What do you think?
Rate this book
Bricks & Brownstone: The New York Row House
The much-awaited reissue and reexpression of the classic New York row-house book Bricks and Brownstone, with all-new and updated text, new color photography, and luxury slipcase.
The classic book Bricks & Brownstone, the first and still the only volume to examine in depth the changing form and varied architectural styles of the much-loved New York City row house, or brownstone, was first published in 1972. That edition helped pave the way for a brownstone revival that has transformed New York's historic neighborhoods over the past half-century. Rizzoli published a revised and expanded edition of the book in 2003, to much fanfare. This edition revisits the classic comprehensively, with an updated text and additional chapters, and an abundance of specially commissioned color photography. It offers to an eager audience the long-awaited re-issue of the landmark volume in a brilliant new form.
Boasting more than 250 color and black-and-white images, this definitive volume traces New York's row houses from colonial days through World War I, examining in detail the Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, and Second Empire architectural styles of the early and mid-nineteenth century, as well as the Neo-Grec, Queen Anne, Romanesque, Renaissance Revival, and Colonial Revival styles of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The new Bricks & Brownstone remains the gold standard reference on brownstone architecture and interiors, and one of the few truly classic histories of New York's urbanism and real estate development.
The classic book Bricks & Brownstone, the first and still the only volume to examine in depth the changing form and varied architectural styles of the much-loved New York City row house, or brownstone, was first published in 1972. That edition helped pave the way for a brownstone revival that has transformed New York's historic neighborhoods over the past half-century. Rizzoli published a revised and expanded edition of the book in 2003, to much fanfare. This edition revisits the classic comprehensively, with an updated text and additional chapters, and an abundance of specially commissioned color photography. It offers to an eager audience the long-awaited re-issue of the landmark volume in a brilliant new form.
Boasting more than 250 color and black-and-white images, this definitive volume traces New York's row houses from colonial days through World War I, examining in detail the Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate, and Second Empire architectural styles of the early and mid-nineteenth century, as well as the Neo-Grec, Queen Anne, Romanesque, Renaissance Revival, and Colonial Revival styles of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The new Bricks & Brownstone remains the gold standard reference on brownstone architecture and interiors, and one of the few truly classic histories of New York's urbanism and real estate development.
- GenresArchitectureNew YorkArt
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
7 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Charles Lockwood
22 books3 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Charles Lockwood was an American writer and consultant on green business strategies.
Charles Lockwood was an American writer and consultant on green business strategies.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 20, 2015
Fascinating history covering the evolution of the brownstone and the migration of the people who could afford them, beginning in Lower Manhattan and progressing up 5th Ave., eventually to the Upper West Side and beyond.
Sad that so many incredible mansions have been torn down, many were converted to lower income housing or put to commercial use after being abandoned by their ultra-rich tenants. Also I learned Brooklyn had its fair share of elaborate mansions and still retains several due to less of a mania for rebuilding and re-purposing than the city. the book tends to drag a little about 3/4 of the way through due to some redundancy. If you are interested in the growth of NYC and architecture in general, this book is worth a read.
Sad that so many incredible mansions have been torn down, many were converted to lower income housing or put to commercial use after being abandoned by their ultra-rich tenants. Also I learned Brooklyn had its fair share of elaborate mansions and still retains several due to less of a mania for rebuilding and re-purposing than the city. the book tends to drag a little about 3/4 of the way through due to some redundancy. If you are interested in the growth of NYC and architecture in general, this book is worth a read.
August 12, 2011
I couldn't get enough of this book. . . too bad I only borrowed it from the library! I'll have to keep my eyes open for a used copy somewhere. If you are interested in architecture and New York City history, this is your book.
May 19, 2022
This is an outstanding overview of the history of New York City, as seen by the architectural trends of the row house. I have the fortune of living in a historic district featured throughout this book, and during the onset of the pandemic became interested in learning more about the beautiful and varied facades I would see on my twice-daily dog walks. Enter Lockwood's brownstone bible. Through incredible (and often historic) photography, floorplans and narrative, I learned about the different styles, culture (Dutch, English, colonial, Italian, etc.), influence, and history of neighborhoods of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Lockwood goes into how events of the day, such as the Civil War or subsequent financial panics, influenced development in the city. I have learned to spot when a mansard roof was added or a stoop removed, to keep up with the Joneses (or Whitneys, Astors, Lefferts) of the day. The photos of interiors are just a bonus. Highly recommend for anyone interested in NYC row house architecture. I imagine there is no better book on the subject.
I'll end with an apparently controversial quote from a NYC newspaper at the turn of the 20th century, "like a black silk, Connecticut brownstone never goes out of style."
I'll end with an apparently controversial quote from a NYC newspaper at the turn of the 20th century, "like a black silk, Connecticut brownstone never goes out of style."
January 27, 2015
After finishing Charles Lockwood's Bricks & Brownstones: The New York Row House, 1783-1929: A Guide to Architectural Style and Interior Decoration for Period Restoration (New York: Abbeville Press, 1972) I picked up some of his other books on architecture. Lockwood's writing on architecture is engaging and enjoyable. His writing invites readers to tag along, indeed while reading I had my handy Streetwise Manhattan in my hand, in order to follow him in his explorations through the city for the development of styles in residential buildings. I am now reading his Manhattan Moves Uptown: An Illustrated History (New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1976) and find myself enjoying it just as much as his writing on New York brownstones. Lockwood's love of his subject, the development of New York City and its unique American architecture infuses all his text. Indeed while reading the book, one feels him beside the reader inviting one to become intoxicated with his love of all-things New York. It is a joy to find an author who is able to transmit his own passions through his writing and texts.
October 13, 2021
interesting but a little lopsided. focuses almost exclusively on lower manhattan
April 1, 2024
Lots of pictures and learned enough to be able to ask "is that house Italianate or Neo-Grec?" so can't complain!
November 10, 2011
Abbeville Hardcover
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews