Hola!
Guess what?!?! I am in Philadelphia again! Yay!
Since it has been crazy busy here, and because the internet does not like me. I’m going to tweet and tumble about my adventures!
If you like to tweet, go here: https://twitter.com/Preztraveler
If you like to tumble, go here: http://preztravler.tumblr.com/
Come back next week for more posts, and until then feel free to tweet, tumble, or just leave a comment below… have a great weekend!
Hello! Today I thought we could do a fun urban planning acronym quiz! Match the acronym to its description! Then, to find the answers as well as the full name and explanation, go to the Concept Checks Page!
Acronyms:
1. AASHTO
2. BPAC
3. FHWA
4. ISTEA
5. SRTS
6. TEA-21
Descriptions:
A. A law signed by President Bush in 1991, that aims to renew programs in surface transportation programs, and addresses the needs for reducing congestion, and rebuilding infrastructure, while maintaining mobility.
B. An organization that creates programs aimed to improve the health and well-being of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school.
C. Each locality has one of these, and it consists of residents in the locality (community members and agency members). This group strives to identify problems and review aspects of their locality’s pedestrian plan and its implementation.
D. An agency in the U.S. Department of Transportation that supports State and local governments for the design, construction, and maintenance of the Nation’s highway system and various federally and tribal owned lands.
E. Public Law 105-178 was enacted in 1998 to authorize the Federal surface transportation programs for highways, highway safety, and transit for the 6-year period 1998-2003.
F. A nonprofit, nonpartisan association that represents all the state highway and transportation departments in all five transportation modes. This group also tries to educate the public and is a liaison between state departments and the Federal government.
I hope you enjoyed this quiz, and feel free to leave a comment! Have a great week!
Hi!
How was your week?!? Recently, I have been thinking of ways to improve this blog and Preservation in Paris. Due to the lack of spare time lately, I’m going to take this week off to do research and improve both blogs themselves. I’m hoping to add more features so you guys can get more involved with my posts, and so I can post more exciting content (more reserach, pictures, and maybe even videos) and incorporate more social media (Twitter, Tumbler, ect.)! So, until next Thursday, I found some random but interesting youtube videos of traveling around the United States that you might enjoy…
Have a great week! Let me know in the comments if there is anything you want to read about in future posts!
Last night I began to consider a very important question: what is the future of preservation? What will we preserve 50-100 years from now?
If we take a closer look at all the popular things we do and popular places we go, we can see what sorts of places we are going to end up preserving. Any ideas of what that might be? I’m thinking it will end up being places like McDonald’s or Starbucks, because who knows…maybe every restaurant is going to end up looking like your average local farmer’s market. So, then what’s going to happen to the greasy spoon types of restaurants…? Will the chains be preserved from less use, or will the local greasy spoons be preserved because the chains beat them out of business? Really this can apply to a number of businesses, everything from coffee shops to mattress stores.
Plus, who knows! Maybe in the next 50-100 years we’ll be too busy preserving the moon or something else in space, to worry about preserving sites on earth, which would definitely be a challenge! At that point not only would we be making leaps and bounds in space travel (to make it possible to visit, like a museum), but it would also take a lot of research in the conservation community to study how to preserve it.
Preserving new sites is not the only thing to consider…what condition will most of the currently preserved sites be in? Some of the more stable sites that have a lot of funding like Westminster Abbey, Notre Dame or the Statute of Liberty will probably still be there, just a little more worn down. As opposed to more questionably stable sites like Auschwitz-Birkenau, the leaning Tower of Pisa, and the Titanic.
Enough rambling from me…what do you think?!? What do you predict will be preserved in the future? Let me know in the comments, and have a great week!
Citation: James Hardie Siding
Ever wonder what a good replacement for wood siding is? Let me guess, your first answer was more wood or vinyl…? Well, a recent development from James Hardie gives us another option: HardiPlank!
To replace old rotted out wood siding costs a fortune, so really the only other option has been to replace it with vinyl. But now there is a middle ground, because HardiPlank is cheaper than wood replacement siding. It is more expensive than vinyl, but it is for a good reason! First of all, it is fire resistant, and unlike vinyl, HardiPlank does not create combustibles in a fire. Since vinyl siding is a petroleum product, it feeds the flames, and releases carcinogens into the air. HardiPlank is able to do this, because it is made from cellulose fibers mixed with cement-like materials. Since it is part wood and part cement, it is considered to be in the fiber-cement siding class in terms of siding, and since it is not completely made of wood, it is less likely that insects like ants and termites will want to live in it.
The reason I called it the green vinyl is because for the most part HardiPlank is considered a green/sustainable material. It isn’t made with endangered species of wood or toxic materials. It is said to last a long time; according to the James Hardie Corporation website, it is warranted for 30 years. But it is said to last longer if painted and properly maintained. Speaking of which, it is nearly as thick as wood siding, so it is easier to paint it compared to vinyl siding. Plus, it looks like wood siding from a far; there are wood grain marks in a uniform pattern. But it comes in various other textures and colors. In this post I exclusively talked about the Lap Siding, but there is also shingle siding, vertical siding, trim boards, soffit panels, and a specialty Artisan line that is meant to look like Cedar.
Even though the instillation is more specialized, and the cost is higher than vinyl, it is definitely worth it to install HardiPlank on a home, especially if affording wood siding is out of the question. Plus it is just super cool! Let me know if you’ve heard anything about this brand of siding, and your general thoughts about it!
If you want to learn more about HardiePlank siding, click here for the main website: http://www.jameshardie.com/main.shtml
Or here for the main website with the list of siding products: http://www.jameshardie.com/homeowner/siding.shtml
I’ll be back next Thursday! Have a great week!
In memory of 9/11 and because by total coincidence I was just there for a retirement ceremony, we are going to chat about The National Museum of the Marine Corps! Plus, just a heads up if you do not already know, Semper Fi is the motto of the United States Marine Corps.
As the name would suggest, The National Museum of the Marine Corps is an American history museum that represents the history of the United States Marine Corps. In a way, it also reflects the present of the United States Marines, because it is actively used by the Marines and their families for ceremonies in the main lobby. For example, the retirement ceremony I went to was in the main lobby, near the Leatherneck exhibit.
The National Museum if the Marine Corps opened in 2006. It houses more than 60,000 artifacts, and documents over 230 years of Marine Corps history, 1775 to the present. The design of the museum’s building was based on the flag-raisers of Iwo Jima, and is about a 120,000-square-foot structure. Given that the museum is near the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia and the museum is under the command of Marine Corps University, most of the visitors are current or past marines, their families, and other comrades of the Navy, Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard. The nearby chapel and the museum itself are commonly used for weddings, graduations, memorials and retirements, and educational events.
Some unusual items there include, a coat worn by Marine Captain Levi Twiggs during the Indian Wars, a presentation baton given to John Philip Sousa (a former director of the Marine Corps Band), and an Oscar awarded for Marine Corps made documentary called “Tarawa.”One of the most symbolic artifacts is the second American flag that was raised over Iwo Jima’s Mount Suribachi.
One of my favorite exhibits was the temporary exhibit called “9/11 Exhibit: We Remember,” which commemorates the anniversary of 9/11, and features artifacts such as an I-beam from the World Trade Center, a Pentagon building fragment, and spotlights inspiring stories throughout. The exhibit aims to share memories and to pay tribute. I highly recommend catching this exhibit if you can; it is on display until October.
In the museum and preservation community, I knew this museum was known for great interactive exhibits before I even went. But now that I have visited, I consider it to be one of the first museums I have visited to really be a leader in the implementation of museum education in a way that visitors actually enjoy. In addition to the really cool interactive map on the website, and the creative sponsorship opportunities, the collections at the National Museum of the Marine Corps are generally offered as research and reference materials for historians, preservationists, authors and film makers alike. As long as you ask nicely of course! 😉
Be sure to let me know in the comments what you think of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, and be sure to check out my pictures below! Have you been before? Do you want to go? What was the temporary exhibit when you went?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60593710@N06/sets/72157635493986118/
If you want to know more about The National Museum of the Marine Corps, or you just really want to visit, you can get to their homepage by clicking here: http://www.usmcmuseum.com/index.asp
Hola! Here’s a fun little quiz I made about the National Register! Even though it says concept check, not all of the questions are covered on this blog, but I made sure to throw in some really interesting ones. If you want to find out more about any of these questions or about the National Register in general, go to the National Park Service’s National Register homepage, here.
1. How many properties are currently listed on the National Register?
2. What listed bridge was the longest steel arch bridge in the world until China’s Shanghai’s Lupu Bridge was built in 2003?
3. What agency oversees the National Park Service and in turn the National Register?
4. What are the largest and the smallest National Parks in the United States?
5. How is a property protected after it is listed on the National Register?
6. Other than the National Register, what else could a property be listed under?
Be sure to look on the Concept Checks page for the answers!
There are 4 types of treatment plans that can be used when you come across a historic building. These can also apply to objects and landscapes, but for the sake of easier claification, I will explain with building examples. These treatment plans are preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction.
Preservation
First off, preservation is a term that is typically used to describe these treatments in general terms, which is why the title has the word preservation in parenthesis. A lot of times people will say that they are “preserving” a property in general, when really they could specifically be doing one or up to all four of these treatment options to different parts of the building. For example, you my be preserving the crown molding, but reconstructing the staircase. So then what does the specific term ‘preservation’ mean in this context? The term preservation in this context is used to describe when a house or parts of a house are maintained the same or are slightly repaired so the material or design remains the same. For those of you near South Carolina, Drayton Hall is a good example of this. The original materials, style and design remain the same, and there were only small repairs to the house to make sure it was stabilized.
Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation on the other hand keeps the historic character but allows modern changes. Also known as adaptive reuse, rehabilitation allows for a small amount of repair and replacement to the building. This consists of adding air conditioning, or updating kitchens and bathrooms, or it can mean using the building for a completely different purpose. An example of this is John’s Pizzeria in Times Square, NYC. I went there with my mom last summer, and not only was the pizza delicious, but the building was so beautiful. They rehabilitated the building to their needs well, in addition to keeping the pleasing aesthetics of the building itself. For example, here is a picture of the ceiling:
The previous church ceiling of what is now John’s Pizzeria in Times Square, NYC
Restoration
Restoration is when the property is restored back to a certain time period of significance. The downside of this is that sometimes that means removing historic materials that were added later than the period of significance. A popular example of this is Colonial Williamsburg. The period of significance that was decided for Colonial Williamsburg was 1699-1780, so everything that was built after 1780 (even other historic houses that were just built a bit later) was destroyed. There can be a lot of debate about whether this treatment is a good idea or not, because depending on the house (or in this case, houses) there can be multiple periods of significance. Once you remove the later but possibly still significant history, you can not always get it back, and even if it is only removed the integrity is lost.
Reconstruction
Last but not least is reconstruction. As the name suggests, reconstruction is rebuilding a house or parts of a house from scratch based on historic deeds, descriptions and other documents. A good example of this is the Governor’s Palace in Colonial Williamsburg. Only the foundation and basement was remaining in 1931, so based on the evidence remaining, historical deeds and architectural descriptions, the house was rebuilt to look as it did in 1720.
The choice between these treatment options really depend on the existing physical condition of the house (or houses) and its property. But also it depends on the historical importance, proposed use and sometimes the requirements or ordinances in the area. But like I said before these can also apply to objects and landscapes. Our friend Linda, (I wrote about her a few posts back) just reconstructed a historic corn field from historical descriptions and deeds. I personally think that is kinda awesome! But what about you? Do you have a favorite historical place that has gone through one of these treatments? Leave me a comment below, because I would love to hear about it!
Hello everybody! How have you been?
I just wanted to give you all a heads up that I am going to start using my Preservation Paris blog again! Yay!
This way I can use this blog for most preservation concepts and American sites, whereas my Preservation Paris blog will mainly focus on preservation sites and concepts abroad and how they might apply or differ from America. I am also considering maybe some travel research on general places as well. So if there is a place you think I should research, or that you just want to know more about, leave it in the comments!
Also, I will be doing a little cleaning up here and there with reorganizing posts, pictures and citations, so if you see something move, it is okay! You’re not going crazy! 😉
Look forward to another post soon, and be sure to check out Preservation in Paris for updates as well!
Citation: The Stahl House by Architect Pierre Koenig
Hey guys! I found a really cool article on the preservation of mid-century modern architecture. It was written for the LA Times by Christopher Hawthorne, and it is really interesting because it discusses preservation as a paradox. In 1960s architecture: L.A. and the paradox of preservation, Hawthorne discusses the upcoming preservation of mid-century modern buildings in Los Angeles, and further explains some of the ramifications that will ensue.
First of all, before getting into the logistics of history and the debate about sustainability, one of the first things most preservationists and the general public like to point out is the aesthetic value of 1960s architecture versus 1970s architecture. The National Trust for Historic Preservation tries to promote preservation for buildings from both time periods. The 1970s modernist building may not be as aesthetically pleasing as something like a Dutch Colonial, but that is personal opinion. As preservationists, we should try to objectively preserve all styles of architectural history, even the styles less aesthetically pleasing.
Using urban renewal to its advantage, mid-century modernism took away numerous historic sites and buildings, and this in turn helped create the preservation movement to protection of historic architecture. But now, mid-century modern buildings are (or soon will be) under attack for demolition. So, what would be the two things that could save historic streetscapes of Los Angeles? Funny enough, it would be the preservation or adaptive reuse of these mid-century modern buildings.
Since there was such a large growth spurt of the style, there are high levels of mid-century modern buildings, especially in larger cities like New York City or Los Angeles. In a way, it seems Hawthorne thinks this situation will lead to hasty preservation, but in a way it is also great to have so many options. That way, as preservationists, we have a little more time to concentrate on the historically significant (and more architecturally safe and stable) buildings, instead of just picking from little remains. Also, the mid-century buildings that can be implemented easier into the city’s Rational Comprehensive Plan, or that can more easily be adaptively reused can be concentrated on as well.
Speaking of adaptive reuse, one of the things that heavily contribute to successful reuse of a building is the materials. In California, most architects that were building in the mid-century were experimenting with new materials at the time, and unfortunately that means a lot of these buildings were lightweight, flexible and/or were built only to be temporary. This definitely affects the amount of integrity lost as well as the amount of money spent, which can get very political in terms of the city government and the city’s planning office. The other contributing factor is how these buildings can fit into the ever-growing green architecture movement. The popular argument from the historic preservation community is that preservation is green. How will this affect new stages of preservation like mid-century modern buildings?
In my opinion, mid-century modern buildings should be able to incorporate green architecture if they are adaptively reused or in repair during preservation. This happens to be something the author and I disagree on; in his view, the flaw is that there is less force applied to the sustainability of modern architecture, because the “expanses of glass and exposed structure, are often glaringly inefficient.” Though that may be true, I think it would be worth the research to find how there might be more convenient ways to reuse modern buildings, because it would be more sustainable to keep them, and there a great amount of energy required and a great amount of space in a landfill taken during demolition.
Obviously this debate between modern architecture and preservation will not be solved overnight, even with the occasional aide of the green architecture movement. What do you think? Do you like 1960s architecture? Do you think the more modern buildings become we can still effectively preserve or reuse them? Let me know in the comments! 😉
If you want to read the original article, click here.
Newsy Nuggets in Preservation 