Neo-Precious Architecture

[Kryten 0]

I was listening to an interview with the head of the Tulane University Architecture School talk about the reconstruction of New Orleans yesterday while driving home from work. He was talking about New Orleans' unique architecture and the need to protect & rebuild it. And he warned against rebuilding in the neo-precious style.

So, in the tradition of other architectural style threads, how do you feel about this type of architecture? Can you post photos of it?

 

 

[louisville327 0]

Are you sure that's what he called it? I've never heard of the style and can't find anything about it through various Internet searches. Are you sure you got the right pronunciation?

[ianpaschal 77]

I have never heard of it, possibly its a play on the precious architecture, a bit of a pun or joke.....

[SkyTearer 10]

Maybe he means no more walmarts and chain stores with vast parking lots and no architecture? Because that's definately beyond(neo) precious lol

[hdorriker 190]

Do you mean Reductio-revivalism?

(I don't think that's the official term)
But where buildings are designed to look like older buildings, but feature (often mismatched) combinations of pastiche styles.

That would make sense, because these building look pretty silly next to the real historical sturctures because they often are built without sensitivity toward the continuity of the community they are in.

Those new wal-marts that are supposed to look all small-town American (but end up looking like drab, Stalinist Neo-classicism with a HUGE parking lot in place of the concrete square).

Either that or neo-precious architecture refers to something completely different and I am way off.

[Yellowlab 11]

I am pretty sure he means things like French, Italian, and Spanish Revivalism, Neoclassicism, etc.  Liek when people try to make new things look old.  I agree.  New Orleans today is the best opportunity for urban design we've ever had.  I sure hope we don't waste it.

[organicsabre 1]

Date: 9/20/2005 10:24:36 PM
Author: Yellowlab
I am pretty sure he means things like French, Italian, and Spanish Revivalism, Neoclassicism, etc. Liek when people try to make new things look old. I agree. New Orleans today is the best opportunity for urban design we've ever had. I sure hope we don't waste it.

quote>

I agree with this, the history of America (comming from a british person!!) was that many nations collonised the US bringing with them their own style of architecture with French colonial, spanish catalan architecture, British Victorian etc. From the sounds of it they wish to preserve the original styles seen in New orleans rather than mass production simple modern buildings which basically make up bland continuous urban sprawl.

On the issue of Rebuilding New Orleans, I did notice that alot of the buildings there were timber buildings which could not withstand the force of winds and flood waters. In the Uk 98% of all residential accomodation is brick built and more durable, during the tornado in Birmingham roofs were lifted, but the main structures although some damaged were still standing and able to be repaired, likewise the flooding just damaged property and had to be dried out, though most buildings were able to be repaired easily and re-enhabited. a brick structure is more durable at standing the elements than a timber one.

The question is the old style architecture and construction techniques in New Orleans i.e. the timber framed building, in this climate is it suitable to rebuild using the traditional technics or go for more robust design and construction detailing to take into account the change of climate etc.

It could still be recreated but with a masonry backing and just timber facing materials in the relevant styles.

[slightlyslack 22]

I would say that the neo-precious style has roots going back way further than Wal-Marts that blend in.  Spiro Kostof notes in The City Shaped that neo-Gothic architects were routinely blasted (by Sullivan, Richardson, et al) for using so much ornamentation that the ornaments themselves no longer stood out.

 

New Urbanists these days are routinely blasted for neo-preciousness, although Calthorpe, Duany, etc. insist that the number of true NU developments is very small.  It's clear, though, that the movement's biggest impact has been on architecture, instead of planning.  There's an NU-styled (side-facing garages, big porches, small yards and a large community park/playing area) infill development about 2 miles down the road from me in Culver City that is accessible by only two collector streets, and is walled off from the busy arterials on its east and west sides.  (You can see it here , just to the northwest of the marker.)  Perhaps the most prominent NU development in Los Angeles, the new  Pueblo del Sol housing project just east of the Los Angeles River, clearly is more about the design aspects than the planning--shopping trips still require a car or bus trip.

[DuskTrooper 316]

IMO, if you're going to do a neo style, you should try to emulate it as well as possible. Half arse jobs just don't cut it, IMO.

[slightlyslack 22]

Date: 9/27/2005 10:01:51 PM Author: DuskTrooper IMO, if you're going to do a neo style, you should try to emulate it as well as possible.  Half arse jobs just don't cut it, IMO.

quote>

Well, it's the nature of the construction business to never do anything well when it can be half-assed, so why even bother to do revivalism at all?

[hdorriker 190]

Well, If revivalism isn't done well, New Orleans would be better off with out it. Brick would be a very prudent choice of materials to build from. Then just put timber on the outside.

More importantly though, I wonder if maybe now there may be a chance to raise the ground level of some of these areas that are going to have to be demolished because of water/wind damage. Perhaps that may not do a whole lot on a larger scale though because of the subsidence issues.