Designing Around a Norman Rockwell Painting – Literally: Yankee Doodle Tap Room By JZA+D
Princeton, New Jersey, locals all know the Tap Room, a legendary tavern with a beloved historic fireplace and a pre-war history as a men-only venue. Now the Yankee Doodle Tap Room, Nassau Inn’s most popular amenity has been completely renovated by local integrated design firm JZA+D, whose architects performed the update while leaving its most iconic element unmoved: a mural-sized painting by Norman Rockwell over the bar depicting Yankee Doodle riding his pony.
“Our intention was to take it down and store it away safely while we worked,” said Mark A. Sullivan, AIA, partner with JZA+D. “But it turns out Rockwell painted it right there in the room on a canvas attached to plaster covering the masonry. We had to leave it in place and work around it.”