Slipcover (architecture)

In architecture, a slipcover is a modification of an older building facing by adding a new ornamental layer.

The slipcover was a popular treatment in the United States after World War II, as early twentieth-century building styles had fallen out of fashion. Constructing a slipcover with a contemporary design over an existing building was a less expensive alternative to tearing down and building anew. Sometimes attachments of the slipcover caused damage to the original facings. At other times, slipcovers have protected the original facings from deterioration.

Slipcovers are used on structures. "Slipcovered buildings are those structures whose facade have been sheathed in a newer material which partially or completely masks the original"

1. Architecture WikiProject [1]

History of Slipcovers

In the US, the slipcovering of buildings sparked prominence from the mid-1940s to the 1960s . Building owners applied these slipcovers to their old historic buildings in an effort to refresh their business and create a more modern appearance .

Following the Second World War, the architectural styles that were popular prior to the war were considered “passé” and were thought to not truly represent the ambitions of the “forward-thinking generation” . Hence, there became an indulgence in new, modern styles of Victorian, Classic Revival, Art Deco, and more early twentieth-century American commercial styles .

The Modern movement in architecture ignited the beginning of the architectural revolution. This was pioneered by architects and courageous clients who sought “innovative residential and institutional buildings” . Shopkeepers across the US were ready to join the movement by the middle of the 1930s thanks to the combination of architectural-design competitions and clever architectural promotions . As modernist buildings become historic, slipcovered structures create challenges for the preservation community in terms of evaluating and treating them. A majority of these slipcovered buildings have been standing for more than 50 years, the usual interval at which a building can be designated historic . It is critical to understand the evolution of design, the options for designation, and the treatment protocols.

Slipcovers are prevalently seen in the commercial sector. There has been rapid acceptance of modern architecture in this sector, as this could be the storefronts or movie theatres that utilise slipcovers on many streets around the world .

There are frequent renovations to storefronts consistently, to adapt for new businesses or for a renewal of style . The use of slipcovers became more efficient and recognised when the architectural media, the sign industry, and the marketing departments of building-product industries became involved and promoted their products for the use of slipcovering . Additionally, trade publications from retailers and sign companies with a modernisation message were widely distributed.

Timeline of Modern Slipcover Architectural Development

Mid 1940s: Introduced at this time in the mid-20th century, prominently in the US .

1950s-1970s: The use of slipcovers was applied to many downtown Wisconsin buildings in these decades. Aluminium companies such as the Aluminium Company of America (Alcoa) started to manufacture and sell the large panels used for slipcovers.

Use of Slipcovers

Beneath the prefabricated metal panels or other materials that may have been used to construct a slipcover for a building, there is a concealed façade, which may be one of cultural or historical significance. One of the reasons for the use of slipcovers on buildings is that the historic appearance of the building can be restored at any time, by removing the slipcover .

The use of slipcovers has also been applied for business owners in the same area, who have covered their historic building fronts to obtain a visible “modernisation” of the area. Hence, slipcovers have the ability to change the overall expression of an area .

With slipcovers, sometimes the outside may relate to the inside of the building, while sometimes it may not. Nowadays, what is desired from a slipcover is not usually a classical façade, as inflation has led to the meticulous detail of classical styles to be too expensive .

Partially or completely covering a building can mask its original character, detail, and ornamentation, or the slipcover can even obliterate the original .

Structural Elements

Popular materials used in the construction of slipcovers include

• aluminium
• sheet metal
• plaster
• marble
• cast iron
• brick
• stone
• terra cotta

Slipcovers were most often made of aluminium or sheet metal . The panels used for slipcovering buildings are usually produced in industrial plants. The structural elements are then shipped to the site of use and erected over the existing façade . It is a complicated and delicate task to preserve modern buildings and those that have changed over time .

Popular materials such as plaster and marble caused extensive damage to the original facade beneath their installation .

Older buildings often had permanent exterior walls made of cast iron, brick, stone, and terracotta . Because these materials were integral to the façade, removing them during a cosmetic update was challenging. The majority of the time, they were simply covered over and, despite some damage, remain intact under the slipcovers . Some slipcovers have helped preserve the architectural details behind them by concealing them with their mask . Moreover, it varies in how much the slipcover altered the original appearance of the building.

Notable Examples

Subheading 4.1: Downtown Houston – Main Street Central Business District Subheading 4.2: Racine, Wisconsin – Buffham Block, 1893