William D. Drewer, AIA, LEED AP, a Principal with Quinn Evans Architects in Washington, DC, passed away Saturday 23 January 2010. He was best known for architectural design centered around sensitivity and appropriateness to context in historical settings. Over the course of Bill's 18 year career at QEA, he left his mark on cultural heritage projects stretching from South Florida to coastal Maine. As a firm leader, he was committed to the mentorship and continued education of aspiring architects and young professionals.
His experience included the design of renovations, rehabilitations and new buildings within historically-sensitive surroundings. His portfolio focuses on museums and interpretive centers, including Gari Melchers’ Home and Studio at Belmont, Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
In his own words: "Aiming for the Next Level"
"As an architect, I work to create buildings that meet or exceed the expectations of the client and, at the same time, represent QEA as a quality firm. More importantly, I strive to create buildings that inspire and enlighten people.
"In my quest for this goal, I try to improve with each design and build upon my experiences, continually striving to reach the next level of design excellence. Each day, I get to come to work and design buildings — and that’s an opportunity for which I am profoundly thankful.
"Even more special is that I get to work with museums which, to my way of thinking, represent the epitome of cultural heritage preservation. Because museums preserve and interpret artifacts that represent our collective heritage, I have no greater sense of satisfaction than when I am working with a museum institution."
Bill was the "beloved husband of Sharon Darlington Drewer. Devoted father of Ava Darlington Drewer. Son of Milton L. Drewer, Jr. and Elizabeth C. Drewer (deceased). He is survived by his two brothers Milt and Alan, and one sister, Carol. ... In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Ava Darlington Drewer Trust Fund. Checks should be payable to College America FBO Ava D. Drewer, and mailed to Hopwood Financial Services, 10135 Colvin Run Road, Suite 210, Great Falls, VA 22066. (Washington Post, 25 January 2010)
His is and will be greatly missed.
His experience included the design of renovations, rehabilitations and new buildings within historically-sensitive surroundings. His portfolio focuses on museums and interpretive centers, including Gari Melchers’ Home and Studio at Belmont, Tryon Palace Historic Sites and Gardens and the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum.
In his own words: "Aiming for the Next Level"
"As an architect, I work to create buildings that meet or exceed the expectations of the client and, at the same time, represent QEA as a quality firm. More importantly, I strive to create buildings that inspire and enlighten people.
"In my quest for this goal, I try to improve with each design and build upon my experiences, continually striving to reach the next level of design excellence. Each day, I get to come to work and design buildings — and that’s an opportunity for which I am profoundly thankful.
"Even more special is that I get to work with museums which, to my way of thinking, represent the epitome of cultural heritage preservation. Because museums preserve and interpret artifacts that represent our collective heritage, I have no greater sense of satisfaction than when I am working with a museum institution."
Bill was the "beloved husband of Sharon Darlington Drewer. Devoted father of Ava Darlington Drewer. Son of Milton L. Drewer, Jr. and Elizabeth C. Drewer (deceased). He is survived by his two brothers Milt and Alan, and one sister, Carol. ... In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Ava Darlington Drewer Trust Fund. Checks should be payable to College America FBO Ava D. Drewer, and mailed to Hopwood Financial Services, 10135 Colvin Run Road, Suite 210, Great Falls, VA 22066. (Washington Post, 25 January 2010)
His is and will be greatly missed.
La Grande Roue de Paris, December 2009
The second half of the fellowship began today. For the next three weeks, I will be in Paris at the office of Pierre-Antoine Gatier, Architect en Chef and Inspecteur Général des Monuments Historiques -- and the first French recipient of the Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship.
This is the final week of my first three months in France. By week's end, I will be at the mid-point of the fellowship, something that is hard for me to believe! I am getting used to wine with my daily lunch and dinner, am gradually learning the names and locations of the 22 regions and 95 departments, and have increased my architectural vocabulary in French thanks to my mini-Dicobat, a pocket architectural dictionary. Being short on time before the holidays, here's a brief recap of my 13th week.
Monday I was delighted to talk with Michèle Prats, ICOMOS France, the largest and most active section of the International Council on Monuments and Sites. As the adminstrative leader of ICOMOS, Michèle is on top of the current historic preservation issues, particularly for "patrimoine quotidien", or everything that is not a historic monument. One of their working groups deals with "Normes et Économies d'énergie", and they are beginning to develop a 2-day seminar for fall 2010. About a year ago, they held a seminar on "Patrimoine Bâti et Developpement Durable" (Built Heritage and Durable Development), resulting in a publication to be published in January or February 2010.
Tuesday I was honored to meet Françoise Choay, a leading thinker on the philosophy of heritage. At the age of 84, her latest book, called "Le Patrimoine en Question: Anthologie pour un combat" was just published. Diego Rodriguez, RMHF2008, kindly introduced us. She expressed concern that the current western system of "protecting" historic monuments has taken the life out of them. She posed perhaps it's better to let the people who live with the particular monuments decide how they should evolve.
The remainder of the week I have spent in the office of Benjamin Mouton, Architect en Chef and Inspecteur General des Mouments Historiques and Honorary FAIA. This time has been technically based, learning about non-destructive structural testing methods at the Hôtel des Invalides, experiments with glass in historic windows, color decisions in a 19th century interior, and various methods of cleaning stone facades. The work is also philosophically rooted. A class at the Institut du Patrimoine reinforced the base of the Charter of Venice and the Charter of Athens, as the basis of preservation decisions in France, as the Secretary of the Interior Standards are in the USA.
Many thanks to Michèle Prats, Françoise Choay, Diego Rodriguez, and Benjamin Mouton and all in the Agence Mouton for their warm welcome and open exchange.
I plan to add more photos and text, particularly of my time on the French west coast, over the holidays in the USA. I'll be returning to France January 18, 2009. Happy Holidays!
Monday I was delighted to talk with Michèle Prats, ICOMOS France, the largest and most active section of the International Council on Monuments and Sites. As the adminstrative leader of ICOMOS, Michèle is on top of the current historic preservation issues, particularly for "patrimoine quotidien", or everything that is not a historic monument. One of their working groups deals with "Normes et Économies d'énergie", and they are beginning to develop a 2-day seminar for fall 2010. About a year ago, they held a seminar on "Patrimoine Bâti et Developpement Durable" (Built Heritage and Durable Development), resulting in a publication to be published in January or February 2010.
Tuesday I was honored to meet Françoise Choay, a leading thinker on the philosophy of heritage. At the age of 84, her latest book, called "Le Patrimoine en Question: Anthologie pour un combat" was just published. Diego Rodriguez, RMHF2008, kindly introduced us. She expressed concern that the current western system of "protecting" historic monuments has taken the life out of them. She posed perhaps it's better to let the people who live with the particular monuments decide how they should evolve.
The remainder of the week I have spent in the office of Benjamin Mouton, Architect en Chef and Inspecteur General des Mouments Historiques and Honorary FAIA. This time has been technically based, learning about non-destructive structural testing methods at the Hôtel des Invalides, experiments with glass in historic windows, color decisions in a 19th century interior, and various methods of cleaning stone facades. The work is also philosophically rooted. A class at the Institut du Patrimoine reinforced the base of the Charter of Venice and the Charter of Athens, as the basis of preservation decisions in France, as the Secretary of the Interior Standards are in the USA.
Many thanks to Michèle Prats, Françoise Choay, Diego Rodriguez, and Benjamin Mouton and all in the Agence Mouton for their warm welcome and open exchange.
I plan to add more photos and text, particularly of my time on the French west coast, over the holidays in the USA. I'll be returning to France January 18, 2009. Happy Holidays!
Friday, 11 December, I was introduced to a new concept store for sustainable home improvements, the first of its kind in France, perhaps in Europe. Located just outside Lille in the north of France, Kbane L'Habitat Durable opened in early 2009. It's a subsidiary of GROUPE ADEO, also the parent company of Leroy Merlin, a large home improvement store in France and Europe (similar to Lowes or Home Depot in the USA).
Kbane, with an organic grocery store next door "La Ferme" or the farm.
Kbane L'Habitat Durable is targeting individual family houses. The store has a heavy emphasis on educating the consumer and helping them understand and select products. In addition to selling product, they provide design and consulting services to help families choose the best system for their homes. Kbane L'Habitat Durable also has an installation arm, similar to Home Depot or Lowes in the USA. Whereas Home Depot or Lowes might offer design and installation services for kitchen and bath layouts, Kbane L'Habitat Durable focuses their design and installation services on mechanical and electrical systems: conducting energy audits and assessments, as well as design of solar electrical and hot water systems, wood pellet boiler heating, heat pump systems or double flue systems, and other mechanical or plumbing systems. This is in addition to selling environmentally friendly paints and stains, flooring, insulation, light-bulbs, gardening supplies, rainwater harvesting systems, individual composting toilets, and the like.
The interior of Kbane, showing a double flue system orginating in Canada, and an array of solar options. Kbane noted that most of the technologies are coming out of Germany, Austria, and the Scandinavian countries. They do have one American solar panel, Sunpower, in the store.
The French government is encouraging solar power with substantial financial incentives. The incentives are set up to encourage keeping people on the grid (no batteries at the house). Individuals typically pay Electricité de France (EDF) around 0,10€ or 0,12€ per kilowatt [Note: 1€ = $1.50]. If a homeowner installs rooftop-integrated solar panels, EDF will buy the electricity generated at something like $0.60 per kilowatt. In addition to this monthly incentive, the French government will subsidize around half the initial purchase and installation cost. Note that if a homeowner installs surface-mounted solar panels on the roof, the EDF buy back rate is much less, around 0,35€ per kilowatt. From what I can gather, there is no technical reason for this. It is purely an aesthetic decision affecting the French landscape.
Outside of Nancy, solar panels installed by Energetik Concept, another young start-up company that will design and install renewable energy and high-efficiency mechanical systems in residences. Energetik Concept was founded by an engineer and a Compagnons du Devoir, two forward-thinking individuals.
Kbane, with an organic grocery store next door "La Ferme" or the farm.
Kbane L'Habitat Durable is targeting individual family houses. The store has a heavy emphasis on educating the consumer and helping them understand and select products. In addition to selling product, they provide design and consulting services to help families choose the best system for their homes. Kbane L'Habitat Durable also has an installation arm, similar to Home Depot or Lowes in the USA. Whereas Home Depot or Lowes might offer design and installation services for kitchen and bath layouts, Kbane L'Habitat Durable focuses their design and installation services on mechanical and electrical systems: conducting energy audits and assessments, as well as design of solar electrical and hot water systems, wood pellet boiler heating, heat pump systems or double flue systems, and other mechanical or plumbing systems. This is in addition to selling environmentally friendly paints and stains, flooring, insulation, light-bulbs, gardening supplies, rainwater harvesting systems, individual composting toilets, and the like.
The interior of Kbane, showing a double flue system orginating in Canada, and an array of solar options. Kbane noted that most of the technologies are coming out of Germany, Austria, and the Scandinavian countries. They do have one American solar panel, Sunpower, in the store.
The French government is encouraging solar power with substantial financial incentives. The incentives are set up to encourage keeping people on the grid (no batteries at the house). Individuals typically pay Electricité de France (EDF) around 0,10€ or 0,12€ per kilowatt [Note: 1€ = $1.50]. If a homeowner installs rooftop-integrated solar panels, EDF will buy the electricity generated at something like $0.60 per kilowatt. In addition to this monthly incentive, the French government will subsidize around half the initial purchase and installation cost. Note that if a homeowner installs surface-mounted solar panels on the roof, the EDF buy back rate is much less, around 0,35€ per kilowatt. From what I can gather, there is no technical reason for this. It is purely an aesthetic decision affecting the French landscape.
Outside of Nancy, solar panels installed by Energetik Concept, another young start-up company that will design and install renewable energy and high-efficiency mechanical systems in residences. Energetik Concept was founded by an engineer and a Compagnons du Devoir, two forward-thinking individuals.
Some images of the training facilities and work of young persons achieving the stature of Compagnons.
Compagnons à Nancy. Wing at the left houses ateliers or workshops on the first and second floors. Classrooms are on the upper floors. The center wing houses administrative offices on the ground floor and dormotories on the upper floors. The building supplies against the building are for the students' use.
Final carpentry and roofing projects (Nancy)
Ironwork Atelier or Workshop (Nancy)
Final woodworking, upholstery, and other projects (Nancy)
Final carpentry and roofing projects (Nancy)
Final carpentry project (Angers).
Windmill in classroom at ICCB, Angers
My photos don't do these justice, nor do they explain the richly creative environment of the workshops, classrooms and facilities.
Compagnons à Nancy. Wing at the left houses ateliers or workshops on the first and second floors. Classrooms are on the upper floors. The center wing houses administrative offices on the ground floor and dormotories on the upper floors. The building supplies against the building are for the students' use.
Final carpentry and roofing projects (Nancy)
Ironwork Atelier or Workshop (Nancy)
Final woodworking, upholstery, and other projects (Nancy)
Final carpentry and roofing projects (Nancy)
Final carpentry project (Angers).
Windmill in classroom at ICCB, Angers
My photos don't do these justice, nor do they explain the richly creative environment of the workshops, classrooms and facilities.
The Compagnons du Devoirs is the descendant of the medieval guilds, begun around the 12th century with the construction of the cathedrals. The Compagnons carry on the traditional techniques of 24 trades and crafts, including stonecutter, roofer, upholsterer and baker. The training is based on a culture of apprenticeship, communal living, and a multi-year voyage of improvement called the "Tour de France".
The training process typically begins with young men and woman at the end of "lycée", at age 16 years old. It is a 3-stage process.
1. Apprentice or "Stagiere": The students spend two years working and living together in one of 84 training centers across France. In addition to learning the fundamentals of their chosen trade, they are also educated in mathematics, English, etc. The students balance class time with on-the-job training with a company.
2. "Aspirant" or "Affilié": Student in the couse of perfecting their skills via their personal "Tour de France". They spend 6 months to a year with one jobsite or company, then rotate to another, and so on. This process can last 5 to 6 years.
3. Compagnons: The title is earned after the student has demonstrated their capabilities with a master work. Within the Compagnons, there are different levels of mastery. The highest level is marked with the attachment of a gold ring in each earlobe. This mark of achievement is readily visible and immediately recognized on the jobsite.
From what I observed, there is a direct link between the high level of craftsmanship and responsibility developed by the Compagnons and the system of construction in France which favors direct contracts with the trades over a general contract who then subcontracts to the trades. This has been an interesting point of discussion with craftsman and architects alike. The French believe their system provides better quality craftsmanship. Perhaps they are right. But the tradition of journeyman and craftsmanship is jeopardized by the capitalist tenet that efficiency is achieved through standardization and repetition. When the mind is separated from the hand, quality may be harder to attain and retain. The challenge in both countries is to keep individuals engaged. Another challenge is the integrated nature of renewable energy technologies, such as solar power that involves multiple trades (roofing, electrical systems, possibly carpentry).
The Compagnons also offer continuating education courses for craftsmen and professionals. While in Angers, I had the opportunity to sit in on one day of a 9-day course for architects and engineers teaching how to design and build with wood. Unlike the USA, wood construction is not part of typical architectural or engineering training in France. With the climate change discussion, wood is being encouraged in France as a renewable resource. Both wood construction and wood pellet boilers.
Three different components of the Compagnons generously introduced me to their process, know-how (savoir faire), responsibilities, and some of their current challenges :
Institut des Métiers du Sanitaire et du Génie Climatique – IMSGC in Nancy, Yann DUHAL, Director (of the Institute of Plumbing & HVAC Department)
Institut de la Charpente et de la Construction Bois – ICCB in Angers, Daniel COUDERT, Director (of the Institute of Carpenters and Wood Construction)
Friday, Koen Grieten, International Relations, accompanied me to Lille to show me Kbane, a new concept store for sustainable home improvements.
Many thanks to Yann, Daniel, Koen, and their colleagues for their warm welcome and interesting discussions.
The training process typically begins with young men and woman at the end of "lycée", at age 16 years old. It is a 3-stage process.
1. Apprentice or "Stagiere": The students spend two years working and living together in one of 84 training centers across France. In addition to learning the fundamentals of their chosen trade, they are also educated in mathematics, English, etc. The students balance class time with on-the-job training with a company.
2. "Aspirant" or "Affilié": Student in the couse of perfecting their skills via their personal "Tour de France". They spend 6 months to a year with one jobsite or company, then rotate to another, and so on. This process can last 5 to 6 years.
3. Compagnons: The title is earned after the student has demonstrated their capabilities with a master work. Within the Compagnons, there are different levels of mastery. The highest level is marked with the attachment of a gold ring in each earlobe. This mark of achievement is readily visible and immediately recognized on the jobsite.
From what I observed, there is a direct link between the high level of craftsmanship and responsibility developed by the Compagnons and the system of construction in France which favors direct contracts with the trades over a general contract who then subcontracts to the trades. This has been an interesting point of discussion with craftsman and architects alike. The French believe their system provides better quality craftsmanship. Perhaps they are right. But the tradition of journeyman and craftsmanship is jeopardized by the capitalist tenet that efficiency is achieved through standardization and repetition. When the mind is separated from the hand, quality may be harder to attain and retain. The challenge in both countries is to keep individuals engaged. Another challenge is the integrated nature of renewable energy technologies, such as solar power that involves multiple trades (roofing, electrical systems, possibly carpentry).
The Compagnons also offer continuating education courses for craftsmen and professionals. While in Angers, I had the opportunity to sit in on one day of a 9-day course for architects and engineers teaching how to design and build with wood. Unlike the USA, wood construction is not part of typical architectural or engineering training in France. With the climate change discussion, wood is being encouraged in France as a renewable resource. Both wood construction and wood pellet boilers.
Three different components of the Compagnons generously introduced me to their process, know-how (savoir faire), responsibilities, and some of their current challenges :
Institut des Métiers du Sanitaire et du Génie Climatique – IMSGC in Nancy, Yann DUHAL, Director (of the Institute of Plumbing & HVAC Department)
Institut de la Charpente et de la Construction Bois – ICCB in Angers, Daniel COUDERT, Director (of the Institute of Carpenters and Wood Construction)
Friday, Koen Grieten, International Relations, accompanied me to Lille to show me Kbane, a new concept store for sustainable home improvements.
Many thanks to Yann, Daniel, Koen, and their colleagues for their warm welcome and interesting discussions.
Wednesday 2 December: Pascal Filatre gave me a tour of the historic sites of Angers, nearby countryside overlooking the Loire, and a construction site of a château he is converting into a special events facility for a small commune between Angers and Nantes. One highlight was the circa 1380 Tapestry of the Apocalypse on display at the Château de Angers, followed by a mid-20th century tapistry "Le Chant du monde"(Song of the world) by Jean Lurçat installed in the former Hôpital Saint-Jean, a building that served the sick from circa 1175 to 1865. I am looking forward to returning to the magical city of Angers with the Compagnons du Devoir a week later.
(Images and details to be added later)
(Images and details to be added later)
06/12: Week 11 - Nantes
Again, my apologies for the brevity of this posting. I aspire to add photos and more details later. Thanks to all who took the time to meet with me and show me their work and their towns.
Monday 30 November: Katell Chauvan, City of Nantes, organized an impressive day for me. The first meeting was with Claire B. De Courville/BATI Mission développement durable, who described the advancements the city has made with its existing buildings stock. A primary focus has been the approximately 160 school buildings that consist of 25% of the city's energy bill. Next, was a tour of "Maison du Quartier et Atelier d'Artistes", an urban infill project designed by a city architect for the city. Lunch in Le Lieu Unique, a 19th century former factory building for the LU cookie manufacturer that has been redeveloped into a mixed use arts-spa-cafe/restaurant destination. Afternoon meetings first with the SDAP (Alain Tournaire, Architecte de Bâtiments de France) and Jacques Beaudoin, Architecte urbanisme conseil for the City of Nantes; together with representatives of Nantes Renaissance review proposed projects in the "Sectuer Sauvegardé" and within 500 meters of historic monuments. Later, we met with Marc Couronne in a newly formed city department responsible for Heritage and Archaeology, where I also learned about research initiatives of the city to study the thermal performance and potential envelope upgrades for 10 residential buildings in the "Secteur Sauvegardé".
Tuesday 1 December: Pascal Filatre, architecte du patrimoine and professor at École Nationale Superier de l'Architecture à Nantes and RMHF 2005, introduced me to the architecture school, studios and teaching approaches, as well as the research affiliate CERMA, located at the school. CERMA is doing some really interesting work in computer modeling for a group of buildings or urban sites: natural daylighting, solar heat, wind, and acoustics. This is the first time I've seen someone addressing the reality of a building in an urban context; its performance is substantially influenced by its neighbors!
In the afternoon, Pascal showed me many of the significant sites of the area, including Le Corbusier's second Maison Radieuse (1955), located in the close-in suburb Rezé. In addition, Pascal showed me the construction site of a church, close to the Musée des Beaux Arts off Rue Malherbe; Pascal was the architect for the recent roof restoration and the ongoing interior systems upgrades, including removing the entire floor, archaeological digs, and masonry repair work. Lastly, Pascal introduced me to La Cigale, a wonderful restaurant with it's original ornate Art Nouveau interior still intact.
Monday 30 November: Katell Chauvan, City of Nantes, organized an impressive day for me. The first meeting was with Claire B. De Courville/BATI Mission développement durable, who described the advancements the city has made with its existing buildings stock. A primary focus has been the approximately 160 school buildings that consist of 25% of the city's energy bill. Next, was a tour of "Maison du Quartier et Atelier d'Artistes", an urban infill project designed by a city architect for the city. Lunch in Le Lieu Unique, a 19th century former factory building for the LU cookie manufacturer that has been redeveloped into a mixed use arts-spa-cafe/restaurant destination. Afternoon meetings first with the SDAP (Alain Tournaire, Architecte de Bâtiments de France) and Jacques Beaudoin, Architecte urbanisme conseil for the City of Nantes; together with representatives of Nantes Renaissance review proposed projects in the "Sectuer Sauvegardé" and within 500 meters of historic monuments. Later, we met with Marc Couronne in a newly formed city department responsible for Heritage and Archaeology, where I also learned about research initiatives of the city to study the thermal performance and potential envelope upgrades for 10 residential buildings in the "Secteur Sauvegardé".
Tuesday 1 December: Pascal Filatre, architecte du patrimoine and professor at École Nationale Superier de l'Architecture à Nantes and RMHF 2005, introduced me to the architecture school, studios and teaching approaches, as well as the research affiliate CERMA, located at the school. CERMA is doing some really interesting work in computer modeling for a group of buildings or urban sites: natural daylighting, solar heat, wind, and acoustics. This is the first time I've seen someone addressing the reality of a building in an urban context; its performance is substantially influenced by its neighbors!
In the afternoon, Pascal showed me many of the significant sites of the area, including Le Corbusier's second Maison Radieuse (1955), located in the close-in suburb Rezé. In addition, Pascal showed me the construction site of a church, close to the Musée des Beaux Arts off Rue Malherbe; Pascal was the architect for the recent roof restoration and the ongoing interior systems upgrades, including removing the entire floor, archaeological digs, and masonry repair work. Lastly, Pascal introduced me to La Cigale, a wonderful restaurant with it's original ornate Art Nouveau interior still intact.
06/12: Week 10 - Bordeaux
As I am short on time, I will give you a brief recap on my time in Bordeaux, and will fill in with more details soon.
Monday, 23 November, I was welcomed by François Gondran and Xavier Clarke de Dromantin with the Service Départemental de l'architecture et du Patrimoine (SDAP) of la Gironde (department 33). This region includes landscape known for its vinyards and wine - Medoc, Saint Emilion, to name a few. It also includes the Vauban citadel at Blaye, part of the multi-property UNESCO World Heritage Site, "Fortifications of Vauban". Vauban was the military architect-engineer of Louis XIV.
The department is studying how to respond to the national requirement to install photovoltaic centers in the landscape - and what are the guidelines for individuals wishing to install them. I also attended a departmental Commission meeting about proposed work in protected nature, landscapes, and sites. These meetings are very similar to Commission of Fine Arts, NCPC, or DC Historic Preservation Review Board meetings in Washington. However, in France, these meetings are not open to the public. While the applicant hears the staff recommendation and responds to questions, the Commission's vote is not conducted in the presence of the applicants. They learn of the result via formal written notification after the fact. Through this process I learned that the region Aquitaine (consisting of the departments Gironde, Dordogne, Lot-et-Garonne, Landes, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques) is also the Texas of France; it is rich in oil.
Anne-Laure Moniot, Direction de l'Urbanisme, Mairie de Bordeaux, introduced me to the master plan for the city of Bordeaux and its surrounding areas. The fairly recent tramway is a beginning point for these efforts. Other projects: publications on the special architectural heritage of the city of Bordeaux and an inventory of all buildings in the historic center tied to a GIS system. Bordeaux was the host city for the December 2008 conference on "Aménegement durable et Patrimoine" (Durable Development and Heritage) because of its leadership in this area.
I also met with Véronique Villaneau-Ecalle, a heritage architect and professor at École du Chaillot, and her husband Olivier Ecalle, a mechanical engineer focused on industry processes. Their house is a wonderful example of passive ventilation and cooling from the 18th or 19th century. Véronique and I also visited Nobatek - EcoCampus at University of Bordeaux, Talence, where Jérôme Lopez and Philippe Lagière, Nobatek - EcoCampus, gave us an overview of their research efforts.
Yes, it was a lot in three days. Many thanks to all who welcomed me.
Monday, 23 November, I was welcomed by François Gondran and Xavier Clarke de Dromantin with the Service Départemental de l'architecture et du Patrimoine (SDAP) of la Gironde (department 33). This region includes landscape known for its vinyards and wine - Medoc, Saint Emilion, to name a few. It also includes the Vauban citadel at Blaye, part of the multi-property UNESCO World Heritage Site, "Fortifications of Vauban". Vauban was the military architect-engineer of Louis XIV.
The department is studying how to respond to the national requirement to install photovoltaic centers in the landscape - and what are the guidelines for individuals wishing to install them. I also attended a departmental Commission meeting about proposed work in protected nature, landscapes, and sites. These meetings are very similar to Commission of Fine Arts, NCPC, or DC Historic Preservation Review Board meetings in Washington. However, in France, these meetings are not open to the public. While the applicant hears the staff recommendation and responds to questions, the Commission's vote is not conducted in the presence of the applicants. They learn of the result via formal written notification after the fact. Through this process I learned that the region Aquitaine (consisting of the departments Gironde, Dordogne, Lot-et-Garonne, Landes, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques) is also the Texas of France; it is rich in oil.
Anne-Laure Moniot, Direction de l'Urbanisme, Mairie de Bordeaux, introduced me to the master plan for the city of Bordeaux and its surrounding areas. The fairly recent tramway is a beginning point for these efforts. Other projects: publications on the special architectural heritage of the city of Bordeaux and an inventory of all buildings in the historic center tied to a GIS system. Bordeaux was the host city for the December 2008 conference on "Aménegement durable et Patrimoine" (Durable Development and Heritage) because of its leadership in this area.
I also met with Véronique Villaneau-Ecalle, a heritage architect and professor at École du Chaillot, and her husband Olivier Ecalle, a mechanical engineer focused on industry processes. Their house is a wonderful example of passive ventilation and cooling from the 18th or 19th century. Véronique and I also visited Nobatek - EcoCampus at University of Bordeaux, Talence, where Jérôme Lopez and Philippe Lagière, Nobatek - EcoCampus, gave us an overview of their research efforts.
Yes, it was a lot in three days. Many thanks to all who welcomed me.
06/12: Week 10 - Saintes
Saintes is a city of about 27,000 people on the banks of the river La Charente. Two thousand years ago, this spot was a Roman city called Medialonum, the political capital of the province Aquitaine. Today what's visible are the remains of the ampitheater, the entry arch de Germanicus, the ruins of the baths, the aquaduct, and fragments collected in the city's Archaeology Museum.
The rich history of the city continues through the middle ages, includes a pilgrimage site, Eglise Saint-Eutrope, that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France". The church was started in the 11th century and consists of a lower sanctuary in the romanesque style and an upper gothic sanctuary.
Saintes is also home to one of the 80 or 90 cathedrals in France, La Cathédrale Saint-Pierre. The Cathedral was realized between the 13th and 16th century. The roof over the nave was destroyed and today ghostlines of the former roofline and fragments of the upper flying buttresses bear evidence to the tall and narrow proportions of the high gothic design.
The medieval walls of the city have largely disappeared, replaced by mixed retail and residential buildings overlooking the river. Today, the city's population remains steady, but it is aging and the household size is just under 2 persons per household. From an environmental standpoint, their biggest concern is when the river floods. There are several large protected wetlands a few steps from the historic city center that provide relief for the river and citizens, and habitat for threatened birds and plants. On a cliff overlooking town is the recently vacated site of Hôpital Saint-Louis, that includes a historic stone chapel and edifice prominately located on the hilltop. The city is currently judging a master plan competition for this immense site. Results of the competition are scheduled to be announced in January 2010. Four major redevelopment projects of 1950's and 1960's housing developments (Les Grands Assemblies) are also in the planning stages. All efforts are focused on making the city more livable, and efforts to improve the environmental footprint of the city are being assessed and undertaken on an urban scale (including parking, pedestrian streets, public transit, etc).
The Atelier du Patrimoine de Saintonage is an important component of the city's public outreach. Saintes bears the label "Villes et Pays d'Art et Historie", based on its rich heritage I have only briefly touched on above. The Atelier has created a museum on the history of Saintes, gives tours of local landmarks, works with school groups and university students on all aspects of heritage, how to maintain its vitality and share it with others. The Atelier is also very active in engaging the public in learning about restoration techniques and in thinking about the future of under-utilized spaces such as Hôpital Saint-Louis.
Many thanks to Jean Rouger, Mayor of Saintes, who opened the city doors for me. I also greatly appreciate the time of Isabelle Oberson, Director; Elisabeth Dameron Dupas, who is responsible for the Atelier's educational programs; and all the others with the Atelier du Patrimoine de Saintonage who graciously shared with me the wonders of their town and their visions for its future. Also thanks to Céline Marmet, who is adeptly leading the ambitious urban redevelopment projects within Saintes.
(I will add photos later! In the meantime, you can see images of the city on the Saintes Office of Tourism website; it's in English and French. )
The rich history of the city continues through the middle ages, includes a pilgrimage site, Eglise Saint-Eutrope, that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France". The church was started in the 11th century and consists of a lower sanctuary in the romanesque style and an upper gothic sanctuary.
Saintes is also home to one of the 80 or 90 cathedrals in France, La Cathédrale Saint-Pierre. The Cathedral was realized between the 13th and 16th century. The roof over the nave was destroyed and today ghostlines of the former roofline and fragments of the upper flying buttresses bear evidence to the tall and narrow proportions of the high gothic design.
The medieval walls of the city have largely disappeared, replaced by mixed retail and residential buildings overlooking the river. Today, the city's population remains steady, but it is aging and the household size is just under 2 persons per household. From an environmental standpoint, their biggest concern is when the river floods. There are several large protected wetlands a few steps from the historic city center that provide relief for the river and citizens, and habitat for threatened birds and plants. On a cliff overlooking town is the recently vacated site of Hôpital Saint-Louis, that includes a historic stone chapel and edifice prominately located on the hilltop. The city is currently judging a master plan competition for this immense site. Results of the competition are scheduled to be announced in January 2010. Four major redevelopment projects of 1950's and 1960's housing developments (Les Grands Assemblies) are also in the planning stages. All efforts are focused on making the city more livable, and efforts to improve the environmental footprint of the city are being assessed and undertaken on an urban scale (including parking, pedestrian streets, public transit, etc).
The Atelier du Patrimoine de Saintonage is an important component of the city's public outreach. Saintes bears the label "Villes et Pays d'Art et Historie", based on its rich heritage I have only briefly touched on above. The Atelier has created a museum on the history of Saintes, gives tours of local landmarks, works with school groups and university students on all aspects of heritage, how to maintain its vitality and share it with others. The Atelier is also very active in engaging the public in learning about restoration techniques and in thinking about the future of under-utilized spaces such as Hôpital Saint-Louis.
Many thanks to Jean Rouger, Mayor of Saintes, who opened the city doors for me. I also greatly appreciate the time of Isabelle Oberson, Director; Elisabeth Dameron Dupas, who is responsible for the Atelier's educational programs; and all the others with the Atelier du Patrimoine de Saintonage who graciously shared with me the wonders of their town and their visions for its future. Also thanks to Céline Marmet, who is adeptly leading the ambitious urban redevelopment projects within Saintes.
(I will add photos later! In the meantime, you can see images of the city on the Saintes Office of Tourism website; it's in English and French. )
