Sunday, June 20, 2010

Guest blogger George Christodoulou's mini NYC architectural tour

My pal George Christodoulou from onetravel.com makes sure we don't miss a beat with his three must see buildings in NYC...

New York is a very large city that dates back the birth of the nation. Today New York remains one of the most advanced cities, always on the search for new and exciting trends and styles. On the other hand, there are many structure that date back a century or more that many tourist and natives pass without realizing the history they could experience. It is the juxtaposition of historical architecture with the trend setting culture of the city that makes it a wonderful place to explore.



The first well known piece of architecture to note is the Federal Hall national memorial. It was built in order to replace the old city hall standing in the same place for about 50 years. The structure you see now replaced it. The old building was where George Washington took the oath of office and where New York conducted its functions as the first Capital of the nation. Once razed, it was replaced with the new Federal Hall and it served treasury functions and as a memorial and museum. The architecture used was Greek revival, which was popular in the early to mid 19th century. This style was a symbol of true Greek democracy and helped offer homage to the values being adopted from the Ancient Greek and Roman traditions. Most characteristically noted about Greek revival are the columns and intricate trim adornments.



Next on our tour, we pass by Roosevelt's childhood home. Roosevelt was born in 1858 and lived in this house until he was fourteen. The home was then rebuilt in 1919, but as a replica that used the same style with modern day materials so it would last as a reminder that the area was a thriving residential area until the rich moved uptown and it became a commercial zone. The Georgian style of the house is evident with the uniform structure and use of symmetrical ornamentation and window placement.



I could go on forever describing the architecture of the city, but instead, I will leave off with an example of modern day architecture. A great new wonder of New York, the new Bank of America Tower, is a great wonder of modern architecture. Topping out at 54 stories, this building was designed using modern day style. Basically, this style is very complex and uses many different architectural theories, engineering capabilities, modern artistic design, as well as historical designs. As you can see in this building, you can see the use of curves and a spiral shape.

The change of architecture through time in New York is amazing. Taking a trip solely to view the different buildings and styles can be an enjoyable experience in itself. Through hundreds of years of development and change, the mixed bag of style continues to change while maintaining the essence of the past. If you would like to visit New York to learn more, use onetravel.com for Cheap Flights

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