In prosaic text and stunning photographs, Murphy (The American Townhouse
) and Rocheleau showcase 18 houses (and some private gardens) in New York City's fabled Greenwich Village. The book introduces the houses chronologically, from a row house built in 1827 to a modernist home built in 2005, with a discussion of their architectural styles and information about the original owners. Rocheleau's photographs show what has been preserved, renovated and, in some cases, transformed into something completely new. Among the houses that retain their original character are the John Grindley house, a well-preserved example from the Federal period; the Cornelius Oakley house and the Merchant's House Museum, which exemplify the transition from the Federal style to Greek Revival; and the Italianate Salmagundi Club. Modern renovations have transformed many of the others so drastically that they reflect more strongly the predilections of contemporary architects and interior decorators than the tastes of the original owners. This coffee-table book is visually appealing, but leaves the impression that much of Greenwich Village, once an enclave of artists and intellectuals, has been gentrified to the point of losing its bohemian charm. (June)
