It’s funny how the desirability of having an upper east side address caused developers to build hundreds of ugly condo buildings there.
Now the area is kinda ruined and everyone wants to move to the beautiful “old world” parts of the city again like the Flatiron District.
The UES was the most desirable NYC neighborhood in the postwar era concurrent with an era of (what is now considered) banal design. So it isn’t that anything specifically “caused developers to build ugly buildings”, it’s just that much of NYC at the time was very undesirable so had no market rate construction.
Also, the UES is hardly “ruined”. It’s still probably the most desirable urban neighborhood on the planet. Places like the Flatiron district barely have any wealth compared to UES. Those areas came back into vogue as prosperity flowed from established areas like UES/UWS, back downtown, and into Brooklyn.
Prices are very high in Flatiron because the limited housing is almost entirely luxury lofts in landmarked structures. In contrast, established neighborhoods uptown have housing of all types, so a greater range of prices. But apples to apples they aren’t cheaper.
The exterior could have turned out better if they found a way to clad the arches in brick. The drab concrete grey color of the brick is not helping either…
Well, I like it 
The interior here is simple and elegant: minimal baseboard trim, no crown moulding or cove treatment at ceiling/wall perimeter, large ‘punch’ windows, and very high ceilings. My guess is the ceiling is the concrete slab with a skim coated plaster finish.
The is a really nice interior: good room scale/proportions; large windows, but not full height/width of room; simple and elegant all around.
People who buy these units are more interested in the condo ‘apartments’ than the condo ‘architecture’ - but this project delivers well in both departments.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBO0oWBg6ig/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVFAygJZXl/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCTmkshDyII/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCnyTumAPkE/
Boy do I hate this one. 
It is a bit odd looking would admit: sort of Church like - but nothing HATE here.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCb4JuRJiCL/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDuXWkplakv/
From 8.22.20:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFKjxctBres/
https://www.instagram.com/p/CFR4g03g2OY/
Seems to be working?
