The City that Never Sleeps
By: Aaron Yam
When one thinks about New York, one would typically imagine the dazzling lights of Times Square or the high rising skyscrapers that seemingly hold up the atmosphere. However, no one should be complacent with such an amateur way of thinking. There is way more than meets the eye when it comes to talking about Manhattan, the heart of New York City.
Behind the grandeur eye candied spectacle known as the city that never sleeps, a second look at the buildings and structures around Manhattan tells us that there is a duality of old and new buildings. Found in almost every corner of Manhattan, there is a very noticeable mix of old and new architecture. From the historical Empire State Building to the retro chic Trump Towers and everything in between. This odd mixture of architecture is what gives New York City the breath-taking view it is known for. One might expect a domination of one type of architecture, but instead we have an integration of many designs. Similarly, the people of New York are the very definition of integration. New York is a melting pot of many cultures. The mix of architecture not only gives New York a classy look, but also helps retain some of its historical importance. From the great Saint Patrick’s Cathedral to the Flat Iron building. These structures are not only appealing to look at, but also have historical meaning.
There is also another duality present in Manhattan in addition to there being old and new buildings. There is a split between residential and commercial buildings. Many of the buildings in Manhattan are used for international business such as the world famous New York Stock Exchange building located on Wall Street. The headquarters for United Nations and the New York Times Newspaper are also located in Manhattan. Aside from these commercial buildings, there are also residential buildings located all around Manhattan. Spanning from Upper Manhattan to Lower Manhattan, there are many different kinds of residential buildings. From luxurious Gothic themed apartments to modern complex condominiums to the cookie-cutter houses, there is a wide variety of buildings throughout the city. What came shocking to me while I was exploring these various structures, is the way that these structures were segregated and sectioned off. There is a very distinct separation of classes. It is apparent in the ways that the buildings are grouped. The upper class residents are densely located around Upper Manhattan while the lower class residents are densely located around Lower Manhattan. One can instantly notice that the designs of buildings are starkly different from that of the upper class and the lower class. In a city of integration, it is a shock that there is still a sort of schism between classes.
However, without this gap between classes, the buildings found throughout Manhattan would not be there. It is almost a necessity to have a gap between classes in order to erect buildings of such grandeur because if that weren’t the case, none of the buildings would stand out. Despite the fact that there are gaps between classes, all the different parts of Manhattan collectively make it beautiful.
