When people say ‘brownstone,” they often are referencing any townhouse, regardless of its age. But this isn’t an all-encompassing term for Manhattan homes. While some New Yorkers are big fans of brownstones, others, like novelist Edith Wharton, are definitely not, writing that she and her family were “cursed with its universal chocolate-coloured coating of the most hideous stone ever quarried.” Love them or hate them, there are some things that need to be set straight about brownstones.
A true brownstone is actually made of brick — only the facade is made of brownstone.
A type of sandstone, brownstone can be pink, red, orange, or purple-ish in color depending on the minerals, clay, and other materials that make it up. Master craftsman and owner of J. Pontes, Inc., Jack Pontes, explains that the structural walls of a brownstone are always brick, and brownstone is a veneer that gets attached to the front brick wall using metal ties.
Some of the faces on brownstone facades memorialized their owners.
It used to be considered chic to have a celebrity depicted on a residence. Michael Devonshire, a New York City Landmarks commissioner and director of conservation at Jan Hird Pokorny Associates, has seen "numerous faces, most of them of mythical characters or even the building owner," on traditional brownstones. The one downside is that the carvings don’t fare well, since sandstone is absorptive and causes the facial features to wear away.
There’s a very practical reason why brownstones have stoops, and it’s not glamorous in the slightest.
A wildly distinctive feature of a classic NYC brownstone is its stoop. But the Dutch who built these homes back in the late 1800's didn’t add the stoops as an aesthetic touch - they built them to raise the parlors above flood waters, which more than likely were filled with horse manure. Some believe that NYC actually piled the horse manure so high that, when it rained, it would flood the streets and seep into people's basements. Yuck!
If you want to take a stroll through NYC to browse some of these buildings, check out the Upper West Side or Park Slope for the best examples of the heyday New York brownstone. For more fun facts about NYC buildings and living, connect with AMAA on Facebook and Twitter!
We are your source for special inspection and related services in New York and the entire metropolitan area. With over 50 years of experience, we are known for both our high standards and specialized services. We have supported the work of some of the largest and most prestigious developers, retailers and more. Call us today at 212.867.6720 or visit our website for more information.
No comments:
Post a Comment