Buffalo Rising Online

Just the sort of thing that people will point and laugh at in the future, like the mansard-esque roofs that were pasted on everything in the 1970s. Princeton Elms is correct. Cupolas were common in Greek Revival houses (1840s-1860s) and are not part of the stylistic vocabulary of houses of this type and vintage.

Please- this isn't in a historic district- save your ire for the piece-by-piece destruction occuring in our preservation districts, endorsed by the Preservation Board. Kudos to the principals involved with this project- some of us appreciate what you're doing. I think it looks great- sure beats a vacant house or empty lot! Guess that's what the architectural purists would rather see. Sad.

I think it is pretty cool. It yields a great third floor space as well and adds a bit of mystery to the neighborhood.

I don't see Princeton Elms or MisterChips saying they'd rather see a vacant house. I think they were responding to the rather odd "It is unknown if the circa-1900 home originally had a cupola" argument that the article seems to advance. It's pretty clear that the house never had a cupola for the reasons PE and MC provide, so why not just come out and say, "The house never had a cupola, but the owners thought it would be a great idea."

Platt4 is right thought, the Preservation Board offers extremely weak and arbitrary support of the Preservation Districts allowing owners to get away with pretty well anything.

Since I never got my promised Armchair Architect t-shirt I'll refrain from saying anything more.

Not everyone wants the stuffiness of most historically accurate house. Many people around Buffalo butcher the authentic details of the wonderful old architecture, even contemporizing classic old houses. Too many put up vinyl siding and metal doors, and cheap out of scale pressure treated railings. That’s design that really ruins a house.

I think this cupola is fantastic, and adds real interest to the look and space while still complimenting the original design. It is exciting and stylish and makes me want to see the interior. It works for me.

Ire? Hardly. Y'all have yet to see my ire.

Charger is right. The author seems to suggest that maybe there was a cupola before, so this one can be justified on historic terms. As others pointed out, it may well be justifiable on other terms--visual interest, unexpectedness, whatever. All I did was point out that it cannot be justified on historic terms.

And I also want to correct myself. Cupolas were part of italianate houses, not Greek Revival ones.

Oh, and Dave, the people who do not want "the stuffiness of historically accurate houses" are the ones putting up the vinyl siding, pressure treating railings, and the other awful you rightly condemn. You can't have it both ways.

Hey, Newell, I'd make fewer typos (Italianate should be capitalized, treated not treating, and awful STUFF) if I could boost the font size in the composing window just like I can boost the font size when I read BRO. Hard to get it right when you're writing in 6 point type.

Apologies to everyone else.