[MassHistPres] a new England building

[Jim Wald]

Yes, Marcia.

Part of the problem is, obviously, the very specific context. A lot of 
big box stores go up in open space, which is a problem in itself.

It also depends in part on what one means by traditonal or typical or 
vernacular. E.g. New England has rural, industrial, and urban heritages 
(all encompassing different periods and styles). A barn-like building 
would fit the idea of traditional New England, but not in downtown 
Greenfield. By contrast, that general inspiration--not imitation--works 
well for Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood.

Hadley, down the road, insists that new structures in a specific area 
(you will have seen it along Rte. 9) use clapboards and gable ends. That 
can work wonderfully in some cases (a conversion of an old commercial 
structure by Wright Builders, for example), or produce kitsch in 
others--when a sensibly conceived modernist or more functionalist 
approach would work better.

The idea of matching forms rather than specifics might be your best 
bet--very much along the lines of the things you said the proposed 
structure was not:  massing, fenestration, color, material, symmetry (or 
lack thereof).This is one reason that form-based codes are so much more 
appealing than dimensional regulation and other older approaches: they 
require adherence to context but allow for innovation and modernity.

You might also take a look at Amherst's Design Review Handbook, whose 
principles are referenced in our Preservation Plan and Master Plan:

http://tiny.cc/8ujee

Jim

Jim Wald
Chair, Amherst Historical Commission




> Marcia .. my advice for referencing "distinctive New England 
> buildings"  for a big box to emulate would be to point out some mill 
> buildings in the Greenfield area.  Mills are often BIG buildings, 
> multi-floors, often of brick fabric, with many window and door 
> openings.  The brick work is often artistic; the windows are often the 
> most distinctive feature, breaking up a very large, long facade.  
> Sometimes the buildings ARE broken up with a patchwork of additions 
> ... lending to varying heights, openings, rooflines, etc.
> You can tell from my very layman's terms .. I'm no architect or design 
> professional ... but I have appeared before many many planning and 
> zoning board hearings.
> Good luck!  We've had small successes in Millbury over the years.
>
> Cynthia K. Burr, Executive Director
> Millbury Improvement Initiative, inc.
> P.O. Box 767, Millbury, MA 01527
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Marcia Starkey <mdstarkey at crocker.com>
> To: masshistpres <masshistpres at cs.umb.edu>
> Sent: Sun, Apr 24, 2011 9:47 pm
> Subject: [MassHistPres] a new England building
>
> Hello,
> Recently, a member of the Greenfield Planning Board told the proponent 
> of a “big box” retail project that she would like to see the design be 
> more like a New England building.   I can think of characteristics of 
> the design that seem to me to _not_ be characteristic of New England: 
> a flat roof, dissimilar window sections, dissimilar forms in joined 
> sections for instance.  Are there people on this listserve  who could 
> help her describe “a New England building” ?
> Marcia Starkey, Greenfield MA Historical Commission
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