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Book Tour: Contemporary New York City Architecture

John Hill's guide to NYC highlights the most notable homes and buildings from 2000-2010

Becky Harris December 13, 2011

Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected." I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.

Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More

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In the ever-changing skyline of New York, it's hard to keep track of the most notable architecture, and the city has experienced a surge in new construction in the last decade. It was an era that brought us projects from the New Museum's revitalization of the Bowery to The High Line's lifting of park space to new levels.

John Hill, Houzz contributor and founder of Archidose, has carefully chronicled the architecture of this decade, selecting buildings that have a point of view, and creating walking tours organized by neighborhood to make it easy to take your own guided tour. His new book, Guide to Contemporary New York City Architecture, lets you read up on the buildings and plan your tour — and it won't add much weight to your bag when you take it to the streets.

Contemporary by John Hill

While Hill recommends the AIA Guide and admires it as a companion full of buildings from the previous centuries, he finds it's not the easiest tome to tote on a city walk.

His guide is compact and portable, with a strong cover and binding that can stand up to numerous urban explorations. The guide covers all five boroughs and all types of buildings (from glass high rises to townhouses; from Prada to firehouses) and public spaces.

Contemporary Exterior by John Hill

This guidebook lets you in on secret details you might miss if you're not looking out for them. "A closer look at the three projecting windows reveals some atypical details: diamond tread sills and projecting handles on the jambs. The bay windows are actually the rear frames of truck bodies," he writes.

Design by LOT-EK 2007

Contemporary Exterior by John Hill

This facade near the High Line includes a piece of Cor-ten steel so large they had to close a level of the George Washington bridge to transport it from New Jersey to Manhattan.

It adds a big note to the rhythm of the block, creating a transition between the steel beams on the building on the left and the more traditional brick building on the right.

Thinking this house might be a bit dark inside? Count on Hill's guide to set you straight. "Most of the natural lighting in the house arrives through the fully glazed rear facade and through skylights," he explains.

Contemporary Exterior by John Hill

While the steel is one large-scale, 1.25-inch-thick piece, Hill notes that the rust variation adds its own pattern.

Because the design passed the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Hill claims "its approval is evidence of a preference for contemporary buildings that differentiate themselves from older neighbors."

Design by Matthew Baird Architects, 2005

Industrial Exterior by John Hill

One trend that has marked the decade is using materials in new and unexpected ways. This facade is made from polypropylene panels that are usually used inside of trucks to keep things cool. "Up close, this skin...evidences a texture that arises from screen printing the panels with black ink. It is one of the most tactically inviting facades in this book," Hill writes.

Design by Adjaye Associates with David Hotson Architect, 2005

Contemporary Exterior by John Hill

The book also explains materials and architectural terms throughout its guided tours. For example, with this home Hill teaches us that "baguettes may be bread, but in the world of architecture, they are ceramic pipes, usually in square cross-section, in most cases integrated into larger rain screen facades."

Because of the small scale of these "baguettes," Hill says, "it's a good example of a building that is trying to be contemporary while relating to the old brick neighbors via the scale of the pipes."

Contemporary Exterior by John Hill

When you experience the building close up, you can see how the rods provide privacy while letting in the light and views. Hill calls this "a nice alternative for people who live in glass houses."

Design by Workshop/apd, 2010

Contemporary Exterior by John Hill

In this block full of traditional buildings, this one certainly stands out. "The perforated metal rain screen of the facade incorporates random openings about the size and scale of a standard brick, giving the new townhouse a relationship to its neighbors even though it appears at odds with them," Hill writes.

Contemporary Exterior by John Hill

Here's a closer look at the pattern. Hill explains that "the zigzag pattern in the perforations follows a staircase all the way up the front of the building."

Design by Peter Gluck and Partners, 2009

Contemporary Exterior by John Hill

"This building is small but substantial," Hill says. He makes note of the turned steel bands that give different peeks into the lower storage area depending on the angle. Finding these architectural gems among the skyscrapers that he also writes about is a really fun part of this guided treasure hunt.

Design by Christoff: Finio Architecture, 2006

Contemporary Exterior by John Hill

A tree continues to grow in Brooklyn. This house "is planned around the tall windows framing the maple tree that commands the space in front of the house," he writes. "It is impossible to think of the house without the tree, and it is easy to see why the architects made it a driver of the interior layout."

Design by noroof Architects, 2005

Contemporary Exterior by John Hill

This unique Brooklyn townhouse facade relates to other buildings with wood siding on the same street. "The varied size and spacing of the planks lends the house a contemporary twist that is not alienating," Hill writes.

Contemporary Exterior by John Hill

Here's a closer look at that twist Hill mentioned: Variated overlap creates unique rhythms, taking the traditional material and using it in a new way. Hill compares this rhythm to that of a washboard.

Design by Tina Manis Associates, 2005

Contemporary Exterior by John Hill

This house in the Bronx brings up another trend from the decade; the vast improvements upon the design, affordability and sustainability of the prefabricated house. "The house really stands out in its neighborhood," Hill says.

Design by Resolution: 4 Architecture, 2008

Contemporary Exterior by John Hill

Moving on to a larger scale project, this row of townhouses in Brooklyn provides a transitional part of the block that is in between low-rise homes and mid-rise buildings. "The buildings are pared down but get their character from different bricks, punched-out windows and roof terrace openings. They have an A-B-A-A rhythm down the block," Hill says.

Designed by Rogers Marvel Architects, 2006

Contemporary Exterior by John Hill

On a much larger scale, this is the largest affordable housing project in the history of New York City. The pieces of the project were prefabricated in the nearby Brooklyn Navy Yard foundry. The facades are comprised of inexpensive fiber cement cladding. "Using the cladding in bright colors gives individuality to the cookie-cutter units," Hill explains.

Design by Alexander Gorlin Architect, 2008

This has been just a small taste of what Hill's new guide has to offer, focusing on the residential. The full guide also includes much-anticipated projects in the works for the next decade.

Book info: Learn more about the book and order from the publisher here

More: Read John Hill's articles on Houzz

Next: More Book Tours
Garden Inspiration from New York City's High Line

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Comments (5)

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lizan

What an excellent guide!

Like December 16, 2011 at 8:08PM

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tadaah

Oh my What a find! Are there actual tours one can take?

Like February 15, 2014 at 2:42PM

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Becky Harris

tadaah, I believe John Hill does give walking tours from time to time. Check out his blog to find out more information: http://archidose.blogspot.com/

Like February 18, 2014 at 7:39AM

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