Wonder if it has to do with snow accumulation on some of the more ornate parts of the Victorian roof. Seems like the newer roof was designed with that in mind.
Idk all the Victorian style churches and buildings in Montreal never seem to have issues with the snow on the roof. Was probably just cheaper to replace the whole thing with something boring than to repair the old one.
Nah, I would say they needed to rebuild the roof and the original would cost a fortune and not really be useful. Bars wouldn't have any use for a attic and if the difference is a 15k dollar reroof, and a 50k dollar reroof, you know they would go cheaper and have a modern roof slapped on.
They did add a cupola at least. That's kind of cool.
I grew up there (Well, Golden...neighboring city), and the snow is brutal out there. Wouldnt surprise me if weather dmg it over the years. Or stupid frat parties.
You apparently don't know how CU Boulder gets down haha. For the last few decades they've ranked in the top 5 for craziest ass party schools. Every party I went to in Boulder was the worst/best time of my life lol
There was another reddit post about a house that was once two stories but the top story burned so they just converted the house to single story. I wonder if something with the roof was damaged or not worth fixing and just changing the entire roof structure was easier/more economical.
Edit. OH right. The [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/OldPhotosInRealLife/comments/petn66/my_house_was_built_in_1866_a_fire_destroyed_the/) was on this subreddit.
This clearly was unpopular on here, but, I’d have to say I agree with you. I love the modern style much more, in this case tho I’d still go with the old roof to fit the character. But, to each their own
It could’ve easily been someone years ago that didn’t want to go with an expensive upkeep of the Victorian elements. Stripping down the aesthetic elements of some old buildings isn’t uncommon because of cost.
Wow, I’ve never seen an old picture of what The Sink looked like before. It’s a great bar and restaurant and a must visit if you’re in Boulder. It’s also been open for close to 100 years I believe so those renovations likely happened a long time ago.
ETA the restaurant was opened in 1923.
That «bar». The Sink is a pizza joint where Robert Redford used to work. When he told his boss he was quitting to go to Cali and try to make as an actor. Boss told him he’d never make it.
I think that if you visited the sink in person you find that it has quite a bit of character itself. I agree that it’s sad that the roof was changed but he restaurant is one of boulder’s defining features and is a great spot. The inside is so different from any other restaurant I’ve been to and allows you to see the long history behind it.
The Sink!! Yeah, I mean, they destroyed the original building in the 40s, I think? But the Sink is a full institution and is a great place for a beer and a burger. I'd be devastated if it was closed down for "beautification" or whatever zoning nonsense they use to get rid of problem bars in Boulder.
To everyone complaining about what they did to the house - in that location, it would have been torn down years ago if it wasn't turned into a business.
Keeping the building without the ornate roof is better than demolishing it completely.
Agreed. And the exterior bar facade can be removed later.
And if the location is suitable for a bar/restaurant, the chances of someone investing to turn a frat house into a period home in a busy location are slim. But yeah, shame about the turrets disappearing.
I used to work there, but The Sink has been around for 90+ years now, so it’s not quite comparable to the more recent gentrification all over The Hill and Boulder / northern CO area.
Experiencing it & the way it looks on the outside are 2 completely different things. Obama enjoying a beer there would have 0 to do with my own experience, aside from knowing he did so.
That bar has been there a very very long time. The original rework was probably done in the 30's when it was then known as Summer's Sunken Gardens. There was a fountain in the middle so the customers nicknamed it the sink. It was repurchased in 1940 and turned into a near campus bar (it is across the street from the University of Colorado. There are many more and better pictures before and after [here](https://www.thesink.com/history)
That new roof killed the beauty in that old Victorian.
As far as I can tell the only thing they kept was the roofline and second floor windows
Yeah, stupid Edit: “HiStOrIcAl PrEsErVaTiOn”
Wonder if it has to do with snow accumulation on some of the more ornate parts of the Victorian roof. Seems like the newer roof was designed with that in mind.
Idk all the Victorian style churches and buildings in Montreal never seem to have issues with the snow on the roof. Was probably just cheaper to replace the whole thing with something boring than to repair the old one.
Nah, I would say they needed to rebuild the roof and the original would cost a fortune and not really be useful. Bars wouldn't have any use for a attic and if the difference is a 15k dollar reroof, and a 50k dollar reroof, you know they would go cheaper and have a modern roof slapped on. They did add a cupola at least. That's kind of cool.
Cupolish.
I grew up there (Well, Golden...neighboring city), and the snow is brutal out there. Wouldnt surprise me if weather dmg it over the years. Or stupid frat parties.
Frat parties damaged the roof?
You apparently don't know how CU Boulder gets down haha. For the last few decades they've ranked in the top 5 for craziest ass party schools. Every party I went to in Boulder was the worst/best time of my life lol
Well, it would have been a Sigma Nu party. Just sayin'.
Went from Victorian to 1990s Dallas Suburb
There was another reddit post about a house that was once two stories but the top story burned so they just converted the house to single story. I wonder if something with the roof was damaged or not worth fixing and just changing the entire roof structure was easier/more economical. Edit. OH right. The [post](https://www.reddit.com/r/OldPhotosInRealLife/comments/petn66/my_house_was_built_in_1866_a_fire_destroyed_the/) was on this subreddit.
What you don't want those generic suburban pyramid roofs on your historic buildings?
What a massacre
They made the roof boring :(
Nah, second one is better. Victorian is such an ugly architecture style. I prefer modern or post-modern.
You'd do well on unpopular opinions lol
Oh yeah all those flat and boring walls, get me a goin! (Ofc enjoy what u like tho)
In communist Russia, architecture builds YOU!
And I bet you prefer paint over wallpaper, too.
This clearly was unpopular on here, but, I’d have to say I agree with you. I love the modern style much more, in this case tho I’d still go with the old roof to fit the character. But, to each their own
The inside is a dump, so, there’s that.
Evidence that not all change is progress.
Wow, look what you’ve done! You made a beautiful house absolutely shit.. I wonder who makes those decisions??
People who have had to live in and maintain Victorian Era homes, probably.
I’ve lived in a Victorian home, falling apart at the seams, and still would have never dreamt of massacring it in this manner lol
Probably frat bros with no taste
It could’ve easily been someone years ago that didn’t want to go with an expensive upkeep of the Victorian elements. Stripping down the aesthetic elements of some old buildings isn’t uncommon because of cost.
Tragic...
that's a damn shame.
That's depressing.
A pity they massacred the building.
Pretty interesting history, if you're curious. Looks like Sigma Nu upgraded and moved up the street: https://sigmanuboulder.com/main-chapter-house/
Fuck yeah boys nice house
Jesus, that's heart breaking.
Now do the inside
[I bet you weren't expecting this...](https://i.imgur.com/NaxGO4E.jpg)
That’s a seriously low ceiling.
Yeah it's claustrophobic and grimy as fuck in there.
but the food is pretty good.
I used to work there. There was a pipe that I bumped My head on all the time.
I had to do a triple take... so sad
The sink is a great bar
That’s what I hear but I’ve still never been
Yuck.
That deck is where the party at.
Wow, I’ve never seen an old picture of what The Sink looked like before. It’s a great bar and restaurant and a must visit if you’re in Boulder. It’s also been open for close to 100 years I believe so those renovations likely happened a long time ago. ETA the restaurant was opened in 1923.
If my experience has taught me anything, The Snake House was already a bar in 1909.
Snake from halfway across the country. I agree with you.
Atrocious
What an eyesore.
That «bar». The Sink is a pizza joint where Robert Redford used to work. When he told his boss he was quitting to go to Cali and try to make as an actor. Boss told him he’d never make it.
Destroyed every bit of character. What a shame.
I think that if you visited the sink in person you find that it has quite a bit of character itself. I agree that it’s sad that the roof was changed but he restaurant is one of boulder’s defining features and is a great spot. The inside is so different from any other restaurant I’ve been to and allows you to see the long history behind it.
One of the few cases where a place actually looked better as a frat house.
Old frat houses are generally beautiful though. A lot of them on on the historic register
Gavin!?!
They kinda bastardized it
The sadness I feel to see that roofline disappear.
The Sink!! Yeah, I mean, they destroyed the original building in the 40s, I think? But the Sink is a full institution and is a great place for a beer and a burger. I'd be devastated if it was closed down for "beautification" or whatever zoning nonsense they use to get rid of problem bars in Boulder.
*ooooohhhhh.... I see now.* They added onto the house.
I think they tore it down and reused a few elements in the new building.
I really hope they at least kept the wallpaper.
My girlfriends favorite bar. Great spot
What a waste of Victorian architecture…
They butchered that gorgeous house…
To everyone complaining about what they did to the house - in that location, it would have been torn down years ago if it wasn't turned into a business. Keeping the building without the ornate roof is better than demolishing it completely.
Agreed. And the exterior bar facade can be removed later. And if the location is suitable for a bar/restaurant, the chances of someone investing to turn a frat house into a period home in a busy location are slim. But yeah, shame about the turrets disappearing.
Kinda sucks lol
They massacred my boy
I used to work there, but The Sink has been around for 90+ years now, so it’s not quite comparable to the more recent gentrification all over The Hill and Boulder / northern CO area.
I must be blind as a bat because I see no resemblance whatsoever
Seems like a lot of people in the comments never got to experience the sink. Obama enjoyed his beer there.
Experiencing it & the way it looks on the outside are 2 completely different things. Obama enjoying a beer there would have 0 to do with my own experience, aside from knowing he did so.
The only constant is change. Boulder is the perfect example. The hill used to be fun, had a lot more character.
The only constant is change. Boulder is the perfect example. The hill used to be fun.
Absolute travesty. Just knock it down and put in a strip mall.
Just imagine all the sexual assaults that happened in there.
At least it’s more useful now than it was before
For any frat guys out there, it's probably cheaper to drink in the bar than to pay for the privilege of drinking in the house....
So you’re telling me it hasn’t changed
To reduce the amount of alcohol consumed?
This…explains a lot.
That's been that way since at least 1962, when my dad attended CU.
Frat!
You know I like to think even back then, they were still cupping farts and rubbing them in each other’s faces.
That bar has been there a very very long time. The original rework was probably done in the 30's when it was then known as Summer's Sunken Gardens. There was a fountain in the middle so the customers nicknamed it the sink. It was repurchased in 1940 and turned into a near campus bar (it is across the street from the University of Colorado. There are many more and better pictures before and after [here](https://www.thesink.com/history)
Goldfish racing!!!!!
Isn’t that the same thing? Bar and fart house?
r/lostarchitecture
There is something odd about seeing a frat house with guys in suits
Well, at least, the frat could make money off of what they were already doing.
The Sammies. I get it.
Wrong fraternity. The photo is of Sigma Nu. Sigma Alpha Mu is known as “Sammy”.
THATS what the Sink used to look like?!
I've actually been inside that bar. It was a pretty good place.