Greenwich Village, 3rd Street Between LaGuardia Place and Mercer

Mary Sargent © 2008 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

Cross the street and we're in another land, the land of NYU. This is the Bobst Library, built by Phillip Johnson in the early 70s. It sits on the entire block (or what would be the entire block, if Washington Square East went through), and we are at the back side. I said to myself, well this is sure a massive, cold and inhuman building, and lo and behold, some writers at the New York Architecture site agree, and more. Allen Salkin calls it an "Atrium of Horror" and adds that "Philip Johnson is the most overrated architect in the history of architecture and this red monstrosity of his proves it." And I hate to tell you what is said about Elmer Holmes Bobst. Just go there. Lots of pictures, too.

See map.