These Upper West Side buildings stick out like sore thumbs

From brownstones to art-deco co-ops to glassy towers, the Upper West Side is home to an incredibly diverse mix of architectural styles. And this contrast is seen in its most abundant light when these different styles are located on a single street! Ahead, we’ve rounded up five buildings that really stick out like sore thumbs among their neighbors.

1. 126 West 73rd Street

Architect: Henry Struss
Year built: 1886
Number of apartments: 40

Photo via CityRealty

This 13-story co-op building is nestled between rows of townhouses on 73rd between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues and is made up mostly of studio apartments. Its white terra cotta facade is unusual yet strikingly beautiful. Some might find appeal in the fact that you can get yourself a bird’s eye view of the neighboring brownstones on the block (and you definitely won’t lose your view since this is an historic district).

2. 640 West End Avenue

Architect: Ralph S. Townsend
Year built: 1912
Number of apartments: 37

Google Street View of 640 West End

This condo is located on the corner of 91st Street and West End Avenue. It’s hard to walk by without snapping a photo. 640 West End stands 12 stories and features a beautiful limestone base, copper cornice, and large windows. But the real show stopper is the romantic ivy climbing up the facade. Apartments range from one to three bedrooms, and many units have been combined to create super-sized homes.

3. 170 Amsterdam Avenue

Architect: Handel Architects
Year built: 2014
Number of apartments: 236

Google Street View of 170 Amsterdam Avenue

This luxury rental building was developed by Equity Residential. There’s nothing quite like its exoskeletal design in the area (and very few elsewhere, for that matter), and while it is certainly an acquired taste, you can’t help but notice the giant crossed beams covering the floor-to-ceiling windows. The building is 20 stories and has a suite of amenities, which include a roof deck, children’s playroom, fitness area, and a yoga room. Monthly rents start at about $3,500 for studios, $4,500 for one-bedrooms, and over $7,000 for two-bedrooms.

4. 249 West End Avenue

Architect: Clarence True
Year built: 1892
Number of apartments: 7

Google Street View of 249 West End Avenue

This five-story townhouse is located on the west side of West End Avenue, between 71st and 72nd Streets, smushed between two large prewar buildings: 243 West End and 255 West End. Designed by coveted architect Clarence True, this little neighbor really stands out … at least to those who see it! According to Daytonian in Manhattan, 249 West End was originally just one of many townhouses on the block. As other townhouses got demolished to make way for larger buildings, the owners of 249 stood their ground and refused to sell. And so it still stands today.

5. RNA House

Architect: Edelbaum & Webster
Year built: 1967
Number of apartments: 207

Google Street View of RNA House

This massive co-op located on 96th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues is one of the city’s largest mid-block residential complexes, taking up most of the block it’s located on. The 14-story slab building was originally constructed as part of the West Side Urban Renewal Project in order to provide housing to middle-class residents in the late 1950s and 1960s. Aside from its sheer size, the concrete building stands out for its insane number of tiny windows, creating a honeycomb-like facade.

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This post comes from I Love the Upper West Side, the ultimate source for new local restaurants, cultural events, real estate news, local business info, celebrity gossip, neighborhood history, and more.