Boak & Paris / Boak & Raad

Book excerpt: Boak & Paris may not be a household name in most households, but this architectural firm was key to the development of apartment buildings that are among the finest in New York City. Annice Alts book analyzes this firm and its exceptional buildings in detail and places them within the context of speculative real estate development. The book provides an important contribution to the understanding of the vernacular buildings that create the streetscapes that New Yorkers love and that give the city its unique character. Andrew S. Dolkart Director, Historic Preservation Program, Columbia University School of Ar chitecture, Planning and Preservation; author of the award-winning The Row House Reborn: Architecture and Development in New York City, 19081929 and Morningside Heights: A History of its Architecture and Development" Alts thoroughly researched book provides new information and insights into the architectural work of Boak & Paris and Boak & Raad. It is a surprise to discover the wealth of buildings, particularly the apartment houses that they are responsible for. Many of the Boak & Paris projects from the 192030s employ interesting architectural terra-cotta elements. To revisit the apartments from the 1950s and 60s is a fascinating exercise. Fine period images are of great value in elucidating this quest. Susan Tunick President, Friends of Terra Cotta; author, Terra-Cotta Skyline: New Yorks Architectural Ornament New Yorks architecture buffs can rejoice: Annice Alt has completed her monograph on Boak & Paris. The personal approach she takes in her writingand extensive quotations from original sourcesbring us into the adventure of her research, where we meet not just Russell Boak and Hyman Paris, but also such august architectural personages as Emery Roth and Gaetan Ajello, along with the clientssuch as plumber-turneddeveloper Sam Minskoffwho kept them busy during the middle decades of the 20th century, turning Manhattan into an island of cliff dwellers. Anthony W. Robins Architectural historian; author Grand Central Terminal: 100 Years of a New York Landmark and a guide t o New York City Art Deco architecture (forthcoming) Boak was an unsung architect who was incapable of doing a bad drawing, a bad design. No one is comparable. Boak just had taste, he had class. Elihu Rose Vice Chairman, Rose Associates, Inc.