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From Casements to Double-Hung | The World of Windows
New York City's skyline is a testament to architectural innovation and diversity. One key element that contributes to the uniqueness of its buildings is the variety of windows used. From historic brownstones to modern skyscrapers, the windows in NYC homes and buildings showcase a rich tapestry of styles and functionalities.
New York City's skyline is a testament to architectural innovation and diversity. One key element that contributes to the uniqueness of its buildings is the variety of windows used. From historic brownstones to modern skyscrapers, the windows in NYC homes and buildings showcase a rich tapestry of styles and functionalities.
Classic Double-Hung Windows: Versatile and Functional
In many of New York City's traditional brownstones and historic buildings, you'll find classic double-hung windows. These windows consist of two sashes that slide vertically, allowing for easy ventilation and maintenance. They are not only aesthetically pleasing but also evoke a sense of timeless elegance.
Casement Windows: Contemporary Elegance
Modern architecture in NYC often embraces casement windows. These windows are hinged on one side and open outward like a door, providing unobstructed views and excellent ventilation. Their sleek design complements contemporary buildings, and they are commonly found in high-rise apartments and office spaces.
Bay and Bow Windows: Architectural Statements
Bay windows add a touch of charm to residential buildings in New York City. These projecting windows create additional space within a room and offer panoramic views of the city. They are a popular choice for brownstones and townhouses, providing both architectural interest and functionality.
Picture Windows: Frame Your View
Picture windows are fixed and do not open, serving as large, unobstructed frames to showcase scenic views or allow abundant natural light into a room. These windows are perfect for highlighting architectural features and are often used in combination with other window types to create a customized look.
Historical Stained Glass Windows: Intricate and Decorative
Some of NYC's older churches, cathedrals, and historic buildings showcase the beauty of stained glass windows. These intricate artworks add a religious or artistic element to the architecture, telling stories through vibrant colors and detailed designs. Stained glass windows are a nod to the city's rich history and cultural diversity.
Tilt and Turn Windows: Modern and Functional
Tilt and turn windows are a versatile option increasingly seen in modern NYC buildings. These windows can be tilted for ventilation or opened fully like a casement window. Their flexibility in design and functionality makes them suitable for a variety of architectural styles.
Energy-Efficient Windows: Future in Sustainability
As sustainability becomes a priority, energy-efficient windows are gaining popularity in New York City. These windows are designed to reduce heat loss, improve insulation, and lower energy bills. They come in various styles and materials, aligning with the city's commitment to a greener future.
The diverse array of windows in New York City's buildings reflects the city's architectural evolution over the years. From classic double-hung windows to modern, energy-efficient designs, each style contributes to the unique character of the cityscape. Whether you're strolling through historic neighborhoods or gazing at the skyline from a high-rise, the windows of NYC tell a captivating story of innovation, aesthetics, and functionality.
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A Window into the Past | Upper Central Park West
Nestled along West 95th Street in New York City's Upper Central Park West Westside Landmarks Historic District stand four enchanting Row Houses that have withstood the test of time.
Nestled along West 95th Street in New York City's Upper Central Park West Westside Landmarks Historic District stand four enchanting Row Houses that have withstood the test of time. Built between 1888-1889 in the Baux-Arts Style by the visionary developer George Holiday, these Carved Limestone houses with Mansard Slate Roofs are a testament to the city's rich architectural heritage. Recently, we had the privilege of completing the Marvin Ultimate Custom Painted Double Hung G2 Window Replacement for one of these lovingly restored Town Houses, unlocking a window into the past.
A Glimpse into History
George Holiday, a man of many talents, acted as his own architect, designer, and builder for the four high-end residences at 10 through 16 West 95th Street. The Neoclassical homes were meticulously constructed in an A-B-B-A configuration, showcasing Holiday's commitment to architectural finesse and attention to detail.
The mirror-image center houses, Numbers 12 and 14, boast arched openings with Variation Six Style at the parlor level, a bowed bay at the second, and pedimented windows at the third. The fourth floor is adorned with a slate-shingled mansard featuring windows grouped within a single dormer, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication to these historic gems. Originally, these architectural marvels were designed with One-over-One Double-Hung/Wood Windows, a hallmark of the late 19th-century construction.
Preserving the Legacy
In our recent project, we undertook the task of replacing the aging windows with Marvin Ultimate Custom Painted Double Hung G2 Windows. This meticulous process aimed not only to enhance the energy efficiency and functionality of the homes but also to preserve the historical charm embedded in every detail.
These windows seamlessly blend modern technology with timeless design, ensuring that the new windows complement the unique character of the Row Houses. The custom paint finish adds a touch of authenticity, mirroring the aesthetic nuances of the original windows while providing the benefits of advanced materials and construction techniques.
The completion of the West 95th Street project stands as a tribute to the architectural legacy of George Holiday and the bygone era of New York City's Upper Central Park West Westside Landmarks Historic District. It is a celebration of the past, present, and future, demonstrating how thoughtful preservation and modern innovations can coexist harmoniously. As we gaze through these newly installed windows, we not only witness the beauty of the moment but also honor the enduring spirit of a bygone era.
Happy 143rd birthday, Reade Street project!
Our Reade Street project turns 143 years old in August. We’re installing bespoke high performance windows in this five-story Tribeca Victorian jewel.
Our Reade Street project is nearly 143 years old! We’re installing bespoke windows in this Tribeca gem.
Built in August of 1878, owner William Zschwetske commissioned architect John B. McIntyre to design a commercial building. McIntryre didn’t disappoint. The first floor’s cast iron storefront serves as the base for four white marble floors above.
Fluted Corinthian columns frame the tall windows on the second floor, further detailed with French Second Empire pediments, leafy scrolled brackets, and medallions set in wave-like scrollwork. The treatments get simpler with each consecutive floor, though a metal fire escape masks the gorgeous details.
Two triangular Renaissance Revival pediments bookend a centered Second Empire pediment on the third floor.
The fourth floor has a single Renaissance pediment, and two flat lintels.
The fifth floor has three projecting lintels held up by unadorned brackets. Above sits a pressed metal cornice.
Despite the years, and many owners and industries taking residence, the building remains a Victorian jewel. The 1879 storefront survives surprisingly intact, and the the building hosts a spacious high-end apartment on each of the upper four floors.
The fifth floor of 92 Reade Street has the simplest exterior window treatments, with unadorned brackets and lintels.
The cast iron ground floor of this Tribeca landmark is topped with increasingly simpler marble window treatments.
Leafy corbels adorn the second floor windows of No. 92 Reade Street.
An interior view of the bespoke windows installed in the high-end Tribeca apartments.
A new act for an orangerie
Historical Windows of New York is tackling a National Historic Trust property: helping to transform Kykuit’s orangerie into the new David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center. Historically appropriate, yet high performance windows are key to meeting the Rockefeller Brothers Fund sustainability goals while honoring the history of the estate.
Historical Windows of New York is playing an integral part in breathing new life into Kykuit’s former orangerie and conservatory. Kykuit was home to four generations of the Rockefeller family, with the name inspired by the Dutch word for “look out.” The Pocantico Hills estate is set above the Hudson River, with expansive views of the river and Palisades, outside of Tarrytown, New York.
The orangerie sometime prior to 1933 (Library of Congress).
Kykuit’s orangerie in its heyday (Rockefeller Brothers Fund).
John D. Rockefeller, once the richest man in America, commissioned William Delano and Chester Aldrich to design Kykuit in 1908. Just five years later, architect William Bosworth altered the property into the Beaux Arts villa it is today, constructed of local fieldstone and Indiana limestone. Bosworth also redesigned the gardens, after John Rockefeller found the original Frederic Law Olmstead design lacking.
Kykuit was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976, and in 1979 Nelson Rockefeller bequeathed his portion of the estate to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Kykuit is maintained by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, Historic Hudson Valley provides public visitation services.
The orangerie was modeled after the Palace of Versailles. It served as a home for orange and other citrus trees, but after World War II was mostly utilized as storage. The Rockefeller Brothers Fund announced in 2019 their intention to create the David Rockefeller Creative Arts Center, transforming the long-dormant orangerie into a multipurpose performance and rehearsal space with an art gallery and combined studio-classroom space for community programs.
The orangerie front today.
Work is underway in the interior.
The side of the orangerie.
This is where we come in: in accordance with the Rockefeller Brothers Fund’s commitment to sustainable development, the orangerie will be a net-zero building with the goal of achieving platinum LEED certification. Custom high performance windows that are both energy efficient and historically appropriate are key to this transformation. The architect is also planning a nearby solar panel array and geothermal fields to produce more energy than the building consumes, and a rain garden to reduce the impacts of stormwater.
We plan to install the windows later this year.
From modest stable to loft-style condo in the West Village
Historical Windows of New York is hard at work bringing this Perry Street building’s fenestration into the 21st century with custom, high-performance thermally broken double pane steel windows and doors.
Our team is hard at work on our Perry Street project.
A new life for this old stable in the West Village.
The building was designed by Arthur M. Duncan and built in 1908. This Neo-classical style stable building is undergoing a transformation to high end loft-style condos, though with a close eye to meet historical standards. It is a landmarked building in the Greenwich Village Historic District Extension.
Replacing the steel windows and doors of the penthouse in a century old building is not for the faint of heart. Working in stone presents a unique challenge. It’s less forgiving than wood or even brick. Stone means extreme attention to every detail from field measurements, trim specifications, fabrication, setting techniques, and finish carpentry and expert caulking.
Precision work at its best.
What a city view on a spring day.
We’re installing high performance thermally broken double pane steel windows and doors throughout the unit. These advanced windows bring the penthouse’s fenestration into the twenty-first century, but their simplicity is a nod to the building’s origin as a stable.
Giant windows fit for a penthouse.
Reaching new heights at The Apthorp
The Apthorp is one of our favorite buildings to work in. We’re nearing our 500th window replacement in this magnificent landmark building. Most recently, we installed custom rectangular and arched mahogany double-hung windows from Parrett Windows & Doors in a penthouse apartment. The high performance windows are operated with brass weight and chains and are trickle vented.
The Apthorp is one of our favorite buildings to work in. We’re nearing our 500th window replacement in this magnificent landmark building.
Most recently, we installed custom rectangular and arched mahogany double-hung windows from Parrett Windows & Doors in a penthouse apartment. The high performance windows are operated with brass weight and chains and are trickle vented.
Designed by architects Clinton & Russel for William Waldorf Astor, the Apthorp is built in an Italian Renaissance Revival style. Located on the Upper West Side, it is named for Charles Ward Apthorp, Astor’s great great grandfather who assembled a 300-acre farm in Manhattan in the 1760s. The Apthorp encompasses a full city block between Broadway, West End Avenue, and 78th and 79th Streets.
Constructed between 1906 and 1908, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Committee designated The Apthorp a landmark in 1969. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
The building is arranged around a central cobblestone courtyard. The first three stories of the structure serve as a rusticated base. The penthouse floor is capped by an ornate cornice that overhangs the facade. The windows are a mix of arched on the rusticated base and the penthouse, with rectangular-shaped windows between. Originally the building had ten apartments, but has since been divided into smaller units.
Oversized limestone sculptures of the Four Seasons are positioned over the central barrel-vaulted entrance. The entrance also includes an elaborate wrought-iron gate with a pair of gilded gazelle heads.
