greece and Rome with Renaissance ideas. Beaux-Arts architecture became part of the late 19th-century American Renaissance movement. It is characterized by order, symmetry, formal design, grandiosity, and elaborate ornamentation.
Architectural characteristics include balustrades, balconies, columns, cornices, pilasters, and triangular pediments. Stone exteriors are massive and grandiose in their symmetry; interiors are typically polished and lavishly decorated with sculptures, swags, medallions, flowers, and shields. Interiors will often have a grand stairway and opulent ballroom. Large arches rival the ancient Roman arches."**
City Realty
Emory Roth was a genius at incorporating this style into his buildings and the Beresford was no exception. This impressive building had 23 floors with 175 apartments, most overlooking Central Park. Supposedly the apartments boasted of the highest ceilings in all of the city. Author Richard Plunz wrote, "The massive block is opened to the west, giving it a U-shape, wrapped round a central court. Three elevators give separate access to small foyers, originally each accessing two apartments of a scale that was eliminated in New York, both by the stock market crash and the new Multiple Dwellings Law."*** Semi-private elevators for the residents!! Very luxe indeed.
The New York Public Library Digital Collection
The Beresford was completed in 1929 right before the Stock Market Crash. From The New York Sun, "From opening day, its tenants - drawn by large apartments, spacious rooms, extensive storage facilities, and elegant appointments - were as distinguished as its appearance. Nonetheless, the banks foreclosed on both the San Remo and the Beresford in 1940."
The Beresford was sold at auction in the early 1940s, but it never lost its glamour. Throughout its history, the rich and famous have always flocked to this sublime building. A unique variety of rich and famous residents include organized crime boss Meyer Lansky, singer Diana Ross, comedian Jerry Seinfeld, tennis legend John McEnroe, et.al. It is no surprise that the Beresford is on the National Register of Historic Places and also designated as a New York City Landmark.****
City Realty Entrance, Facade of the Beresford, and the view of Central Park from the Beresford
One final note, the Beresford Apartments has an outstanding location because not only is it next to Central Park, but it is neighbors with the American Museum of Natural History. In case you didn't know, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade starts near here. Another fun fact is the day before the Thanksgiving Parade, the balloon floats are inflated around the American Museum of Natural History from 74th Street and Columbus Avenue to 81st Street and Central Park West. The Beresford has windows not only overlooking the parade route but also the staging of the parade! Amazing!!!
Want to know more? Here is a good place to start:
Luxury Apartment Houses of Manhattan: An Illustrated History by Andrew Alpern
Sources:
**Jackie Craven via ThoughtCo. Introduction to Beaux Arts Architecture (thoughtco.com)
*** A History of Housing in New York City by Richard Plunz
Photographs:
Top photograph The Museum of the City of New York Digital Collection
Small black and white photograph NYPL Digital Collection