Modern Addition to a Historical Property

[nestliving]

Old is old and new is new...they both can live together but why do we settle for fabricating the past when we can promote and be inspired by the future?

I know the RAP's and SPAR's will never understand the benefits of mixing old and new. And maybe our city could not fully execute such a beautiful contrast - but it does not mean we can't appreciate what is going on in the rest of the world.

http://www.contemporist.com/2010/01/20/extension-to-georgian-house-by-henning-stummel-architects/

[thelakelander]

For something creative like this to happen in this city, you'll have to look at neighborhoods that aren't official historic districts, yet have just as much historic housing stock as those that are.  These areas include Durkeeville, New Springfield, Brentwood, parts of Murray Hill, North Riverside, Brooklyn (what's left of it), the Eastside and the Cathedral District.

[jason_contentdg]

Y

For something creative like this to happen in this city, you'll have to look at neighborhoods that aren't official historic districts, yet have just as much historic housing stock as those that are.  These areas include Durkeeville, New Springfield, Brentwood, parts of Murray Hill, North Riverside, Brooklyn (what's left of it), the Eastside and the Cathedral District.

Unless of course the city agreed with the National Historic guidelines, where new construction is not supposed to copy history, but compliment scale, proportion, and other factors of the existing fabric.

[mtraininjax]

official historic districts,

Murray Hill has a preservation, but has no historic district status. You can tear down and rebuild a house with pink and blue paint and they can't say squat about it.

[thelakelander]

Unless of course the city agreed with the National Historic guidelines, where new construction is not supposed to copy history, but compliment scale, proportion, and other factors of the existing fabric.

True!  I guess Jax forgot that part.

[Charles Hunter]

San Marco would fit that list - it has historic buildings, but no District

[JaxByDefault]

Unless of course the city agreed with the National Historic guidelines, where new construction is not supposed to copy history, but compliment scale, proportion, and other factors of the existing fabric.

Very true.

What is needed is an architecturally savvy design review process in the historic district that would promote good design on the vaccant lots of the historic districts, too. There is a good deal of contemporary architecture that is better in concept in design than what is currently implemented. Suburbanized historic look-alikes should not be the only things approved. It is possible to compliment the scale and look of the existing historic fabric with modern buildings.  In fact, those kinds of HDs usually look better because the historic structures are highlighted.

I don't know if the Jacksonville's building trends in the HDs are the result of a certain style being all that has been proposed by builders, or the result of a design preference enforced by regulation, or a mixture of both. I'd love to hear from those who know this local subject better.

[fsu813]

Cesery's San Marco school house / loft conversion maybe a good example of this.

Very modern buildings right next to the historic, brick schoolhouse.

[Captain Zissou]

I agree fsu813, the two structures highlight and compliment each other because of the contrast.

[thelakelander]

I don't know if the Jacksonville's building trends in the HDs are the result of a certain style being all that has been proposed by builders, or the result of a design preference enforced by regulation, or a mixture of both. I'd love to hear from those who know this local subject better.

The original live/work loft elevations at 6th & Main were more contemporary than what exists today.  Those early concepts did not fly over to well, so the get approved the design was modified.  Later this week, I'll try to dig up and scan a few of the original conceptual facades.  In any event, I'd say its really a mix of the two.  If you really want to experiment architecturally in this town, the historic districts aren't the best spot.  With that said, the entire urban core (Northside) has historic building stock.  So there are opportunities out there for those willing to build and experiment outside of the official historic districts.

[Springfield Girl]

Lake, I think your buildings have traditional leanings but still have contemporary lines and feel. They compliment the old but still look fresh and relevant to the time. I think this is what the guidelines try to achieve.