Biographical note:

Geoffrey Lynch is a partner at the New York–based H3 Hardy Collaboration Architecture

Main description:

The Dakota. The Apthorp. The San Remo. The names of these legendary New York apartment buildings evoke images of marble-lined lobbies, uniformed doormen, and sunlit penthouses with sweeping Central Park views. Built from the 1880s through 1930s, classic prewar apartments were designed to lure townhouse dwellers reluctant to share a roof with other families. Billed as private mansions in the sky, they promised a charmed Manhattan lifestyle of elegance and luxury. Manhattan Classic takes readers on a lavishly illustrated guided tour of eighty-five of the most coveted buildings in New York. Author Geoffrey Lynch provides capsule histories—equal parts architectural and social history— of the most celebrated examples, with anecdotes about well-known residents and essential information about notable features. This gorgeous coffee table book is an indispensible resource for apartment hunters, real estate and design professionals, and anyone fascinated by the grace and glamour of prewar style.

Review quote:

"A journey through old money and classic style.. Geoffrey Lynch - an architect with a penchant for the period - has tracked down the best examples of New York's very particular breed of stately homes, with sumptuous photography and plans for the armchair snooper to peruse." - Wallpaper.com

Review quote:

"For anyone who doesn't live in a grand prewar apartment in Manhattan--but wants to--the only option is to gaze at them with a mix of awe and envy. Take heart: Geoffrey Lynch feels your pain. While looking to buy a place, this New York City architect fell in love with buildings constructed between the 1880s and the 1930s. In his new book, Manhattan Classic: New York's Finest Prewar Apartments you can drool over 84 of the best of them." - Brick Underground

Review quote:

"If you're a real estate hound, Manhattan Classic: New York's Finest Prewar Apartments (Princeton Architectural Press, $50) is either a twist of the knife or a handy resource, depending on your point of view and your bank account." - New York Times

Review quote:

"Manhattan Classic: New York's Finest Prewar Apartments by Geoffrey Lynch (Princeton Architectural Press) is a treasure trove of information and gorgeous images of apartments built from the 1880s through the 1930s.... It is also a wealth of current decorating ideas for anyone who lives in a vintage apartment or for someone who just wished they did and wants to pull off the look." - Cleveland Plain Dealer

Review quote:

"Some things never go out of style and classic New York luxury is one of 'em. With Manhattan Classic, architect Geoffrey Lynch goes inside the Dakota, the Apthorp, the San Remo and many more, providing architectural and social histories of some of the most famed addresses in the Big Apple. From marble-lined lobbies to sprawling Central Park views, the book is a must for design professionals, interior or otherwise, on a search for inspiration or anyone with an interest in style and history." --Archetypes.com

Review quote:

"The residential buildings Geoffrey Lynch has chosen for this beautifully laid-out book meet the definition of 'classic' in every way. Of enduring worth, they have stood the test of time. Here's to the architects and builders, and to the lucky New Yorkers who get to live within those gracious walls." - Charles Osgood, CBS News