TEMPORARY PROTECTION
NUMBER 1

Temporary Protection
of Historic Stairways
During Rehabilitation Work

Charles E. Fisher
Technical Preservation Services
National Park Service

Villard Houses
New York, NY

The original residences known as the Villard Houses were designed by the firm of McKim, Mead and White and constructed in the 1880s in the style of a Neo-Italian Renaissance palazzo. The interiors of the buildings contain a remarkably high quality of design and workmanship with extensive use of decorative paintings, mosaics, paneling and marble. The elegant interior staircases which contribute to the richness of the interior spaces were constructed in a variety of designs and materials (see figure 1).

In the late 1970s the Villard Houses were adapted to serve as function rooms for an adjacent hotel while portions were retained for use as existing offices. As part of the project, a system was designed for fitting the staircases with temporary protective coverings to avoid damage while still allowing for their use in the course of the extensive renovation work.