Apartment interior vs. building exterior

New to this forum, but would appreciate any thoughts on this, esp. from experienced uws manhattan dwellers

When I'm inside, and looking out the window, I don't have to see it, so not very important. At the same time, if it's a really ugly building, you may not want to be seen walking into it. I'd be more concerned about how well it's maintained. If it's ugly because the paint is peeling, the replacement bricks don't match the originals very well, or replacement windows are a hash of styles, that may point to poor maintenance standards. If it's ugly, but beautifully maintained, I wouldn't be worried.

Buildings are exactly the opposite of people: it's what's beautiful inside that counts.

There are about five buildings in NY over six stories tall that are not rather homely on the outside. That puts NY ahead of all other US cities, but you basically can't arrange your life around exterior façades.

Not as important as the neighboring building exteriors.
Especially the ones opposite your window. :)

It's that old saw about the Pompidou being the best building in all of Paris. Because you can't see it when you're in it.

Actually that's a relatively new saw.

Guy de Maupassant, it is said, used to eat lunch at the restaurant in the Eiffel Tower because it was the one place in Paris from which one couldn't see the Eiffel Tower.

It was probably the Bastille before that.

It's quite important actually , more subliminal than obvious

... though I don't think they served much in the way of lunch at the Bastille....

This is helpful, thanks everyone!

http://streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/18293-building-facade-and-lobby