3 Books for Brooklyn Architecture and History Lovers on Your Holiday List

The season of shopping and gift-giving is here, and for the architecture enthusiasts on your list, these three recently published volumes offer rich photography along with a dive into Brooklyn and New York history.

New York Art Deco: Birds, Beasts, & Blooms
Andrew Garn

The wealth of Art Deco ornament in New York City sometimes eludes the casual stroller who may not be able to see every feature. Packed with closeup views of dazzling details by photographer Andrew Garn, this new book allows an intimate look at 59 buildings in the city. Some Brooklyn buildings made the list, including the exuberant Kings Theatre, the peacocks of 80 Cranberry Street, and the fans and ferns of 580 Nostrand Avenue. The writeup on each building includes architectural info as well.

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Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing the American Landscape
Charles E. Beveridge and Paul Rocheleau, edited by David Larkin

A year of exhibits, lectures, walking tours and more in 2022 marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of landscape great Frederick Law Olmsted. Included on that list of celebratory items was an updated edition of this 1998 volume, complete with 250 new images and an additional chapter reflecting on Olmsted’s lasting impact. Prospect Park and Central Park are, of course, included along with projects across the country.

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Prospect Park South: The Heart of Victorian Flatbush
Prospect Park South Association

If you have wandered the leafy streets of Prospect Park South and craved some more details about the intriguing houses lining the streets, this volume from the Prospect Park South Association supplies info on scores of dwellings. Packed into the 143 pages are historic and contemporary photographs as well as short building histories, much of which was penned by Brownstoner columnist and preservationist Suzanne Spellen. The hardcover book, which was actually published in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic, isn’t available from local booksellers. To get your hands on a copy to gift or to keep for yourself, contact the organization, which has volumes in stock that can be picked up in the neighborhood.

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