Tuesday, October 23, 2012

The James E. Nichols Residence

The James E. Nichols residence designed by C.P.H. Gilbert c. 1900 at 4 East 79th Street in New York City.  Nichols was the head of Austin, Nichols & Company, importers of spirits.  The Nichols residence was later owned by Joseph Wright Harriman, owner of 'Avondale Farms' in Brookville on Long Island and subsequently by Ogden Phipps from 1938-1946.  The house later underwent extensive alterations and after a short lived conversion has returned to use as a private residence.  Click HERE for more on the Nichols residence and HERE to see house on google street view.  Photo from Architectural Record, 1902.
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6 comments:

  1. AnonymousOctober 23, 2012 at 2:37 PM

    Do we (you) know at what point the bow front was taken off? I would be interested in seeing a before and after floorplan. Moving the entrance hall wouldn't be a small undertaking on a house of this caliber.

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  2. The Devoted ClassicistOctober 23, 2012 at 3:55 PM

    Is the architect for the renovation known? The later enlarging of the Mansard roof was not very sensitive, but the centering of the entrance and removing the front bow produced a less eclectic, and in my opinion, better house.

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  3. archibuffOctober 23, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    Like the classical facade renovations but the boxy and overscaled mansard is indeed unfortunate. The house is lucky to be on one of the most beautifully intact blocks of townhouses on the upper East Side. Stretching from Fifth Ave to Madison, between 78th and 79th Streets, there is quite a collection of architectural styles and designs. The Fifth Ave frontage anchored by the spectacular Isaac Fletcher mansion at 79th (also by CPH) and the Duke mansion at the 78th, is particularly wonderful.

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  4. The Down East DilettanteOctober 24, 2012 at 9:14 AM

    Much calmer and more organized facade after renovations, but WHAT is going on with that roof?

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  5. AnonymousOctober 26, 2012 at 11:17 PM

    this is a beautiful new york city block. obhs

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  6. chauncy primmOctober 29, 2012 at 9:24 AM

    a few mansions on this block took a "hit" during renovations. At first glance, I'm overwhelmed the bloated Beaux Arts Rococo mix here and then reminded of its classical more restrained exterior today, but honestly, I would have loved to have seen this . Unfortunately, a murder did happen here. The butler killed the old lady of the house. Im a huge CPH Gilbert fan anyway so I do like it

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