Building of the Day: 542 Carlton Avenue
The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy. Address: 542 Carlton Avenue, between Dean and Bergen Streets Name: Row houses Neighborhood: Prospect Heights Year Built: 1889 Architectural…
The BOTD is a no-frills look at interesting structures of all types and from all neighborhoods. There will be old, new, important, forgotten, public, private, good and bad. Whatever strikes our fancy. We hope you enjoy.
Address: 542 Carlton Avenue, between Dean and Bergen Streets
Name: Row houses
Neighborhood: Prospect Heights
Year Built: 1889
Architectural Style: Renaissance Revival
Architects: John H. Crown
Landmarked: Yes
Why chosen: By 1889, when this row from 540-546 Carlton was built, the Renaissance Revival style of architecture was beginning to gain ground. Less rusticated, eclectic, and individual than the previous Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival styles, early RR buildings often were constructed in familiar brownstone, and not so much the white limestone that would characterize the style after the Columbian Exhibition of 1893. We know nothing about architect John Crown, but this unique group represents a return to cleaner, more ordered lines with Classical detailing in the carved brownstone ornamentation. Of special note in the LPC designation report is the fine Vetruvian scroll molding. That’s the wave patterned design which runs in a band across the width of the building, above the parlor floor windows. All of the houses in the group are remarkably intact, with their original doors, the unique door hoods above them, and box stoops. But the architectural highlight of these houses is the unusual top floor half-round dormers which project from the pressed metal Mediterranean-style roof tiles. This is quite unusual and very distinctive. The dormers have louvers to allow the passage of air and light, presumably, and are decorated with scrolls that meet at the crown. Is there attic space behind here, or rooms towards the back? Anyone know? This may have been John Crown’s one shot here in Brooklyn, although more may appear as landmarking spreads, but he managed to make quite an impression on this stretch of Carlton Ave, already filled with fine architecture.
This is the dormer from the house next door.
That’s a very interesting point about the front door, Pete. When did double doors cease? Right at the turn of the century? I never thought about it before, but it’s such a distinctive change.
I’ve always like these, seems quite manageable as a single or with one tennant. Plus the bays are regal.
these are very pretty. I think this style looks better in a light color material though. Nothing to renaissance-y about brownstone.
One thing that I’m struck by in Brooklyn houses like these is how modest the front doors are. Such a fancy bow-fronted house and a little plain-Jane door no wider than the bedroom window above it.
I think a really interesting row of houses.
What stands out to me is the quite simple rather narrow doorway. Whereas so many brownstoner have double doors and much more elaborate.
Very interesting. Montrose, I see you’re becoming a connoisseur of Mediterranean roof tiles in Brooklyn row houses.
I saw a crazy example on Thomas Boyland/Hopkinson and Chauncey the other day. I’ll send you a picture some day. I think it might have been an Egyptian-style apartment building, I forget.