In the past, over the Fourth of July week, rather than focus on a single neighborhood, I have shared one of my ongoing projects that spans the entire city.
I lovelovelove looking at these. The almost-symmetry... the surprising, playful contrasts in shape, texture, and color... I especially like ones where a power line hangs down in a swag, adding some curving movement to the rectangles and triangles. What a delight. <3 <3 <3
I never considered these to be one building having seen a bunch when I lived in Bayside, Queens. I always thought they were like different apartment buildings. After reading this though you have radicalized me!! Syzygy Army rise up!!
I was also going to say that it reminds me of the Bechers — made modern through color and the outer borough lens. I love them all, and can’t wait for the exquisite corpse to come to fruition!
I think there's an interesting pair of aesthetic choices each one of these owners has to make: 1) what do I want my house to look like and 2) do I want to live in a building that is made disharmonious by my own choice? I think like so many things in NYC, you learn to be your true self out in public as if you weren't surrounded by millions of other people (like when you cry on the subway, for example.) If I had one of these houses, I wouldn't want to live in a structure that looked so disjointed, but also, if I lived there I'd probably just learn to not see that and do what I wanted with my own exterior.
Good points Ehren! In some examples there is at least a modicum of agreement with both parties taking comfort in symmetry and order, but in most cases, individual personality (and chaos) wins the day and that is very NYC.
Yes, I was coming here to say that semi-detached is an existing standard name for these in Britain, going back to the 19C; I didn't know the name was used in Canada as well, but it makes sense. Vid. the pair of well-known 1859-1860 novels, Emily Eden's THE SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE and THE SEMI-ATTACHED COUPLE.
and there's nothing more jarring than when one half the the 30s semi has been modernised into a grey and white brick, and the other keeps the original charm! https://www.instagram.com/p/DSKIQ_HDFg0/
Ooh I love the exquisite-corpse-style flip book idea. My parents used to own a split house somewhere deep in Queens, maybe Bayside, that they rented out to two tenants. Totally forgot about that until this post.
I came across the word Syzygy a few years ago when I was researching Alfred Jarry and ‘Pataphysics. It’s the perfect term for your project. Quietly radical. Everyday Dada.
The whole time that I was enjoying reading this and looking at the pictures, I kept wondering how to pronounce syzygy. I settled on ziggy. But turns out it is pronounced SIZ-ə-jee.
Most houses in a variety of downtown neighbourhoods here in Toronto are these, we call them "semi-detached" or "semis" my house is actually a semi-detached on the end of a row of three attached former "workers residences."
One plus is Semis are more energy efficient because you don't lose heat through your party wall in the winter.
These are standard in UK and are called semi,s shortened from semi detached.
I lovelovelove looking at these. The almost-symmetry... the surprising, playful contrasts in shape, texture, and color... I especially like ones where a power line hangs down in a swag, adding some curving movement to the rectangles and triangles. What a delight. <3 <3 <3
Thanks Nora!
I never considered these to be one building having seen a bunch when I lived in Bayside, Queens. I always thought they were like different apartment buildings. After reading this though you have radicalized me!! Syzygy Army rise up!!
Welcome to the resistance
This is off the CHaInnNnNnNnN
I love this project, Rob. It's so deliciously reminiscent of the Bechers. I want to see the prints arranged in a grid in a gallery. Bravo!
I was also going to say that it reminds me of the Bechers — made modern through color and the outer borough lens. I love them all, and can’t wait for the exquisite corpse to come to fruition!
Thanks Bill. An inspiration for sure. I wouldn’t mind seeing them hanging on a wall either!
I think there's an interesting pair of aesthetic choices each one of these owners has to make: 1) what do I want my house to look like and 2) do I want to live in a building that is made disharmonious by my own choice? I think like so many things in NYC, you learn to be your true self out in public as if you weren't surrounded by millions of other people (like when you cry on the subway, for example.) If I had one of these houses, I wouldn't want to live in a structure that looked so disjointed, but also, if I lived there I'd probably just learn to not see that and do what I wanted with my own exterior.
Good points Ehren! In some examples there is at least a modicum of agreement with both parties taking comfort in symmetry and order, but in most cases, individual personality (and chaos) wins the day and that is very NYC.
Since you have particularly mentioned Toronto, where I live, it may interest you to know that we have a very strong vernacular in these side-by-side houses, and we call them semi-detached, as distinguished from duplexes which are stacked. You can see quite a few styles and periods (up to brand new builds) here: https://property.ca/toronto/midtown/semi-detached-houses-for-sale?home_type=House&property_type=Semi-Detached Enjoy!
Now I want to move to Toronto! Some nice examples there. thanks!
Yes, I was coming here to say that semi-detached is an existing standard name for these in Britain, going back to the 19C; I didn't know the name was used in Canada as well, but it makes sense. Vid. the pair of well-known 1859-1860 novels, Emily Eden's THE SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE and THE SEMI-ATTACHED COUPLE.
and there's nothing more jarring than when one half the the 30s semi has been modernised into a grey and white brick, and the other keeps the original charm! https://www.instagram.com/p/DSKIQ_HDFg0/
So true!
I have added those books to my to-read list! Great suggestion!
So so cool. Congrats on the book!!
Thanks! The book is really more of an artist book. I’ll probably just make ten copies or so but who knows?
Those look… Fantastic! Congrats… can’t wait for the book!
Thank you!
The Duality of House 🙌
Come to think of it, isn't The Bunker's house in All in the Family a split like this?
Great photo essay. Love it!
Yes! I photographed it when I visited Glendale
Ooh I love the exquisite-corpse-style flip book idea. My parents used to own a split house somewhere deep in Queens, maybe Bayside, that they rented out to two tenants. Totally forgot about that until this post.
Hope I can pull it off. You guys really got around!
Brilliant. Love the website.
Thanks Jon!
I came across the word Syzygy a few years ago when I was researching Alfred Jarry and ‘Pataphysics. It’s the perfect term for your project. Quietly radical. Everyday Dada.
And fun to say to boot!
The whole time that I was enjoying reading this and looking at the pictures, I kept wondering how to pronounce syzygy. I settled on ziggy. But turns out it is pronounced SIZ-ə-jee.
It’s surprisingly straightforward!
Most houses in a variety of downtown neighbourhoods here in Toronto are these, we call them "semi-detached" or "semis" my house is actually a semi-detached on the end of a row of three attached former "workers residences."
One plus is Semis are more energy efficient because you don't lose heat through your party wall in the winter.
Toronto in the (semi-detached)house! Sounds like I need to go up and investigate for myself.
You're welcome anytime, I got to get down the NYC myself, its been over 6 years
Reminding me of Chris Ware's great New Yorker cover. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cover-story/cover-story-2022-07-04
Perfect.