47 Plaza Street West facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 47 Plaza Street West |
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| General information | |
| Type | Residential |
| Architectural style | Venetian Gothic |
| Location | 47-61 Plaza Street West, Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 40°40′24″N 73°58′17″W / 40.673234°N 73.971441°W |
| Completed | 1928 |
| Height | 165 feet |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 16 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Rosario Candela |
47 Plaza Street West is a cool apartment building in Brooklyn, New York City. It was designed by a famous architect named Rosario Candela and finished in 1928. This building is right next to Grand Army Plaza and has a unique "flatiron" shape, like an old clothes iron!
Building History
Early Days of Plaza Street
In the 1920s, Plaza Street in Park Slope was known for its huge, fancy houses. People called this area the "Gold Coast" because it was so grand. But things started to change in 1925.
Brooklyn was growing fast, and people wanted more apartments. The first tall apartment building on Plaza Street was built that year. It showed that the area was becoming popular for apartment living.
A New Vision for Brooklyn
Real estate ads at the time called Plaza Street "the Park Avenue District of Brooklyn." This meant they thought it was as fancy and important as Park Avenue in Manhattan.
In 1926, a builder named Jacob Mark hired Rosario Candela. Candela was becoming a very famous architect. He was known for designing luxury apartments in Manhattan.
Candela's Brooklyn Buildings
Jacob Mark asked Candela to design an apartment building at 39 Plaza Street. This building became known as the Berkeley Plaza Apartments.
Then, in 1927, Mark hired Candela again. This time, it was for the unique flatiron-shaped building at 47 Plaza Street West. This new building replaced a large house that belonged to a shipbuilding leader, Edward P. Morse.
When 47 Plaza Street West was finished in 1928, Mr. Morse and his family actually rented three apartments there!
A Protected Landmark
Today, 47 Plaza Street West is part of the Park Slope Historic District. This means it's a special place that is protected because of its history and design.
It was named a historic district in 1973. Later, in 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Building Design
Clever Use of Space
Rosario Candela was famous for his smart ways of designing apartments. He was like a puzzle master, making the most of every space.
Even though 47 Plaza Street wasn't his fanciest building, his design here is very interesting. He used the building's unusual shape to create clever room layouts.
Apartment Layouts
Each floor of 47 Plaza Street has three large apartments. There's usually one "Classic 7" apartment, which is the biggest and sits at the pointed end of the building.
There are also two "Classic 6" apartments on each floor. These names refer to the number of main rooms in the apartment.
Hidden Puzzles
Candela loved puzzles, and he left some secret clues at 47 Plaza Street! For example, the front of the building on Plaza Street curves inward. But the very tip of the building forms a 47-degree angle.
Also, if you count all the apartments, including those for doctors and the building manager, there are exactly 47 units!
Unique Features
Candela also added some fun, theatrical touches. The elevator that goes to the biggest apartment, the penthouse, has a special secret. A panel in the wooden wall of the elevator flips open to show the penthouse's front door! Other apartments use a regular elevator door.
Exterior Style
The outside of 47 Plaza Street is very striking. It's built in an Italian-inspired Venetian Gothic style.
Some people think Candela might have been inspired by the Montauk Club. This is another famous building in Park Slope, just two blocks away. However, there's no written proof of this.
The "Wafer" Illusion
The building's pointed end, where Plaza Street and Union Street meet, is designed at a right angle. If you look at it from just the right spot, the building can look incredibly thin. It can seem like a "wafer" that's only about six feet wide!
Why This Building Is Important
Candela's Brooklyn Legacy
Rosario Candela designed only two apartment buildings in Brooklyn before World War II. Both were for the same builder, Jacob Mark, and both are on the same block of Plaza Street. These are 39 Plaza Street and 47 Plaza Street.
An Unofficial Landmark
47 Plaza Street is in a very important spot. It's right at the edge of Grand Army Plaza, which is a huge, grand public space in Brooklyn.
Because of its prominent location and unique design, 47 Plaza Street is often seen as an unofficial landmark of this famous area.
