Chelsea, 16th Street Between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

Mary Sargent © 2010 …………… ………………….. click to enlarge

This is the French Evangelical Church, or the Eglise Evangelique Francaise de New York, as the sign states.  I could find nothing about it on the web except the address.  It has no web site.  The sign is written entirely in French.  I have questions.  How big is the congregation?  Are they all French?  Do they have services in English as well as French?  A phone number is listed so I could call and ask.  But that would be tomorrow, and tomorrow I will be considering the block between Seventh and Eighth Avenues.

So tonight we will instead consider the architectural style Rundbogenstil.  The AIA tells us the facade was done in 1886 and that this building is a "robust example of what the Germans called Rundbogenstil.  The dour dark paint almost kills it."  Yes, doesn't it?  Imagine this building painted creamy ivory and without the sign (an ugly sign insensitively placed).  Wouldn't it be pretty?  By the way, do you know how to pronounce dour?  It's door, not dow-er.  Hard to believe, isn't it?

So Rundbogenstil.  A German style meaning round arch style, part of the Romanesque revival, and created in the 19th century by German architects seeking a national style of architecture.  Go to New York Architecture to see other New York buildings in this style.