Today, we are starting a multi-part series on the unique elements of historic brick architecture that are not easily effectively replicated in modern or contemporary construction. It’s not only often difficult to replicate historic elements of design and architecture, but sometimes attempts at such replication fails so badly that the poor quality of the forgery stands out looking very badly. Often, new buildings are placed in historic neighborhoods and are given requirements by the AHJ to include elements of historic details, as a type of conformity, but most often the differences are glaring. The adjacent picture shows a historic brick and Brownstone row building. This building, like many buildings in historic Urban environments, is in need of an extensive level of restoration and repair. overall though, the original historic elements are still apparent and even in a dilapidated form look beautiful. The hooded window and door lintels at the ground level, the elaborate cornice, the corbel supported balcony, the grand front stoop and recessed entryway are elements that highlight the beauty of the original architecture. The next picture below shows the beautiful historic masonry elements of this front building facade. The hand carved stonework is unique, it is rarely found in modern or contemporary masonry construction. You can learn more about brownstone construction at the following link. Although the architectural details of the original construction are incredibly beautiful and unique, there is significant deterioration to this particular Brownstone facade. Brownstone is a relatively weak stone, susceptible to acid rain and deterioration over time. in the picture below you can see significant deterioration at the facade around the front main entrance opening and at the front balcony guard rail. ![]() Throughout the life of this building, over 100 years old, there has been almost no significant masonry restoration. The individual panels of stone have not been repointed and the surface deterioration at the face of the Brownstone elements have not been repaired. Unique elements of architectureWhen you look over and survey the elements of a historic masonry facade, you can see there are several elements that are common in historic buildings that don’t really exist in modern construction. Modern alternatives may exist, but they’re noticeably different from their historic predecessors. The list below includes many of the different types of architectural elements common in historic brick buildings of Washington dc. We’ve talked about many of the items below and have even posted articles showcasing these types of elements:
The picture below shows a grand front stoop to a historic brick mansion now with an interior converted to many condominiums within the building. The building base is clad with at stone panel, likely a sandstone, possibly a limestone, but now that stone, along with the front stoop stringers and newells are now painted making it difficult to see the original stone surface. The main entrance to the building is recessed with a stone surround. The majority of contemporary or modern construction, even the most high-end and expensive or Elite type building designs will often use materials as alternatives to stone. would entryway surrounds our common, but these types of elements have significant downsides such as rot and deterioration over time. Even though this particular door opening is over 100 years old, it is held up very well and is still in its (near) original condition. Stone deteriorates very slowly. Brownstone as an alternative as shown in the first building displayed at the top of this article is a bit of an aberration. In contrast, other types of stone, such as granite or limestone, are generally harder and less porous, making them more resistant to weathering and erosion. Brick facades, when properly constructed and maintained and pointed or repointied, in a timely fashion, are also durable and can withstand the test of time. Brownstone is a type of sandstone that is relatively soft compared to other stone materials. It’s composed of grains of sand held together by natural cements. This composition makes it more susceptible to weathering and erosion over time. As well, brownstone is relatively porous, meaning it can absorb moisture and is more susceptible to water infiltration. When water enters the stone, it can cause cracks, spalling (surface peeling), and erosion. Within the grand entrance of this building there is an additional door, this type of installation is common in many buildings creating a vestibule to keep out the cold while people enter or exit the building. The door itself and the adjacent wainscoting are carved wood panels, adding to the aesthetic beauty of the entryway. The stone surround at the perimeter of this large door opening is several inches thick, proud of the adjacent substrate brick wall, cut with a pitching chisel by hand. Historic stone was shaped with a pitching chisel, and elements of carved stone were often used as door and window casings and headers in historic brick buildings for several reasons:
For example, brownstone was a common building material in some East Coast cities like New York, and its ease of carving and attractive color made it popular for decorative and structural purposes. As Brownstone constructions became popular in NYC, some of those designs made their way down to cities like Washington, DC. Using carved stone elements as door and window casings, lintels, and headers in brick buildings was a common practice, especially during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It combined the durability and strength of stone with the aesthetic and architectural needs of the building, resulting in structures that were not only functional but also visually appealing. Other buildings have similar Grand entryways, but in the picture below an alternative type of construction shows a landing before the front door with a turn in The stairway to limit the length of the stair treads into the public walkway. Some of the elements of the historic ironwork have been replaced, but in a manner that is relatively consistent with the design of the historic buildings of the time. The brickwork of the building in the pictures above was reported with a red mortar, similar to the motor of the original brickwork and similar to the color of the remaining bricks. whereas by comparison the brick in the pictures below has been reported with a white color mortar. Both buildings are built with pressed bricks with a relatively thin butter joint, however the joints of the brick work in the photo below. On the right hand side of the photo below, you can see a iron work type panel. this is either cast iron or made to replicate cast iron but it is not original to the construction of the building and has been applied as a decorative element. It doesn’t look bad, but is an example of the lengths people take at times to replicate historic design elements or at least the look of historic elements. Although it is inauthentic, it’s still an example that highlights the value of real authentic historic elements. If you look closely at the photograph above, you can see that the iron work has rusted and some of that iron oxide rust has leached down onto the white marble stone below at the stair treads and risers. Even though this particular ironwork installation is not historic, it’s still been here for some time and now that it is without care and upkeep it is beginning to deteriorate. 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. <p>The post Unique Elements of Historic Brick Architecture – PART I first appeared on Infinity Design Solutions.</p> Via https://www.ids-dmv.com/masonry/unique-elements-of-historic-brick-architecture-part-i/
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
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
|