The Belgravia, 124 East 79th Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 124 East 79th Street by Carter Horsley

One of the first of a new breed of context-sensitive, medium-size, mid-block "luxury" residential buildings that began to flourish on the Upper East Side in the 1980's, this attractive, red-brick apartment house was erected as a condominium in 1985.

The 20-story building, which was designed by Gruzen & Partners, has 66 apartments.

While the Belgravia is slightly taller than its neighbors, it defers to them by not breaking the street's building line, as some earlier buildings have done set back in plazas, and by recessing the tower's east and west wings above a low-rise setback. There are several setbacks and the center portion of the façade has angled comer bay windows that create more interesting views for the residents as well as give the building a more dramatic form. Although the building's façades are quite plain, the setbacks have small protrusions at their tops, or mini-cornices, that are nice accents. The overall massing is strong, but simple, and quite effective, although the flat top is uninspired. The lack of major Post-Modem design flourishes, such as were employed in some similar buildings of the period, is not missed, although some minor touches would be welcome.

The building, which has an excellent, central Upper East Side location, is convenient to many restaurants and neighborhood stores and is not far from many important cultural institutions and boutiques. It has a concierge, a health club and consistent fenestration, but no garage. It has a handsome and very interesting one-story base that mixes rough-hewn and polished granite with red brick, a motif that is also applied to the lobby, which has a modern Oriental-style design and handsome metal fixtures. The base of the building also has a rounded bandcourse that softens the mass of the building.

There is good cross-town bus service and a subway station is close by at 77th Street and Lexington Avenue at Lenox Hill Hospital.

Carter B. Horsley