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A few weeks ago I attended the NY Gift Fair in Manhattan (which I will discuss in another issue of the blog). I had some other business on the Upper West Side and so I parked at the Ansonia Building—a grand dame of Beaux Arts Architecture and New York interior design. The Ansonia started out as a Grand Hotel, built by William Stokes in the mid 1800’s and over the years has been converted into condominium residences. The building is huge and the public spaces are well appointed and spacious. Even before wider hallways were required by code by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), this building planned its corridors with grace and aplumb.

I did a bit of research on the building the architects, and it was originally designed it to be a self sufficient property. ”In what might be the earliest harbinger of the current developments in urban farming, Wikipedia reports that Stokes established a small farm on the roof of the hotel.” Can you believe it? Green design in the middle of the 19th century? How cool!

According to the May issue of New York Magazine, Stokes had a Utopian vision for the Ansonia—that it could be self-sufficient, or at least contribute to its own support—which led to perhaps the strangest New York apartment amenity ever. “The farm on the roof,” Stokes wrote years later, “included about 500 chickens, many ducks, about six goats and a small bear.” Every day, a bellhop delivered free fresh eggs to all the tenants, and any surplus was sold cheaply to the public in the basement arcade. Not much about this feature charmed the city fathers, however, and in 1907, the Department of Health shut down the farm in the sky.

Take a look at the photos below and notice how the massive structure curves around the corner. They were definitely considering how someone would view this building from all angles while still creating awe inspiring architecture with corbels, bracketed cornices and gorgeous stone work.

Situated on the corner of Broadway and 73rd Street, it is at the heart of the Upper West Side and a great place to live. A place where you can balance urban living with gracious proportions.

The curves soften the movement of the New York Feng Shui Chi around the building as well and the top cupolas add a sense of security and adventure. Ah—the views from the cupola!!! Enjoy!

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