DOCOMOMO US/New York Tri-State has arranged a rare opportunity to visit one of New York’s earliest and most significant Modern townhouses, now on the market for the first time in over 40 years. And we’re going to make a little party of it to support our advocacy work.
The Morris B. Sanders Studio and Apartment is the second oldest Modern townhouse in the city, with one block and one year between it and the oldest—the Lescaze house. Morris Sanders designed the townhouse, located on 49th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenue, in 1934 for his own use and construction was completed in December 1935. The house garnered swift and wide media coverage including a 10-page feature article in Architectural Forum.
The six-story, 6,900 sq. ft. townhouse stacked a ground floor architectural studio, a rental duplex and a three-story living space for the Sanders family. That configuration still holds. The design features that marked the house’s pivot to Modern in 1935 include: Extensive use of glass block, open plan apartment floors, central air conditioning, cork flooring, an indigo blue glazed brick façade, and a recessed, slightly off-kilter street-level entry.
While modern townhouses were built in Manhattan through the 1950s,1960s and even into the 1970s, the Sanders Studio and Apartment is one of the lesser known, yet one of the most significant in its complete design. It was designated an individual landmark in 2008.
Morris B. Sanders (1904–1948) was born in Arkansas, trained in the right places for a budding modernist, traveled abroad and then settled in New York to start a practice. While he designed show rooms, world’s fair structures and other commercial buildings, he is probably more well known for his interiors and consumer goods.
The house has not undergone any significant alterations or renovation. 1935 materials and ideas are everywhere. It’s a rare glimpse into a short and brazen phase of Manhattan’s Modern townhouse history. Ada Louise Huxtable captured it well, the house is all about “the modern style during its pioneering decades.”
Come have a look. And a drink on the rooftop. Support DOCOMOMO US/New York Tri-State.
Wednesday June 25, 6:30-8:30pm
7:30pm: Short talk on Morris Sanders and the house by Frampton Tolbert, DOCOMOMO US/NY Tri-State Vice President for Advocacy
219 E. 49th Street (between 2nd & 3rd), Manhattan
Drinks and snacks; sunset rooftop access, weather permitting
$45 per person
More from curbed.com, including archival photos from the 1936 Forum article.
https://www.curbed.com/article/modern-landmarked-townhouse-219-east-49th-morris-b-sanders.html
DOCOMOMO US/New York Tri-State would like to thank Martin Eiden of Martin Eiden Team/Compass for offering this unique opportunity to experience the Morris B. Sanders house.
https://martineidenteam.com/
Property listing: https://martineidenteam.com/properties/219-east-49th-street
Note: This is a six-story townhouse without a working elevator so please be aware that there will be stairs.
