Contemporary Architecture in the Historic Environment

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Design Control and Regulation
Short, Michael J. 2012. Planning for Tall Buildings. New York: Routledge.
In this book, Short, a planner and conservation officer in the UK, examines tall
buildings, analyzing their relationship to the city and the planning mechanisms
used to encourage or control their development. Chapter 1 traces the evolution
of the tall building, from its emergence in the United States in the late 19th century,
through the impact of New York’s zoning ordinances on their form, the
Modern Movement, the postmodernist response, and finally the contemporary
global tall-building phenomenon. Chapter 2, on the potential impact of tall
buildings, looks at their effects on context, the historic environment, and local
environment (microclimates and daytime and nighttime lighting), as well as
issues related to transportation, permeability, and sustainability. Chapter 3 discusses
the emergence of planning frameworks for tall buildings. Chapter 4,
“The Conservation Challenge of Tall Buildings,” focuses on the specific tools
used by the conservation planning sector in England to manage tall-building
proposals. Seven chapters present case studies in the UK (Liverpool,
Manchester, Birmingham, and Newcastle), Ireland (Dublin), Norway (Oslo),
and Canada (Vancouver), showing a range of planning approaches. The book
concludes with an analysis of those planning techniques that have proven to be
most effective and makes recommendations on how cities can best approach
planning strategically for tall buildings in the future. (S.L.)
Also relevant for Chapter 4: Case Studies.
Smith, Chris, ed. 2008. “The Old and the New.” Special issue, Conservation
Bulletin (59). http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/
conservation-bulletin-59/
This issue of English Heritage’s biannual magazine is dedicated to the evaluation
of urban change in the historic environment. The publication was written
from the perspective of the heritage professional who is in the decision-making
position to allow change or not. It is divided into four sections. Section 1,
“Continuity and Innovation,” contains articles that discuss how to approach the
problem of balancing change and continuity, examining issues such as the pace
of change in postwar England; the principles for building in a historical context
established by the Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment; how opposition
to innovation in the historic built environment can be overcome; and differences
between inserting bold new architectural innovations in large cities,
where they can be more easily accommodated, and in smaller towns and villages.
Section 2, “New Understanding,” has articles on how to understand and
define the characteristics that contribute to the value of a place, touching on
English Heritage’s Conservation Principles, definitions of a historic building’s
“setting,” and the development of policy framework to protect views. Section 3,
“The Curator’s Story,” presents articles on how historic property stewards have
dealt with the issue of designing additions, balancing visitors’ needs and expectations
while respecting the historic character of the site. Multiple sites managed
by English Heritage and the National Trust are referenced as examples.
Section 4, “Shock of the New (and Nearly New),” includes articles that analyze
how the public receives change in the urban environment. The challenges of
designating nearly new places, such as modern heritage, are discussed, using
Contemporary Architecture in the Historic Environment: An Annotated Bibliography - Getty Conservation Institute - 2015