Category Archives: Preservation

Parsing historic and historical

Posted on June 4, 2015 by David Brussat

Many older cities greet drivers with highway signs that say, for example, “Entering Historic Providence.” The capital of Rhode Island was founded in 1636, and the state’s youngest municipality, West Warwick, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2013. Every city and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Development, Preservation, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Hopeful video from ISIS?

Posted on May 27, 2015 by David Brussat

Here is a three-minute video apparently from ISIS entitled “ISIS Vows Not To Bulldoze Palmyra Architecture (Only Statues),” with a text translated on-screen. The authenticity of this statement has not been confirmed but is considered likely. The Blouinartinfo Blogs article … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Other countries, Preservation, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“The city that makes Rome blush”

Posted on May 22, 2015 by David Brussat

“The City that Makes Rome Blush: Five Reasons Why Palmyera’s Ruins Are So Important,” by Caroline Miranda (what a name!) of the Los Angeles Times, wrote a fascinating piece in the days leading up to the ancient Syrian city’s capture … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Other countries, Preservation, Video | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Perspiring in Palmyra

Posted on May 22, 2015 by David Brussat

The Islamic State has entered Palmyra, site of Roman ruins in war-torn Syria. ISIS has destroyed several famous archeological sites in its brutal quest for a caliphate, mostly so far in Iraq. Its forces have been in Palmyra for only … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Preservation hits the bottom

Posted on May 8, 2015 by David Brussat

The New York Landmarks Preservation Commission has almost hit rock bottom. It has approved a restoration project that preserves a building – and its graffiti. The website New York YIMBY reports the ruling in “Landmarks Approves Restoration and Conversion of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Development, Humor, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

Classical cataclysm in Nepal

Posted on May 3, 2015 by David Brussat

The death toll from earthquakes in Nepal have reached well into the thousands. Coverage of rescue efforts has understandably taken priority over news of the terrible cultural cost of the disaster. The Nepalese capital of Kathmandu and other ancient centers … Continue reading →

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Build McKim’s Penn Station

Posted on May 2, 2015 by David Brussat

Traditional Building has published an important essay, “Rebuilding McKim’s Penn Station,” by the magazine’s eminence gris, Clem Labine, announcing a major plan to reverse one of America’s most egregious civic mistakes. The plan, by architect Richard Cameron, of Atelier & … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Art and design, Development, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

It’s a Wonderful Wall

Posted on May 1, 2015 by David Brussat

Here’s a wall that satisfies all of my demands for a fine façade. Hats off to Michael Rouchell, the New Orleans architect who sent the picture of the Emek Theater, in Istanbul, to the TradArch list. He added a comment … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture Education, Architecture History, Art and design, Other countries, Preservation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Long city planning grind

Posted on April 25, 2015 by David Brussat

James Fallows has written “Nice Downtowns: How Did They Get that Way?” for the Atlantic, about how active city downtowns arise not naturally or organically but are planned. He takes the example of Seattle, which was a hollowed-out reject 50 … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture History, Development, Preservation, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Join my Jane’s Walk again!

Posted on April 24, 2015 by David Brussat

I will be giving my second annual Jane’s Walk waterfront tour of downtown Providence on Saturday, May 2, at 1:00 p.m. We will meet at the Crawford Street Bridge – the new and beautiful bridge, not the late, unlamented Guinness … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Architecture Education, Art and design, Development, Landscape Architecture, Preservation, Providence, Urbanism and planning | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment