New York 2000: Architecture and Urbanism Between the Bicentennial and the Millennium

This mammoth 1500-page chronicle covers an astonishing number of issues pertaining to New York's architectural and urban development between 1975 and 2004. By its sheer size and range, some may say it truly reflects the City's unabashed mentality! Topics are organized geographically and cover the five boroughs, though understandably the focus is placed essentially on Manhattan. In fact, many districts, such as Battery Park City, «MoMAland» or Times Square, are covered in such detail that the material could easily constitute a distinct publication. The authors' sources are numerous and draw notably on contemporary newspaper coverage, profuse quotations being provided. No specific methodology is mentioned however and the criteria leading to the choice of buildings included are not specified: size, cost, architectural value, media coverage? One of the co-authors was himself an important player on the New York development scene over the period covered. This situation is seamlessly dealt with, and his buildings are, at least to the eyes of a foreign reader, discussed as objectively as those of any other architect. Though this book is meant to be read, or at least referred to, and is in no way strictly destined for the coffee table, photographs are abundant, pertinent and sometimes even artistic. Surprisingly though, no map locating the buildings or even the areas discussed is provided, the authors assuming presumably readers to have an intimate knowledge of the City. The book is exceptionally well written and its prose per se provides very easy reading. Materially, it is however extremely heavy and cannot be read without resorting to a tabletop. Is this an omen for any possible future instalment _ New York 2020(?) _that may not be printed on paper at all but only accessible electronically? In the meantime, New York 2000 is very highly recommended to anyone with a passion for New York City or indeed for architecture and city planning in general. Non New Yorkers may find special comfort and pleasure in drawing similarities between situations they experience directly and those reported for that great Metropolis.

I'm an architectural photographer working on a body of art work of NYC. I shoot sectional views and then paint them. I needed to have a reference book because I wanted to give the original architect credit for his work, that inspired(s) me. This book gives me that and more, date of the building creation, location to be exact. Now I need to get the previous book NY1960 and the previous one to that!!! Terrific book Mr. Stern!

NewYork as I know and love it.This is an exceptional book,it explains why the city is like it is.Every outstanding architecture is well described and it is readable by everyone.

At 1300 pages this is quite comprehensive and exhaustively researched. NYC has had a real resurgence in skyscraper building in the last ten years or so and many good buildings have been built..like the Time Warner Bldg. the Bloomberg Tower, and the New York Times building..and so far it looks like the world trade center site is going to have some specacular buildings, frankly im still not sure about the Freedom Tower(please find a new name, lord)design but it's so much better than that untenable Libeskind designed, frankly I love the Norman Foster design but whatever, but I digress...as for this book it's fantastic and if you love NYC you will have to have this in you collection, really a complete, thorough book on current architecture in NYC, buy this book you wont be disappointed.