Soho cast iron façades

Soho facadesAren’t these buildings beautiful? I recently learned they’re made of cast iron — or, more accurately, their façades are. The material came into favour during the Industrial Revolution because it was cheaper than traditional masonry and easier to manipulate into ornate details. See those large windows and Grecian columns? Made possible because of cast iron. Much sexier than the newer brick and steel buildings that abut them, no?