When discussing prewar New York apartment buildings, architect Emery Roth's name inevitably comes up as a symbol of elegance and prestige. While he's best known for iconic Central Park West buildings like the Beresford, San Remo, and El Dorado, Roth's architectural influence extended far beyond the Upper West Side to encompass downtown neighborhoods throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx.
Architectural historian Andrew Alpern has documented the full scope of Roth's remarkable career in his latest book, "Emery Roth's New York Apartment Buildings." The comprehensive study reveals that from 1899 until his death in 1948, Roth designed an astounding 175 apartment buildings across New York City, including modest downtown projects like 299 West 12th Street. This Greenwich Village building, once considered unremarkable, gained attention when Andy Cohen purchased one of its penthouses for just over $18 million in 2022.
Alpern, author of ten other books on prewar apartments and New York City buildings, decided to update Steven Ruttenbaum's 40-year-old book on Emery Roth after participating in a talk for the architect's 150th birthday. His research uncovered numerous buildings that Ruttenbaum had overlooked, including projects in upper Manhattan, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. Of the 175 apartment buildings Roth designed, seven have been demolished and 29 were never built, with most of the unbuilt projects falling victim to the 1929 stock market crash.
Unlike today's celebrity architects, Roth was primarily a practical businessman focused on serving his clients—real estate developers—rather than pursuing revolutionary aesthetic visions. His approach was pragmatic and client-centered, aiming to create profitable projects that would appeal to diverse market segments. This philosophy made him incredibly prolific and successful throughout his five-decade career.
The differences between Roth's uptown and downtown buildings reflected their respective markets and contexts. Central Park West projects like the San Remo and El Dorado targeted upper-middle-class tenants with cutting-edge Art Deco designs and spacious layouts. Interestingly, Roth's initial classical design for the El Dorado was rejected by clients, who brought in the firm of Margon & Holder for the Art Deco facade while Roth handled the apartment planning. Even these prestigious buildings featured apartments of eight or nine rooms on average, with the San Remo's originally planned full-floor duplexes being reconfigured as large ten-room simplexes due to Depression-era market conditions.
In Greenwich Village, Roth adapted his designs to complement the neighborhood's eclectic architectural character. Buildings like 59 West 12th Street and 299 West 12th Street on Abingdon Square showcase distinctive detailing that reflects their local context. The 299 West 12th Street building particularly stands out with unique architectural elements rarely seen in Roth's other projects, demonstrating his ability to respond to specific neighborhood characteristics.
Roth's greatest strength lay in his exceptional apartment layout skills, comparable to renowned architects like Candela and Carpenter. He masterfully organized floor plans around entrance foyers that served as central hubs, with public spaces flowing in one direction, private bedrooms in another, and service areas strategically placed to serve both efficiently. His attention to practical details—door placements, closet positioning, bathroom locations, and furniture arrangement—showed deep consideration for the ultimate users: the tenants.
Beyond layout expertise, Roth possessed remarkable versatility in architectural styles. During client meetings, he could quickly sketch complete building facades in different aesthetic styles on separate pieces of paper, demonstrating various design options with impressive detail and speed. This flexibility, combined with his ability to manage budgets and timelines efficiently, made him highly responsive to client needs and market demands.
Roth's business-focused approach and comprehensive service model continued after his death through his sons and later his grandson, who carried on the practice as Emery Roth & Sons. While the firm shifted focus to office buildings, they maintained the same high level of client service that had made the original practice so successful. This legacy of practical excellence and adaptability established the Roth name as a lasting symbol of quality in New York real estate, with his buildings becoming increasingly desirable over the decades since their construction.
