Paleo Retiree writes:

A jumbled view from NYC’s Washington Square Park looking north — partly because we here at UR have a profound and principled objection to the tendency of so much of the architecture press to discuss buildings as though they’re isolated, freestanding works of individual genius … but mainly because the light and colors were so damn pretty the other evening.

In the foreground: what were originally houses, built in the Greek Revival style circa 1830. In the background: from 1929, the gloriously eclectic and glamorous Deco apartment building known as 1 Fifth (for its address at One Fifth Ave.), designed mainly by Harvey Wiley Corbett, an early proponent of skyscrapers who, despite being known as very progressive and despite being identified with something that was called “modernism” at the time, never foresaw glass shafts, let alone today’s wibbly-wobbly exercises in sleek neuroticism. Interesting note: Corbett worked with the architectural illustrator Hugh Ferriss, and through/with Ferriss eventually had an influence on the look of Gotham City. So if you feel like you’re picking up a little “Batman” from 1 Fifth, your instincts aren’t letting you down.

Related

• The New York Times’ great Christopher Gray tells the story of 1 Fifth.
• Henry James’ novel “Washington Square” — one of the few Henry James novels I really like, fwiw — is set mainly among the houses on the north side of the park.