A few weeks ago, I volunteered for the Open House New York (OHNY) weekend. Nina of Living No.40 and I were assigned to the Bryant Park Hotel. This boutique hotel is housed in the American Standard Building just across the street from Bryant Park.
A New York City landmark, the building was originally designed for the American Radiator Company by Raymond Hood and John Howell and is done in a Gothic Art Deco style. The facade consists of black granite on street level and from there on up, blackened bricks to represent coal. The gold accents are meant to represent fire.
The result is majestic to say the least.
1 & 2 | Still original to the building are this ornate grate designed by Raymond Hood at the entrance and the marble he selected as window panes
3 & 4 | Among the amazing views seen from the 24th floor terrace… The New York Public Library, Bryant Park beneath the building’s shadow and the Empire State Building
5 | Because of it’s spectacular views, the hotel uses the 24th floor space for special events. But it is also equipped with 1.5 baths and can be transformed into a suite!
About OHNY…
Every year, OHNY arranges a weekend where they put their mission to action. This year, over 200 sites opened there doors for all.
OHNY is a non-profit organization with a mission to:
- broaden public awareness by exposing diverse audiences to distinctive examples of architecture, engineering and design;
- educate and inspire discussion of issues of excellence in design, planning and preservation
- and showcase outstanding new work as well as structures of historic merit
Gorgeous building! I love how architecturally rich big cities like NYC and Chicago are. Some of my favorite things – gothic and art deco, swoon! I would love to see the events that they do on the 24th floor 🙂
You must be enjoying Chicago so much.
I wonder if they have events like Open House…
So cool that you and Nina do this – y’all have been doing this for a few years, right?
It was my second time. But Nina is a veteran (I think this was her 7th time?!)