For the first year or two after I moved to New York, I became one of those people who smugly criticized tourists for “looking up.” “Looking up” to ogle buildings as you walked down the street (causing you to inevitably bump into real New Yorkers like me with places to go) was about the greatest sin you could commit (well, after pronouncing Houston Street “Hue-ston,” of course).
I’ve really tried to mellow out as I move into my tenth year in the city, and I now make it a point to look up. Hell, if you don’t look up, you could miss something absolutely extraordinary like this:
Don’t see it? A little closer…
See it there? Perched on top of the corner brick building? I was standing this morning at the corner of East 1st Street and 1st Avenue paying for my parking meter when I looked up and saw this.
OK, seriously – did a tornado rip through Cape Cod and drop an ocean-side house onto an East Village apartment building? Christ, who the hell lives here?? Note not only the rounded front with two levels of windows, but also the octagonal window on the right, the fantastic tower, and the horse weathervane. No kidding, a horse weathervane.
Here’s a slightly different view:
I have never seen anything like this before, and maybe one of these days, I’ll have an excuse to scout it for a film. I would love to know if this is large enough for someone to live in, or is merely an extension of an apartment. If anyone has any info, please comment and I’ll update the post.
Anyway, the real simple moral of the story: stop worrying about the tourists who are looking up and try it yourself. You might even find yourself at the nexus of the universe…
-SCOUT
That’s so weirdly cool! I’d like to think it’s big enough for one apartment, but it’s hard to tell from the ground, right?
nice find — i’ve walked by here for 3 years and while i feel like i was vaguely aware of the height/structure of that corner (with Boca Chica there in the bottom), i never took notice of exactly what it was.
Wow, that is one of the most awesome finds I think you’ve posted. Mostly because I was sitting there last week waiting for a friend and while people/building watching, I missed it myself. Yes, that’s jealousy rearing it’s ugly head. Love the site, been following it sicne the navy yard post. And in a bit of irony, I am the guy in the big puffy coat walking towards North Moore Street in your shot of the snowy firehouse.
how about the house on top of the kiel’s building? 3rd and 13th, i think. i have no idea who lives there, but it looks like an amazing space.
i think ive actually seen many of these- especially in the tribeca area, on top of some of the older buildings there are these completely achronistic tiny buildings seemingly cut and pasted ontop of them. some of them look like this one- cute prim little shacks; some of them are modern boxy glass contraptions- its always been amusing to me. something to do with trying to expand or develop the valueable limited real estate without tearing down the historic buildings?
if youd like i wouldnt mind figuring out where exactly these sightings are
[...] Beach house atop 1st street and 1st ave. (via scouting [...]
Ooooooh, what a groovy space for an office or a bedroom. Maybe a better bedroom as I would be distracted looking out at the city all day…
Compare to the house on top of the Kiehl’s building, at 3rd Ave and 13th St.
Hi Karen -
I have the Kiehl’s building on list of to-visit sites, and will definitely check it out next time I’m in the area!
-SCOUT
The nexus of the universe. I always wondered where it was!
I actually found out about this neat little house via one of those double-decker tour bus tours (I was with an out-of-towner, I swear!). Our tour guide pointed it out to us, and mentioned that it was a mini-beach house that the owner had put up there, complete with a yard full of sand and beach chairs. I forget the owner’s reasoning for doing that, but from my understanding it was built as a separate residence apart from the building it is atop. For all I know the tour guide was making the story up, but that’s how I heard it.
I always love pointing it out to pals when we’re eating/drinking in the area…I’d definitely love to learn more about it!
Love Your Kramer Quote!
Keep On Looking Up!
[...] posting about the Beach House on an East Village apartment roof, one of our readers, Karen, commented that it reminded her of the rooftop house on 13th and 3rd, [...]
[...] top level, but this only occupies one corner as if it were a real temple. I was amazed by the houses on top of apartment buildings, but a temple really takes it to a new [...]
all it needs is the sand and water, although the traffic sounds can replicate the crashing waves
[...] steps of a brownstone and got the best view I could. Is this another of the mysterious Manhattan rooftop [...]
I know the man who lives there – ages ago I worked for him when we both lived on Long Island. I am not including his name in order to preserve his privacy. But I will tell you that he purchased the entire townhouse as a burned-out shell and built it up from just a framework. That wooden structure on the roof is actually tiny guest quarters. The tour guide was probably just inventing that story – there is no sand nor beach chairs inside. It does somewhat resemble a snug little berth on a ship. It sits on top of the rest of the townhouse and is accessible from stairs inside. Although it looks separate from the rest of the townhouse, it’s more like an additional floor. I am also envious of these little gems I encounter in Manhattan, however, I do want to point out that the building was literally just a burnt framework and the owner constructed the entire thing, so in this case I think he’s well deserving of it!
It makes me think someone wanted an escape from the City up on the roof and on that note:
Up on the roof by the Drifters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfUpb3knV00