Alwyn Court

Alwyn Court stands as one of the most elaborate displays of terracotta architecture in New York City. Its facade is dense with French Renaissance ornamentation, featuring an abundance of cherubs, scrolls, and the building's signature crowned salamanders. These creatures were the royal emblem of King Francis the First, and they appear all over the exterior as symbols of protection. By using molded terracotta instead of carved stone, the architects achieved this level of intricate, repetitive detail for a fraction of the cost of traditional masonry.