|
The Plaza Hotel
| Medieval
New York |
Midtown Manhattan
on Fifth Ave @ Central Park South
New York, NY 10019
By: Alexandra Chiurri
[Chiurri@Murray.Fordham.edu]
and
Giannina Ortiz
[Gortiz@Murray.Fordham.edu.]
HISTORY
The Plaza was originally built in 1900 and then was rebuilt in 1907 to the tune of
twelve million dollars when the new Ritz Carlton joined the other hotels at the turn of
the century. The hotel brought elegance east of Fifth street. "The opening of the
Plaza Hotel was accompanied by the sure sign of the automobile on Fifth avenue in New
York."
"The Plaza has been able to maintain its standings over the years. The Plaza's
various public rooms have undergone numerous incarnations. The large room on the corner of
Forty-ninth Street and the Plaza, which was called simply the "restaurant,"
assumed various decors as the Edwardian Room and the Green Tulop, and the Fifty-ninth
Street dining room that served as the office of Jules Bache has become, and Remains, the
Oak Room."
"Finally, the Plaza houses New York's one functioning Palm Court, and it has a
busy day. Breakfasts and salad lunches are served, and no sooner are the last leaves of
lettuce carried away than a violinist and pianist turn up and a flame is put under the tea
kittles and cocoa in the kitchens. This does not mean, however, that the Plaza has not
plugged ahead into the future. Not only does it provide its guests with closed circuit
television and choice of two movies daily, but troubleshooting hostesses called
"service coordinators," together speaking all of fifteen languages, patrol the
lobby and halls where once private maids and lackies scurried obediently."
ARCHITECTURE
The Plaza Hotel, one of New York city's finest hotels, was architecturally designed
imitating the style of a late medieval French chateaux. The elegant lobby contains
ornamented archways, pillars, and marble floors. This combined with a usage of the color
gold give the hotel a wealthy, upper-class appearance.
WORKS CITED
Batterberry, Michael and Ariane. On The Town
In New York. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1973.
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© Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall, created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 5 January 2025 [CV]
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