Curious about a building that once housed furs and now houses art? That is the Gunther Building. It stands before you at 469 Broome Street. This historic building graces the corner of Greene Street.
The Gunther Building is a prime example of SoHo’s cast-iron architecture. Griffith Thomas designed it in 1871. It was completed around 1872. William Gunther commissioned the Gunther Building. He was a well-known 19th-century furrier. The Gunther Building originally served as a warehouse. It stored textiles and furs. Today, it operates as a co-op. Many artists and architects call it home. Musician Lenny Kravitz once lived here.
Notice the bright white facade of the Gunther Building. Admire its richly decorated Corinthian columns. Take note of its curved glass corner. These features distinguish it from its neighbors. The curved corner shows the flexibility of cast iron and rolled glass.
The Gunther Building contributes to the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
If you look closely at the ground floor’s west end, you will spot a metal foundry plate. It reads Aetna Iron Works. This is the firm that cast the iron sections.
Originally, the Gunther Building was not white. In 1882, Artmann and Fechteler repainted the facade. The colors were deep drab and subdued olive. Gold highlighted the caps, cornices, brackets, and columns.
For five years, Beyhan Karahan and Associates worked to restore the Gunther Building’s facade. The firm also restored the bullet glass sidewalk and steps. In 2002, the Preservation League of New York awarded the restoration. It received the Excellence in Historic Preservation Award.
William Gunther’s name is on a cast-iron tiara above the corner doorway. The Gunther Building later housed silk merchants. These included Schroeder and Company and Liberty Silk Company. At one point, the Landmark Art Gallery also opened its doors here.
Imagine the workers inside during the summer. In July 1922, Jacob Balva was overcome by heat while working here.
Today, the Gunther Building’s commercial tenant covers all maintenance costs. This means apartment owners do not pay monthly maintenance fees.
The Gunther Building stands as a testament to SoHo’s evolution. It transformed from a warehouse to artist lofts. The Gunther Building now blends its rich past with a vibrant present.