Posted by  Will Hayes on May 11, 2002 at 10:33:57:

In Reply to:  Contextualism and Vernacular Building posted by Paul Malo on May 10, 2002 at 16:49:16:

Paul,

Sorry, don't misread me - I've got no problem with double-hung windows or bearing masonry. And I was specifically not trying to go into any issues of "style", or "modernity", because it's not really the issue. In fact, style for it's own sake is exactly what I have a problem with.

I will uphold my statement that buildings which are specifically trying to mimic historic buildings ARE nearly always inferior to the originals. And it has nothing to do with their "style".
As a piece of architecture, would you appreciate a self-conscious copy of an historical building as much as the original? Even if it was a perfect copy? Probably not.

Even if it was a pefect copy, I know that the resources required to make a perfect re-creation of a modest carpenter-built house on 300 years ago, in modern america, would make it a far from modest house in reality.
Not to mention that to think that the architectural response to the current climate (socio-economic as well as environmental), even given the same materials and motifs would end up exactly the same 300 years later - is a bit unrealistic.

One of the things that I appreciate about architecture is that one can just look at a building and tell a lot about the period in which it was built, and the people and functions it was built for - and in fact date a building pretty accurately.

I think that a new building absolutely SHOULD take full advantage of technologies and building methods that work in a given climate/locale/contect - be they double-hung windows, bearing masonry, etc.
What I do not appreciate is the self-conscious mimicry of historical forms for their own sake. A new building, designed on its own terms, will and should be different from a 300 year old building, as the context of it's design and construction (important in both old and new buildings) is vastly different.

A regional vernacular is a result of a region's economy, resources & know-how. Not just a sense of "style". A new building should be no different.

Keep in mind that an historic neighborhood is not necessarily one that is wealthy enough to recreate 'honest' historical buildings without concessions to economy. And many of the historical forms that we now appreciate architectually are not those that were created to house very wealthy people at the time they were built.

Are you familiar with the work of Samuel Mockbee's studio? While it is occasionally a bit heavy on "statements" (they are students after all) it's a great example of building upon vernacular tradition using economic construction methods and locally available materials and making new, sensible buildings that perform well, are regionally specific, do not offend their neighboring buildings, do not embarrass themselves, and contribute actively & positively to their context.

To answer your questions that I have not already addressed:

>"But is a steel-stud box, clad with Dryvit, somehow preferable in a historic neighborhood to a honest masonry building?"

Of course not! Dryvit(tm) is a horrible material that is is a result of precisely the type of fakery that bothers me - style over substance.

>"If you find buildings that are not modern in character are "nearly ALWAYS inferior to their historical models," is it really because you discern the style not to be modern, or is it because the designer was inept at designing (or building honestly) in any other style?"

No, and not necessarily. I guess I've already talked about this a little, but to add: I just think that, in shifting the focus of the design towards mimicry, in both superficial appearance, and resources used towards construction (eg: we can't afford a real masonry wall, so let's use a *cheap* material that LOOKS like masonry, instead of finding an affordable and reasonable alternative that PERFORMS like masonry) the important issues present in the design of the building are often compromised.

Responses:

• Style, Contextualism and Vernacular Building Paul Malo 09:01:25 5/12/2002 (0)

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