Today, we’re starting a really exciting series. Looking at unique architectural details of historic masonry facades. Some of the details that we will look at are made from materials other than masonry, but they are part of the fabric of the overall masonry facade of historic buildings. We see these elements throughout many historic neighborhoods in Washington. DC. These elements are often deserving of the credit for the historic charm and unique aesthetic that we attribute to historic masonry buildings. Although here at Infinity Design Solutions, we happen to love brick, it isn’t always the brick itself, not the field areas of common bonds or even the Flemish bonds that we find in the field of the facades, that gives the building its flare. Normally it’s actually the elements at the openings, architectural details, friezes, cornices and corners of the facades that give the majority of the building character. We will look at a long series of these elements one by one. Similar to the Historic Masonry Encyclopedia on our website, this series of blogs is a place where someone can learn a lot about masonry and architecture from a type of perspective like a guide. These elements are only slightly grouped, but not presented in an alphabetical or chronological type of order. Architectural FriezeThe picture below shows an architectural frieze in a historic brick masonry historic building. This particular masonry architectural frieze is hand carved and uses a design of a Vitruvian wave. The Vitruvian wave Is used in many different historic masonry facade architectural details. This classical element of design is inspired by the sculptures crafted by the ancient Roman architect Vitruvius. It embodies a combination of aesthetic decor, historic significance, and geometric repetition. The design is a sign of superior craftsmanship. The wave pattern, characterized by a geometric repetition of curves, creates a sense of demarcation and balance. This not only adds visual interest to the facade but also conveys a decorative elegance that connects with the historical context of the classical building style. Moreover, the Vitruvian wave serves a practical purpose in the context of masonry friezes. As a hand-carved element, it allows for intricate detailing and craftsmanship, showcasing the skill and artistry of the craftsmen involved in the construction of the building. The undulating curves of the wave design create a pronounced shadow, highlighting the depth of the surface details and provide a tactile dimension to the facade, inviting a sensory engagement with the building’s exterior. Architectural friezes, in general, have a significant role in the overall design and functionality of a building facade. Positioned horizontally along the exterior, often between the architrave and cornice, but lower in this cases, a frieze serves as a transitional element that connects various architectural components. In the case of historic masonry facades, friezes often play a role in unifying the overall aesthetic, providing a cohesive visual narrative that enhances the building’s character. Beyond their aesthetic function, architectural friezes also serve practical purposes. They act as a protective ledge when protruding or proud of the remainder of the field of the planar facade, shielding this greater portion of the building from the elements. In the case of masonry facades, where exposure to weathering is a concern, a well-crafted frieze can help shed rainwater a small but effective increment away from the building, preventing increased residual exposure and resulting accelerated deterioration to the underlying structure. Friezes can also be functionally used to conceal structural elements or transitions between different materials, contributing to a continuous an integral exterior appearance. The architectural frieze, in turn, serves both aesthetic and practical functions, contributing to the overall visual narrative of the building while offering a protruding edge or slight lip to deflect precipitation and rainfall protection to the field of the historic brick facade. The dual nature of design and purpose in these architectural elements is common but often subtle and not readily apparent in historic brick building facades. As a side commentary, it should be noted that in the picture shown here, of the Vitruvian wave frieze, this particular building is beautiful and valuable. It should be treated like a historic building reflecting details of classical architecture and it should be preserved and cared for with professional stewardship. The brick work at this building, although large and expensive, must be maintained and you can clearly see even in this one single photograph that the mortar is deteriorated and has voids between the bricks. Historic brick pointing and repointing is required and should be conducted in a professional manner to remove the deteriorated mortar at the outside face of the brick and replace it with proper lime mortar to reflect and coordinate with the required compressive maximum strength and porosity of the existing remaining brick mortar. Structural Retaining PlateThe use of structural retaining plates, commonly referred to as earthquake washers or Barnstars, in Washington DC’s brick buildings help with the specific challenges posed by structural deflection and deformation forces on traditional masonry structures. These plates and associated internally hidden tie rods, bolts and supports play a role in supporting the structural rigidity of historic buildings. The science and engineering behind structural retaining plates focus on their capacity to dissipate and redistribute deteriorative forces, for the unique vulnerabilities related to deflection and characteristics of natural decay on historic brick buildings, such as: deterioration, decline, atrophy, degradation and degeneration. Structural retaining plates, often designed in a distinctive star shape, in Washington DC, are strategically placed at critical areas within a building’s structure. For example, the midspan field areas of brick walls are often the most susceptible to lateral deflection. Made from materials like steel, in modern times and cat iron, these washers provide a point of retention to allow controlled but limited movement during seismic events. The star-like design is mostly decorative, but the reach of the expanse extends to the arms which create articulation points that enable the controlled displacement of forces, possibly slightly reducing the risk of concentrated stress points in the brick masonry. Here in these example. We show rectalinear cut steel plates which have been used just like the more decorative alternatives of diamonds, round disks and stars. These square steel plates might miss some of the decorative characters of the stars and diamond shape plates, but they’re almost as effective in retaining the shape of the facade and resisting deflection. The engineering principles behind structural retaining plates are centered around two goals: resisting outward deflection, like spreading, and resisting seismic forces. In Washington DC, where preserving the historic integrity of the city is financially valuable (and often a requirement), structural retaining plates offer a nuanced yet somewhat effective solution. By somewhat discreetly integrating these plates and associated interior rod connections into key locations, restoration specialists, like Infinity Design Solutions, can extend the physical reach of the interior structural frame tonadd strength and resilience to brick building facades without significantly compromising their architectural aesthetics. The picture below shows one of the most classic Washington DC resistance plate shapes: the iconic 5-pointed cast iron star. These particular shapes have become more popular in recent years because of the embrace of the gentrifying neighborhoods of Washington DC. The associated commercialization and the pairing of commercialization with localization connects to an embrace of localized elements. This cultural connection reflects both the national relevance of DC as the nation’s capitol and the stars in both the national American flag and the DC flag. The application of structural retaining plates in Washington DC’s brick buildings is an example of integration of engineering with the finer things like the architectural elegance or character expected of historic brick buildings. They safeguard historic facades, and structures while complimenting their architectural aesthetic in an effort to balance preservation and resilience in our historic built environment. Carved Stone ReliefA relief sculpture is a three-dimensional carving or casting that projects from a flat background. Most we see in architectural applications in Washington DC are recessed. Like freestanding sculptures, relief sculptures remain attached to a surface, whether it’s a wall, panel, or another architectural element. These sculptures are characterized by the illusion of depth, giving the impression that the depicted figures or scenes are emerging from the background. Like the Vitruvian Wave we discussed above, there are other stone relief carvings often implemented or placed directly into areas of a masonry facade for ornamentation and/or architectural and esthetic character. Stone, or terracotta, elements can be and are often set or cast directly into brick. Like the stone frieze shown above, the remainder of the building facade is mostly made from historic brick. Here in this example below, conversely, we show a stone relief carved from a material similar to the remainder of the majority of the stone facade. This particular stone happens to be a sandstone, which like limestone, is much softer than granite and therein easier to carve. In architectural terms, the example below would be considered a low relief. There are several types of relief sculptures commonly found in architecture and masonry facades, described by their relative depth. In low-relief sculptures, the figures or subjects project only slightly from the background. The depth of the carving is minimal, creating a subtle play of light and shadow. Low-relief sculptures are often found on architectural friezes, like the ones shown here, where the carved elements are integrated into the overall design without protruding too prominently. High-relief sculptures feature more pronounced projections from the background, creating a greater sense of depth and dimensionality. The figures in high-relief sculptures appear to be more detached from the surface, casting more distinct shadows. These types of reliefs are commonly used for decorative elements on buildings, adding a sense of dynamism and visual interest. Historic masonry upkeep and preservationTo properly maintain, repair, and care for these historic buildings, a knowledge, interest and understanding of historic building principles is required. Here in Washington DC, historic masonry buildings are extremely expensive and the amount of financial loss caused by improper repointing and low quality construction is staggering. However, in addition to the direct financial value of the property, there is also a cultural loss when historic buildings are damaged. By comparison, consider neighboring poor cities, when historic buildings are damaged, it’s not just the loss of value to the property owner, there’s also a loss to all inhabitants and visitors of a city, present and future, who care about architecture, history, and culture. We encourage all of our clients, and all readers of this article and to our blog in general, to prioritize the historic built environment of Washington DC and neighborhoods such as Capitol Hill, Dupont Circle, and Georgetown and become educated on on the difference between proper historic preservation versus improper work which leads to significant damage to the historic fabric of a building. From a conservation and preservation perspective, several approaches can be taken to improve conditions related to deteriorated historic brick masonry. Primarily, lime mortar brick joints and low temperature fired soft red clay bricks should be inspected and checked on a routine maintenance schedule, either seasonally or at least annually. If brick masonry is kept in good condition, the life of embedded wood elements can be significantly extended. Hire a professional contractor which specializes, understands and appreciates historic construction elements and buildings. You can learn a lot more on our blog. Feel free to check it out. If you have questions about the historic masonry of your building in Washington DC, contact us or fill out the webform below and drop us a line. We will be in touch if we can help. In this coming week’s article, we’ll take another look at a similar relief but explore how pediments and tympanums were used to decorate historic gables and facades. <p>The post Architectural Details in Masonry Facades – Part I first appeared on Infinity Design Solutions.</p> Via https://www.ids-dmv.com/masonry/architectural-details-in-masonry-facades-part-i/
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About UsInfinity Design Solutions LLC (IDS) is a full service general contracting company in the heart of the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC. We focus on repair and renovation of buildings and facilities in both historic designated neighborhoods and the commercial-zoned central business district of the city. Follow Us
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