The storefront is one of the most important components of an older commercial building. Traditionally, it was valued for its commercial appeal and for its ability to draw customers into the building. It was designed to work in harmony with the upper facade of the building to form a cohesive whole. Often, however, the storefront is the part of the building that is changed the most. In downtown Zanesville, there are several examples of late 19th and early 20th century storefronts which have had minor or no changes made. Some examples have had parts of the storefront either removed or covered up. Other downtown storefronts have been removed entirely and replaced with modern materials.
(a) While each storefront is different, there are typical storefront treatments that characterized Zanesville's traditional commercial buildings. These same rules should guide storefront design and rehabilitation today.
(1) An emphasis on transparency. Large expanses of display windows and transoms are used to admit light into a typically windowless commercial space.
(2) A feeling of containment. The storefront is contained within the space intended for it. The opening is usually framed by a horizontal beam above and piers at each end.
(3) An entrance which draws you in. Entry doors in the storefront may be flush, but are often recessed to provide more display window area. Often a separate entry door is used to gain access to upper floors.
(4) An emphasis on compatibility. The storefront has a character which is appropriate to the building's architectural style.
Storefront design evolved and underwent changes between the time that downtown Zanesville's first commercial buildings were built in the early 1800's to around 1940. Typical features of the downtown's 19th century storefronts include large display windows flanking a recessed single or double door, with stone or cast iron columns providing support. The display windows were raised off the sidewalk by wood or metal panels known as bulkheads. A transom window often existed above the door. The horizontal lintel over the storefront usually contained the store's sign.
After the turn of the century, storefronts typically employed large transom windows across the entire front. Metal framing and trim began to be used in the display windows, giving the storefront a light and airy feel. During the 1920's and 1930's, innovations in storefront design included the use of curved glass, deeply-recessed entries, floating display islands, metal panels, and ceramic tile used in the bulkheads or other parts of the storefront.
(b) Recommendations for Storefronts.
(1) Sometimes cleaning and maintenance is all that is needed to enhance the original storefront's appearance. Try to change as little of the original storefront as possible.
(2) Removal of original storefront materials such as wooden bulkhead panels, original plate glass, stone or cast iron columns and piers, transom glass, original doors, and trim is not recommended. Make every effort to preserve such elements, even if they are not complete storefronts. Changes in size or area of original storefronts are not recommended.
(3) Stark, plain, or unattractive altered storefronts can sometimes be softened by simple and inexpensive efforts, such as painting, new signage, or installing canvas awnings. Another option is to restore an altered storefront to its original appearance, or as close to the original as is possible.
(4) Wood-shingled mansards, blank metal panels, diagonal siding, and board-and-batten surfaces would not have been used traditionally in storefront design and are therefore discouraged.
(5) "Theme restorations" (i.e. Tiffany, Colonial, Mediterranean, Bavarian, Wild West) and the use of ornate doorways, varnished surfaces, stained glass, and other similar features to make a storefront look older or more decorative should be avoided. Any reconstruction of a storefront should be based on physical evidence or historic photographs of the building.
(6) Buildings with multiple storefronts should be unified through the use of architecturally compatible materials, colors, details, awnings, signage, and lighting fixtures. All sides of a building should be architecturally consistent with the front facade and storefront.
(Ord. 96-115. Passed 8-26-96.)
PARTS OF A STOREFRONT
1. Cornice
2. Lintel
3. Storefront Post
4. Transom Window
5. Display Window
6. Door to Store
7. Door to Upper Floors
8. Panel |
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