23/05: Overdue Update: Wrapping up in France & Returning to USA
Category: Weeks 23-26
Posted by: troachadmin
My apologies for being offline for 2 months now! Time has flown quickly - between wrapping things up in Paris and transitioning back to my work and family life back in America. This posting gives an overview of my recent activities. I promise to follow with more detailed postings and photos soon.
The last three weeks of the Fellowship I remained based in Paris, meeting with many individuals and wrapping up as much of my research as possible. More remains, but I hope to continue via the wonders of the internet as I begin preparing public presentations and my final report for the fellowship.
On April 13th, I made the first public presentation of my research in France at the annual meeting of the French Heritage Society in Paris. Much of the work of the French Heritage Society supports the restoration of chateaus across France; the evening's presentations reinforce how many wonderful historic buildings exist in France that are worthy of preservation. My presentation highlighted issues that at first may not have seemed as relevant to FHS membership, but everyone can agree on the costs of energy and the challenges that we face in learning how to reduce consumption without harming the architectural integrity, structural capabilities, or occupant health within traditional buildings. The support of the French Heritage Society, manifested in the daily individual attention of Simone Monneron and Michele le Menestrel-Ullrich, was essential and unforgettable. My gratitude to them is endless.
The week of April 17-25, my sweetheart Scott joined me in France, and we traveled to the southwest of France -- the Nimes and Carcassonne areas -- places I had not yet seen. Our sight-seeing including gladiator re-enactments in the Nimes Arena (2000 years old), the Maison Carrée in Nimes, the Pont du Gard, the medieval walled city of Aigues Mortes, the Camargue, several Cathar castles, the medieval walled city of Carcassonne heavily restored by Viollet-le-duc in the 19th century, and more. Thankfully, neither the volcano nor the train strikes slowed our travels, and the sites reinforced many of the lessons of the past six months.
I returned to work at Quinn Evans Architects on April 29th, and was immediately assigned an interesting project with an initial deadline 2 1/2 weeks later! The afternoon I arrived was a joint presentation between the Ann Arbor and DC offices on about 12 recent projects, presented by more junior staff. Projects included the Accident Fund Headquarters Building, Michigan; Franklin Court Museum, Philadelphia; Ann Arbor Municipal Building, Michigan; and H.D. Cooke Elementary School, DC; Crystal Lake Arts Center, Michigan; American University School of International Service, DC; University of Wisconsin School of Education Building, Madison; National Academy of Sciences, DC. The work is impressive, the individual commitment to excellence clear, and I am happy to have re-joined a firm with such a deep commitment to great design, staff development, and the joint missions of preservation and sustainability.
May 12-16 was the Richard Morris Hunt Fellows reunion conference in Chicago. Hosted by Mary Brush, 2005 Hunt Fellow, and the Director of Preservation at Holabird & Root, the reunion conference continued the rich cross-pollination between French and American fellows and our supporting organizations. Fourteen fellows participated, including the first French and American ones. Five fellows presented their recent professional work, and two most recent fellows presented our fellowship 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 2010.
In conjunction with the reunion conference, the first French Hunt Fellow, Pierre-Antoine Gatier, ACMH, IGMH, 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.
I cannot thank enough all of the individuals in France and America who so graciously met with me, suggested other contacts and resources, expanded my thinking, and expressed a sincere desire to continue the conversation. We have accomplished much, and there is much more to accomplish together.
The last three weeks of the Fellowship I remained based in Paris, meeting with many individuals and wrapping up as much of my research as possible. More remains, but I hope to continue via the wonders of the internet as I begin preparing public presentations and my final report for the fellowship.
On April 13th, I made the first public presentation of my research in France at the annual meeting of the French Heritage Society in Paris. Much of the work of the French Heritage Society supports the restoration of chateaus across France; the evening's presentations reinforce how many wonderful historic buildings exist in France that are worthy of preservation. My presentation highlighted issues that at first may not have seemed as relevant to FHS membership, but everyone can agree on the costs of energy and the challenges that we face in learning how to reduce consumption without harming the architectural integrity, structural capabilities, or occupant health within traditional buildings. The support of the French Heritage Society, manifested in the daily individual attention of Simone Monneron and Michele le Menestrel-Ullrich, was essential and unforgettable. My gratitude to them is endless.
The week of April 17-25, my sweetheart Scott joined me in France, and we traveled to the southwest of France -- the Nimes and Carcassonne areas -- places I had not yet seen. Our sight-seeing including gladiator re-enactments in the Nimes Arena (2000 years old), the Maison Carrée in Nimes, the Pont du Gard, the medieval walled city of Aigues Mortes, the Camargue, several Cathar castles, the medieval walled city of Carcassonne heavily restored by Viollet-le-duc in the 19th century, and more. Thankfully, neither the volcano nor the train strikes slowed our travels, and the sites reinforced many of the lessons of the past six months.
I returned to work at Quinn Evans Architects on April 29th, and was immediately assigned an interesting project with an initial deadline 2 1/2 weeks later! The afternoon I arrived was a joint presentation between the Ann Arbor and DC offices on about 12 recent projects, presented by more junior staff. Projects included the Accident Fund Headquarters Building, Michigan; Franklin Court Museum, Philadelphia; Ann Arbor Municipal Building, Michigan; and H.D. Cooke Elementary School, DC; Crystal Lake Arts Center, Michigan; American University School of International Service, DC; University of Wisconsin School of Education Building, Madison; National Academy of Sciences, DC. The work is impressive, the individual commitment to excellence clear, and I am happy to have re-joined a firm with such a deep commitment to great design, staff development, and the joint missions of preservation and sustainability.
May 12-16 was the Richard Morris Hunt Fellows reunion conference in Chicago. Hosted by Mary Brush, 2005 Hunt Fellow, and the Director of Preservation at Holabird & Root, the reunion conference continued the rich cross-pollination between French and American fellows and our supporting organizations. Fourteen fellows participated, including the first French and American ones. Five fellows presented their recent professional work, and two most recent fellows presented our fellowship 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 2010.
In conjunction with the reunion conference, the first French Hunt Fellow, Pierre-Antoine Gatier, ACMH, IGMH, 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.
I cannot thank enough all of the individuals in France and America who so graciously met with me, suggested other contacts and resources, expanded my thinking, and expressed a sincere desire to continue the conversation. We have accomplished much, and there is much more to accomplish together.
