Cornice - the cornerstone of elegance
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A cornice gives an altogether a new dimension to the walls, ceiling and the very look of your house. It has emerged from the realms of traditional architecture into the modern era, writes T. Nandakumar.
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ORNAMENTAL MOULDING: A cornice is used to lend a traditional look to houses, apartments and office buildings, both inside and outside. - S. MAHINSHA
Enhancing the looks of a blank wall is seemingly a difficult proposition from the architectural point of view. Yet, almost all classical styles of architecture have gone to great lengths to achieve this objective.
Greek, Italian, French or Indian style, the cornice is an element that has lent itself very well to this challenge. And now, it is emerging from the realms of traditional architecture into the modern era.
Generally, the word cornice describes the ornamental moulding around the wall of a room just below the ceiling. Some varieties are used to accentuate the junction of the wall with the ceiling or to conceal lighting fixtures.
Enhancing beauty
They can be made of wood, Plaster of Paris, gypsum or polysterene. Traditional cornice designs employ ornate, classical details. Cornices contribute to interior decor in a quietly unobtrusive manner, even while enhancing the beauty and finish of the walls and ceiling. They also help to conceal cables, cracks and imperfections.
Once used to embellish the interiors of sprawling bungalows, the cornice is today used to lend a traditional look to houses, apartments and office buildings, both inside and outside. They are generally classified into border cornices, round ceiling cornices, beadings and corners for the walls and profiles for exterior facades. Speciality shapes include brackets and pillars, door dressings, arches and wall niches.
Variety of designs
Cornices are created in a wide variety of designs - plain, floral, motifs or geometric - to match the overall theme of the room. Big cornices work well in large rooms. Plain suits a fussy décor whereas ornamental is preferred for that opulent look. Border cornices are fixed along the line connecting wall to ceiling and can be in plain, parallel lines or different designs. Ceiling cornices are usually a hollow circle on the ceiling, defining lights and fan at the centre. Ceiling circles are usually elaborately designed plates, leaving a small hole in the centre for the fan or light to connect to the ceiling.
Corners are available in intricate and delicate styles while brackets and pillars impart a classical Greek look. Panels and door dressings help to define and adorn a wall or doorway.
Hard process
Creating cornices is a laborious and time-consuming process. So when imported prefabricated cornices entered the market, they created a flutter. It was only a matter of cutting the cornice to the required length and pasting it. But supply and technical problems ensured that the initial enthusiasm soon wore out. Many dealers and builders who stocked the extruded polystyrene varieties found that the special adhesive tends to solidify in the tropical heat.
Plaster of Paris and gypsum cornices are still used but only as ornate embellishments for the interior because they tend to crack or crumble during fitting and do not last when exposed to the elements. Reinforced with polyurethane, the gypsum variety is stronger and easier to cut and drill. POP on the other hand, is cheaper but lacks the finish of gypsum mouldings. Most builders prefer to create border cornices in cement plaster, notwithstanding the time, effort and skill needed for the job.
According to R. Jayakumar, director, Arsha Vaasthu Constructions, ornate cornice work is gradually going out of fashion. "Simple, plain designs are the trend these days. Used sparingly, cornices enhance the décor of a home; overdoing it could spoil the aesthetics," he points out. Generally, the tasteful decoration of a cornice is preferred for the living room but it is welcome even in the dining room. Apartment builders have started advertising cornice work in their projects.
Cornice work is done after plastering. Architects and interior designers advise plain cornices in rooms that will be heavily furnished or decorated. They advice choosing the designs to suit the overall theme: geometrics for a smart look or motifs and figures for an ethnic look. The choice of cornice should also ensure some kind of continuity from one room to another.
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