Building of the Day: 364 Stuyvesant 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: 364 Stuyvesant Avenue, between Decatur and MacDonough Streets
Name: Apartment Building
Neighborhood: Stuyvesant Heights (Stuyvesant Hts Historic District)
Year Built: 1893
Architectural Style: Renaissance Revival
Architects: Henry B. Hill
Landmarked: Yes

Why chosen: They probably should have renamed Stuyvesant Heights Hill Heights because the father and son team of Amzi and Henry Hill appear to have designed most of the neighborhood. Here is another one of Hill apartment buildings, many of which dot the side streets and avenues of Bedford Stuyvesant. On first glace, nothing big deal, nice enough, but now take a closer look at the details. This is a little gem of a building. The gold brick is accented by bands of limestone that run across it, as well as on the lintels, breaking up what could be a solid wall of brick. The decorative brickwork on the bay chimney is balanced by the same design on the flat chimney wall on the opposite side of the building. This decorative brickwork is a signature of both Amzi and Henry, and in this case, is quite ornate and beautiful, a combination of sizes and shapes. The entrance to the building and the bay are balanced by having the storefront draw the eye to the right, highlighting the large glass bays and one of the finest storefront entrances in the area. To break up the angles and lines, he tosses in a couple of arches and some decorative curved ornamental detail. To top it off, the checkerboard waffle pattern, also a Henry Hill signature, in the cornice, is a different take on the usual Renaissance Revival cornice, and helps to solidify the play of rectangles, both horizontal and vertical, which dance across the building. For a modest middleclass flats building – a superior design. Today’s architects, take notes!