Windows of New York

If Bill Shakespeare is to be believed, eyes are the windows to the soul. Designed to look outwards, looking into them reveals a person’s deepest emotions.

The same might be said of windows. Built to provide light, and scenic views for the occupants of a building; they also allow us to look in, catching a glimpse of the private world inside. What’s more, windows themselves adopt the spirit of the building they adorn; they bear its architectural foibles; they share its state of repair; they echo the size of its spaces.

If windows characterize a building’s soul, then surely some of the most fascinating windows in the world are to be found in New York city. That at least, seems to be the opinion of graphic designer José Guízar, a New York-based graphic designer who is working on a weekly series of beautifully illustrated portraits of New York windows.

In his own distinctive style, Guízar has illustrated over a dozen windows from the Big Apple — one dreads to think how many he has left if he plans to illustrate them all. In a muted 50s palette, reminiscent of the mad men era, his lovingly executed pieces brilliantly evoke the character of the greatest city on earth.

Little is made of the interior of the buildings – other than the odd venetian blind, or wilting plant – keeping the focus of the building’s architectural character, rather than the person who occupies it. As an exercise in reduction, it’s an amazing project.

94 Bank St, West Village

962 Lexington Ave, Upper East Side

113 Thompson St, Soho

617 9th Ave, Hell’s Kitchen

186 Sullivan St, West Village

540 12th St, West Village

199 E 4th St, East Village

461 West 47th St, Clinton

219 East 4th St, East Village

448 West Broadway, Soho

290 Lafayette St, Nolita

162 Stanton St, Lower East Side

675 9th Ave, Hell’s Kitchen

430 Broome St, Nolita

What other cities deserve to be immortalized? What other parts of buildings are suitable for illustration? Let us know in the comments.

Paddi MacDonnell

Paddi MacDonnell is a designer and entrepreneur from Northern Ireland, follow her on Twitter.