THE TAKASHIMAYA BUILDING

695 FIFTH AVENUE

(between 54th and 55th Streets)

Architect: John Burgee with Philip Johnson

Developer: Takashimaya Inc.

Erected: 1993

By Carter B. Horsley

For decades, a major gap between two of Fifth Avenue's finest teeth tarnished the boulevard's elegant smile.

The "teeth" were the St. Regis-Sheraton Hotel at 55th Street and the former Aeolian Building at 689 Fifth Avenue at 54th Street.

The gap was a two-story building that housed Chandlers Shoes and Wempe jewelers before it was sold to its new owner, one of Japan's biggest department store operators.

The new building not only filled the gap, it made the multi-building blockfront shine better than any other on the avenue.

The Takashimaya building is the best Post-Modern building in the city and, more importantly, it is a superb building whose forceful, vigorous and cohesive design actually excels its two neighbors, both masterpieces of craftsmanship and style. By contrast, the St. Regis is a bit too dolled up and sultry and the former Aeolian Building is a bit too refined and restrained.

To navigate between contextual sensitivity and robust independence means treading a very thin line with all the aplomb of a daring tightrope walker.

Johnson and Burgee have long focused great attention on window treatment and here their experiments attain a rhythmic climax of extraordinarily rich texture and elegance whose thin columns and expansive glass are vaguely reminiscent of Ernest Flagg's great "Little Singer" building at 561 Broadway in SoHo.

The setback pays respect to the first setback of the Aeolian Building while also preserving many St. Regis views and its height does not overshadow the hotel.

The multi-paned windows also conjure shoji screens with a little stretch of the imagination and the very high lobby is very elegant.

The Japanese concern reportedly paid more than $30 million to Edison Brothers Stores Inc. for the site.

This building finally makes "Post-Modern" a good name.