The New York Times have called roof cornices 'The Crowning Glory’ of NYC architecture in the Early 20th century. Yet these historic pieces of architectural ingenuity have largely disappeared from modern building practices. Built of galvanized iron, copper and terra cotta, the cornice was the cherry on top of NYC beautiful historic buildings. The Brooks Brothers building, at Madison and 44th Street is a superb example of a refined cornice. Sadly, the anti-cornice movement goes hand in hand with the “who-cares” tide of NYC architecture. Buildings after building were made in “modern” designs, seeking to become taller and sleeker. This makes cornice placement difficult.
In today’s world the city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development has adopted a cornice restoration plan as part of its overall housing strategy in the Harlem and Hamilton Heights area. Cassandra A. Vernon, an agency spokeswoman urges developers to include cornices in their designs. She seeks to encourage people to repair and replace cornices on rehabilitated buildings.
Paintworks and Decorating is proud to be one of the few companies experienced to handle this delicate restoration. We see cornices as a major piece of NYC architectural history and wish to keep the artistic tradition alive. The very soul of New York has slowly been deteriorated by the destruction of some of our most historic constructions. With our 25 years of experience we seek to maintain NYC’s rich art and history.
With the easy renting of one scissor lift the our team can restore your historic building's details to their former glory. With a few precise coats of Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior premium paint your cornice will last for future generations to appreciate and admire.
