High Life: Condo Living in the Suburban Century

Today more than one in eight Americans buying a home selects a co-op, condominium apartment, or suburown house. Despite the proliferation of these structures across the American landscape, until now scholars have overlooked the impact of collective homeownership on our lives. In this important new study, Matthew Lasner traces the history of collectively owned multifamily housing from the first New York City co-op building in 1881 to the contemporary condominium complex. Lasner charts the rise of collectively owned multifamily residences and the accompanying revolution of the modern American real estate market by explaining the complicated social and economic factors that increased demand for a different type of home, situating the topic of collective home ownership within the larger housing market and focusing on the general history of residential architecture, as well as regional differences in laws, customs, and resources. In addition, he contextualizes the treatment of cooperative housing within other modern architectural developments such as department stores, malls, and office buildings.

As Lasner explains, shifting demographics, a fluctuating real estate market, and financial considerations for both builders and buyers significantly influenced the evolution of this building type. He contrasts the prevalence and popularity of condos, townhouses, and gated single-family subdivisions with their ambiguous economic, legal, and social standing, as well as their striking absence from traditional architectural history. A rich selection of illustrations presents images ranging from advertisements and floor plans to archival and contemporary photographs.

Lasner’s scholarship challenges popular perceptions of homeownership and the ＂American Dream.＂ Derided by critics as bland, mass-produced, and impersonal, Lasner presents a compelling argument for multifamily housing’s architectural and cultural importance.

Matthew Gordon Lasner is assistant professor of urban affairs and planning at Hunter College.