Aerial View of Manhattan, 1967

Carried out with archaeological intention, the work completed by Danny Lyon in 1967, when he was just 25 years old, is a unique and imperishable document on twenty-four hectares of building in the heart of New York prior to their demolition in a wave of real estate speculation. His photographs, often before and after shots of an urban block, reflect the debate that began in 1960 between those in favor of the friendlier, more liveable city with small-town customs defended by Jane Jacobs, and the followers of the urban renovation model based on speculative interests backed by Robert Moses. The following pages show some of the images that portray Lower Manhattan in flux...
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