Nestled in the pulsating heart of Manhattan, where the lifeblood of the Big Apple flows, the Flatiron Building stands tall — a building that is unparalleled. Its famous iron-like silhouette is not only a staple in tourists' photos but also an essential piece of the city's architectural heritage and culture.
The Flatiron Building is not just a quirky edifice in the center of New York. It embodies Chicago's opulence, once housed the Russian Empire's consulate, and has even been considered a bane for women. But let's delve into these narratives one by one.
Why a Triangle and When was the "Iron" Erected?
Originally, the site of the Flatiron Building held nothing intriguing — merely a lavish yet monotonous 4-story hotel. The triangular sliver of land where it stood incidentally formed as an intersection of the straight Fifth Avenue and the meandering Broadway. But this incongruity troubled no one; from 1855 to 1880, the site was occupied by the aforementioned St. Germain Hotel.
Later, the new landowner razed everything to erect a commonplace residential 7-story building called The Cumberland along with several small shops. Since the surrounding buildings were shorter, the apartment building's wall facing 23rd Street and Madison Square Park was utilized as a lofty advertising billboard. This locale turned out to be an ideal vantage point — the wall began to display fresh newspaper summaries and exceedingly attractive ads. Increasingly, townspeople congregated at the "triangle" to catch up on the latest news and trendy novelties while engaging in lively discussions with peers.
Subsequently, in 1889, the lot went up for auction again. This time it was snapped up by the proprietor of a building firm, George Fuller. He resolved to erect his company's headquarters on this coveted spot. The venture was undertaken by Daniel Burnham, a revolutionary architect from Chicago. In 1901, his innovative designs had already made waves, with many of his buildings initially mocked as "Burnham's follies."
He pitched a groundbreaking design — not to carve out right angles but to construct a high-rise building shaped to fit the "island" lot, maintaining its width to the pinnacle. Such was the triangular brick in the style of chic Chicago apartment buildings. It certainly was destined to stand out amongst the affluent residences. Moreover, the authorities had just lifted the restriction on building height. Fuller waved his hand and agreed.
By 1902, the 22-story Fuller Building was ready. It stood on a steel frame and was faced with fashionable terracotta at the time. The building's shape seemed different from various viewpoints — from one side, it appeared absolutely flat and shocked the townspeople. Burnham was right — it stood out indeed.
Public Reaction
The skyscraper was not to everyone's liking. Conservative society harshly criticized the Fuller Building, calling it an "absurdity" and an "iron". The youth countered — yes, it's an iron, and what's wrong with that? At least it's something interesting among a heap of identical buildings. From these debates came the new popular name — Flatiron Building, literally "iron building". It became so entrenched in society that it soon became official, and Fuller's fame was drowned in the popularity of the place itself.
However, there was another reason for the youth to love this place, even more exciting than the skyscraper's innovative shape.
Flatiron, Aerodynamics, and Skirts
In addition to architecture enthusiasts, people with raging hormones regularly flocked to the building. Specifically, on this stretch of Fifth Avenue, there were many stores that a vast number of women frequented. And if everything was fine before, as soon as the Flatiron Building appeared, the skirts of city women began to fly up to their ears — Marilyn Monroe with fans couldn't even dream of this.
The fact is that the corner of the building opposite the park creates a special air vortex — during gusts, it sharply goes upwards. Skirts, hats, and other loosely fitting clothing items are easily lifted by such a current. For the early 20th century in puritan America, such a free daily show was super popular. The police even developed a special slang: for instance, the phrase "23 skidoo" meant "stop staring and get moving down 23rd Street before a club flies your way".
What's Inside the "Iron"
Fuller's vanity project failed — he couldn't turn the building into a personal, family-business object of pride. He was so quickly forgotten that within a few years, he built a new, boring, and ordinary skyscraper, named it again the Fuller Building, and moved his company's office there.
Over the years, it housed the consulate of the Russian Empire, the editorial offices of New York newspapers and magazines, restaurants, and offices of multinational corporations. Today, the lower floors of the building are occupied by shops, beauty salons, and sports clubs, while publishers rent the rest. However, the current owner plans to open a five-star hotel in the building.
The Flatiron Building embodies the innovative spirit of its era, the boldness and aspiration towards the heavens that were characteristic of the early 20th century. Its walls, which have seen the change of epochs and cultures, still command respect and admiration. It remains one of the most photogenic and talked-about buildings in the world, an essential stop on any tourist route through New York.
Anyone who wishes can visit the Flatiron Building and view it from the best angles. But not by that alone! To get acquainted with all the iconic places in New York, turn to us at American Butler. With our tours, you won't miss a single detail.
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