Vol. 1 No. 4 Fall 2010
AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE PRENTICE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL— BERTRAND GOLDBERG’S MODERN CHICAGO LANDMARK— IS AT RISK. LEARN ABOUT THE EFFORT TO SAVE IT.
PLUS: THE SIXTIES TURN 50: SAVING LOS ANGELES’ 1960S LEGACY CAPTURING DESIGN: USING PHOTOGRAPHY AS AN ADVOCACY TOOL DEMOLITION PENDING: PHILLIS WHEATLEY ELEMENTARY HIAWASEE DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOCUSES ON ATOMIC AGE GEORGE SMART TAKES MAYBERRY MODERNISM ON THE ROAD
RPPN Bulletin
FA L L 2010
Vol.1 No.4
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contents AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
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Bertrand Goldberg’s landmark Prentice Women’s Hospital is at risk of demolition. Read about the effort to save it.
DEMOLITION PENDING 13 Phillis Wheatley Elementary School in New Orleans will be demolished if it is not moved by August 2011.
HIAWASEE REDEVELOPMENT STRATEGY 19 Hiawasee, Georgia is preparing a master plan to revitalize its downtown, with a focus on integrating its mid-century heritage.
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CAPTURING DESIGN Ever wondered how to properly photograph a building? Learn tips from a professional photographer.
17 MAYBERRY MODERNISM George Smart of Triangle Modernist Houses is taking his expertise and engaging story on the road, inspiring communities throughout North Carolina.
21 THE SIXTIES TURN 50 The Los Angeles Conservancy reflects on their nearly year-long educational program aimed at advocating preservation of 1960s resources.
The RPPN Bulletin is a quarterly newsletter published by the Recent Past Preservation
Dear RPPN Supporters,
Network, a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting preservation education and advocacy to encourage a
Next week is the annual National Preservation Conference, which is taking
contextual understanding of our modern
place this year in Austin, Texas. If you’re planning on attending the
built environment.
conference, I hope you’ll join fellow RPPN members and myself on Wednesday, October 27 at 3:00 pm for an informal discussion of current
2010 Board of Directors
issues surrounding the preservation of recent past resources. For more
Devin Colman, President
details about the conference, please visit www.preservationnation.org.
Aaron Marcavitch, Vice President Julie Ernstein, Secretary
The public comment period for the Cyclorama Building Environmental
Rebekah Dobrasko
Assessment is now closed, and thank you to everyone who submitted a
Jeffery Harris
letter in support of saving the building. Feedback from the two public
Alan Higgins
meetings was positive, with many participants showing interest in
Cindy Olnick
rehabilitating the Cyclorama Building for continued use. We’ll keep you
Frampton Tolbert
informed of any developments as the Environmental Assessment continues, and you can also check the RPPN website for updates.
Mailing Address Recent Past Preservation Network
Finally, the RPPN Board of Directors is looking at reviving our State Representative program. State Reps were originally envisioned as RPPN’s “eyes and ears” around the country, providing information about endangered resources, special events and news items related to recent past architecture. If you have ideas or suggestions about the role of State Reps in RPPN, please let us know. Look for more information about the State Rep
P.O. Box 3072 Burlington, VT 05408 On the Web URL: www.recentpast.org President: president@recentpast.org General Info: info@recentpast.org
program in the near future.
Website: webmaster@recentpast.org
Sincerely,
Newsletter Designed & edited by: Alan Higgins
Devin A. Colman RPPN President
All information is from sources believed to be accurate. RPPN is not responsible for omissions or errors. Please send all comments, questions, and story ideas to us at: newsletter@recentpast.org
ON THE COVER: Prentice Women’s Hospital Chicago, Illinois (1974). Design by Bertrand Goldberg. Photo courtesy Landmarks Illinois.
AN UNCERTAIN
FUTURE
BY LISA DICHIERA AND CHRISTINA MORRIS
Completed in 1974, the design of Prentice Women’s Hospital was groundbreaking both for its engineering and the way in which the medical departments and services were organized. The Hospital was designed by Chicago architect Bertrand Goldberg, perhaps best known for his iconic Marina City towers that are affectionately called the “corn cobs” by Chicago natives. His unusual and innovative buildings were internationally published and widely acclaimed in the press at the time of their construction, including a 1975 award from Engineering News Record for the architectural and engineering innovations at Prentice.
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FEATURE
(opposite page) PRENTICE WOMEN’s HOSPITAL. May 2006. Courtesy Landmarks Illinois. (top left) PRENTICE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL. April 2010. Courtesy Landmarks Illinois. (left) PRENTICE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL. Circa 1975. Courtesy HedrichBlessing Collection/Chicago History Museum. (above) PRENTICE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL. August 2010. Photograph by Victoria Granacki.
done extensive study of Goldberg’s career. Currey noted that Rose “…examined the studies that Goldberg created at the Bauhaus—drawings of repetitive forms, like multiplied circles and cylinders—and says they are remarkably similar to the hospital floor plans he created decades later…” (“The Goldberg Remedy,” by Mason Currey, Prentice is one of the best examples of Goldberg’s
Metropolis Magazine, February 2009)
characteristic use of circular forms. Architectural historians attribute these circular forms directly to
“Goldberg’s architecture is highly sculptural...his work is
Goldberg’s education at the Bauhaus, which he attended
meant to be seen in the round, from more than one
in 1932-33. Mason Currey, in his February 2009
direction.” (Collection Introduction by Lori Boyer and
Metropolis Magazine article about Prentice Hospital
Heather Barrow, Bertrand Goldberg Collection,
interviewed architectural historian Joseph Rosa, who has
Department of Architecture, Art Institute of Chicago) www.recentpast.org
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AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
The Chicago area has other contemporary hospitals of progressive architectural designs, but Prentice stands out among them. St. Joseph’s Hospital by Belli & Belli of 1963 in Chicago employs space-age glitz and color to enliven its rather straightforward curtain wall. The John J. Madden Clinic by Walter Netsch for SOM of 1966-67 in Maywood is a pristine and elegant Modernist box of glass and steel. St. Mary of Nazareth by Perkins & Will of 1975 is executed in Brutalist concrete, but its forms bear no relation to the organic, expressionist concrete lobe and crisp prism-like base that Goldberg used at Prentice. And Goldberg’s nearest hospital, the Medical Building at the Elgin Mental Health Center of 1966-67, employs different materials, structure and design to execute a different medical program. Although Goldberg’s firm created designs for many hospitals across the country, Prentice Women’s Hospital is by far his best known example. Its groundbreaking design is composed of a simple glass and aluminum curtain wall-clad base topped by seven-story tower with four monolithic concrete lobes attached to a central core. The unique quatrefoil plan of the tower was intended to provide a much higher standard of care by creating small floor plates that facilitated interaction 5
RPPN BULLETIN FALL 2010
{opposite page—left) TYPICAL BED TOWER PLAN. Courtesy Bertrand Goldberg Archive at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Estate of Bertrand Goldberg.
{opposite page—top right) PRENTICE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL. Courtesy Landmarks Illinois.
{opposite page—bottom right) ROOM MODEL. Courtesy Bertrand Goldberg Archive at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Estate of Bertrand Goldberg.
{left) PRENTICE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL. May 2006. Courtesy Landmarks Illinois.
between the staff and patients. Each floor was laid out
with a nursing center, to provide better attention for the
with a central nursing station between four circular
patient and fewer steps for the nurse and
patient wings. Because the four lobes of the tower are
doctor.” (www.BertrandGoldberg.org)
supported from a central core, all floor plates are column -free, which provided more space planning flexibility and
The flexible design was also an effective means to
allowed nursing stations close visual access to all the
combine a number of functions within a single structure.
patient rooms. The firm wrote of Prentice: “The
The building allowed Northwestern Memorial Hospital to
breakthrough design for the seven story bed-tower is
consolidate their obstetrics and gynecology departments
new in every respect. New in nursing care: patients are
(Prentice Women’s Hospital), and psychiatry
gathered in four small groups on each floor, each group
departments (Stone Institute of Psychiatry) under one www.recentpast.org
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AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
PRENTICE WOMEN’S HOSPITAL. April 2010. Courtesy Landmark Illinois.
on the building and upcoming events, and provides a medium for people to share their connections to and support for historic Prentice Hospital. Each organization has taken on additional projects to highlight the building’s importance and viability. Landmarks Illinois is developing a reuse study to explore roof. The building provided maternity care for several generations of Chicago residents until the new Prentice Women’s Hospital was opened by Northwestern in 2007. Since that time the tower has been vacated and closed. When the building’s last remaining tenant, the Stone Psychiatric Institute, relocates to a new facility next year, ownership will revert from the hospital to Northwestern University. University officials have made it known that the 12-story, clover-shaped concrete structure will eventually be demolished for a new research/laboratory facility. Since the building is not listed as a local Chicago landmark, local preservation advocates are very concerned that there is no protection in place for Bertrand Goldberg’s Modern masterpiece and nothing will prevent Northwestern from proceeding with demolition plans. As a result of this threat, Prentice was listed as one of Landmarks Illinois’ Ten Most Endangered Historic Places—both in 2009 and 2010. Preservation organizations including Landmarks Illinois, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Chicago, and the DoCoMoMo Chicago Midwest Chapter have formed a coalition to bring attention to the
the feasibility of rehabilitating the building for research and laboratory space, as well as other possible uses. The goal is to demonstrate that Goldberg’s innovative design can be adapted for new purposes suitable for the university. That study is expected to be complete in early 2011, when it will be presented to the public, the local Alderman and other city officials. The study also will form the foundation for future discussions with Northwestern University about their plans for the building. DoCoMoMo’s Chicago Midwest Chapter led a tour of Goldberg-designed buildings in October with special focus on Prentice. Preservation Chicago has produced a video on the history and significance of Prentice (see www.SavePrentice.org). And the National Trust continues to provide a supportive role through its Midwest Office and its Modernism + the Recent Past Program, including providing financial support for Landmarks Illinois’ reuse study. For up-to-date information on the Prentice advocacy effort, please check www.Landmarks.org and www.SavePrentice.org
importance of preserving Prentice. The “Save Prentice”
Lisa DiChiera is Director of Advocacy for Landmarks Illinois and
coalition has launched a new web site and Facebook
Christina Morris is Program Officer for the National Trust for Historic
page (www.SavePrentice.org) that contain information
Preservation’s Midwest Office.
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RPPN BULLETIN FALL 2010
ANNUAL MEETING Join the Recent Past Preservation Network for a
Wednesday, October 27
casual discussion of preservation issues related to
3:00 PM—4:00 PM
historic resources from 1960 to the present. Bring
Hilton Austin Room 402
your ideas, success stories, and questions. All are welcome!
From our friends at TrustModern Thursday, October 28 7:30 PM—9:30 PM Westgate Tower, Austin Join fellow modern and recent past advocates and aficionados from across the nation for an exclusive opportunity to tour Edward Durrell Stone’s 1965 Westgate Tower, one of Austin’s earliest residential high rises, and one of the architect’s few commissions in Texas. Connect with colleagues at this free event and enjoy a light reception with views of the Texas state capitol. RSVP to trustmodern@nthp.org www.recentpast.org
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To represent these buildings well, then, requires attention to detail, and use of some subtle photographic “tricks of the trade” to make them stand out and receive the attention they need to get the protection they deserve. The most important thing to remember when photographing any architecture is that the time of day is paramount. The best light for photography is always in the morning or late afternoon—the
BY PHILLIP SPEARS
Photographing a mid-century building is a vital part of
famous “golden hour,” when the sun is warm, soft
any awareness campaign, whether to publicize the
and flattering. For mid-century buildings this is even
restoration of a specific building, raise funds for a capital
more important, since this type of light will bring out
campaign, or increase appreciation for a complete
the quality of the brickwork and metalwork, without
neighborhood or type of building, such as a ranch-style
the harsh, reflective quality the light will have if the
house, industrial loft, or suburban center. Much of what
sun is directly overhead. It will also improve the
we call “Mid-Century Modern” suffers from stigma of
color saturation of the photos, giving the building a
familiarity; it is the dominant style in post-war residences
richer, warmer tone.
and commercial space in some areas, built in the heady rush for urban expansion, when low-cost, large-footprint,
Many mid-century buildings are one-story, or one-
enclosed structures became the norm. While anyone can
and-a-half stories, reflecting the desire for wide
recognize the sweeping curves of Art Nouveau, or the
internal spaces and broad facades that characterize
delicacy of Victorian styles, the very simplicity of mid-
the time, and the growth of suburban areas that had
century work causes it to retreat from the eye, fading
fewer limits on lot size and building size. Older, more
into the background of modern urban styles.
urban areas tended to build up, not out, like the
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RPPN BULLETIN FALL 2010
famous early 1900s row apartments in New York. In the fifties and sixties, however, homes were lower and stretched from lot line to lot line rather than having multiple stories. If these types of buildings are
(opposite page, bottom right) A&P LOFTS. Located in Atlanta,
photographed in harsh, overhead sun, that lowness will
Georgia, this former industrial building has been adaptively re-used as
read as squatiness, with dark shadows from the eaves
loft living. Photos by Phillip Sears.
cutting across the building. Photographed in late
(top left, bottom left, and top right) TROY PEERLESS LOFTS. Also
afternoon light, the building will read much better,
located in Atlanta, Georgia, this former laundry factory, listed on the
appearing nestled into its site, with soft shadows that
National Register of Historic Places, has also been converted into contemporary lofts. Photos by Phillip Sears.
hold details. www.recentpast.org
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TROY PEERLESS LOFTS. Photograph by Phillip Sears.
This lower form—a perfect example is the ranch-style
straight lines in this type of architecture to shoot slightly
house, which are common in cities with late 50s suburbs
exaggerated angles, which give those lines a sense of
like Atlanta—also presents challenges in terms of angles.
motion and energy, instead of appearing flat and lifeless.
Because they are so wide in relation to their depth—
A head-on shot of these structures will always look more
many are literally one room deep—it is almost
static than an angled view.
impossible to frame the entire building in one shot, while still being close enough to show detail. But when you
As the photographer moves into the interior, plan to
withdraw enough to include the entire building side-to-
bridge the interior/exterior views as creatively as
side, you must watch for unattractive details such as light
possible. Since most of these buildings were built at a
posts and guy wires that run onto the property. With
time when energy was far less expensive than it is today,
industrial buildings the problem can be compounded by
they can have smaller windows and less concern for cross
large areas of parking that will be included in the frame,
-ventilation than older buildings, or indeed the more
or even junk areas or semi-dilapidated structures.
“green” buildings of today. Crawl spaces are cramped and visually unappealing, both from the interior and
One solution is to use a wide-angle lens, such as a 45mm
exterior, where they read as bland concrete block
or even 24mm lens, but then you begin to have issues
foundation. Focusing on the relation of the building with
with distortion. We prefer to shoot with a more general
its site will be a more productive viewpoint in these
lens, and then crop the image. Retouching can remove
cases.
wires and poles, and if the building is the target of a large fundraising campaign a professional retoucher can be
Many buildings, however, have dramatic, large windows,
money well spent. We also take advantage of the many
the result of advances in glass technology at the time,
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RPPN BULLETIN FALL 2010
CAPTURING DESIGN making vast panes affordable for the general public.
the brickwork admit light and ventilation. Bringing out
Ranch-style houses in particular often have large picture
these details will show the quality construction of a
windows along the front, which—unless they have been
building, the effort put into creating a structure designed
replaced by seventies-style jalousie or sliding windows—
to last.
have the effect of bringing the outdoors in, even though these windows do not open. An industrial or commercial
If part of your campaign is to position a building not only
building will sometimes have dramatic, floor-to-ceiling
for protection and restoration but also re-use, it may be
windows that give a view onto the surrounding
beneficial to photograph it without furnishings (for a
neighborhood, showing the relation of one structure to
residence) or equipment (for commercial buildings). This
another.
allows the viewer to see the spaces without the subconscious limitations carried by furnishings; a room
These windows also improve twilight and evening
can be more easily envisioned as an office without
photos. Properly exposed (this takes some practice),
bedroom fittings and a large living room space opens
large windows give a glowing quality when lit from
itself to multiple uses. If the goal is restoration to
within after sundown. The running style of windows—
original use, then showing the appropriate fixtures
identical panes in long rows—that are often a feature of
(borrowed, if necessary) can help, reducing the
commercial construction can look stylized and futuristic
impression of dusty, vacant space.
at the same time, giving a sense of energy to the structure. Twilight is also a great opportunity to
In any campaign, photography is just one facet, ideally
showcase buildings that are lower in height, or partially
integrated with historical information, oral histories, and
recessed into a grade; what would look hulking and
archival photos. When combined, they tell the story of a
square in noon light can look organic, and the softer light
given building in a way that they cannot separately.
will bring out the overall design. Exterior details become
Showing the public archival photos of a structure
smoother, industrial fixtures less jarring, and the
contrasted with current photography can encapsulate
building appears almost as a rendering of its original
the sense of time passing, not just from the differences
design.
in the photographic style but by showing the development of neighborhoods, the changes in
Showing interior detail in the mid-century style is not as
landscape, and the way the building’s features have
easy as it is with a Victorian-style building. Their design
matured through natural wear-and-tear. It can highlight
and layout is meant to capitalize on simple materials,
the graceful weathering of natural materials or focus the
efficiently used, and can appear bland and stark if
attention sharply on metalwork that needs replacing, or
photographed incorrectly. But taking your lead from
the distress of vandalism on windows and walls.
those materials will give you much better results,
Following the techniques above will give you the best
particularly when compared to the lighter materials used
possible images to be the “public face” of your campaign
for building today. Wood floors are real wood, not
as you work towards preservation.
composite, with a richness and depth unseen in laminates. Framing is heavy, quality wood, not plywood.
Phillip Spears is a commercial photographer based in Atlanta, GA. He
Bricks are textured and vary in color, unlike the
has been an avid photographer since the age of ten, and a
standardized bricks currently made. You may even find
professional photographer for over 25 years. He has specialized in
the older “Roman” bricks, which are longer and thinner
architecture and interior photography since 1989. Please contact him with questions via www.phillipspears.com
than contemporary brickwork and give a lighter, leaner look to walls, or punctuated brick, where open spaces in www.recentpast.org
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DEMOLTION PENDING:
NEW ORLEANS’ PHILLIS WHEATLEY SCHOOL BY LINDSEY DERRINGTON
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Efforts to preserve and reuse Phillis Wheatley Elementary constitute what is arguably one of the most pressing preservation issues facing New Orleans today. Designed in 1954 by New Orleans architect Charles Colbert, FAIA, it is a groundbreaking work of modern engineering and design. Though its cantilevered classroom wing avoided the ravages of flooding after Hurricane Katrina, the Louisiana Recover School District (RSD) is pushing for FEMA funds to demolish the National Register-eligible building.
According to the National Historic Preservation Act of
Holly + Smith considered two options for the site, total
1966, any such use of federal dollars to demolish or
demolition and replacement with a new school
otherwise alter a building must first be subject to the
building versus restoration of and addition to the
Section 106 review process to determine how such
historic building. The firm was not charged with
actions can be mitigated through discussion with
formally designing either scenario, only with assessing
concerned parties. FEMA began Wheatley’s Section
current conditions and proposing hypothetical
106 review last fall and the issue erupted into a
schematics. It found that both options were
contentious fight between those for and against
comparable in most respects, though estimated that
preservation. The RSD halted the process to
the renovation scenario would cost an additional
commission the Hammond, LA-based firm of Holly +
$900,000. The architects neglected to calculate how
Smith to perform a feasibility study for the site. Its
demolition costs would close that gap, but either way,
findings were made public at an RSD-hosted
the project would cost between $20 million and $21
community meeting on July 21st, while the official
million. RSD officials have asserted that either scenario
consultation process resumed July 29th.
would be completed by 2013.
www.recentpast.org
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DEMOLITION PENDING
PHILLIS WHEATLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Phillis Wheatley Elementary School as it currently stands, awaiting it’s fate—either to be moved or to be demolished. Built 1954. All photos taken by Michelle Kimball. Courtesy Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans.
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RPPN BULLETIN FALL 2010
DEMOLITION PENDING Despite these findings, detractors still maintain that
Additional arguments against preservation come from
Wheatley must come down. The RSD claims that it
those attributing a host of educational and social ills to
would be impossible to achieve an ideal learning
the building itself. Wheatley was poorly maintained for
environment for students using the existing building,
decades, and prior to Hurricane Katrina it, like most of
and some echo this sentiment by insisting that the
New Orleans’ public schools, was failing. Overall
only way to achieve parity with other public schools
mismanagement was, after all, what spurred state
would be to construct an entirely new building. These
takeover of the city’s school system by the RSD in the
arguments seem somewhat disingenuous in light of
first place. These problems were endemic citywide,
the fact that the district already plans to renovate a
not unique products of Wheatley’s design. Others
diverse collection of forty-four existing school
claim that the building, completed the same year as the historic Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling, painfully encapsulates the era of segregation in New Orleans and therefore should be demolished to start anew. One wonders then why those same detractors are not arguing for the demolition of all of the city’s historic school buildings, the vast majority of which were completed prior to World War II; the answer likely lies in the fact that these are mostly Classical Revival style structures which are more widely accepted as “historic.” In either case, these arguments reveal a disturbing brand of selective memory on the part of those seeking demolition most ardently. Holly + Smith’s feasibility study, which states that Phillis Wheatley Elementary is a viable resource, should be seen as a positive starting off point for creative solutions to satisfy all. Those arguing for preservation—including DOCOMOMO/US Louisiana, Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans, National Trust for Historic Preservation, World Monuments Fund, and citizens throughout New Orleans—believe that this historic building can indeed be incorporated into a 21st century school to benefit
buildings, historic or otherwise. If it is possible to bring
children for years to come. After all, that is the
each of those to a reasonable level of programmatic
ultimate goal of preservation—to ensure that future
equality, one is left to wonder why the rehabilitation
generations will inherit the architectural legacy of
and reuse of Wheatley is so insurmountable,
those who came before, rather than allow short-
particularly in light of those conclusions drawn by
sighting thinking to deprive them of that opportunity.
RSD’s own consultants. Lindsey Derrington received her Master’s in Historic Preservation at Tulane University and was an intern at the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans. www.recentpast.org
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SPOTLIGHT Maintaining the nation’s largest archive of Modernist
Through “Mayberry Modernism,” Smart offers why North
houses isn’t enough for George Smart, founder and
Carolina has so many, why they’re endangered, and how
director of Triangle Modernist Houses (TMH), an award-
the design-loving public can get involved in the TMH
winning non-profit based in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel
mission. Smart customized each presentation to the city
Hill “Triangle” region of North Carolina. To further the
where he speaks, connecting local examples of
TMH three-fold mission of documentation, preservation,
architectural gems to the nation’s Modernist history. He
and promotion, he has developed a popular road show
teaches audiences how to recognize Modernist houses
called “Mayberry Modernism: North Carolina’s Modern
and what they can and should do to help preserve them.
Legacy.” “Meeting planners can dial up any length from seven to RPPN featured George and THM in the April 2010
sixty minutes,” says Smart, “with most choosing the
Bulletin (“Love Triangle” by Jane Andrews), explaining
more detailed talk featuring a lively musical PowerPoint
the group’s history and its ongoing fight against vacancy
gallery at the end. This showcases all the AIA North
in mid-century moderns. “Contrary to popular belief, the
Carolina award-winning Modernist houses since 1951—
enemy to preservation is not the developer taking
especially the architectural gems lost to the wrecker’s
GEORGE SMART TAKES
BY KIM WEISS
ON THE ROAD
advantage of an empty but beautiful houses,” says
ball such as the Eduardo Catalano House razed in 2001.”
Smart. “The foe of Modernist houses is vacancy. So a big part of our mission is to keep these homes owned,
Smart derived the name for his presentation from the
rented, occupied, loved, and on the public radar through
Andy Griffith Show, which was set in the fictional town of
our website www.trianglemodernisthouses.com.”
Mayberry. “If you’ll recall,” he tells audiences, “Barney Fife loved to visit Raleigh. I like to think that he spent his
Since March of this year, Smart has been traveling all
time there driving around looking at all the Modernist
over his state speaking to Rotary Clubs and other civic
houses, so today we’ll explore what Barney saw!”
groups, historic preservation organizations, urban design centers, American Institute of Architects chapters, and
In September, Smart presented during Preservation
late-night “ignite” and “Pecha Kucha” crowds. His
North Carolina’s annual statewide conference, held this
message: North Carolina contains the third largest
year in Durham. Last year, he spoke on a panel of
collection of Modernist houses in the country (bested
seasoned preservationists during the National Trust for
only by Los Angeles and Chicago) and we’d better pay
Historic Preservation’s National Conference in Nashville.
attention to them before they disappear — as so many Victorian-era houses did in the ‘70s and ‘80s. 17
RPPN BULLETIN FALL 2010
SPOTLIGHT CATALANO HOUSE. The former Catalano House in Raleigh, designed by Eduardo Catalano in 1954. It was publicized as the “House of the Decade” by House and Home Magazine in 1956 and praised by Frank Lloyd Wright. Successive owners, vacancy, and ultimately neglect left it irreparable. It was razed in 2001—six year before TMH was founded.
So far “Mayberry Modernism” has been seen most often in North Carolina, but Smart is considering expanding across the U.S. to help other communities preserve their Modernist houses through his popular model. “If you love Modernist houses and you think you’re alone, you’re not. I’ll help you build strong interest and support for the ‘livable works of art’ in your community.” To schedule George Smart for “Mayberry Modernism,” contact him at george@triangleModernisthouses.com. For more information on the Mayberry Modernism presentation and where George has spoken, visit www.triangleModernisthouses.com/presentations. FLEET HOUSE. The 1970 Doug Fleet House on Figure Eight Island, NC, designed by John Robert Oxenfield, AIA, with landscape architecture by Dick Bell, FASLA. Photograph by Gordon Schenck.
(top left) CARR HOUSE. The 1958 Carr House in Durham, designed by Kenneth Scott, AIA. When it was endangered in 2009, TMH helped find new buyers who appreciate the beauty and historic significance of the house. Photograph by Lewis Clark. (middle) FADUM HOUSE. The 1950 Nancy Fields Fadum House in Raleigh, designed by James Fitzgibbon. Photograph by Leilani Carter. (bottom left) STRICKLAND HOUSE. The 2004 Lynda Strickland and Marty Ferris House in Raleigh, designed by Frank Harmon, FAIA. Photograph by Timothy Hursley. www.recentpast.org
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IN HIAWASSEE
BY CHIP WRIGHT In June of 2009, the Hiawassee City Manager and Council
commercial core is the primary goal for this work and the
authorized the Georgia Mountain Regional Commission
first step in reclaiming a competitive stature.
to oversee the preparation of a plan to revitalize
For practical purposes the Master Plan is considered to
downtown Hiawassee, which would establish the vision
be a valuable planning tool to guide future development
for the City’s future redevelopment strategy based on
and preserve the historical integrity found within
the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic
downtown Hiawassee. Further, this effort is intended to
Preservation. As a result, an architectural assessment
act as a guide for decision makers, business owners,
was carried out by the Georgia Mountains Regional
architects, designers, and residents when considering
Development Center’s Preservation and Community
improvements to properties within not only Hiawassee’s
Design Division to determine the historical context found
commercial core but also outlying areas such as city
within and adjacent to downtown Hiawassee’s
gateways and sprawling development pods.
commercial core. Based on the findings, the next step was to present all collected data to the local community,
Downtown Hiawassee today consists of a mix of
invite input, and establish a Buildings Urban
businesses, civic, and housing types. The Towns County
Improvement Landscape Design (B.U.I.L.D.) Task Force.
Courthouse, Federal Post Office, and County Library
Representatives of this group were to be the attendees
provide a strong civic presence downtown. These
of the first and second public work sessions. Members
buildings, in conjunction with other examples found in
included concerned citizens, community stakeholders,
the central commercial core, were predominantly
and public officials. These individuals played an
designed in the middle part of the 20th century, a time
important part in the development of this document.
when time-honored traditions were meeting the sparkling rhythm of Atomic Age. In recent years property
PREMIS: A Master Plan is used to promote a vision for
owners and developers have tried to apply stereotypical
downtown. This vision includes identity improvements,
Appalachian design styles to these buildings with little
suggestions for future development, parking expansion,
success and meek visual quality. “One cannot make a
opportunities for linking downtown to adjacent
building something that it was never intended to be.”
municipalities and nearby leisure areas via the expanding
This architectural disconnect has resulted in a downtown
regional recreational trail systems, and for the
that is visually “out of balance.” This problem is
implementation of safety improvements. Promoting a
heightened by the Highway 17 corridor—a primary
vision for future development within the downtown
traffic artery through downtown. This busy thoroughfare
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HIAWASEE DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT restricts pedestrian movement from nearby
transparency and dynamic forms executed with delicacy
neighborhoods and the interplay between businesses
and human scale. In residential buildings long horizontal
located on either side of the narrow right-of-way.
forms with pitched roofs dominate and stone and brick
Downtown Hiawassee is further removed from higher
are used as accent materials. Commercial buildings
concentrations of pedestrian traffic due to a lack of
exhibit unique masonry veneer, large plate glass
contiguous connection to nearby Lake Chatuge, the
windows, and aluminum accents. Hiawassee’s
Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, and other regionally
architectural integrity combines a commercial and
significant recreational resources. Positive
residential mid-century focus to create a rich multi-
interconnectivity is the underlying key to success—”from
faceted environment.
diversity comes strength and resilience.” Regardless of these setbacks, downtown Hiawassee is considered to be
Another characteristic of the area is the prominence of
a strong regional center and has the infrastructure,
the Towns County Courthouse, which was designed in
bounding natural resources and commercial potential to
the late 1950s and constructed during the early 1960s.
become the formidable, quality rich destination point
This humanistic modern institutional design incorporates
that local residents and tourists should expect and rightly
implied classical details reflecting ethical sophistication.
deserve.
This design is harmonious with mid century modernism in establishing a coherent attractive community image.
As alluded to above, Hiawassee’s last large-scale phase
Hiawassee’s architectural character lies deeply
of development began in the mid-twentieth century and
embedded in this coherent design style.
has derived its character from that era, having excellent examples of Mid-Century Modernism in both residential
Today, if one picks up a copy of any planning or
and commercial design. Rather than being overlaid with
architectural journal the pages are awash with
a faux, imposed “mountain rustic” theme, this vibrant
communities taking new interest in their downtowns and
and regionally unique character deserves to be enhanced
historic preservation. This increased activity stems from
and expanded upon. The attributes of “Mid Century
a greater recognition of the relationship between how
Modernism” in Hiawassee’s architectural record are
downtowns functions in direct relation to fluctuating
clean lines, simple surfaces, modern materials,
commercial and real estate enterprises. The information contained herein shows that Hiawassee has great potential for positive and meaningful growth that will enhance local character and protect the visual quality of the surrounding landscape. The challenge will be to build upon existing architectural elements, bolster neighborhood and downtown interconnectivity, emphasize links to regional recreation areas, and regulate future development patterns and building types. In achieving these goals the City of Hiawassee will find itself in a better position to meet the needs of a growing and competitive market. Chip Wright is a planning consultant for the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission. He has over twenty years experience in architectural and landscape design, civil engineering, historic preservation, and maritime archaeology. www.recentpast.org
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This year marks an important milestone in the
accepted threshold for a building’s consideration as
preservation of mid-century modern architecture, as
historic. At the same time, preserving resources from the
structures built in 1960 reach the ripe old age of fifty.
sixties poses new challenges, both technical and
While turning fifty strikes fear in the hearts of many—
philosophical.
especially in Los Angeles—it’s actually good for significant buildings. Though it’s not a hard-and-fast
To celebrate Greater Los Angeles’ rich legacy of the
requirement for landmark designation in most cities
1960s architecture, and explore how best to preserve it,
(including Los Angeles), the age of fifty is a widely
the Los Angeles Conservancy and its Modern Committee
the sixties turn 50 SAVING L.A. s 1960s LEGACY
BY TRUDI SANDMEIER AND CINDY OLNICK, LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY
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THE SIXTIES TURN 50 launched a ten-month educational program in
At the same time, the Conservancy was in the throes of
September 2009. “The Sixties Turn 50” encompassed a
two high-profile preservation battles for 1960s buildings:
range of events, from tours and panel discussions to a
the Century Plaza Hotel (Minoru Yamasaki, 1966) and the
family picnic, as well as a dedicated website
Columbia Savings Building (Irving Shapiro, 1965). The
(laconservancy.org/sixties) with a timeline, photo
two issues could not have had more different outcomes,
sharing, and online polls to create an unofficial “People’s
and they underscored that while we’ve made quite a bit
Choice Top 60 of the ‘60s” list of favorite sixties sites in
of progress, we still have far to go.
L.A. County.
Los Angeles in the Sixties The 1960s were a remarkable period in U.S. history and a watershed moment in the history of Los Angeles. Against the national backdrop of the Kennedy era, the civil rights movement, the space race, and the Age of Aquarius, Los Angeles developed its freeway system, the aerospace industry flourished, and the population boomed. The city truly came of age as a modern metropolis began its rise as a cultural capital. Preservation also took hold in the sixties. The City of Los Angeles created its Cultural Heritage Ordinance in 1962, becoming one of the first cities in the U.S. to do so. The National Historic Preservation Act followed in 1966. “It was during this decade that Los Angeles first became a ‘world city,’” says John English, an architectural historian and longtime member of the Conservancy’s volunteer Modern Committee. “It was also when we fully realized much of the postwar promise that had been building up steam throughout the late forties and fifties. Commercial architects really hit their stride in terms of large-scale development. Los Angeles International Airport embodied the jet age. When you arrived in Los Angeles, you knew that Los Angeles had arrived.” Despite its early foray into the world of historic preservation, Los Angeles doesn’t have a strong track record in protecting its historic resources, particularly
ST. BASIL CATHOLIC CHURCH. St. Basil Catholic Church (Albert C. Martin & Associates, 1969) on Wiltshire Boulevard features concrete towers lace together with groundbreaking stained-glass windows by noted artist Claire Falkenstein. Photograph by J. Eric Lynxwiler. www.recentpast.org
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THE SIXTIES TURN 50 those of the 1960s. We’ve lost a number of important
stories is the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood, designed by
sixties structures, from commercial buildings to
Welton Becket & Associates. Featuring the world’s only
significant homes like the Irving Stone Residence in
all-concrete geodesic dome, this futuristic theatre also
Beverly Hills (Richard Dorman & Associates, 1961). This
had the world’s largest movie screen when it opened in
elegant example of the International Style was
1963. After a multi-year effort by several preservation
demolished in 2008, a victim of the nationwide teardown
groups in the 1990s, the iconic Dome was preserved as
trend. The former Century City office of Welton Becket &
the centerpiece of a new—and wildly successful—
Associates—one of the most prominent and influential
theatre complex.
architectural firms in Los Angeles, particularly in the sixties—was razed in 2005. Many others have fallen to
Preservationists have expanded their efforts beyond
the wrecking ball, have been altered beyond recognition,
single sixties resources to entire neighborhoods, with
or currently face demolition.
two milestone designations in the past year alone. The Balboa Highlands tract in Granada Hills (A. Quincy Jones,
Fortunately, many other 1960s landmarks have been
Frederick Emmons, and Claude Oakland, 1963-64), built
saved from demolition, proving their value and viability.
by pioneering developer Joseph Eichler, became the
The Conservancy has advocated for mid-century modern
newest and youngest historic district in the City of Los
resources since its founding in 1978, and since 1984, our
Angeles. Pegfair Estates, a 1960s tract in Pasadena,
Modern Committee (ModCom) has been at the vanguard
became one of the first National Register-listed historic
of the movement. Among the city’s greatest success
districts of ranch homes in California.
CINERAMA DOME. The 1963 Cinerama Dome on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood was threatened with demolition in the 1990s but preserved as part of a wildly popular cinema complex. Photograph by Larry Underhill.
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THE SIXTIES TURN 50 Los Angeles had a greater ‘60s legacy than we had imagined. Sixties buildings are everywhere! We knew the decade was an important time in the area’s development, but even we were surprised at what we discovered once we scratched the surface. Greater Los Angeles in the 1960s was the center of the aerospace industry, the site of a continuing postwar population boom, and home to unprecedented expansion, particularly in large-scale development. An incredible amount of the area’s development occurred during this period. While not all of it merits preservation, this vast set of resources has come into high relief and deserves examination. A lot of people care about this legacy. We had a great response to the program, from national press coverage to individual engagement. The heart of our website, the People’s Choice Top 60 of the Sixties, bore this out, garnering more than 2,000 votes. (To see the winners, visit laconservancy.org/sixties). In (top) LAX THEME BUILDING. The Conservancy’s fall 2009 tour of 1960s buildings included a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the iconic LAX Theme Building during restoration. Photograph by Larry
addition to voting for their favorite candidates, people let us know about other sixties sites not on the ballot, helping us discover even more new places.
Underhill. (bottom) LA LAGUNA DE SAN GABRIEL “The Sixties Turn 50” program
But not everyone.
included a May Day Monster Mash Picnic at La Laguna de San
Alas, we also learned (well, we had an inkling) that not
Gabriel, a 1960s playground by master concrete artist Benjamin
everyone favors preserving 1960s buildings. “The Sixties
Dominguez. The sand-filled “lagoon” of whimsical sea creatures was threatened with demolition but was saved by the grassroots efforts
Turn 50” raised plenty of eyebrows, even within the
of community members. Its ongoing preservation has won awards
preservation community. Some people don’t believe a
and sets a model for preserving postwar playgrounds as historic
building younger than they are could be considered historic; others have understandable resentment toward buildings that rose from the ashes of older landmarks.
What We’ve Learned In downtown Los Angeles, the iconic Art Deco Atlantic Through a host of events, discussions, research, and
Richfield building (Morgan, Walls, & Clements, 1928) was
public engagement, the Conservancy has learned quite a
razed in the late sixties and replaced with the monolithic
bit about the challenges and opportunities in preserving
ARCO Towers (A.C. Martin & Associates, 1972). The
Greater L.A.’s sixties resources. For instance:
nineteenth-century Victorian homes in the nearby www.recentpast.org
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Bunker Hill neighborhood fell to the city’s new financial and cultural hub, including the Music Center of Los Angeles County (Welton Becket & Associates, 19641967). As devastating as these losses were, the fact remains that new buildings have since gained significance in their own right. The Conservancy developed and launched “The Sixties Turn 50” in the midst of two preservation battles that ended very differently, underscoring the plight of sixties buildings in Los Angeles and their nascent acceptance. Designed by Irving Shapiro and completed in 1965, the Columbia Savings Building on L.A.’s Miracle Mile was an outstanding example of postwar bank design. Its design reinterpreted the classically inspired banks of the turn-of-the-twentiethcentury. It integrated notable works of abstract art, including a 45-foot-long brass screen-waterfall sculptural fountain and a 1,300-square-foot dale-deverre stained-glass skylight. Having more recently served as a Korean church, the building was proposed for demolition in 2008 as part of a massive mixed-use redevelopment project. The Conservancy fought the demolition for over a year,
We can’t afford the luxury of a fifty-year threshold. “The Sixties Turn 50” underscore that—particularly in the constantly changing landscape of Los Angeles—many structures are threatened with demolition well before they turn fifty. At the same time, some people questioned why we weren’t publicly addressing even younger structures. The program spurred conservation about landmarks of the future, places for which we need to create a constituency now, before they become threatened with demolition. Not every old building is historically significant, and many new buildings are already significant—such as Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, which is only seven years old. Materials are essential to the discussion. One of our goals in this program was to address the technical and philosophical challenges of preserving 1960s architecture. We raised more questions than answers, and we all need to work together to address these issues sooner rather than later.
COLUMBIA SAVINGS BUILDING. The striking Columbia Savings
One of the most critical issues involves materials
Building (Irving Shapiro, 1965) was an outstanding example of
conservation. Many sixties buildings feature mass-
postwar bank design that also embodied the true integration of art
produced materials that are easily replicated, and/or
with architecture. It was most recently occupied as a Korean church.
experimental materials that perhaps weren’t designed to
Despite more than a year of intensive advocacy, the building was demolished and the entire block sits vacant. Photographs by Larry Underhill. 25
RPPN BULLETIN FALL 2010
last for generations. Is actual historic fabric as important
for these structures as it is for older structures of stone,
illustrating the building’s significance and nominating it
brick, and old-growth wood?
for state landmark designation. Nonetheless, the project was pushed through the approval process, with decision
The effort to preserve the Century Plaza Hotel did help
makers saying they “just didn’t get” the building’s
to clarify one piece of the puzzle. The process of
importance.
determining how to preserve the hotel building as part of a mixed-use development has yielded groundbreaking
The building’s demolition began hours after the Los
treatment protocols for aluminum, which has a typical
Angeles City Council approved the replacement project.
life span of only forty years. These guidelines for
The entire block was cleared and now sits vacant for the
repairing, restoring, and replacing historic aluminum can
foreseeable future.
serve not only the Century Plaza but countless other buildings from the sixties and beyond.
On a much happier note, in February 2010, the Conservancy, the National Trust for Historic
We have much more to do.
Preservation, and Next Century Associates (NCA)
Many more questions are out there. How do we adapt
announced plans to preserve the 1966 Century Plaza
car-oriented designs—all the rage in the sixties—to the
Hotel. The elegant hotel in the form of a sweeping
contemporary desire for pedestrian-friendly
crescent shape was designed as the centerpiece of
communities? While a number of architects pioneered
Century City, a “city within a city” that heralded a bold
energy-efficient modern design in the sixties, many
new approach to urban design. The hotel was designed
others didn’t, instead taking full advantage of the era’s
by Minoru Yamasaki (1912-1986), who also designed
cheap and plentiful energy. How do we enhance the
such renowned landmarks as the Lambert-St. Louis
sustainability of these buildings while maintaining their
Municipal Air Terminal in St. Louis (1956), the U.S.
historic character?
Science Pavilion/Pacific Science Center in Seattle (1962), and New York’s World Trade Center twin towers (1966-
Ultimately, our efforts underscore the amount of work
1977).
that is left to be done, in terms of both education and advocacy. During the span of the program, we
Since it opened, the Century Plaza has served as a
experienced the thrill of victory with the Century Plaza
premiere hotel for celebrities, politicians, and world
Hotel and the agony of defeat with the Columbia Savings
dignitaries. Its instant success also fueled the
Building. Other sixties buildings remain in jeopardy, such
development of Century City and forged its reputation as
as the Edward T. Foley Center (Edward Durell Stone,
a truly modern, world-class destination. Its frequent use
1963) at Loyola Marymount University and several
by national leaders earned it the nickname “The West
buildings on the main campus of the University of
Coast White House” and made it a focal point for
Southern California.
political activism. The Century Plaza has hosted countless events, from star-studded charity balls to the 1967
As we fight to save these and other architectural gems
Pillsbury Bake-Off.
from the wrecking ball, we now have the benefit of a strong context and growing constituency for their
In 2008, new owner New Century Associates announced
preservation. We are teaching ourselves as we educate
plans to demolish the hotel and replace it with a mixed-
others, working like many around the nation to stretch
use development including a boutique hotel,
the boundaries of “traditional” preservation.
condominiums, retail, restaurants, offices, and open space. The Conservancy responded by engaging the www.recentpast.org
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THE SIXTIES TURN 50 We want to hear from you.
public, making it a campaign issue in the local City
If you’re grappling with some or all of these issues,
Council election, and successfully nominating the
please let us know. We’re eager to work with
building for listing by the National Trust for Historic
preservationists around the country and the globe to
Preservation as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered
learn how to protect our sixties heritage before its’ too
Historic Places for 2009.
late. Thanks to strong political leadership, broad public Trudi Sandmeier (tsandmeier@laconservancy.org) is director of
support, and an open-minded developer, the
education for the Los Angeles Conservancy, a member-based
Conservancy and the National Trust were able to work
nonprofit historic preservation organization serving all of Los
with the project team to find a meaningful preservation
Angeles County. Cindy Olnick (colnick@laconservancy.org) is the
solution that uses the hotel building as the centerpiece
Conservancy’s director of communications and a current board
of the development. NCA recently released the design
member of the Recent Past Preservation Network.
concept for the project, which will go through the full public review process over the coming months.
CENTURY PLAZA HOTEL. The 1966 Century Plaza Hotel in Century City faced demolition in 2008; the National Trust for Historic Preservation placed the hotel on its 2009 list of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in America. Thanks to strong political leadership, broad public support, and an open-minded developer, the hotel will be preserved as the centerpiece of a mixed-use development. Photo courtesy Yamasaki Associates. 27
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RPPN BULLETIN FALL 2010 Recent Past Preservation Network www.recentpast.org www.facebook.com/RecentPastPreservationNetwork www.twitter.com/r_p_p_n Questions, comments, ideas? Interested in writing a story for a future issue of the RPPN Bulletin? Contact us today! newsletter@recentpast.org www.recentpast.org
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