Historic Resources Committee

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Renaissance Schallaburg Figures in a facade

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The mission of the Historic Resources Committee (HRC) is to identify, understand, and preserve architectural heritage, both nationally and internationally. HRC is engaged in promoting the role of the historic architect within the profession through the development of information and knowledge among members, allied professional organizations, and the public.

  • 1.  #NotreDame

    Posted 04-15-2019 09:56 PM

    "The massive, majestic cathedral looked like it had been there forever, and would remain until the end of time. If only for a moment, Notre Dame ablaze reminded us that we all share this world; that human history means everyone's past," 

    "If only for a moment, the notion of a 'World Heritage,' which UNESCO formally bestows on places that we, as humanity, ought to care for and cherish so that we can pass them to future generations, seemed exactly right. We all hurt over the loss of Notre Dame."

    "[F]or a time, the flaming Notre Dame Cathedral brought the world together in shared sorrow. For just a moment, we felt history belonged to all of us, and we mourned our common loss."

    -- Ghitis, a former CNN producer and correspondent. www.cnn.com



    ------------------------------
    Ronda Bernstein
    Historical Consultant
    HISTORY PRESERVATION INC.
    Washington DC
    www.historicalmatters.net
    Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @histpresinc
    Contact to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture!
    ------------------------------
    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 2.  RE: #NotreDame

    Posted 04-16-2019 05:48 PM

    All:

     

    Consider the Frauenkirche in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dresden</st1:place></st1:city>.

    Designed around 1720 and completed

    around the time of George Washington's

    birth, it was nearly completely destroyed

    in the infamous February, 13, 1945 fire raid

    that leveled, " the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Florence</st1:place></st1:city> of the North".

     

    At least most of the masonry parts of

    Notre Dame, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Paris</st1:place></st1:city> still stand, while the

    Frauenkirche only had 15% of the walls

    standing, while the stone dome, and the

    rows of balconies that permitted 3700

    to hear sermons on a 125' x 125' floor

    plate were all gone.

     

    After 45 years during which the

    East German authorities refused to

    rebuild it, trees grew in the rubble

    pile that had been the Frauenkirche

    (Notre Dame in German), a citizens'

    group sprang up after renunification

    and completely rebuilt it.

     

    Thus, Notre Dame, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Paris</st1:place></st1:city> will again

    have all its vaults, its roof and its

    1800's - style fleche.

     

    Yes,the rafters will not be 800

    or 175 years old, and some of

    the stones will likely be new,

    but the impact upon countless

    people yet unborn will be like the

    feeling we have had upon visiting

    or worshipping there.

     

    John F. Corkill, Jr., AIA




    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 3.  RE: #NotreDame

    Posted 04-18-2019 03:26 AM
    All in Committee,

    Regardless of what the world may think of the architectural style, construction, location or religious affiliation, from the ashes of Monday's conflagration, Notre-Dame de Paris will rise triumphantly as the most beloved structure on earth.  And why not?  Few if any buildings nourish the soul as does Our Lady.

    Amen and Joyeuses Paques!

    Tom Genis, AIA, NCARB
    GENIS DESIGN, P.C.
    B. Arch. Notre Dame


    Sent from my LG Phoenix Plus, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone



    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 4.  RE: #NotreDame

    Posted 04-18-2019 03:08 PM
    May the outcome be exactly as you describe, though I suspect, given that a competition seems to be afoot, that it will not be as we would wish.

    ------------------------------
    Manuel Mergal AIA
    Mergal Architecture & Design
    New York NY
    ------------------------------

    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 5.  RE: #NotreDame

    Posted 04-17-2019 02:35 AM
    So far, the fire seems to have been caused by a spark that reached the old timber trusses coated with tar through the centuries.
    If that is so, I  ask if the construction methods and protection measures were appropriate to the work on such a building.
    There are multiple cases of fire started this way.
    Our responsibility for how we care about our heritage is enormous.

    ------------------------------
    Dominique Tomasov AIA
    Dominique Tomasov, AIA
    Barcelona
    ------------------------------

    2024 HRC Taliesin West


  • 6.  RE: #NotreDame

    Posted 04-18-2019 10:12 PM
    PUT DOWN THE BLOWTORCH: SOME TIPS FOR PREVENTING FIRES IN HISTORIC STRUCTURES

    http://www.landmarks.org/resources/preservation-news/putdowntheblowtorch/

    ------------------------------
    Ronda Bernstein
    Historical Consultant
    HISTORY PRESERVATION INC.
    Washington DC
    www.historicalmatters.net
    Facebook/Twitter/Instagram: @histpresinc
    Contact to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture!
    ------------------------------

    2024 HRC Taliesin West