Wright Chat

To Do Historic Preservation Right, We Need To Move Beyond Our Fixation on Historic Material


David

I'm quite pleased that a leader in the preservation world has come out and questioned the requirement of "historic fabric" and the insistence by State agencies to "preserve" at all costs, when the entire building may suffer. In the rehabilitation of the Waller apartments the project was abruptly halted by the Illinois SHPO because they felt that too much historic fabric was being removed in the rehab process (the building had been open to the sky for years) and after a great deal of discussion, the state settled for the retention of 4 first floor joists - that's it - and nearly derailed the entire project.

Bravo---and I'm pleased to witness a premier member of the Wright restoration community speaking up for this point of view.

As a very small player in that game, with just one project under my belt, I can say that it pained me not to be able to secure a like replacement for damaged or missing rotary-cut redwood plywood at the Bazett-Frank residence. Needless to say, when original fabric is beyond saving, the next best thing is new material matching the original in every way.

And the decision to stain the new material to match the existing weathered surfaces was not taken lightly. I would welcome comment from more seasoned professionals on that matter . . .

viewtopic.php?t=15575

S

Leaving bureaucrats in charge of restoration is foolish. The principal task of all bureaucrats is to remain employed at all costs.

Anyone who’s experienced the amazing restorations of cathedrals and historical architecture in Europe or Asia can see that it’s the sensible cooperation of regulators, bureaucrats, architects and the building trades which ensures that so many structures are well restored.

It’s naive to think that developers and private ownership alone will preserve important architecture. Sensible and intelligent regulation plus respect for history is the key.

Look at the example of Olfelt. It was architects and owners who damaged that one, not bureaucracy.

Heh. And I guess the principal task of all artists is to remain unemployed at all costs . . .?

S

Great article that has been a long time in coming.

How would the Wright Community respond if a proposal for the conversion of the A.D. German warehouse to become apartments was put forth? The site has struggled for decades…what if a viable and well funded adaptive reuse plan was on the table, but would require the insertion of windows into the facades of that practically windowless structure?

Thoughts?

FLW designed a remodel to convert the top floor of A. D. German into apartments.

I would be happy to see an unused building made fit for a new purpose. Cutting windows into A D German . . . not so much. Maybe a pattern could be devised that would suit---but the point of that vessel is its closed face(s), it seems to me. Maybe an atrium at the center of the plan (or, off-center ?) for daylight into the interiors---with stairs, balconies, interior corridors adjacent, perhaps ?

S

The exterior would have remained unaltered. The slit windows in the frieze would have provided enough (?) sunlight to the interiors.

Possibly it was one of those instances where Wright knew the client would not follow through for one reason or another ... like the project for Ayn Rand, or the gargantuan first plan for C. Thaxter Shaw followed by the redo of his modest townhouse, or the impossibility of the Mile High Tower and Cathedral for a Million People. He got paid, but didn't get beyond the drafting stage.

DRN wrote: ↑Tue Jan 16, 2024 9:02 amHow would the Wright Community respond if a proposal for the conversion of the A.D. German warehouse to become apartments was put forth? The site has struggled for decades…what if a viable and well funded adaptive reuse plan was on the table, but would require the insertion of windows into the facades of that practically windowless structure?

Doing anything to the frieze portion of the Warehouse (other than restoration) would take away too much of the essence that helps to define it. Depending on the number, popping some appropriate fenestration into the brick facade possibly wouldn't overwhelm the design. Perhaps taking a cue from the smaller side-portion of the Warehouse which already has some windows inset. Though, maybe, not so many in a given square footage going all across the building, which would overwhelm it. It would be a delicate balance to try and strike.

David