Modernizing Modernism: Challenges with Preserving PostWar Buildings

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Modernizing ModernismChallenges with
PreservingPost-War Buildings
Materials, Methods Marketplace
National Historic Tax Credit Conference
2008September 24-26, 2008, Chicago
Mike Jackson, FAIA Illinois Historic
Preservation Agency
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Preserving the Recent Past
Chicago 1995
Philadelphia 2000
Chicago IL 1989 Preserving Whats New
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Twentieth Century Building Materials
1995, Tom Jester, Editor
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The Preservation of Historic Pigmented Structural
Glass (Vitrolite and Carrara Glass)
1984 Based upon APT Bulletin Article 1981
www.vitrolitespecialist.com

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New Organizations

• Society for Commercial Archeology
• www.sca-roadside.org
• DOCOMOMO
• www.docomomo-us.org
• Recent Past Preservation Network
• www.Recentpast.org
• Association for Preservation Technology
• www.apti.org

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Survey and Identification
www.landmarks.org
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John Ruskin
When we build of stone, let us think we building
forever
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Building stone veneers
The challenge of new building installation
methods and tolerances.
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Cheaper Faster Lighter
APT Training Courses
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Materials as cover-up
The tin ceiling as an Early renovation material
Flooring of all kinds is not expected to last.
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Materials marketed as Maintenance Free
Aluminum siding
Metal Slip Covers
Asphalt siding
Asphalt siding
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Material Challenge Weeping Mortar
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The challenge of the marketplace
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planet green

• Wrecklamation follows one determined demolition
  auctioneer, Jodi Murphy, as she tracks down a
  treasure trove of Chicago homes doomed for the
  wrecking ball that are full of recyclable
  materials she auctions off for deeply discounted
  prices.

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Building Re-cladding
Before After
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Building Re-Cladding
Before Springfield IL After
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Partial Modernism Change Over Time
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Modernizing ModernismMeeting the Challenge
Survey and Identify New Resources Promote the
value of these resources Integrate these
resources into preservation programs Encourage a
new generation of preservationists