Docomomo US’ Post

I just attended an enlightening panel discussion at Campbell Hall on "Empty Pedestals: Countering Confederate Narratives Through Public Design." Co-editors Kofi Boone and M. Elen Deming from the North Carolina College of Design and C.L. Bohannon and Elgin Cleckley from our School of Architecture shared profound insights on reimagining public spaces to challenge oppressive narratives. As an architectural historian, I was particularly struck by how deeply our understanding of architectural history can influence decisions and designs surrounding memorials and monuments. The panel emphasized that monuments are not neutral artifacts but imbued with the ideologies and intentions of those who erected them. We can uncover underlying narratives perpetuating inequality and exclusion by critically examining the historical context and the power structures that shaped these monuments. The discussion highlighted, for me, how architectural historians' crucial role in informing the redesign and repurposing of these spaces. By bringing forgotten or marginalized histories to light, we can influence design decisions that honor diverse perspectives and experiences. The panelists shared innovative approaches—such as community-engaged design processes and the incorporation of storytelling—that transform former sites of oppression into inclusive spaces for reflection and healing. One key takeaway was that reimagining monuments isn't just about removing symbols of the past but about actively creating spaces that promote equity and justice. By leveraging our expertise in architectural history, we can help ensure that new designs are contextually sensitive and culturally resonant, fostering a more inclusive public memory. Seeing how our field can contribute to social justice and equity through the built environment was inspiring. Thank you to the Dean's Forum on Equity & Inclusion for thoughtfully supporting this event. Mary-Claire Erskine Andrea R. Roberts, PhD Jessica Sewell Elgin Cleckley, NOMA, C.L. Bohannon, Ph.D., FASLA, Kofi Boone, and others. #ArchitecturalHistory #PublicDesign #InclusiveDesign #EquityAndInclusion #ReimaginingMonuments

Tools and methodologies within the Architectural discourse are often limited. To transform Architectural Design requires: Storytelling Pluriversality Sociocultures Vernacular Deterritorialization Sumak Kawsay It’s been two years since I began a journey of empathy, seeking conjugation in the architectural discourse that seldom prioritizes land-based and narrative practices. The Climigrant’s Sketchbook Initiative (CSI) is a multidisciplinary architectural research practice built out of tools and compasses often overlooked within the field of design. By re-centering community participation and situating research with the earth might challenge designers to consciously seek more equitable solutions to a conflict of our times; climate induced displacement. I’ve been privileged to travel across the Americas during my field research; a practice strung between the Ecuadorian Amazon and my birthplace in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. By collapsing the distance between geographies, the CSI seeks commonalities and cultural exchange in a design language developed by nature. See more at our new Instagram! @climigrants.sb

For the second anniversary of Elizabeth Blasius’s monthly column, she shares a history of preservation in Chicago, beginning with its origins in the stewardship of historic buildings by Black Chicagoans during the Great Migration, and looking to the future through the lens of a parking garage designed by Stanley Tigerman. "Preservation in Chicago has a complicated, multidimensional nature. Preservation is a field of practice, a function of government, and an activist movement. In Chicago, each of these components have come together to determine how the built environment expresses the city’s history, culture, and growth. That history is then used to determine what’s worth saving—and what is not. These components often work imperfectly or unevenly, are deployed differently across individuals and institutions, and have changed in conception over time. Preservation has empowered Chicago to see its unique position within the scope of architecture worldwide, but has also formed the feeling of individual blocks at the neighborhood level. While much study has gone into uncovering and interpreting the history of architecture in Chicago, the history of preservation in the third most populated city in the US, and relatively one of the nation’s youngest at just 187 years old, has been given considerably less attention. This is due in part to the fact that preservation is oriented around the development of historical narratives about structures and places as a means to prove that those structures and places are worth preserving. Once that case is made, the need to understand what happens after becomes less urgent. Yet, as preservation reaches toward the future now more than ever before, and as it works to integrate itself into broader social and environmental goals related to the built environment, the efforts of preservation as a form of practice, of government, and of activism, require a historical perspective all their own." https://lnkd.in/gaynzHz5

I am very happy to finally share my research paper titled "Patrimonium: a chronicle of architectural heritage theories and practices" presented in September 2023. It has been a wonderful yet challenging experience to shed light on such a controversial topic (when dealing with architecture of the past and even more so with the desire to preserve it, many focus and comment on the supposed "irrelevance" of the subject in today's world). However, for me, looking into the past is something necessary for the future, thus, the concept of heritage is of great interest. Of course the aim of my research doesn't focus on preserving anything heritage-related in a museum, but reinterpreting it according to modern needs and challenges. Architectural and cultural heritage buildings contain values that we must recognize, they give identity to the places they belong to and are evidence of a specific time period. We can say that the built environment is a carrier of memory that can be encoded as history and the way we learn about it, learn from it and use it for the future is constantly changing. Therefore, the subject of this work is primarily (part one) the investigation of the basic principles of architectural heritage protection and the different theoretical ideas and practices regarding its conservation and/or restoration, as they were first formulated at the end of the 18th century, were developed during the 19th century when the need to preserve the remains of the past as carriers of memory and spiritual values necessary for future generations became more conscious and were further constituted in the 20th century in an attempt to rationalize the issue by establishing international normative texts. The evolution of these over time is investigated, simultaneously composing a critical analysis and focusing on the second part of the lecture in the 21st century and my country, as well as the contribution of do.co.mo.mo. in contemporary reflections on modern architectural heritage. Through the above, it is sought to understand the way in which we today -as citizens, but also as architects- approach the issue and to form a framework for further discussion and eventual practical application on the subject. The case study referred to in part 3 aims at the above.

Public art often misses the mark in urban spaces. Often one randomly encounters a piece of art that feels utterly out of place. This isn't just an isolated incident; it's a widespread issue in urban planning. The core of the problem? A glaring disconnect between the art, the space, and the community it resides in. Art in urban spaces often fails because it's designed in isolation. Architects and urban planners meticulously craft the fabric of our cities, yet when it comes to integrating public art, the process is frequently an afterthought. The result? Artworks that clash with their surroundings, failing to resonate with the public or enhance the urban landscape. Moreover, the essence of public art gets lost when it doesn't engage the community. True, impactful art stems from understanding the cultural, historical, and social context of its location. Without this connection, art becomes a mere object, not an experience. It's time to rethink our approach to public art and move towards a collaborative model where artists, architects, and the community co-create, ensuring that art enriches the urban experience, not detracts from it. Engagement is key. Share your experiences with public art that truly enhanced its environment? . Let's start a conversation on how we can bridge the gap between art and architecture in our urban spaces.

I am excited to share that my first co-edited volume will be landing on bookshelves in February 2025! Until then, Aaron White and I invite you to take a sneak peek and check out the content of "Early Modern Architecture and Whiteness: Power by Design" on Routledge's website 🫣 The volume asks: What was architecture’s role in race-making, constructions of whiteness, and processes of othering more generally? How was whiteness architecturally questioned, reinforced, conceptualized, practiced, and materialized? And how did whiteness intersect with categories such as class, nation, gender, beauty, hygiene, and health? In examining these questions, this volume explores the ways premodern critical race studies allow us to reimagine the boundaries and possibilities of architectural research, design, and practice.

Dive into Cary’s architectural narrative! Explore the fascinating stories behind each landmark, uncovering the vibrant tapestry of the town’s history and culture. From residents to visitors, discover why Cary is a treasure trove of architectural wonders. Visit our website to read more! #cary #northcarolina #architecturallandmarks #hodgekittrellsir #newblogpost

"Postmodernism thrived on the idea that buildings could embody a narrative, celebrate cultural identity, and engage with their surroundings in a positive manner. Architects accomplished this through time-honored strategies that Modernism had abhorred: referential motifs, juxtaposition, bold polychromy, or surface patterning. Sometimes I tire of discussing Postmodernism, but my commitment to preservation remains." Our founder Robert A.M. Stern assembled this list of 15 Postmodern landmarks-in-waiting across the U.S. that should be protected and even — loved. Click through to read the full article from Architectural Record, and let us know which Postmodern marvels you think should be preserved. https://lnkd.in/guUiv3Cm

Rural urbanism. Capitalist ruins. Democracy and space. Environmental narratives. Just a few of the topics up for discussion at #SAHVirtual2024. What else will you discover at this low-cost, no-travel conference? View the schedule of 90+ presentations: https://bit.ly/4d0dsNG

GESAMTKUNSTWERK:-Transforming the Abandoned The aim of the project is to transform an abandoned building into an articulated architectural statement. In this project, I've envisioned an art therapy center that seamlessly blends chaos and calm within its architectural design. It begins with a reimagining of the existing building's hierarchy, utilizing it as the canvas for creative reinterpretation. A fundamental aspect of the design philosophy includes the integration of fluid, organic forms.