Contemporary Architecture in the Historic Environment

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Case Studies
neighborhoods. All case studies identify the need for some type of
design control for new developments in historic urban areas. Case studies
of particular interest include the following:
• Telč, Czech Republic, by Milos Drdachy: The author reports strong
opposition to mandatory citywide guidelines, resulting in a compromise
with recommendations that were not mandatory but strongly advised,
and included characteristic local architectural elements (pp. 44–45).
• Ribe, Denmark, by Erling Sonne: The author lists the main principles
that should guide a new design in order to create a continuous
streetscape. Guidelines were developed to provide protection for characteristic
details of the urban landscape (pp. 58–59).
• Dublin, Ireland, by Elene Negussie: The author states that new developments
were encouraged to use a ‘modern architectural expression’,
while harmonizing with the surrounding context (pp. 148–49).
• The historic center of Riga, Latvia, by Juris Dambis: The author
explains some of the requirements imposed on all buildings, both new
and old (pp. 194–95).
• Santiago de Compostela, Spain, by Xerardo Estevez: The author
explains that the design process for new designs should include an analysis
of the existing context. In this case, the city promoted appropriate
design solutions by assigning new developments to prominent architects.
The intent was to demonstrate in practice how new buildings
could contribute positively to the enhancement of the historic fabric
(pp. 228–29). (A.P.A.G.)
Also relevant for Section 2.1: Design Control Methodology and Critique.
Plant, Margaret. 2002. Venice: Fragile City 1797–1997. New Haven, CT: Yale
University Press.
This book covers the history of Venice from the end of the Republic under
Napoleon’s invasion until the attempt in 1997 to restore it. The author describes
how the fall of the Campanile in 1902 helped shape the Venice approach to new
constructions in the historic city. According to the author, the demise of that
beloved landmark sparked an immediate public response advocating for the
construction of an exact replica: “‘Dov’era, com’era’ became a slogan for the
project in defiance of the modernists who would design it anew” (p. 235).
Chapter 7 describes the reaction of architects such as Otto Wagner to this replica
approach. Despite architects’ protests, modernism was excluded from
Venice’s city center. The author writes, “The euphoric climate that saw the
Campanile’s regrowth made it almost impossible for a genuine appreciation of
the modern to take root against the force of tradition and regional style” (p.
239). The last part of chapter 9 describes some of the designs proposed for
Venice by prominent modern architects, most of which were never realized. It
includes designs by Carlo Scarpa, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, and Louis
I. Kahn. (A.P.A.G.)
Contemporary Architecture in the Historic Environment: An Annotated Bibliography - Getty Conservation Institute - 2015