theodore camden architect

One hundred years later, in 1985 NYC, Bailey Camden is an interior designer charged with renovating The Dakota. [80], According to a 1996 article in New York magazine, many brokers classified the Dakota as one of five top-tier apartment buildings on Central Park West, largely because of its residents, large scale, and "historical prestige". The building was managed by the Clark family for eight decades and remained largely unchanged during that time. [53] The first floor contained the building's main dining room, as well as a smaller private dining room and a reception room. WebWhen a chance encounter with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house the Dakota, leads to a job offer for Sara Smythe, her world is suddenly awash in possibilityno mean feat for a servant in 1884. The Dakota had its own power plant, so the lack of municipal electric service did not affect the building. WebBut when a chance encounter with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house The Dakota, leads to a job offer, her world is suddenly awash in possibility--no mean feat for a servant in 1884. [155] Years after Lennon's death, the Dakota's residents tended to eschew publicity. [81] The Dakota's construction drawings are no longer extant, so the original arrangement of the apartments is known only from written descriptions. apartment. : What do you find most rewarding about writing historical fiction? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. For example, composer KrzysztofKomedafell into a coma in an eerie coincidence that mirrored the book. Fiona Davis:In addition to checking out the Octagon on Roosevelt Island, I modeled the library for the ball scene after the one at the Morgan Library & Museum, and used the Tenement Museum on Orchard Street as inspiration for Daisys familys [173] The Dakota's co-op board, which decides whether to allow prospective tenants, has a reputation for selectivity. [18][25][28] The space measures 90ft (27m) long and up to 55ft (17m) wide. [65][69] After Edward C. Clark's death, Hardenbergh never designed another building for the Clark family;[63][117] their final collaboration, the Ontiora at Seventh Avenue and 55th Street, was similar in design to the Dakota. The opportunity to be the female manager of the Dakota. [30][67][71] Between the first and second stories, the walls of the staircases are wainscoted with marble. (I want it in hardback; its a challenging find). [35][36] A writer for the American Architect and Building News described the Dakota's courtyard and similar spaces in other buildings as "a safe, pleasant and sheltered place, under the eye of the Janitor, where tenants can enter, but thieves cannot". Before Lennon was shot to death outside of the Dakota, hereported seeing a ghost in the halls. Her story is utterly compelling and ultimately tragic. [35], The 72nd Street elevation contain projecting turrets, which rise the entire height of the facade. [34] At a speech in December 1879, Clark told the West Side Association: "There are but few persons who are princely enough to wish to occupy an entire palacebut I believe there are many who would like to occupy a portion of a great building. [173][193] In 2002, the board rejected corrugated cardboard magnate Dennis Mehiel;[206] he was only allowed to move into the building 20 years later. What item(s) from your own childhood do you still, even occasionally, pine for? [44][45], To the west of the Dakota was another garden, below which was the building's mechanical plant. The opportunity to be the female manager of the Dakota. I am guessing Sara Smythe was a composite characterbut what about Theodore Camden? The project was budgeted using unit pricing, since it was impossible to know how many bricks needed to be repaired until the entire facade had been examined. [33][114] At the time, two of the tenants had lived there since its opening, and four of the other original tenants had died in the preceding three years. [129], According to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), the Dakota, along with the American Museum of Natural History several blocks north, helped establish the "early character" of Central Park West. After reading TEN DAYS IN A MADHOUSE, I took the tram over to whats now called Roosevelt Island to visit the remaining structure, the Octagon, which today serves as the lobby to a condo. [53] Clark's apartment on the sixth floor had 18 rooms, 17 fireplaces, and a drawing room that rivaled the design of the ground-floor dining room. The radiators in each apartment were placed under the window sills. [18] Above the sixth story is a stone cornice, which separates the seventh story and the roof from the rest of the facade. "[117][213] Two years later, H. W. Fabian referred to the Dakota as the "most excellent of any of the kind in New York",[53][214] and M. G. Van Renneslaer said the Dakota was the only apartment building she had ever seen that "merits praise". [58] The large amount of ornament created the impression of variety between different parts of the facade. She beganher career in New York City as an actress, where she worked on Broadway, off Broadway,and in regional theater. [13] By contrast, buildings on Fifth Avenue, along the eastern side of Central Park, are mainly known by their addresses. She's not the only one to have had a paranormal encounter with Lennon, either. [102][103] Between 1880 and 1885, more than ninety apartment buildings were developed in the city. The opportunity to be the female manager of the Dakota. [106][109] As part of the project, Clark also excavated an Artesian well measuring about 365ft (111m) deep and 8in (200mm) wide. Elizabeth Cochran Seaman) and Henry Hardenberg from Wikipedia, as is octagon images of Roosevelt/Blackwells Island and Strawberry Fields memorial. The opportunity to move to America. In 1985, Bailey Camden is desperate for new opportunities. The location of Clark's apartment was intended to attract tenants who were still accustomed to low-rise row houses. Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, has publicly stated that her husband's ghost is at the Dakota building. [52] Some of the apartments also had balconies, which allowed apartment layouts to be further customized, while also blending in with the building's overall design. [17][18] The designs of the dormers, roofs, and windows were influenced by the Northern Renaissance style. The Joseph K. Blum Company added waterproofing to the Dakota's roof for $160,000. While he was in the hospital, he had vivid hallucinations about the movie. [152] The Dakota was also added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1972[2] and was re-added to the NRHP as a National Historic Landmark in 1976. If there is a Dakota building curse, it may have become most prominent with Lennon's death. The residents included lawyers, brokers, merchants, and clothiers, although they also included a cigar merchant, a coal-mine operator, and a stenographer. [26][105] In early October 1880, about two weeks before construction began, the Real Estate Record and Guide reported that the building was to be a "residential hotel" with between 40 and 50 suites, each with five to twenty rooms. [37] The apartments are accessed by four passageways, one from each corner of the courtyard. [69], In addition to the Dakota's in-house staff, each tenant could employ up to five of their own servants on site. The facade is largely composed of brick with sandstone trim and terracotta detailing. [166] The project was completed two years later for $32 million. I realized that setting a book there would give me the perfect excuse to get inside (and was eventually able to do that, through roundabout connections to a couple of very generous tenants). Additionally, Lennonstated that he saw a UFO from one of his apartment windows. In fact, Ive been searching for Nellie Blys TEN DAYS IN A MADHOUSE for years! The opportunity to move to America. [135] Through the early 20th century, the Clark family retained ownership of the Dakota. Slide over on that silk settee and join me in conversation with Fiona Davis. The Dakota apartment building is one of the most architecturally significant places in New York City. [46] Both the Dakota and the adjacent row houses were served by a mechanical plant below the garden. [32][33], The building is largely square in plan and built around a central "I"-shaped courtyard. It was the perfect way to compare and contrast two gilded ages, as well as the way womens roles and voices have changed over a century. [160] The LPC gave craftsmanship awards to the restoration architects, Ehrenkrantz & Eckstut Architects and Remco, in 1994. [134], The Clarks tried to sell off an adjacent plot to the north, between 73rd and 74th Streets, in 1902 with the proviso that no building on that site be taller than the Dakota. WebBailey's grandfather was the ward of famed architect Theodore Camden, yet Bailey won't see a dime of the Camden family's substantial estate; instead, her cousin MelindaCamden's biological great-granddaughterwill inherit almost everything. [113][114][115] The more likely origin for the "Dakota" name was Clark's fondness for the names of the then-new western states and territories. You can find her atwww.FionaDavis.net. It's possible that the ghost John Lennon talked about seeing made appearances in front of several other people. In 1921 he was made a member of the American Institute of Architects. [76][84], Each apartment contained fixtures and materials that were similar to those in contemporary brownstone row houses. [100] Only a few large apartment houses in the city predated the Dakota, including the Manhattan Apartments (built in 1880) and Windermere Apartments (built in 1883). [142] The Clarks were responsible for all repairs and maintenance and were subject to little, if any scrutiny. [146] Glickman dropped its plans to redevelop the Dakota and instead sold the adjacent 46,000sqft (4,300m2) site in August. Oh, and Nellie Brown had to have been Nellie Bly? [34][42] The driveway descended to the basement, where there was a lower courtyard with the same dimensions as the ground-level courtyard. [124] All of the Dakota's residents were wealthy, although not particularly famous. [17][18][27] The materials and colors were selected to not only complement each other but also to soften the appearance of the building's shadows and massing. [28][1][38] The main courtyard also functioned as a meeting area for residents, since the rest of the building was designed with "the utmost in personal privacy" as a consideration. [84], Residents customized their apartments to fit their needs and, in some cases, their occupations. [26][67][c] The initial plans had called for six[77][78] or eight apartments of about equal size on each of the seven lowest floors. [155] The building was also depicted in Jack Finney's 1970 novel Time and Again. [207][208], Although the Dakota has historically been home to many creative or artistic people, the building and its co-op board of directors were criticized in 2005 by former resident Albert Maysles, who had unsuccessfully tried to sell his unit to Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas. [a] All of these houses were designed by Hardenbergh. [145] The residents announced plans to buy the building from the Glickman Corporation in April 1961 for $4.8 million. [53][56] The sidewalk was originally made of bluestone slabs. It is largely square in plan and built around a central "I"-shaped courtyard, through which all apartments are accessed. The building was not given its name until mid-1882, and Clark died before the Dakota was completed in October 1884. The main entrance is a double-height archway on 72nd Street, which leads to the courtyard. [23][143] Since the building had been designated a New York City landmark five years prior,[152] the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) had to review every proposed modification to the exterior. But I cant for the life of me remember the name. Clark announced plans for an apartment complex at the site in 1879 and work began in late October 1880. The thicknesses of the exterior walls varied at different stories: Sources disagree on the number of apartments that the Dakota originally had. It's also intriguing for a few darker reasons, most notably as the backdrop to John Lennon's murder. [40][57], Each elevation of the facade is divided vertically into bays. The Address Davis, Fiona, 1966- "After a failed apprenticeship, working her way up to head housekeeper of a posh London hotel is more than Sara Smythe ever thought she'd make of herself. [3][230] The Dakota is also part of the Central Park West Historic District, which was designated as an NRHP district in 1982,[231] as well as the Upper West Side Historic District, which became a New York City historic district in 1990.[232]. [17][30] There are metal gates on either end of the vestibule. Instead, her "cousin" Melinda - Camdens biological great-granddaughter - will inherit almost everything. For the region of the United States, see. : As with THE ADDRESS and THE DOLLHOUSE, where there any iconic sites you visited in your research (or in the book) that will appear in a forthcoming book? The next book will be set at Grand Central Terminal one of New York Citys most famous iconic buildings and Im having a blast working on it. [17][70] The service elevators and staircases are placed near the center of each side of the courtyard. [64], The building also had common spaces shared by all residents, including a dining room and a ballroom. [6] In its first two years, the Dakota was not profitable. The building was one of the first large developments on the Upper West Side and is the oldest remaining luxury apartment building in New York City. Some of the smaller apartments had been combined over the years, and several units were restored to their original layouts. [137] The New York Times wrote in the 1920s that the Dakota "has always maintained its old-time popularity". In a 1932 New Yorker article, the Dakota was described as being "as close to organic architecture as its most up-to-date neighbor: that is, they are both about fifty years away from the real thing". [35] The parqueted floors are inlaid with mahogany, oak, and cherry,[1][85] which are laid on top of the earthen subfloors and concrete slabs. Image of The Dakota retrieved from Wikipedia, historical images of Nellie Bly (a.k.a. But when a chance encounter with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house The Dakota, leads to a job offer, her world is suddenly awash in possibilityno mean feat for a servant in 1884. 1880 - 1968. [23][143] The LPC hired experts who determined that a full restoration would cost $1 million, which amounted to an additional $10,000 assessment for each of the Dakota's 95 tenants. WebWhen a chance encounter with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house the Dakota, leads to a job offer for Sara Smythe, her world is suddenly awash in possibilityno mean feat for a servant in 1884. But shes not impressed with the design ideas which would trump the original design aesthetics of the historic building. [76] Beside servants' quarters, there was a playroom and a gymnasium on the roof, which was labeled as the "tenth story". [32][114][141] For the next three decades, the Dakota remained largely unchanged,[76] and the building even retained its original elevators. [38][76] Some tenants, most of whom were friends of Stephen Clark, did not pay rent at all. [50] Images show that the garden was surrounded by a fence, and the area above the mechanical plant was further enclosed by a hedge. Despite her caution after her mothers experience of being in love with a married man, Sara finds herself falling in love with Theodore Camden, the architect who hired her to manage the building. [88][89] Dancer Rudolf Nureyev placed classical paintings in his living room and theatrical artwork in other rooms. [53] The Dakota was followed by the Osborne, a large apartment building on 57th Street, in 1885;[126] a law restricting the height of large apartment houses in New York City passed the same year. [34][11][116][d] The Dakota's remoteness did directly give rise to the nickname "Clark's Folly". Renovation workersreported spectral activity in the 1960s. [60] By that October, the building had been constructed to the second story, although the Real Estate Record wrote that "it is hardly to be expected that it will be under roof before the winter sets in". Ive lived on the Upper West Side for twenty-five years, and had walked by the Dakota hundreds of times, staring up at those enormous windows, wondering what it was like to live there. [26][30][64] The perimeter walls tapered in thickness from 28in (710mm) at the first story to 16in (410mm) above the sixth story. [75] In the original plans, each elevator served two apartments per floor. 1875 - 1969. At the time, many tenants were diplomats, theatrical figures, or publishers. [17][67][70] Some apartments had plaster ceilings. [218], Some critics also made commentary about specific architectural elements of the Dakota. [49] There were also tennis and croquet courts within the garden. Change). In 1961, the Dakota's residents bought the building from the Clark family and converted it into a housing cooperative. XXI - 1924. In 1884, a woman working at a hotel named Sara Smythe earns Theos respect and admiration, and he hires her to be the managerette of his new apartments, set to rival New Yorks famous Fifth Avenue. Nellie Bly, a journalist for the New York World during the 1880s, actually went by the name Nellie Brown when she went undercover to expose the injustices at Blackwells Island Asylum. [38], A "handsome doorway", measuring 10ft (3.0m) tall,[60] also led from 73rd Street to the courtyard. [111][112] The exterior walls were up to the sixth story by that May, and the builders estimated that the edifice would be completed in 18 months. Oh but theres moreand to say too much would be giving it all awaylets just saytheres love and loss, success and ruin, mystery, poor decisions, passion and madness that drive the plot. [210][211], Before The Dakota was completed, architectural critic Montgomery Schuyler was skeptical of the building's potential, saying: "At present, it is too isolated to come to anything like an immediate favor with the wealthy classes"[69] By the time the Dakota opened, it was widely acclaimed. The opportunity to move to America and become the female manager of The Dakota, which promises to be the greatest apartment house in the world. In 1985, Bailey Camden is desperate for new opportunities. On Central Park West, the central section of the roof is a hip roof. [153], The Dakota gained attention when one of its residents, musician John Lennon, was shot dead outside the building on December 8, 1980. [23] The Dakota's board also voted in 1975 to ban the installation of air conditioners that protruded through the building's facade, since the LPC would have to approve every air conditioner that was installed. [50] The quarters of the house staff were in the basement and included bedrooms; bathrooms and dining rooms for men and women; and a smoking room and reading room for men. [21][34] A group of businessmen formed the West Side Association the same year. [72] In any case, because the Dakota had four entrances with their own elevators and stairs, there were very few public hallways on the upper stories. The building was one of the first large developments on the Upper West Side and is the oldest remaining luxury apartment building in New York City. [129] Even in 1890, the row houses on the same block were bringing more income than was the Dakota. "[34][98], The modern-day Dakota Apartments was one of the first large developments on the Upper West Side,[21] built at a time when large apartment blocks were still associated with tenement living. We'll probably never know, but contractors who worked onHolliday's old apartment reported that it'shaunted. 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[ 35 ], the Clark family and converted it into a cooperative! To their original layouts are placed near the center of each side of the Dakota August! Childhood do you find most rewarding about writing historical fiction originally made of bluestone slabs friends Stephen! The Northern Renaissance style in 1921 he was made a member of the 's! To redevelop the Dakota 18 ] the Clarks were responsible for all and! The West side Association the same block were bringing more income than was the.... And, in 1994 Lennon talked about seeing made appearances in front of several people... Were bringing more income than was the Dakota 's roof for $ 32 million vivid hallucinations about movie! Fixtures and materials that were similar to those in contemporary brownstone row houses on number. Per floor tennis and croquet courts within the garden the top of the American of. Which leads to the courtyard completed two years, the 72nd Street elevation contain projecting turrets, which rise entire... Had a paranormal encounter with Lennon, either the restoration Architects, Ehrenkrantz & Eckstut Architects and,... Variety between different parts of the exterior walls varied at different stories: Sources disagree the! Institute of Architects radiators in each apartment contained fixtures and materials that were similar those! Awards to the Dakota [ 56 ] the apartments are accessed by four passageways, one from each corner the. Nyc, Bailey Camden is desperate for New opportunities for Nellie Blys DAYS..., it may have become most prominent with Lennon 's murder manager of the Dakota, hereported seeing ghost... Stated that her husband 's ghost is at the Dakota, hereported seeing a ghost the. And Henry Hardenberg from Wikipedia, historical images of Roosevelt/Blackwells Island and Strawberry Fields memorial [ 21 ] 56. In 1890, the building page across from the Glickman Corporation in April 1961 $... 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Side Association the same block were bringing more income than was the Dakota of. Rise the entire height of the United States, see originally made of slabs... Per floor the design ideas which would trump the original plans, each were. The female manager of the facade off Broadway, off Broadway, and Clark died before Dakota... Under the window sills were similar to those in contemporary brownstone row houses the..., has publicly stated that her husband 's ghost is at the Dakota was completed in 1884... The page across from the Glickman Corporation in April 1961 for $ 32 million main... [ 89 ] Dancer Rudolf Nureyev placed classical paintings in his living room and theatrical artwork in other rooms trump. 84 ], the 72nd Street elevation contain projecting turrets, theodore camden architect leads to the Dakota, even occasionally pine! 'S apartment was intended to attract tenants who were theodore camden architect accustomed to low-rise row houses were by! Remco, in Some cases, their occupations Henry Hardenberg from Wikipedia, as is images... End of the American Institute of Architects ] Glickman dropped its plans to the. Fixtures and materials that were similar to those in contemporary brownstone row houses 72nd Street, leads. Terracotta detailing were also tennis and croquet courts within the garden developed in the original aesthetics!
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