20/05: 2012 RMHF Reunion Conference
It is with great anticipation that I wait for the 2012 Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship Reunion Conference. This private event for past Fellows will be held in Toulouse, France. As in Chicago, the event will open with a public lecture, given by Bonita Mueller, US National Park Service. The next several days will be an intense gathering of minds focused on current issues in historic preservation, and will involve visits to the legendary cities of Carcassonne and Albi. Surely we will celebrate the naming of two recipients of the Hunt Prize as Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. H. Ruth Todd, FAIA, Page & Turnbull, San Francisco, CA, in the category of Practice (RMHF 1994) and Pierre-Antoine Gatier, Hon. FAIA in the category of Preservation, ACMH, IGMH, Paris, France (RMHF 1991). Ruth and Pierre-Antoine were inducted into the fellows this past weekend at the AIA Convention held in Washington, DC.
The Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship never really ends!! The initial prize is a 6 month program with subject matter guidance, contacts, agendas, press coverage, and participation in conferences ... on both sides of the Atlantic. What keeps on giving is the remarkable network of professional colleagues, including past fellows, supporters, and organizers, all committed to "le patrimoine bati" and to building bridges between France and the United States. Every two years, the reunion conference solidifies these unique professional relationships into strong friendships. A Toulouse!!
The Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship never really ends!! The initial prize is a 6 month program with subject matter guidance, contacts, agendas, press coverage, and participation in conferences ... on both sides of the Atlantic. What keeps on giving is the remarkable network of professional colleagues, including past fellows, supporters, and organizers, all committed to "le patrimoine bati" and to building bridges between France and the United States. Every two years, the reunion conference solidifies these unique professional relationships into strong friendships. A Toulouse!!
Robert Hotes, the 2011 Richard Morris Hunt Fellow has just begun his adventure in France. His topic of research: "Between Tradition and Innovation: Achieving Design Harmony in Historic Contexts, Using Traditional Craftsmanship and 21st-century Technology." You can follow his experiences at his blog.
Vanessa Fernandez, the 2010 Fellow, recently completed her final of three two-month visits to the United States. Her topic of research: "Innovation for Preservation. 21st- century tools to restore 20th century heritage."
More information on the research of all Hunt Fellows, as well as current activities, can be found on the newly launched Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship website.
Vanessa Fernandez, the 2010 Fellow, recently completed her final of three two-month visits to the United States. Her topic of research: "Innovation for Preservation. 21st- century tools to restore 20th century heritage."
More information on the research of all Hunt Fellows, as well as current activities, can be found on the newly launched Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship website.
12/08: Copyright & Disclaimer
The postings on this site are the opinion of Tina Roach, 2009 Richard Morris Hunt Fellow, and do not necessarily represent the position of the American Architectural Foundation, the French Heritage Society, or other Richard Morris Hunt Fellows. The content of this website is protected under U.S. Copyright laws and may not be reproduced in any way without the express written permission of the author.
Update 5 July 2010 -- Even though the Commission nationale des monuments historiques accepted the proposed modifications to the ancient Bibliothéque Nationale de France (BNF) last fall, the debate has not stopped there. The debate centers around the potential loss of a protected stair of honor, designed by Jean-Louis Pascal (architect BNF 1875-1912). There have been two news reports, indicating that the Minister of Culture himself, Frédéric Mitterand, is intervening: Le Monde, 3 March 2010 and Le Figaro, 21 April 2010. ICOMOS France is hosting a 2-day workshop on the proposed project and associated issues, 5-6 July 2010, in Paris.
Stair of Honor, view from the bottom.
Stair of Honor, from the bottom side.
Stair of Honor, view from the top.
2 November 2009 -- In the United States, when a proposed alteration to a significant historic monument is controversial and cannot be resolved at the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) level, the issue is taken to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. In France, when a proposed alteration to a historic monument is problematic, the proposed design is taken to the Commission nationale des monuments historiques, a group of approximately 20-25 people representing a wide range of disciplines: architecture, architectural history, archaeology, etc., as stipulated by the law.
About once a year a really problematic case comes before the Commission nationale des monuments historiques sur les travaux - and a site visit is required. Today I joined the Commission nationale on a special tour of the Bibliotheque Nationale, rue de Richelieu, in preparation for their meeting a week from today. A change in occupancy from the National Library of France to an Arts University Library precipated the proposed project. Access and circulation are the primary functional drivers for the proposed changes, which may alter facades to add entryways and may replace an interior grand stair to improve spatial connections. Unlike in the US, Commission Nationale meetings are not open to the public.
Reading Room designed by Henri Labrouste and completed in 1862.
Stair of Honor, view from the bottom.
Stair of Honor, from the bottom side.
Stair of Honor, view from the top.
2 November 2009 -- In the United States, when a proposed alteration to a significant historic monument is controversial and cannot be resolved at the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) level, the issue is taken to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. In France, when a proposed alteration to a historic monument is problematic, the proposed design is taken to the Commission nationale des monuments historiques, a group of approximately 20-25 people representing a wide range of disciplines: architecture, architectural history, archaeology, etc., as stipulated by the law.
About once a year a really problematic case comes before the Commission nationale des monuments historiques sur les travaux - and a site visit is required. Today I joined the Commission nationale on a special tour of the Bibliotheque Nationale, rue de Richelieu, in preparation for their meeting a week from today. A change in occupancy from the National Library of France to an Arts University Library precipated the proposed project. Access and circulation are the primary functional drivers for the proposed changes, which may alter facades to add entryways and may replace an interior grand stair to improve spatial connections. Unlike in the US, Commission Nationale meetings are not open to the public.
Reading Room designed by Henri Labrouste and completed in 1862.
Update 5 July 2010 -- Attention on preservation issues in China have come to American attention with the opening of the Shanghai Expo 2010. On 2 May 2010, the New York Times published a detailed description of various buildings and neighborhoods - threatened and protected - in Shanghai. The article highlights the efforts of the Ruan Yisan Foundation. Many of these sites were featured in the exposition at the Musée Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine (Oct-Dec 2009). I have added some images from the exposition to my Week 5 blog entry "Water Towns".
20 October 2009 -- This week begins a three-week stay with the Ministry of Culture in Paris. The week actually began at 8 AM on Sunday when I joined a Chinese delegation of preservationists on a two-day bus tour of the Loire Valley: Château de Chambord, Château de Chenonceau, the Cathédral Saint-Gatien in Tours, the Château de Chinon followed by the historic center of Chinon, and several welcoming receptions by officials as well as in a lovely modernized 15th or 16th century private home in l'Ile d'Or, next to Ambroise. The visit coincided with the grand opening of an exhibition on Cities and Heritage in China at the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris and the publication of a book on the historic Water Towns of the lower Yangzee River.
Finishing touches being put on the exhibition at the Cité.
In China, the rapid pace of economic development is threatening significant historic sites across the country. In 2006, Professor Ruan Yisan created a foundation to raise awareness and to facilitate preservation of historic buildings and towns. It is the first non-governmental organization (NGO) created regarding historic preservation in China: Ruan Yisan Heritage Foundation
Professor Ruan Yisan speaking at a formal meeting between the Chinese delagation and Isabelle Maréchal, Adjunct Director of Direction de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine(DAPA), Ministère de la Culture et Communication (MCC)
For images from the exhibition "Cities and Heritage in China", click on "Read More".
20 October 2009 -- This week begins a three-week stay with the Ministry of Culture in Paris. The week actually began at 8 AM on Sunday when I joined a Chinese delegation of preservationists on a two-day bus tour of the Loire Valley: Château de Chambord, Château de Chenonceau, the Cathédral Saint-Gatien in Tours, the Château de Chinon followed by the historic center of Chinon, and several welcoming receptions by officials as well as in a lovely modernized 15th or 16th century private home in l'Ile d'Or, next to Ambroise. The visit coincided with the grand opening of an exhibition on Cities and Heritage in China at the Cité de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine in Paris and the publication of a book on the historic Water Towns of the lower Yangzee River.
Finishing touches being put on the exhibition at the Cité.
In China, the rapid pace of economic development is threatening significant historic sites across the country. In 2006, Professor Ruan Yisan created a foundation to raise awareness and to facilitate preservation of historic buildings and towns. It is the first non-governmental organization (NGO) created regarding historic preservation in China: Ruan Yisan Heritage Foundation
Professor Ruan Yisan speaking at a formal meeting between the Chinese delagation and Isabelle Maréchal, Adjunct Director of Direction de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine(DAPA), Ministère de la Culture et Communication (MCC)
For images from the exhibition "Cities and Heritage in China", click on "Read More".
There are two meanings to the word "Fellow". First there is the honor of being selected as a Richard Morris Hunt Fellow and the opportunity it provides to travel and study abroad. Unlike other scholarship programs, the fellowship does not end at the end of six months abroad. Recipients are also welcomed into a College of Fellows, who now number 21. We hold bi-annual reunions, alternately in the United States and France, to continue our explorations in current trends and "edge-thinking" in preservation.
May 12-16 was the 2010 Richard Morris Hunt Fellows reunion conference in Chicago. Organized by Mary Brush, AIA, 2005 Hunt Fellow and Preservation Group Leader at Holabird & Root, in collaboration with the American Architectural Foundation, the reunion conference continued the rich cross-pollination between French and American fellows, our sponsors and supporting organizations. Fourteen fellows participated, including the first French and American ones. Five fellows (Mary Brush, Kyle Brooks, Linda Stevenson, Ruth Todd, and Yves Deflandre) presented their recent professional work, and the two most recent fellows (Diego Rodriguez and myself) presented our research. The 2008 fellow, Diego Rodriguez, reflected on contemporary design in historic contexts, and encouraged all to think about the growth and change that is required as we pass our heritage on from one generation to another, to keep it rich with life and meaning.
The fellows also welcomed Vanessa Fernandez, the 2010 recipient. Experienced in the restoration of 20th century French modernism, Vanessa will be researching "21st century technologies for the restoration of 20th century architecture". She will begin her investigations in America for two months this summer. Due to her teaching obligations in France, she will continue her research in early 2011.
John Syvertsen, FAIA, President of OWP/P | Cannon Design and AAF Board Member, graciously hosted the opening reception. The OWP/P offices have received a LEED-CI Gold Rating from the US Green Building Council and afforded excellent views of the City Hall and County roofs. Another AAF Board Member, Stephen Bonner and his wife Lisa generously opened their home for an honors dinner, where individual certificates were bestowed upon each fellow. I was honored with a certificate in anticipation of the completion of my final report!
John Robbins, the first Hunt fellow, receiving his certificate from co-founder Michèle le Menestrel-Ullrich and Ron Bogle, AAF President and CEO. John is now Deputy Administrator of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
In conjunction with the reunion conference, the first French Hunt Fellow, Pierre-Antoine Gatier, ACMH, IGMH, publicly presented his recent restoration projects of Le Corbusier's Maison La Roche in Paris and Eileen Gray's Villa E.1027 in the south of France. Lafarge, who became a funding partner for the Hunt Fellowship in 2009, also provided significant technical and financial assistance for the restoration of Villa E.1027. This well-attend public presentation was co-hosted at the Chicago Architectural Foundation, a partner of the American Architectural Foundation.
The fellows benefited from special tours of local landmarks, sophisticated examples of restored, revitilized, and city centers and urban campuses.
- Vegetated roof of the 1911 Chicago City Hall
- Vegetated roof of the 1897 Cultural Center and its Tiffany dome, restoration designed by Holabird & Root
- Aqua Tower, a new 82-story skyscraper designed by Studio Gang Architects and featured on the cover of the May 2010 issue of Architectural Record
- Recent restorations and additions at Mies van der Rohe's Illinois Institute of Technology, as presented by Patrick Rosen (Holabird & Root)
- Unversity Park Condominums, by architect Araldo Cussatto, FAIA, and a long-time supporter of the fellowship
- Chicago Theological Seminary, tour led by architect Ann Beha, FAIA, now charged with transforming the seminary building into the Milton Friedman Institute for Research in Economics at the University of Chicago
- Keck & Keck private residence in Hyde Park
- Muchin Magnet High School in the Loop, designed by Wheeler Kearns, that stimulated much discussion into education differences between the US and France
- Krause Music Store in Lincoln Square, rehabilitation by Wheeler Kearns
Many thanks to all our guides and organizers.
To see more photos and highlights from the conference, associated tours and special events, please click on "Read More".
May 12-16 was the 2010 Richard Morris Hunt Fellows reunion conference in Chicago. Organized by Mary Brush, AIA, 2005 Hunt Fellow and Preservation Group Leader at Holabird & Root, in collaboration with the American Architectural Foundation, the reunion conference continued the rich cross-pollination between French and American fellows, our sponsors and supporting organizations. Fourteen fellows participated, including the first French and American ones. Five fellows (Mary Brush, Kyle Brooks, Linda Stevenson, Ruth Todd, and Yves Deflandre) presented their recent professional work, and the two most recent fellows (Diego Rodriguez and myself) presented our research. The 2008 fellow, Diego Rodriguez, reflected on contemporary design in historic contexts, and encouraged all to think about the growth and change that is required as we pass our heritage on from one generation to another, to keep it rich with life and meaning.
The fellows also welcomed Vanessa Fernandez, the 2010 recipient. Experienced in the restoration of 20th century French modernism, Vanessa will be researching "21st century technologies for the restoration of 20th century architecture". She will begin her investigations in America for two months this summer. Due to her teaching obligations in France, she will continue her research in early 2011.
John Syvertsen, FAIA, President of OWP/P | Cannon Design and AAF Board Member, graciously hosted the opening reception. The OWP/P offices have received a LEED-CI Gold Rating from the US Green Building Council and afforded excellent views of the City Hall and County roofs. Another AAF Board Member, Stephen Bonner and his wife Lisa generously opened their home for an honors dinner, where individual certificates were bestowed upon each fellow. I was honored with a certificate in anticipation of the completion of my final report!
John Robbins, the first Hunt fellow, receiving his certificate from co-founder Michèle le Menestrel-Ullrich and Ron Bogle, AAF President and CEO. John is now Deputy Administrator of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
In conjunction with the reunion conference, the first French Hunt Fellow, Pierre-Antoine Gatier, ACMH, IGMH, publicly presented his recent restoration projects of Le Corbusier's Maison La Roche in Paris and Eileen Gray's Villa E.1027 in the south of France. Lafarge, who became a funding partner for the Hunt Fellowship in 2009, also provided significant technical and financial assistance for the restoration of Villa E.1027. This well-attend public presentation was co-hosted at the Chicago Architectural Foundation, a partner of the American Architectural Foundation.
The fellows benefited from special tours of local landmarks, sophisticated examples of restored, revitilized, and city centers and urban campuses.
- Vegetated roof of the 1911 Chicago City Hall
- Vegetated roof of the 1897 Cultural Center and its Tiffany dome, restoration designed by Holabird & Root
- Aqua Tower, a new 82-story skyscraper designed by Studio Gang Architects and featured on the cover of the May 2010 issue of Architectural Record
- Recent restorations and additions at Mies van der Rohe's Illinois Institute of Technology, as presented by Patrick Rosen (Holabird & Root)
- Unversity Park Condominums, by architect Araldo Cussatto, FAIA, and a long-time supporter of the fellowship
- Chicago Theological Seminary, tour led by architect Ann Beha, FAIA, now charged with transforming the seminary building into the Milton Friedman Institute for Research in Economics at the University of Chicago
- Keck & Keck private residence in Hyde Park
- Muchin Magnet High School in the Loop, designed by Wheeler Kearns, that stimulated much discussion into education differences between the US and France
- Krause Music Store in Lincoln Square, rehabilitation by Wheeler Kearns
Many thanks to all our guides and organizers.
To see more photos and highlights from the conference, associated tours and special events, please click on "Read More".
My fellowship travels officially ended on Friday, April 16th. It was time to discover more of the wonders of France with my sweetheart Scott, who had patiently listened to my adventures without too much jealously from across the pond. Scott selected a corner of southern France that I had not yet visited - and we together explored more Roman ruins, medieval walled cities, the flat delta areas of the Camargue where the Gardon, Ardenne, and Rhône Rivers meet the Mediterranean, and the beginnings of the Pyrennes Mountains. As tourists, we experienced the story of water from Roman times, the results of the 200 year traditions of restoration in France, and historic places brought to life by the work of professional "animators".
Scott relaxing at the Centre Pompideau rooftop cafe, that provides fantastic birdeye views over the 3rd arrondissment, part of the Marais Secteur Sauvegardé, and central Paris.
View from the towers at Notre Dame de Paris, which were heavily restored in the 19th century by Viollet-le-duc. In the pavement, you can see the outline of earlier buildings, testimony to earlier times. The banks of the Seine, from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Scott relaxing at the Centre Pompideau rooftop cafe, that provides fantastic birdeye views over the 3rd arrondissment, part of the Marais Secteur Sauvegardé, and central Paris.
View from the towers at Notre Dame de Paris, which were heavily restored in the 19th century by Viollet-le-duc. In the pavement, you can see the outline of earlier buildings, testimony to earlier times. The banks of the Seine, from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Mid-20th century architecture poses unique challenges to preservationists - and for sustainability. These buildings are fragile. They are often not perceived of as historic and worth saving. In addition, they have thin or conductive walls, resulting in high energy bills and uncomfortable spaces for their occupants - and buildings that unaltered will have difficulty meeting the annual energy usage requirements of Grenelle or the Plan Climat de Paris.
La Tour Lopez was designed and constructed between 1952 and 1959 as the offices for "La Caisse Centrale des Allocations Familiales de la Région Parisienne" (CAF). The architectural team was Raymond Lopez, Marcel Reby in collaboration with Simone Lopez, Michel Holley and Henri Longepierre. The building represented mid-century experimentation with architecture, technology and urban design. Lower height buildings lined the street edge, but the tower was rotated at the center of the block. Architecturally, the buildings, especially the tower, explored the open floor plan with a central core and structure that allowed the maximum flexibility in the arrangement of interior offices. The tower utilizes a steel structure in contrast to the reinforced concrete structures more typically used in France and represented an experiment in the construction efficiencies and economies of this industrialized material and a plasticized curtain wall assembly.
Historic view of the CAF
La Tour Lopez in April 2010, completed and awaiting its new occupants.
La Tour Lopez was designed and constructed between 1952 and 1959 as the offices for "La Caisse Centrale des Allocations Familiales de la Région Parisienne" (CAF). The architectural team was Raymond Lopez, Marcel Reby in collaboration with Simone Lopez, Michel Holley and Henri Longepierre. The building represented mid-century experimentation with architecture, technology and urban design. Lower height buildings lined the street edge, but the tower was rotated at the center of the block. Architecturally, the buildings, especially the tower, explored the open floor plan with a central core and structure that allowed the maximum flexibility in the arrangement of interior offices. The tower utilizes a steel structure in contrast to the reinforced concrete structures more typically used in France and represented an experiment in the construction efficiencies and economies of this industrialized material and a plasticized curtain wall assembly.
Historic view of the CAF
La Tour Lopez in April 2010, completed and awaiting its new occupants.
05/06: Palais Royal
The Palais Royal is located just north of the Louvre. Architectural work there is managed in a similar way to that at the Louvre, however here some of its complexity derives from the many groups of occupants and owners. The southern section houses governmental groups -- the Conseil d'Etat at the south side, the Constitutional Council at the southeast side, the Ministry of Culture at the southwest side, a bank at the northwest side, a theater at the northeast corner, and about 100 private residences and shops at the north and northeast sides. With so many owners and uses, managing the cohesiveness of the exterior envelope, its historic elements and new features, is challenging.
Similar to the Louvre, architectural work at the Louvre involves the SDAP de Paris and an Architecte en Chef des Monuments Historiques. These are images of the Palais Royal, from several site visits with the SDAP.
North court of Palais Royal, east side. A view of four or five bays, each with several floors of private apartments. Some have retail shops on the ground floor level behind the arcade.
Similar to the Louvre, architectural work at the Louvre involves the SDAP de Paris and an Architecte en Chef des Monuments Historiques. These are images of the Palais Royal, from several site visits with the SDAP.
North court of Palais Royal, east side. A view of four or five bays, each with several floors of private apartments. Some have retail shops on the ground floor level behind the arcade.
The responsibility for the building of the Louvre and the associated Tuileries Garden is shared by several architects. The Architecte en Chef des Monuments Historiques (ACMH), Michel Goutal, is responsible for larger projects. The Service Départemental de l'Architecture et du Patrimoine (SDAP) of Paris is responsible for smaller projects and repair/maintenance-type projects. There is a resident building architect who oversees and coordinates the work of others, along with in-house maintenance crews.
