How SoHo NYC Became The Cast Iron District | Walking Tour | Architectural Digest

Architect Nicholas Potts returns for another history-revealing walking tour, this time exploring the ever-evolving look of SoHo in New York City. From stone-mimicking cast-iron details to repurposed mercantile buildings with soaring glass windows, Nick breaks down the surprising history and motivations that led to the distinctive style "South of Houston."
Check out Nicholas Potts here:
Website: nicholasgpotts...
Instagram: / nicholasgpotts
Talent: Nick Potts
Director: Hiatt Woods
Producer: Skylar Economy
Associate Producer: Brandon Fuhr
Director of Photography: Kevin Dynia
Audio: Gabe Quiroga
Production Assistants: Louis Michael Coccia, Patrick Sargent
Editor: Alex Mechanik
Assistant Editor: Billy Ward
Post Production Supervisor: Andrew Montague
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant, Holly Frew
Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen, Christina Mankellow
Graphics Supervisor: Ryan Powell
Graphics, Animation, VFX: Léa Kichler
Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
Production Manager: Melissa Heber
Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila
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[@Mooreshire]

This series just keeps getting better. Great host(s) & great editing.

[@colors6692]

The editing is OK.

[@Mrwhosetheboss01]

🆙🆙🆙🆙Thanks for the feedback, Expect more videos very soon Send a direct message I have something for you..

[@ettabrooke6098]

I’d be interested in what buildings in New York City are Nick’s favorites and why. This is my favorite series!

[@nicholaspotts8728]

Favorites are hard and too numerous to count! But I always find myself going back to: (a) the Seagram Building on Park Avenue between E. 52nd and 53rd... for so, so many reasons (including its materials, its patronage/Phyllis Lambert's willing it into being, and the peculiarity that the first 20 feet of the interior ceilings are part of its Landmarks designation), (b) the Woolworth Building on Broadway @ Park Place for its optimism about what skyscrapers could be (c) Grand Central for how it works in section to move people effortlessly between sunken train tracks and several levels of streets above in a very tiny footprint, plus some great Guastavino vaulting, and (d) the Veterans' Room in the Park Avenue Armory for the experimental details and textures that its designers, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Candace Wheeler, and Stanford White - thought to put together - yet it all works.

[@bryguy24]

@@nicholaspotts8728 hey Nick, where else can we find your thoughts, work, and unlock more of your genius architectural and historical insights? Big fan and thanks for your contributions to this series - I learn a ton every time!

[@Mrwhosetheboss01]

Thanks for the feedback✍️ Expect more videos very soon🔜 Send a direct message💌 I have something for you📦📦

[@hellothere2214]

Nick Potts again just like the last informative video. This guy is the most knowledgeable person on this channel and the reason I'm still subscribed. Keep posting videos with him. I wouldn't mind watching 30 minutes videos of him explaining history of certain buildings. Great work Nick 👏

[@sarahwardles1947]

me too!

[@jennifercarr7351]

I agree, nice to slow down a tad though

[@civlyzed]

@@jennifercarr7351 He loves cafe lattes.

[@sophiaisabelle01]

Nick Potts seems to have a lot of interesting insights to share. Thanks for letting him come on here.

[@can72287]

SoHo and all it’s cast iron. Probally one of the best neighborhoods I’ve ever been blessed to see in person. A cast iron street wall, with Belgian block streets. And when it sun hits it right….nothing like it 😍

[@chloeliu6642]

Love this architecture tour as it includes a good amount of substantial history facts! I've been to NYC so many times but never looked at the city from an architect's perspective. Thanks Nick for this great tour!!!

[@christophercox936]

I live in NYC those buildings are beyond gorgeous.

[@jacob9540]

My favorite place in Manhattan on a sunny summer day. The Elizabeth Street garden is a hidden gem and beautiful place to have a picnic with some Prince St pizza right in the heart of soho

[@jackchow397]

side note: I love that Jil Sander by Raf whale sweater Nick is wearing

[@Alex-cw3rz]

I wish architecture today, seem as it is mass produced as well, would take a note from the past and be more decorative.

[@Chrissieb.rackett]

Lovin’ Nicky Potts in the new glasses he’s been wearing last few videos 😎

[@nutsbutdum]

I was today years old when I learned that those SOHO houses I always thought were in stone are actually cast-iron. My life is a lie!😂

[@Mrwhosetheboss01]

Thanks for the feedback✍️ Expect more videos very soon🔜 Send a direct message💌 I have something for you📦📦

[@Huels]

I would go up and knock on them when I was 12 years old and that's when I found out it was not made of stone.

[@sarahwardles1947]

LOVE these videos! Give us more! Every NYC neighborhood!

[@susanbaker2796]

Yes! Every NYC neighborhood.

[@rgarlinyc]

Another well explained showing of NYC architecture - as for me, everywhere in NYC is wonderful, I never cease of enjoying and being surrounded by its peerless architecture!

[@Mrwhosetheboss01]

🆙🆙🆙🆙Thanks for the feedback, Expect more videos very soon Send a direct message I have something for you..

[@maurobrunosolavergara5041]

OH GOD YES another video with Nick! Your channel should be solely based on him. Literally I would paid to see him explain every city

[@marionannmacredie]

Hi from New Zealand! Thank you for your wonderful video! When I come to New York I will appreciate it so much more thanks to your videos 😎👍🏽😎

[@Mrwhosetheboss01]

🆙🆙🆙🆙Thanks for the feedback, Expect more videos very soon Send a direct message I have something for you..

[@jerrytwolanes4659]

Brilliant! Absolutely Brilliant! I could have listened to Mr. Potts for hours and hours!

[@mrvk39]

Very interesting how a new technology for the end of 19th century - cast iron building- was thought as fireproof only to disappoint when tested by actual fires. It's a process with all new technology. And Soho and Flat Iron districts are unique that they were build up very rapidly in a matter of just 2-3 decades in that style. Other cities might just have a few buildings here and there, maybe a port area with these types but NYC has dozens and dozens of streets of them.

[@wilsonsmom411]

I’d love to go on a walking tour with Nick Potts! And I would have loved to seen these buildings in their original polychrome colors.

[@vb001]

I live for this series and Nick Potts

[@stevemiller7949]

Only in New York kids. I know Robert Moses wanted to plow through Greenwich Village and I think he had Soho on his hit list as well. I think the metal fire escapes are charming, but are they still considered a functional safety feature?

[@Alex-cw3rz]

In my hometown of Bolton in the UK we have a indoor market hall, it is a beautiful and giant iron structure, with a neo-classicial exterior, when built in the 1860s it was said to be the largest indoor market in the country. It's an amazing piece of architecture, very airy and bright, worthy of a major city. It's called the Bolton Marketplace or Market Hall.

[@anonymousonlineuser6543]

Those markets were built in every major city in Europe. They are gorgeous and grand inside and many survived.

[@Alex-cw3rz]

@@anonymousonlineuser6543 genuinely non look as grand as this on the inside.

[@danibaie]

​@@Alex-cw3rz😅 you've been to them all

[@Alex-cw3rz]

@@danibaie well you can look at pictures and there aren't many covered markets and Bolton's is the grandest covered marker. Unless you can name another.

[@danibaie]

@@Alex-cw3rz indoor markets aren't rare. There actually are quite a number of them. I looked at Bolton online: beautiful building. But as an indoor market, I don't find it that impressive. There are many indoor markets all over Europe housed in beautiful buildings. We can have different opinions, my original comment was more a joke than anything.

[@barbarawillis4275]

Enjoying the episodes on the neighborhoods of NYC.

[@serafinacosta7118]

It’s only fitting that AD features an Architect breaking down styles by cathegory. And that said Architect is a subject matter expert. The edited flow, the sequency of building styles , the sound track , all fit in perfectly. I know these featured videos take time to put together. I can only hope they keep on finding more topic videos of building’s external views to dissect.

[@obsidiawn2852]

First of all it is refreshing to see a building in the iron district that has a black doors with part of the building above white to one side and another side with a rich brick color on the other side. I thought Iron is fire proof so putting an external fireproof coat another paint can go over makes it fire resistant. Very cool, I want to see the inside of this building.

[@lorinotarius]

These are so fascinating! I love these tours of NYC. Thank you!

[@Mrwhosetheboss01]

🆙🆙🆙🆙Thanks for the feedback, Expect more videos very soon Send a direct message I have something for you..

[@bonniechalek8958]

I really enjoy your architectural videos.

[@AJsGreenThumbLLC]

Again, fascinating! I am now going to binge on this series.

[@frederick036]

Please come to London!

[@FerrantePottery]

Soho has such an unexplainable charm

[@margaretjudice8944]

Great information! Great video! Thank you for sharing!

[@joerodriguez5394]

This guy is a genius, I loved this!

[@Mrwhosetheboss01]

🆙🆙🆙🆙Thanks for the feedback, Expect more videos very soon Send a direct message I have something for you..

[@shinybaldy]

What a privilege it is to learn about architecture from a person who obviously loves the city so much. Thank you for publishing this.

[@caragamo3752]

One of my favorite series' here on YT. Would loveee if there could be a series for other historical cities such as Berlin, Paris, Madrid, Rome, and more! 🙏🏽

[@Mrwhosetheboss01]

Thanks for the feedback✍️ Expect more videos very soon🔜 Send a direct message💌 I have something for you📦📦

[@susanbaker2796]

I couldn't click on this fast enough. Nick Potts is the best. The best! I always learn so much.

[@CamillieYuasa]

Can you do this for Harlem? Would love one that explores Convent Ave., Strivers row etc.

[@barbr100]

I really enjoy these walking tours.

[@girlperson1]

I love those cast iron buildings.

[@marinedrive5484]

It's pretty amazing what the architects and engineers of the time were able to achieve using cast iron to decorate the facades of these buildings; imitating the stone facades of Renaissance, Italy with some panache. The original polychromatic colour schemes would probably look quite shocking to modern eyes, I imagine.

[@popcorn8153]

all that detail, and it was all hand drawn. The process was wild

[@tamarasself-sufficientlife7539]

Nick does a great narrative & showed me things I never would have truly looked at or appreciated. Thank you.

[@Mrwhosetheboss01]

Thanks for the feedback✍️ Expect more videos very soon🔜 Send a direct message💌 I have something for you📦📦

[@deloliilol]

I love these videos. Make me travel and informs me!

[@karsonfenton8066]

Well done. I found this guy really easy to listen to and informative.

[@kethsharakhlok1976]

Interesting tour for this particular part of NYC; a few of the buildings reminded me of decorative iron work facades like some buildings in Barcelona.

[@posthocprior]

This is fantastic.

[@jabrayjay6679]

This is like being taken on a walking tour, I love it!

[@tinypinata505]

J'adore NYC!

[@jkickass]

thanks, that was easy to digest

[@edimalan14]

Love these please make more

[@Mrwhosetheboss01]

🆙🆙🆙🆙Thanks for the feedback, Expect more videos very soon Send a direct message I have something for you..

[@Symmetre]

Nice tour.

[@streetsambience6054]

Awesome informative video.

[@OutsideWalker]

beautiful tour! impressive facades and cool atmo! best from Berlin :)

[@susanb1997]

I love these buildings! ❤

[@gavinyu21]

I wish they continue to manufacture these beautiful facade and put them all over those souless and boxy modern buildings.

[@sm3675]

Visit Boston!!!

[@jplourde11]

More Nick Potts!🎉

[@mysterywriter888]

Loved the art deco one best! Lovely!

[@seanwisdom6268]

Excellent. Very well done. Thanks AD.

[@lawjent]

I wish you said what soho used to be called cuz i wnet into a deep rabbithole into the history of nyc . Wich wasnt bad. But now im back to this video lol. So thank you. Im too high for this lo

[@DrRichardMarques]

Amazing!!

[@Mrwhosetheboss01]

🆙🆙🆙🆙Thanks for the feedback, Expect more videos very soon Send a direct message I have something for you..

[@jumbajambaddada191]

Potts with the easter egg Sperm Whale (candle) sweater. I see you Nick.

[@amsterdamwalks]

Nice video, new subscriber from Amsterdam. No lack of great architecture there neither! ;-)

[@drivingottawa]

What an amazing film! Great content!

[@Dev1nci]

0:30 look at those single colours 😮

[@accesstotheredcarpet]

I work in NYC and been to Soho so many times and never really noticed those architectural elements that would catch my eye. I guess they are not a wow factor in NYC when everything looks asymmetrical. Not the same as European architecture that I find more intriguing than NYC.

[@corneliuswhite5139]

Very interesting!

[@Mrwhosetheboss01]

🆙🆙🆙🆙Thanks for the feedback, Expect more videos very soon Send a direct message I have something for you..

[@alphabah9822]

1- The Constable Store 2- Haughwout Building 3- 504 Broadway New York NY 4- 478 Broadway New York NY 5- 513-519 Broadway New York NY 6- 40 Bond St New York NY 7- The Little Singer Building

[@plumeretbonnet]

thank you

[@jayski9410]

I had always wondered if the cast iron was structural or just a curtain wall hung on the front of the building. And if architectural salvage people rescue these old castings for creative reuse, possibly on interiors?

[@vnkman4391]

This is a great series. Congrats. Keep 'em coming.

[@sfowler1017]

This is such a great series. More, more!

[@AllStars2525]

Nick provides in-depth history of the NYC buildings and architecture. Between him and Michael, I'd be willing to pay for a week long architectural tour when I visit the city.

[@franciskeyes]

Thank you, Nick, for your eye-opening tours.

[@bonakdar.architecture]

Have to visit this district next time I’m in town. Great Video ❤

[@mikev.2945]

Highly recommended. SoHo and Greenwich Village are my favorite places to walk due to the history and interesting architecture. The second building he featured - E.V. Haughwout Building - I particularly love. Tons of history with that one including the first passenger elevator; and when it was a department store, Mary Todd Lincoln had White House china painted there.

[@bonakdar.architecture]

@@mikev.2945 Thank you very much 😁I didn't know that about the E.V. Haughwout. Really cool stuff.

[@lillianbarker4292]

I’m sure the windows originally opened. What were they made of and what was the design?

[@gargle99]

Lots of great info but I had to cut the playback speed to 90% to understand this guy

[@xxryanmichael32xx]

My day just got so much better

[@PfadiHH]

Really interesting and beautiful! Are these buildings listed/protected?

[@hejiranyc]

Pretty much the entirety of SoHo and NoHo have been designated historic districts. However, that being said, the Marxist/socialist element of NYC government, spurred on by former mayor DeBlasio, are currently trying to turn SoHo into an "affordable housing" neighborhood, i.e., The Projects. It seems that these radical leftwingnuts will not stop until they have ruined everything that smacks of Eurocentrism in the name of "social justice."

[@hkkhgffh3613]

Wickid stuff!

[@vincentgoupil180]

Thanks for the walk Minor detail: 0:22 at the northeast corner of Broadway and Houston where Elm St. and Baxter converge on the map there's a building labeled *Polizei* (German for Police). Was this due to German Immigrants demographics around that time ?

[@WarpedHorizon]

Bring the polychrome back!

[@sm3675]

Visit Montreal!!

[@babbaganush9659]

This is the neighborhood where they film alot of NYC-based films. I've never seen another neighborhood that resembles it.

[@catherine1057]

Absolutely fascinating, thank you so much

[@ramparkash2318]

Catherine. Ur saying absolutely right. Really fascinating as you.

[@SPACEDOUT19]

A great video. Historic.

[@GTOBlackjack]

does this guy say houston like house ton?

[@JDLS-v8p]

Nick’s awesome. I love this series.

[@brianheffernan8982]

Have most of these old buildings been converted to apartments and condos?

[@epicn]

Many are shops on the ground floor, yeah, a lot of the upper floors are studio apartments. Very expensive neighborhood as well

[@gringdoo]

Cool and interesting Soho tour. Great to be able to watched, thank you so much for sharing.

[@life-is-here]

This video provides an interesting look at the history of Soho's cast iron district and its transformation into a luxury residential neighborhood. Thanks, @life-is-here

[@pascale5667]

The pace of his delivery felt frenetic & didn't make it easy to hear & process each point.

[@rafaeldelahoz5565]

Great host

[@lilysinthang]

AD please do an Open door visit to Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas. Would love to see them.

[@susanavenir]

Delightful!

[@mossbawi]

Was pun intended when Nick said that it was "ironic" at 4:45?🥬

[@Mr21scott]

These videos are great, and he does a great job. Would love to see more. Thanks.

[@fcbarcelona-clashroyale4778]

I was looking for Soho in London 😂

[@charissemodeste6489]

This was very informative.. Thank you.

[@NiKiMa023]

Anyone else remember when 504 was Canal Jeans?

[@eduardvandijk3431]

More this, less celebrity homes.

[@piipoo147]

I love New York