Style Definition
The "Wedding Cake" style refers to buildings with many distinct
tiers, each set back from the one below resulting in a shape like a
wedding cake. The style is almost exclusive to New York City, thanks to
the 1916 zoning code ( prompted by the "shocking" height and
verticality of the
EQUITABLE
BUILDING ) which forced buildings to reduce their shadows at street
level, but occasional examples are found in other cities with dense
business districts.
Wedding Cake buildings range across a
spectrum of early-to-mid-20th century stylistic treatments, some with
eclectic or art moderne facades and some modern or international. The
buildings can be grouped into one style because their setbacks are usually
their most distinguishing design feature.
Some of the major architecture firms which
were most active in this style were Buchman
& Kahn, Emery
Roth & Sons, and Sylvan
Bien.
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