The architectural world mourns the loss of Robert AM Stern, the influential American architect famed for his postmodern designs, who has died at the age of 86. Dubbed "the king of Central Park West" by Vanity Fair, Stern's career was defined by a rejection of modernist glass towers in favour of historically inspired, grand structures that engaged with their urban surroundings.
The Landmark Legacy of 15 Central Park West
Stern's most commercially triumphant project was the condominium at 15 Central Park West, completed in 2008. Conceived as a homage to the gracious pre-war apartment blocks of Manhattan's Upper East Side, the building was clad in 85,000 pieces of creamy limestone. This lavish choice added millions to the budget but proved a masterstroke.
The luxurious apartments were swiftly purchased by hedge fund managers and celebrities like Sting and Denzel Washington. With total sales reaching approximately $2 billion, the development, spearheaded by the Zeckendorf brothers, became the world's most commercially successful apartment building at the time.
A Champion of Contextual and Historical Design
Robert Stern's architectural philosophy was a direct rebuttal to what he saw as the alienating abstraction of modernism. He argued that buildings should engage with the "larger whole" of a city, a principle he demonstrated through legible historical precedents.
His timing was impeccable, as his early career aligned with a growing disillusionment with modernism and the rise of postmodernism. He evolved from playful historicism to a more serious, lushly appointed style that resonated with conservative clients and critics. This appeal was cemented when President George W Bush selected him to design his presidential library and museum in Dallas in 2013.
Other major works include Philadelphia's Comcast Centre skyscraper and the Museum of the American Revolution, as well as two residential colleges for Yale University executed in a detailed collegiate Gothic style.
Scholar, Educator, and New York Portraitist
Beyond his practice, Stern was a dedicated scholar and educator. He served as the dean of the Yale School of Architecture from 1998 to 2016 while simultaneously running a 300-person firm. He authored exhaustive volumes on New York's architectural history and was a lifelong hand-draughtsman, eschewing computers.
Born in Brooklyn in 1939, Stern credited long walks studying Manhattan's buildings for inspiring his career. After studying history at Columbia and earning a master's in architecture from Yale, he worked for Richard Meier and later co-founded Stern & Hagmann. In 1977, he established Robert AM Stern Architects (RAMSA).
His diverse portfolio ranged from private Hamptons residences and Disney resorts like the Yacht Club in Florida to the masterplan for Disney's Celebration town. In 2011, his commitment to classical traditions was honoured with the Driehaus Prize.
Remembered as a sartorial dandy with a sharp wit, Stern is survived by his son Nicholas, brother Elliot, and three grandchildren.
