Building Ornamentation

GVSHP’s program this evening, the Art of Exterior Ornamentation: A Talk with the Owners of Essex Works, features a local company that provides restoration of ornamentation on historic buildings. The craftsmanship involved in restoring damaged historic materials is always interesting, particularly for those of us who don’t work with our hands.

It is easy to overlook the importance of building ornamentation to the aesthetic of the building until it is gone. In the Village, exterior ornament on buildings can be made of many different materials: stone, terracotta, brick, and more. For those interested in learning more about these materials, the work involved in preserving them, or simply exploring the wide range of ornamentation to be found in NYC, there are many resources available. You can certainly join GVSHP at the program this evening. The New York Landmarks Conservancy offers a technical resources page where you can find out more about the maintenance and repair of historic building materials. Friends of Terra Cotta, a nonprofit organization, offers many publications for those interested in the distinctively-colored material. Finally, you can find some wonderful images of New York City building ornamentation on the site Foto Architecture.  The work of the site’s photographer, Bob Estremera, is featured in this post.