Real Estate

Architect Peter Pennoyer talks NYC’s building beauties

Architect Peter Pennoyer is among the small breed of New York-based talents who prefers craft and beauty over stardom and starchitecture.

Peter PennoyerJay Ackerman

Trained at Columbia University, Pennoyer (and his 40-person team) quietly dominate what’s known as “New Classical Architecture” — which prioritizes traditional, classical styles and motifs over new-fangled fads and flourishes.

Among the genre’s most-celebrated practitioners is master-architect Robert A.M. Stern — in whose office Pennoyer worked as a designer early in his career.

Although Pennoyer may be best known for institutional projects such as New York’s Mark Hotel and the Luncheon Club at the New York Stock Exchange, his current passion is 151 E. 78th St. — a 14-unit new-build UES development filled with Pennoyer’s tell-tale New Classic touches.

Only three of its condos remain — all penthouses, including a 6,975-square-foot stunner (plus a 1,690-square-foot terrace) priced at $29.5 million. As these last units come to market, we spoke to Pennoyer about design and architecture — past, present and future.

Here, Pennoyer in his own words:

People always think of New York as a place where everything is new and nothing is sacred, but that is not always the case. The New York Public Library, for instance, is one of the great examples of historic architecture. It’s a crowning jewel in New York City — a masterful expression of classical architecture in the service of the public and living proof of the genius of the City Beautiful movement a century ago.

If you were an architecture student and wanted to visit one city featuring all the great historic styles, New York would be it. We have great gothic architecture, great classic architecture, great modern architecture — all in one place. You could not sit in front a of computer screen and dream up such a mix.

There are many interesting and educational differences between residential and commercial projects. Residential projects usually reflect the tastes and lives of the particular clients, while commercial projects must be enjoyed by a far wider range of people; so the appeal and the end-product must be broader.

151 E 78th StWilliams New York

The Morgan Library on Madison Avenue is one of my favorite architectural spots in New York. I love to visit the original McKim, Mead & White building from 1906 — a place where art and architecture books are fused together to create a truly transportative environment.

Technology has had an incredible impact on our firm and industry — particularly developments such as 3-D printing. We can now create 3-D models from our sketches and use those models to fabricate actual objects. Items such as handles or door knobs used to take months to produce; now we can get them made in a matter of weeks.

Historic preservation is all about knowing exactly what was there — and what should have been. It’s an architectural practice rooted in tradition, but also letting your imagination work while based in a rich trove of historic examples. It’s fantastic to take what I love about a building or a style and finding a way to make it my own.