The Silk Exchange Building

1896

Architect: John Townsend Williams
Address: 487 Broadway, Manhattan
One of a myriad of great SoHo buildings that I would cyclically notice and then forget about, but fortunately re-remembered one night as I was shooting on Broadway just south of Houston. Originally housing commercial clients involved in the silk industry, the building was converted to co-ops in 1977 (you can pick up a 3-bedroom for a cool 2.7 million here, if you're so inclined).  Besides all the great terra cotta detail covering the building, this photo illustrates my favorite characteristic of this building--its narrow yet commanding aspect over its neighbor to the south.