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The Parapet Wall of Kings Chapel, Cambridge

While doing some research for a building condition report, I came across this beautiful pic of the parapet at Kings College Chapel.  The  only person who sees this view on a regular basis is probably the one who walks the roof once a year to check for repairs.  Yet the masons who designed and built it saw it fit to do such an amazing job.

Parapets came into use as  way to protect soldiers from harm as they defended a building from the roof, or castle walk.  The word comes from an italian word meaning “to defend the breast”.  Later, it was used by city codes to protect wood roof structures from fire by requiring a masonry wall between the building face and the roof.

The Preservatin League of New York State published it’s “Winter 08-09″ issue of the Preservation Advocate.  Inside there’s a list of the currently funded projects receiving money from the League.  I’m proud to announce that two of the sixteen are Bero Architecture projects.

The Village of Avon is receiving a grant for an Historic Structure Report of The Five Arch Bridge in Driving Park  (1856-1857).

Five Arch Bridge

“Constructed of local Stafford limestone, this National Register-eligible bridge is a largely intact example of early masonry railroad-related engineering in the Genesee Valley.  The Report will guide needed repairs and serve as a basis for landmark designation.”

-Preservation Advocate

The City of Geneva is receiving a grant for an Historic Structure Report for the  Gigliotti Gas Station (1927).

Gigliotti Gas Station

“Designed by architect I. Edgar Hill, who studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, this gas station combines elements of Classical Revival and Art Moderne design.  the building has been deemed eligible for listing in the State and National Registers.  Threatened with demolition, it was included in the Preservatin League’s 2007 Seven To Save list.”

-Preservation Advocate

While reviewing techniques for repairing a bowed plaster wall, I came across this photo in Nancy Shivers’ book Walls and Molding. It’s by Frances Benjamin Johnston, a turn of the century photographer.  The photo reveals the creation of a mold for plaster ornament for the Columbian Exposition of 1893.

The artisans in the photo are sculplting a full size clay positive of the ornament.  When complete, it will used to create a mold that the final plaster will be poured into.

An image from CNU's site comparing what it promotes and what it fights against

My last post features a video about sprawl and New Urbanism from the Congress For The New Urbanism.   The Congress has a site with a project database featuring 27 pages of images and descriptions of New Urbanistic work.  Thats over 200 projects.  If you were ever trying to find out what New Urbanism represents, that could be a good place to start learning.

CNU's Project Database Portal

I found this video via Garr Reynolds’ Presentation Zen, where it is shown as an example of using text and images to convey an idea.  Garr explains the context of the video:

Here’s yet another example of combining imagery, text, animation, and audio to make an impact in a short amount of time. This 3-minute video presentation called Built to Last won first prize in The Congress for the New Urbanism video contest a few weeks ago. The rules for the contest were simple: “Create a 3-minute maximum video that illustrates how the principles of New Urbanism -density, design and walkability - can effectively respond to current environmental challenges that we face.”

Garr shows the video as an example of technique, I’m showing it here for the content.  I especially like the point made about New Urbanism equaling Old Urbanism which equals Traditional Neighborhood Design.

I also thought I’d illustrate the scale between what the video says about a sprawling 400 square miles and an urban 40 square miles.

Asbury Methodist Church Addition

This is the board we submitted for the 2009 AIA Rochester Design Awards