Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
wedding cake
English answer:
Going up in tiers that get thinner and narrower as you go up / something (as a large building) resembling a wedding cake, esp. in elaborate ornamentation
Added to glossary by
Adriana Esposito
Aug 25, 2007 12:45
16 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term
Italy
wedding cake
English
Art/Literary
Architecture
autolivello
Hi Everybody (long time no hear...;)
I'ts an architect taking about a project in New York. He says "We studied the permissible zoning. In New York City, it’s basically a ***wedding cake***, though the precise dimensions vary according to the street or area of the city. You can apply for a variance for hardship or any number of different reasons that usually delay the project two or three years. It seemed to me foolhardy to try to do something that was not within the zoning envelope because of the cost, the time, and the neighborhood. So we decided to do the best building we could within the zoning envelope. That meant going up a certain height and that’s it. "
Could somebody pls. explain the meaning of "wedding cake" here?
TIA!
adriana
I'ts an architect taking about a project in New York. He says "We studied the permissible zoning. In New York City, it’s basically a ***wedding cake***, though the precise dimensions vary according to the street or area of the city. You can apply for a variance for hardship or any number of different reasons that usually delay the project two or three years. It seemed to me foolhardy to try to do something that was not within the zoning envelope because of the cost, the time, and the neighborhood. So we decided to do the best building we could within the zoning envelope. That meant going up a certain height and that’s it. "
Could somebody pls. explain the meaning of "wedding cake" here?
TIA!
adriana
Responses
| 4 +9 | going up in tiers that get thinner / narrower as you go up |
Tony M
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| 3 +1 | wedding cake (style) |
E2efour (X)
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| 2 | pièce-montée |
LesBrets
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Responses
+9
1 hr
Selected
going up in tiers that get thinner / narrower as you go up
Although it often does refer to ornamentation (Gothic cathedrals and the like!), I don't think that is what is relevant here — it is that typical New York skyline of buildings that get thinner as they go up — obviously a literal conical shape is less common, so more often, it is done in tiers.
I assume the 'envelope' they're talking about refers to the fact that a height of x feet above the ground, the building must be y feet wide (etc.) — it must presumably fit within a imaginary cone-shape
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Note added at 1 hr (2007-08-25 13:51:33 GMT)
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Here's a page that has pictures of some lovely wedding cakes that will give you the idea perfectly!
http://www.coningcakes.com/
I assume the 'envelope' they're talking about refers to the fact that a height of x feet above the ground, the building must be y feet wide (etc.) — it must presumably fit within a imaginary cone-shape
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Note added at 1 hr (2007-08-25 13:51:33 GMT)
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Here's a page that has pictures of some lovely wedding cakes that will give you the idea perfectly!
http://www.coningcakes.com/
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Tony thank you very much for your detailed expalanation and for the reaaaaally LOVELY wedding cakes (SLURP...) Many thanks to everybody else and especially E2efour and LesBrets!"
+1
17 mins
wedding cake (style)
Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary: something (as a large building) resembling a wedding cake, esp. in elaborate ornamentation.
The Wikipedia reference suggest that the building consists of tiers.
The Wikipedia reference suggest that the building consists of tiers.
21 mins
pièce-montée
Could refer to a "pièce-montée" (set piece), which is a classical wedding cake made off several pieces set on different levels.
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Note added at 23 mins (2007-08-25 13:08:49 GMT)
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Of course I fancied that this was from English into French - sorry!
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Note added at 23 mins (2007-08-25 13:08:49 GMT)
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Of course I fancied that this was from English into French - sorry!
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Tony M
: Much tastier, but I don't fancy the Empire State Building held together by sticky caramel! ;-)))
1 hr
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What a great idea Tony!
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