The Strange Skyscraper With A Golden Roof

Daniel Bracewell • 23 February 2023

One of the most distinctive parts of a house is the roof, whether that is a carefully sloping shingled roof or a rooftop escape crafted by flat roof specialists, and in some cases will be the part of the home that stands out most.

With that said, few roofs stand out quite as much as the shimmering golden steeple that rests at the top of the New York Life Building, a notable skyscraper made in the Gothic Revival tradition that famously catches the light at sunrise and sunset.

It, therefore, manages to stand out even in a city with much taller and much grander buildings, but that was not always the intention of such a strange roof when designer Cass Gilbert brought his last great skyscraping vision to life after the Woolworth building and 90 West Street.

Its location, 51 Madison Avenue, had previously been a railroad terminal, but when that was moved became Gilmore’s Garden, the original Hippodrome as made famous by P.T. Barnum, and finally the original location of the famous sporting arena Madison Square Garden.

In 1924, that second incarnation was demolished to make way for a building initially inspired by the Salisbury Cathedral and cost two years to complete at a cost of $21m, a significant amount of which paid for the 440,000 cubic feet of limestone that clad the building.

It was designed to be a cross between a 19th-century Gothic Revival structure and a more modern Art Deco building of the time, so the straight lines and use of solid bronze were complemented by stone gargoyles and other powerful images.

However, the most powerful of all was the golden roof, which initially was a copper steeple covered in gold leaf. That was, at least, until the copper started to corrode.

This led to the copper being replaced with terracotta tiles dipped in gold leaf, to carry a similar look but one that would last longer.

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Why Spring Is An Ideal Time To Replace The Garage Roof

by Daniel Bracewell • 9 February 2026

With winter now nearing its end, now is a good time to start planning garage roof replacement work as the weather starts to get warmer, drier and lighter.

How Can Ice Dams Damage A Flat Roof?

by Daniel Bracewell • 20 January 2026

With 2026 starting with a burst of cold, wintry weather in the north of England, now is a good time to consider what damage snow and sub-zero temperatures can cause to your flat roofing in Manchester . One potential risk is the formation of ice dams – but what are ice dams, how do they cause damage and what can you do to prevent them? What are ice dams? As their name suggests, ice dams are areas of ice that prevent melted snow and ice flowing off of a roof. They form when the warmth from inside your home hits the roof, melting the snow and ice that has settled on the flat roof. This water then runs off the roof, but if temperatures are still below freezing, as it reaches the colder edges, it can re-freeze, creating a dam. These ice walls hold pooled water on the roof, rather than letting it escape – and it’s this that can cause the damage. On flat roofs, ice dams can also form around depressions in the roof – in other words anywhere that water can sit, you could end up with a pool that is unable to drain. They cause damage because standing water on your roof can seep into the underlying structure if there are any cracks or signs of damage in your roofing material. When ice dams form at the edges of roofs, they can also lead to damp penetrating walls if the pools of melted snow last long enough. How can you prevent ice dams from forming? The best way to prevent ice dams is to ensure that your roof is properly insulated. This will prevent the heat from your home melting the snow that’s accumulated on your flat roof while the outside temperature is still below freezing. Keeping your gutters and drainage channels clear is also essential. This helps to ensure that any snow that does melt has somewhere to go and can safely leave your flat roof. It’s one of the reasons why cleaning your gutters in the autumn is a good idea.

Can You Install Solar Panels On A Flat Roof?

by Daniel Bracewell • 10 December 2025

If you’re exploring how to lower your energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint, you may be looking at the likes of solar panels for your home. But what if your property has a flat roof rather than a pitched roof? Can you still install solar panels on a flat roof? The short answer is yes, you can! In fact, it is often easier to install solar panels on a flat roof than it is to fit them to a sloped roof, which might make this an even more appealing avenue to explore when you’re looking at flat roof ideas . In many cases, you also don’t need planning permission to install solar panels on your flat roof. Of course, there are exceptions if you have a listed building or live in a conservation area, but if you own your house (different rules apply for flats too), you should be free to add solar panels to your home as you choose. There are different kinds of mounting systems for flat roof solar panels and which is most appropriate for your home will depend on the direction it faces. It is worth noting that the cost of installing solar panels is often higher on flat roofs because of the mounting system, but some of this can be offset by the lower labour costs because the installation process is usually more straightforward. One of the main reasons homeowners install solar panels is to reduce their energy bills. Many report savings of hundreds of pounds each year, which means these panels often pay for themselves relatively quickly. What’s more, under the Smart Export Guarantee , you can sell any energy you don’t use back to the National Grid, which can increase the rate at which your investment in solar panels pays for itself. So, if you are exploring ways to make the most of your flat roof, consider solar panels as an option to reduce your energy bills and do good for the environment.