Sutton Place
New York, New York City
1920
The houses of Sutton Place represent the first milestone in Mott Schmidt's career. In 1920 he was retained by Elizabeth Marbury, the literary and theatrical agent, to remodel a 19th century rowhouse at No. 13. Named for Effingham B. Sutton, who tried to develop the block in 1875, the riverside houses had little of the elegance then that we associate with the name today. Marbury persuaded several of her influential friends - notably Anne Vanderbilt and Anne Morgan-to buy other parcels on the block, thereby establishing a "society" enclave on the river's edge, away from Fifth Avenue. Once Schmidt's work was exhibited at the Architectural League (in 1921) and published, his career was launched.
The neighborhood is still known as a celebrity block, with the Secretary General of the United Nations residing in No. 3 (the former Morgan house), and the architect I. M. Pei in No. 11.
More Architecture: New York City
- Featured
53 East 66th Street
New York, New York City1923This mid-block building appropriates the facade organization of a Georgian row at a greatly inflated scale, and accommodates four large apartments per floor. - Featured
1088 Park Avenue
New York, New York City1924Schmidt's largest apartment house stands proudly among upper Park Avenue's distinguished palaces. - Featured
19 East 72nd Street
New York, New York City1937Schmidt's final New York apartment house, designed in collaboration with Rosario Candela, is a rare departure from the traditional classical vocabulary. - Featured
Anne Morgan Townhouse
New York, New York City1921Mott Schmidt's first major commission achieves the kind of sophistication and understatement that became hallmarks of his style. - Featured
Mrs W.K. Vanderbilt Townhouse
New York, New York City1921The more austere Anne Vanderbilt townhouse occupies the 57th Street corner of Sutton Place. - Featured
Guy Fairfax Cary Townhouse
New York, New York City1923This large house shows Schmidt's gift for gracious and functional planning. - Featured
Miss Emily Trevor Townhouse
New York, New York City1926This tiny jewel of a townhouse is an unusual variation on Schmidt's planning formula. - Featured
Vincent Astor Townhouse
New York, New York City1926Another Adam-inspired townhouse, the Astor house is considered by many to be Schmidt's best New York building. - Featured
Walter E. Hope Townhouse
New York, New York City1928This elegant limestone-fronted townhouse is probably the best of Schmidt's later urban residences. - Featured
Susan B. Wagner Wing, Gracie Mansion
New York, New York City1966The Susan B. Wagner Wing, Schmidt's last major commission, remains his best-known work and is a fitting culmination to a long career. Duplex Houses
Brooklyn, New York City1913In these early townhouses, Schmidt showed a sensitivity to historical details and building types that would become the hallmark of his architecture.Grenville T. Emmet Townhouse I
New York, New York City1917Schmidt's remodeling of this large brownstone on the Upper East Side is one of the earliest of his buildings to be published.Miss Alice M. Swift Show Rooms
New York, New York City1915A tiny decorating shop for Miss Alice Swift was among Schmidt's first projects.Grenville T. Emmet Townhouse II
New York, New York City1919J. Herbert Johnson Townhouse
New York, New York City1919E. Farrar Bateson Townhouse
New York, New York City1920ADDITIONAL RESOURCESFacade Alterations
New York, New York City1920Facade Alterations
New York, New York City1920Elizabeth Marbury Townhouse
New York, New York City1921Mott B. Schmidt and interior decorator Elsie de Wolfe collaborated on the renovation of Elizabeth Marbury’s house at No. 13 Sutton Place.Anderson A. Fowler Townhouse
New York, New York City1921Chauncey Olcott Townhouse
New York, New York City1921Mott B. Schmidt Townhouse
New York, New York City1921H.L. Batterman Townhouse
New York, New York City1921A major blow to the character of Clinton Hill came in the 1940s when two complete blocks of houseEmily Dalzell Townhouse
Brooklyn, New York City1922The Emily Dalzell Townhouse was one of the last great private residences built in the Park Slope district of Brooklyn.Mrs F.C. Havemeyer Townhouse
New York, New York City1924This understated building was characterized by four stories of red brick, highlighted only by two thin stone bandcourses and a pedimented centered doorway.Louis Steckler Townhouse
New York, New York City1924N.J. Booker Townhouse
New York, New York City1925Mrs Monroe D. Robinson Townhouse
New York, New York City1925Warehouse
New York, New York City1925Braker Memorial Home
Bronx, New York City1927Elizabeth Arden Store Alterations
New York, New York City1929Mott B. Schmidt designed a modern entrance for Elizabeth Arden framed in polished black stone.Dillon Bigelow Corporation Townhouse
New York, New York City1929First Church of Christ Scientist, Sunday School Addition
Richmond Hill, New York City1929Berwynd Apartment
New York, New York City1930Carl J. Schmidlap Apartment
New York, New York City1930Olcott Townhouse
New York, New York City1933William Zinnser and Company Factory
New York, New York City1934John D. Rockefeller Jr. Apartment
New York, New York City1937Schmidt began working for the Rockefellers in 1937, executing the lavish city apartment of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., on Park Avenue.Laurence S. Rockefeller Apartment
New York, New York City1938Walter R. Marvin Townhouse
New York, New York City1940Beekman Mansion
New York, New York City1941Charles E. Merrill Townhouse
New York, New York City194315th Precinct Police Station
New York, New York City1944Real Estate and Building Co., Inc.
New York, New York City1944Louis F. Timmerman Building
New York, New York City1945C. Douglas Dillon Aparment
New York, New York City1947- Recent Addition
David Rockefeller Townhouse
New York, New York City1948 Mrs Felix F. Dupont Apartment
New York, New York City1950J. Walter Thompson Co. Offices
New York, New York City1950Arthur A. Houghton Townhouse
New York, New York City1952J. Walter Thompson Co. Offices
New York, New York City1953Robert W. Magowan Townhouse
New York, New York City1955John D. Rockefeller Jr. Apartment
New York, New York City1955J. Walter Thompson Co. Offices
New York, New York City1958John D. Rockefeller III Apartment
New York, New York City1961J. Walter Thompson Co. Offices
New York, New York City1964Colonial Dames of America Reconstruction
New York, New York City1970- Recent Addition
655 Park Avenue
New York, New York City1924A collaboration between Mott Schmidt and architect James Edwin Ruthven Carpenter, Jr., the building is centered around a courtyard garden facing Park Avenue. Facade Alterations
New York, New York City1920ADDITIONAL RESOURCESJosiah L. Webster Townhouse
New York, New York City1921157 East 75th Street
New York, New York City1920In 1920, the apartment houses at 157 and 159 were combined as a co-op, and the facade altered by Mott Schmidt in the new style of plain tinted stucco.