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Prewar vs. Post-war, Or the Best of Both Worlds
“Prewar” and “postwar” are nearly always part of brokers' descriptions of New York City apartments. Besides the obvious—the term refers to the era of WWII—what makes either more—or less—desirable?

The city's prewar apartments are known for their charming architectural details. They often feature bigger rooms, higher ceilings, ornate moldings and fixtures like fireplaces, parquet floors, arched entryways, pantries and sometimes built-ins like shelves and cabinets. Walls tend to be thicker than in modern buildings and therefore more noise-proof. At the high end, painstakingly renovated prewar apartments have preserved much of their elegance and stunning detail, and they command significantly higher prices. On the negative side, aging plumbing and wiring, leaks, water stains and very costly subsequent repairs can be daunting and expensive to maintain.

Many post-war apartments feature the newest in kitchen and bathroom appliances and are built for modern living in buildings with wireless internet connections, speedy elevators and new plumbing as well as amenities like gyms, pools, party rooms and sunroofs. They also may have more structural flexibility. But ceilings tend to be lower, and to some they appear to have a "cookie-cutter" appearance, lacking charm and uniqueness. At the lower end, apartments can be cheaply constructed, with smaller rooms to accommodate more units.

Recently, the trend toward higher-end new developments reflects an attempt to replicate the elegance and detailing of prewar structures to give residents the best of both worlds, and celebrity-architect-designed buildings have become a draw in and of themselves for their unique, contemporary sleekness, so the choice becomes a matter of personal aesthetic rather than sacrifice.