Weylin (former Williamsburg Savings Bank) / Brand Identity and Restoration
At this unique project, I was in charge of the brand identity, innterior signage, the restoration of two 1875 ceilings, and the concept and direction of the period wallpaper.
It was a joy, an immense challenge, and a huge responsibility towards the history of New York.
My opportunity to give back to this incredible city that has inspired and taught me so much.
In 1875, renowned architects George B. Post and Peter B. Wight designed the WILLIAMSBURGH SAVINGS BANK headquarters. One of the earliest Beaux Arts buildings in the country, setting the standard for institutional structures across the nation. In January 2014, its current owners completed an award winning restoration that meticulously revived every square inch into its original glory.
It was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, with its spectacular frescoed dome, intricate mosaics, luscious gold leaf trim, wooden carvings and period wallpaper, it exists as a rare vestige of another time now given life by a new generation of guests and celebration. (weylin.com)
Fresco Restoration: Sandra Spannan of See. Painting / Ph: Durston Saylor
Williamsburgh Savings Bank fully restored, 2014 The oculus dome: Fresco by Peter B. Wight, 1875.
Above: I assume the monogram was also designed by Peter B. Wight back in the 1870's.
Below: Weylin logo in colllaboration with Roballos Naab Calligraphy Studio.
Along with the Weylin logo, we also designed a signature for Weylin B. Seymour, who inspired the new venue’s name coincidentally sharing initials with the bank. We also brought back the gothic monogram created by Peter B. Wight, which can be seen engraved on all sorts of materials throughout the building since the original opening in 1875.
Weylin B. Seymour portrait by artist Juan Herrera.
Weylin Benjamin Seymour was a well-loved socialite, party host and fruitful matchmaker. Serendipitously he shared initials with the Williamsburgh Savings Bank, sealing his fate as our beloved namesake. We used the acronym to bring the old bank’s monogram back to life.
Weylin was able to pick up on the subtle signs of attraction between potential couples. This skill was honed at a very early age. During his time working at a barber shop, after listening in on a conversation about relationships, he suggested a potential match between client and shoe-maker Mr. Roy Albany, and New York hat designer, Bethany Beaver. The match was a success and the two were married shortly afterwards.
Encouraged by his accomplishment, Weylin introduced a second barber shop client to a different woman. This match was another success. Weylin quickly found fame as a matchmaker in New York and turned his matchmaking skills into a moneymaking business. Continuing to help his mother, he sold Mrs. Seymour's catering and celebration arranging services as a side product.
He never married and had no children. Instead, Weylin settled for helping everybody else around him and creating a happy, extended family for himself in New York. The truth about his private family life remains uncertain.
Williamsburgh Savings Bank, 1875.
The Architectural League of New York / Beaux Arts Ball 2014
Awards
Tony Goldman Award by The National Trust for Historic Preservation
Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award by The New York Landmarks Conservacy
New York State Historic Preservation Award by New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
Excellence in Historic Preservation Award by The Preservation League of New York State
Stanford White Award by The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art
Award for Adaptive Reuse by Palladio Awards
2014 Building Brooklyn Award by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
Team
Carlos Perez San Martin
Weylin
Executive Director
Juan A. Figueroa
Dome Voyagers
Developer
Stephen Bauer
Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers
Wallpaper Design & Manufacturing
Danillo Bonazza
Art & Mosaics / Mosaic Artist
Scott Holland
French polish and wood finishing
David Scott Parker
David Scott Parker Architects
Preservation Architect
Ernest Porcelli
Ernerst Porcelli Art Glass
Leaded Glass Restoration
Federico Rozo
Graphic Designer
Michael Smart
Urban Aesthetics
Materials Conservation Consultant
Sandra Spannan
see. Painting / see. Gold
Decorative Painting Conservation and Gilding
Vestibule Ceiling Restoration
Two of the main ceilings were completely re-drawn, digitalized then silkscreened and installed on top of the vestiges. The first one was the seven piece vestibule art.
Final drawing in collaboration with Steve Bauer of Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers.
The gold ink and screen printing made a big difference taking the art out of the digital world. One of the main challenges was to match the dome’s fresco color palette as the original High Gothic Victorian made by Peter B. Wight.
Screening at Bradbury & Bradbury Art Wallpapers.
Testing color in my studio. / Holly Fisher installing.
Balcony Ceiling Restoration
This piece is of a more gothic geometrical nature, but the details were incredibly challenging as well as the color palette, which included the moldings.
Period Wallpaper / Concept, Design and Direction
In 1875, most of the walls were painted with Peter B. Wight’s designs, but the vestiges were so scarce that the decision was to install wallpaper on the whole interior under a solid historic and conceptual guideline. We dedicated five rooms to Wight, reproducing his unique High Gothic Victorian style,
in collaboration with Steve Bauer of Bradbury & Bradbury. We designed a specific color palette for the moldings to work with the wallpaper in each room. The corridors and stair well have a more neutral style while each room totally different and living together both in an aesthetic and
historic fashion.
We went from Gothic Victorian to Victorian style, ending up in late 19th Century Aesthetic Period; which back then was being represented on various art genres.
The first corridor embraces with willow golden leaves and sunflowers. The elevator was also restored, being one of the three “bird cage elevators” left in New York.
Top: Christopher Dresser’s aesthetic room.
Bottom Left: The Persian Room.
Right: William Morris, originally designed for Queen Victoria.
We had to make the paper live together with the moldings and with the amazing woodwork.
Williamsburgh Savings Bank fully restored, 2014.
Photo by Durston Saylor.
I have the simplest tastes,
I am always satisfied with the best.
Oscar Wilde