Preserve, Rehab, Restore, Or Reconstruct?
To preserve, rehab, restore, or reconstruct a structure - a building, a house - of significant historical value can be a huge dilemma. For one, it will always involve a lot of money.
Author:George EvansSep 06, 20248.9K Shares129.9K Views
When it comes to historic buildings, are we going to preserve, rehab, restore, or reconstruct?
The National Park Service, which is under the U.S. Department of the Interior, suggests there is more than one approach. In fact, the Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties enumerates four:
- preservation
- rehabilitation
- restoration
- reconstruction
An Architect Shares His Views
Relating how the guidelines apply to his firm’s work, David Bell, FAIA, LEED AP, BD+C, of Bell Architects (Washington, D.C.) said:
“„Fundamental to the question is integrity, significance, and economic viability.- David Bell, FAIA, LEED AP, BD+C
He continued:
“„Preservation is most viable when there is a great deal of integrity, continuous use that is consistent with the historical use and limited increase or change in economic demands.- David Bell, FAIA, LEED AP, BD+C
Bell added:
“„Rehabilitation is the approach most applicable to our practice. Much of our work is related to modernizing systems and enclosures in historic buildings to meet current demands for energy efficiency, comfort, life safety, and accessibility.- David Bell, FAIA, LEED AP, BD+C
He further said:
“„While rehabilitation can have some areas or elements that are restored, this approach allows for some flexibility to incorporate new systems and change spatial configurations; it is suited to adaptive reuse. There are federal rehabilitation tax credits applicable to this approach - which are also available for restoration projects as well.- David Bell, FAIA, LEED AP, BD+C
Bell explained:
“„Restoration is a more of an academic approach, requiring rigor in research and application. It is often related to a use similar to the period of significance.- David Bell, FAIA, LEED AP, BD+C
He concluded:
“„It’s not uncommon for historic house museums to fall into this category. Sometimes these will be eligible for grants with associated conservation easements.- David Bell, FAIA, LEED AP, BD+C
Finally, reconstruction generally is done when the historic resource is largely gone.
Bell commented:
“„It is probably the least common of the approaches. This can be a tricky approach, while it is hard to avoid conjecture without having a great deal of documentation. One of the most well-known examples is Colonial Williamsburg.- David Bell, FAIA, LEED AP, BD+C
Views From Another Architect
James C. Auld, AIA, CDP, a partner at STIR Architecture in Los Angeles, said:
“„At STIR Architecture, we consider many factors when determining the right approach, as the order of importance of the concepts can shift these depending on the intended use and the source of funding.- James C. Auld, AIA, CDP
He continued:
“„Budget and funding sources, project location, the building and site condition, the context and the future intended use, if different than the historic use, as well as the intended outcome of a project, influence our choice of approach.- James C. Auld, AIA, CDP
He added:
“„We may borrow from all four approaches - especially when the historic use is being replaced with a newer one.- James C. Auld, AIA, CDP
Auld concluded:
“„When the project will remain in its original use, we may only employ a preservation approach to stabilize the structure, make it safe, and more resilient to damage from earthquake, fire, or wind.- James C. Auld, AIA, CDP
Final Thoughts
James C. Auld shared something about his latest project, which involves a traditional American restaurant in California:
“„Our work to date with historic buildings has focused on a combination of approaches, which results in the greatest benefit relative to the cost. For example, at Los Angeles’ Engine Co. 28, we added an additional office level on top of the main roof, behind an existing parapet.- James C. Auld, AIA, CDP
He added:
“„The parapet fronts the only significant façade and allowed a change of use from fire house to creative office on levels above ground and a ground level restaurant.- James C. Auld, AIA, CDP
Auld concluded:
“„Our work retained all of the significant features - the brick, stone, tile façade, great massive doors, ambience of the engine room, its paneled and tin ceiling and the fire pole linking to the floor above - while introducing new features to this 1928 monument in downtown Los Angeles.- James C. Auld, AIA, CDP
Whether the option or choice is to preserve, rehab, restore, or reconstruct, people must always take care of structures deemed historically valuable.
George Evans
Author
George Anderson, an exceptional architectural designer, envisions and brings to life structures that transcend the realm of imagination. With an unwavering passion for design and an innate eye for detail, George seamlessly blends form and function, creating immersive spaces that inspire awe.
Driven by a deep appreciation for the interplay of space, light, and materials, George's innovative approach redefines the possibilities of architectural design. His visionary compositions leave an indelible mark, evoking a sense of wonder and transforming the built environment.
George Anderson's transformative designs and unwavering dedication continue to shape the architectural landscape, pushing the boundaries of what is possible and inspiring generations to come.
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