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Present: Eric Breitkreutz, Matthew Bronski, Marilyn Fenollosa, David Fixler, Jack Glassman, David M. Hart, John Hecker, Erin Hester, David Kelman, Michael Lynch, Bill Mack, Doug Manley, Henry Moss, Ivan Myjer, Susan Schur, Malcolm Smiley, Jonathan Smith, Eric Ward, and Sara Wermiel 1. Sources of Innovation in Historic Preservation: For ongoing discussion in future meetings, Henry Moss invited the committee to think about what innovation in historic preservation is and how it develops. Susan Schur suggested inviting Hugh Miller to a discussion centered on this topic. David Fixler suggested that people look at some of the articles in Future Anterior magazine http://www.arch.columbia.edu/futureanterior, a new journal from the Historic Preservation program at Columbia University launched in Spring '04. Ivan Myjer suggested looking at Morgan Phillips' early analytical papers. These three quick responses confirmed that innovation has occurred in legislative, theoretical, and technical sectors of our activity - and probably others will come out in the crossfire of discussion. Please gather your thoughts for our initial discussions of this topic in March. 2. Preservation Planning for the United Nations Headquarters: David Fixler is leading this extraordinary planning study by Einhorn Yaffee Prescott (EYP) from their Boston office. The current project emerged after an earlier capital master plan by Skidmore Owings & Merrill and Ove Arup. There was a subsequent attempt at a study in 2001 by an Italian firm that never came to fruition. EYP was selected in 2004 to set preservation standards and plan restoration of the General Assembly and Conference Buildings. Shepley Bulfinch Richardson & Abbot are doing the library. Syska & Hennesey's New York office has a major involvement. EYP's first task was to assemble, review, assess, and decide how to choose the best guidelines and criteria from a variety of international standards (Athens Charter, Venice Charter, Burra Convention, Secretary of the Interior….) and the UN's originally stated intentions for the buildings and the competition, which were articulated through an International Committee of Design and a Board of Design chaired by Wallace Harrison. David described the complicated origins of the new buildings. The complex was designed in 1947 and consciously sought a formal statement that would be sufficiently monumental to reflect the immense cross-cultural significance of the United Nations, while expressing a certain humility about modern civilization that had passed through the Great Depression and two world wars. Classicism was tainted by its fascist patrons. CIAM and LeCorbusier heavily influenced the Modernist conception that carried through the building. It is generally consistent with LeCorbusier's 5 Points, lacking only piloti and roof gardens. The mid-20th century design palette turned out to be markedly Scandinavian in materials and detail, especially the interiors. Lewis Mumford derided the geometries and theatrical color accents as "Hollywood Modern." David illustrated some of the character defining elements, including a spare and fluid continuity based on open circulation, spatial overlays, theatrical spaces, and visually simple details. Today, circulation is drastically interrupted because of post-9/11 security installations and the spaces are cluttered with plasma monitors and electronic screens. As David and his team produce guidelines to help evaluate proposed changes from multiple quarters, they are first determining how much of the original complex is intact. 21st century sustainability objectives affect many decisions about the buildings' envelopes. LeCorbusier had recommended brises soleil in a solution similar to the Ministry of Education that he and Oscar Niemeyer designed for Rio de Janiero, but concerns about falling ice came together with other arguments to end that proposal. Windows in the tall office building are single-glazed and debates about authenticity versus the appearance of authenticity apply (see Lever House and the Pepsi Cola Building rehabs). The original specification identified windows with superior thermal performance to those finally installed in an attempt to control construction costs. The original cooling system used the East River as a heat sink. Architecturally, exposed ductwork was consistent with exposed structure. The air conditioning system is loud, and David noted that the white noise may have been intentional in order to mask sensitive conversations in circulation areas. Security changes removed the river frontage walkways and gardens (Webbel and Innocennti) from the public spaces of Manhattan. The former Delegates' Entrance, marked by an assertive pylon penetrating a projecting concrete canopy, has been covered with a tent. Providing for security is the most difficult issue for the design team. The UN is interested in enhancing the experience of visitors and promoting tourist and educational contact with the Security Council and other council settings. David's team is studying enlargement of the Security Council chamber with additional seating. Concern for national feelings constrains changes to meeting spaces donated by Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and Switzerland. EYP is planning two large new meeting spaces beneath the parking garage. The UN's offices are spread out all across Manhattan. They are proposing a new 40 story office structure for swing space by Fumihiko Maki that is in jeopardy due to security and political considerations. The Secretariat is an office building. It is structured internally with 1950's, allegedly demountable Hauserman partitions of steel and reeded glass, but their layouts are extravagant by today's standards of smaller spaces and fewer private offices. Fire safety and related life safety concerns have grown in complexity since the complex was built. Changes in technology (not only communications technology) raise an architectural question about how the UN should use its buildings to show an openness to change. 3. Changes at the Top -- GSA: Susan Schur announced that Ed Feiner, who initiated and administered the GSA's exciting Excellence in Design program, recently left his position as Chief Architect of the GSA to join SOM. His second in command has left as well. Michael Lynch suggested that Carolyn Alderson be invited to speak in Boston about the GSA's work with historic buildings. [She did an excellent Boston workshop with Ernie Conrad a couple of years ago about the GSA's office retrofit case studies.] 4. Rosendale Natural Cement Conference: Michael reminded the committee about the conference coming March 31- April 2 in Rosendale (near New Paltz), NY. The mines for natural hydraulic cement are still in operation and will be included in a tour. See www.rosendalecement.net/html/american_natural_cement_confer.html 5. Good Additions -- Part 4, Underground Expansion: Jack Glassman suggested that we concentrate on underground building expansion for historic structures and landscapes at a future meeting. He cited Trinity Church, Old North Church, Old South Meeting House, the Smithsonian's Ethnic Art Museum, the 36th Street Morgan Library, the Louvre, and the Pusey Library at Harvard as examples to consider. E-mail digital images of underground expansions to Matthew Bronski (mbbronski@sgh.com ) for discussion at our April 14 meeting. 6. Brick Conference: Susan Schur distributed registration material for the upcoming conference, Clay Bricks in the 21st Century: Design, Preservation, & Care of Contemporary and Historic Architecture. Poster proposals will be due in December 2005. The conference will be at MIT March 25-26, 2006. 7. Lowell Religious Properties Workshop: Marilyn Fenellosa announced a charrette in Lowell to address three closed parish churches. She and Albert Rex are working with the City of Lowell to help parishioners find good solutions to these sites. [The charrette was February 18.] David Hart mentionced that St. Joseph's church complex in Salem has benefited from the church reuse charrette held at the Statewide MHC Conference in Salem last September. The city commissioned a real estate analysis by John Bowman. The Archdiocese put the site on the market. A local CDC is buying the site and the studies have proved that there is as much value in reusing all the buildings as wholesale demolition and site clearance might create. The studies were a successful catalyst.
Featuring Michael Lynch presenting "A History of Window Hardware" 8: 00 a.m., Thursday, March 10, 2005 The Architects' Building, 52 Broad Street, 5th floor, Boston
Henry Moss, Matthew Bronski, and Sara Wermiel co-leaders and scribes
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