The Landmarks Preservation Commission held a hearing this afternoon on the revised and downsized plans to enlarge the low-rise building at 980 Madison Avenue opposite the Hotel Carlyle.

In October, 2006, the commission did not vote on the initial, larger proposal by Aby Rosen and designed by Sir Norman Foster for the site that is between 76th and 77th Streets.

The new plan calls for a major restoration of the existing 5-story building to its original 1950 design when it was built for the Parke-Bernet auction house and it approximately doubles its mass. The original design called for adding a 22-story, reflective-glass tower with 18 residential condominium apartments at the north end of its roof that would have been turned into a very large sculpture garden.

The revised design calls for retaining several lower floors of the limestone-clad existing building for retail use and art gallery space and creating 23 residential condominium apartments in the addition that will be mostly clad horizontally in bronze louvers, about three inches apart.

An unusual aspect of the louvers, which might be champagne or in color, is that part of them open, like shutters, and can also be "folded" together like an accordion to create a large opening.

After a detail presentation by the developer and his team, Pablo E. Vengoechea, vice-chairman of the commission, took public testimony from various civic groups and individuals including Tom Wolfe, the writer, who was not wearing a white suit. Because of the lateness of the meeting, the commissioners did not comment or vote on the application and Mr. Vengoechea said that another meeting will be scheduled "shortly."

The new plan conforms with existing and building regulations but needs a certificate of appropriateness from the commission because it falls within an historic district.

Many of the speakers indicated they were impressed with many aspects of the plan although they had some reservations.

A statement from the Historic Districts Council, said that "If this were a new building proposed for a vacant lot, it could be very acceptable," adding that "If it were an addition to a non-landmarked building, it would be an exciting project." The statement said that many of its members believe that "an addition should be subservient to the original, historic structure," adding that "Knowing that zoning prohibits a set back of this addition, we would recommend taking it down a floor or do" as "Doing to would decrease what some felt was a heavy design suffocating the Parke-Bernet Building."

The council also commented on the proposed openable louvers "should fold inward" rather than "tilt out a number of feet from the facade" as proposed.

A statement from Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts said that the new proposal is "a vast improvement" and "we appreciate that the proposed bulk is less than would be permitted under existing zoning."

Although, the statement continued, the organization consistently argues for "the smallest rooftop additions on row houses to be minimally visible," "the prevailing sentiment was that with some refinement, this is an opportunity for the Upper East Side to have a world-class building of the 21st Century along with the restoration of the mid-century Parke-Bernet Galleries."

A statement from the Municipal Art Society said that "The proposed addition is a counterpoint to the historic building, and is essentially a 'building placed upon a building.' Yet in terms of scale and massing, it is in equilibrium with the Parke-Bernet Building and lets the historic building 'breathe.'"

Mr. Wolfe urged the architect to "come up with something more in keeping with Upper East Side."

Elizabeth Ashby, president of the Historic Neighborhood Alliance Inc., said that the plan "looks like something that the Martians brought with them when they landed on Madison Avenue, having made a stop in Venice for the cladding."