"The façade follows the style of François I, whose reign saw the building of some of the finest Loire Valley chateaux, and whose symbol, a crowned salamander, can be seen above the entrance to the building at 58th St. Billed as "City Homes for Those with Country Houses," the facade of Alwyn Court was literally encrusted with terra cotta ornament: flowers, urns, salamanders breathing fire and more.

The interiors were equally grand... house-like. The Alwyn, still careful to try to overcome the upper class fear of multiple dwelling buildings, called itself "A House of Select Residences". The majestic entryways, carriage turnabouts and gilded lobbies set the tone. The apartments contained parquet floors, marble or carved fireplaces, painted beams, plaster friezes and elaborate lighting fixtures, all designed to make these individual "homes" artistic in nature. The architecture of the rooms became the decoration. Its apartments ranged from 12 to 34 rooms, including music conservatories, billiard rooms, and wine cellars. With the rise of public dining and entertainment after World War I, wealthy families lost interest in maintaining such large living quarters. When the last apartment was vacated in 1936, Alwyn Court underwent a major renovation, and its huge suites were transformed into 75 three-, four-, and five-room apartments. Residents can enjoy the visual delights of the interior courtyard, which features a dazzling display of the illusionist skills of artist Richard Haas, in which plain walls are transformed into "carved" stonework."

We are quite at home in this magnificent building, having sold twenty apartments here over the years.

Alwyn Court is located at 180 West 58th Street, just one block from Central Park South and Carnegie Hall.