Villard Houses, Renaissance Revival architectural ensemble in Midtown Manhattan, United States
Description
The Villard Houses form a U-shaped complex of six connected brownstone buildings along Madison Avenue between numbers 451 and 457. The central courtyard enclosed by these structures creates a private space within the urban blocks.
History
Railroad magnate Henry Villard commissioned the architecture firm McKim, Mead & White, completing this residential complex in 1884. The project emerged during an era when prominent business leaders turned their dwellings into works of art.
Culture
The interior spaces display works by artists like John La Farge and Augustus Saint-Gaudens, reflecting the artistic vision of the late 19th century. This decoration shows how wealthy families of that era integrated art into their homes.
Practical
The buildings are now part of the Lotte New York Palace Hotel and can be viewed from outside, though interior access varies depending on hotel operations. The Madison Avenue entrance helps with orientation in this midtown location.
Did you know?
The Gold Room preserves its original interior design with details from the time of its creation. The exterior facades were modeled after Rome's Palazzo della Cancelleria, showing how American architects brought European patterns to the New World.
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