780 West End Avenue was ahead of its time, New York apartment house architecture that emphasized its height by omitting the horizontal banding common among “classical” buildings. Also, the perforated cornice seems to add a 14th floor.
The building is also notable for its mix of granite, white brick, and terra cotta, and for the curved balconies at the second, third, 12th, and 13th floors.
The architects, George & Edward Blum, were prolific designers. They have more than 120 apartment houses to their credit, plus many office and loft buildings; many of their structures are New York City landmarks.
780 West End Avenue Vital Statistics
- Location: 780 West End Avenue at W 98th Street
- Year completed: 1914
- Architect: George & Edward Blum
- Floors: 13
- Style: Art Nouveau
780 West End Avenue Recommended Reading
- The New York Times STREETSCAPES: 780 West End Avenue; Making a Tall Building Taller (May 14, 1989)
- City Realty review
- Dolkart Report – Proposal for Historic District
- Emporis database
- The New York Times Streetscapes | George and Edward Blum | Crowning Achievements for Two Brother-Architects (March 2, 2008)
- Columbia University: The Architecture and Development of New York City – Key Figures