Here is another photo of a fire escape taken in front of an old apartment building in the East Village. The fire escape structure here is overgrown with plants, which suggests that nobody has used it in a long time. I guess that is a good thing.Notice the size of the windows on the building. You can usually tell the age of the building by the size of the windows on them. Buildings constructed before World War II (commonly known as pre-war buildings) tended to have smaller windows because they did not use steel in the overall structure. They were mostly constructed with bricks and concrete, which are very heavy. As a result, these buildings can only afford smaller openings to maintain the structures' integrity. Newer buildings now use a lot of steel, which is significantly lighter and stronger than concrete, and therefore, have larger windows.
I live in a co-op building constructed in 1928. It has small windows but really thick concrete walls, which are great for noise and temperature insulation.
So do you know when your house was built?
19 comments:
Just noticed it looks like all the windows are the same style and make.
Talking about structural integrity. The vines hang on by hooking into the grout joints. In time, ivy can bring down walls if the mortar joints are also old and weakened.
Yes, we bought our house and moved in when it was brand new in 1962.
I love your fire escape series, and this is a brilliant one. I love the shadows of the staircase on the facade.
I have just posted my weekly photos of Avignon, where I now live. Ihope you come and visit.
BTW, loved your reflections of yesterday. Not so sure about the UFC thing. Of course the combination of KFC and UFO is fun but considering how some chickens are raised in cages in dreadful conditions, UFC makes me think of an animal that has been so deformed by hormones and bad conditions that it can hardly be identified as a chicken any more. Hardly an appealing food!!!
We do not own our own home:( I can't imagine living in apartment buildings so crammed together. . .
However, I guess if you grow up in an area & know a lot of neighbors, friends etc, it must be nice a lot of the time;)
Ming, what a great photo. I just adore the pinks and the greenery. Interesting about the size of windows. There's something about Manhattan fire escapes that will forever be magical/romantic/Breakfast at T's.
Nice shot. And so pretty with the vines climbing on the fire escape. I live in brownstone probably constructed around 1899 (the one next door has a date on its façade). And although I find the vine lovely, I had to harrass my landlord so that he finally trim the one we have at the back. It nearly invaded my window and took all the light.
Imagine they were grape vines. Hmmm
People will be picking grapes in NYC!
Everything's online in Singapore. Anyone can just do a search and find out how old the property is, very very easily.
Hope nobody has to escape a fire from up there any time soon!
We live in a warm, modern brick house, but I grew up in an 1890 Victorian. Loved the architecture and all the room, but it was quite cold in winter.
Love those NY fire escapes!
My huse was built in 1909.
Sydney Daily Photo
really enjoy your photos. I look forward to my first visit to NYC next year.
Another beautiful fire escape's photo! Love your fire escape series, Ming!
My house was built in 1976.
Interesting and useful information to better understand what is seen.
So nice and typical these houses!
I guess the house where I live in Paris must be from around 1850-60. I have seen it on a photo taken from the air (a baloon) in 1860 and the area seemed to be under construction.
Nice photo with the blue, green and red.
my new place was built around 1910...the walls are like castle walls, very sturdy and almost impossible to get nails into.
I love the fire escape photos a lot...currently I am obsessed with statues, I would love to see some statue photos too.
(cough...hint, hint....cough)
1950 something and it looks like the project buildings. I want something pretty like this or a brownstone but I can't complain since I moved in with a BF....the rent can't be beat ;-)
Uhm my castl.. Ehm condo, was built around 1970
I love this picture of yours.
Even though it looks so pretty, isn't it dangerous to have the overgrowth on the fire escape like that?
Count me as one who is also enjoying the fire escape series.
I also live in a very old house. I think it was built in the 1920s.
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