Traditional Architecture Compendium

A Compilation of Articles of and About Classical and Traditional Architecture

English Colonial Domestic Architecture of New England

Following close upon the heels of the Virginia Company’s 1607 settlement of Jamestown, a second group of English colonists put down roots in the Northern parts of what was then known as Virginia.  Settling Plymouth in 1620 “for the glorie of God, and advancemente of the Christian faith, and honour of [their] king and countrie,” the Pilgrims brought with them to New England their belief in simplicity of worship and strict morality.  The English Colonial architecture of New England is perhaps best seen in relation to the character of its Puritan and Separatist settlers. 

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Colonial Revival Style

            With population expanding, immigrants arriving, rapid industrialization, and urbanization, it is little wonder that late-19th century Americans viewed their simpler colonial past as a Golden Age. Emerging wearily from Reconstruction, Americans patriotically celebrated their past and future at Philadelphia’s 1876 Centennial Exhibition.  The “New England Farmer’s Home and Modern Kitchen” was a particularly popular exhibit.   Inside this log cabin, women in colonial dress exhibited artifacts such as a Pilgrim’s cradle and spinning wheel, idealizing an America heroically hewn out of New England by hard-working colonists. 

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Christine G. H. Franck Comments Delivered at "After the Crisis: Is This a New Era for Traditional Design." Art Workers Guild, London. February 9, 2011. INTBAU/TAG Conference.

February 9, 2011

 

My dear friends and colleagues,

I wish I could be with you today, but it is a good sign I could not be, since a lecture to over 200 architects in Boston yesterday meant I could not make a late evening flight to London. Indeed, while the years beginning in the fall of 2008 have been terrifyingly slow, over the last six to eight months there has been a palpable optimism that we will recover.

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THE SPANISH COLONIAL HOUSES OF ST. AUGUSTINE

Colonial is a common adjective used to describe American houses.  Yet which colonial do we mean?  Normally we are referring to English Colonial Houses.  Yet, from Florida to California, our colonial history is primarily Spanish, not English. Our oldest continuously inhabited city, St. Augustine, Florida, and early Southwest missions were built by Spanish conquerors, colonists, and missionaries. 

   

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The Brent Hull Companies and Christine G. H. Franck, Inc. Win Historic Fort Worth 2010 Residential Award for Excellence in Preservation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

 

            Fort Worth, TX – September 20, 2010 - Historic Fort Worth has awarded the Byrd Residence its 2010 Residential Award recognizing excellence in the rehabilitation of historic homes.  Fort Worth homebuilder and master-craftsman Brent Hull of The Brent Hull Companies collaborated with New York-based design firm Christine G. H. Franck, Inc. to restore this historic home to its original charm.

            Built in 1938 in Fort Worth’s Colonial Addition neighborhood, this once-graceful Colonial Revival style home was insensitively renovated in the 1990s. Modern additions of incorrectly proportioned columns, heavy-cast stone trim, and stripping of the original whitewashing and shutters all compromised the home’s original grace. 

            In 2009 an extensive renovation and addition returned the house to its former beauty and updated it for modern living. Sensitive façade renovations included replacing ungainly columns and cast stone trim, re-whitewashing brick, and replacing dark green shutters. An addition to the rear of the house expanded both indoor and outdoor living space without unduly increasing the size of the house visible from the street.

            The subtlest of changes greatly impacted the appearance of this home. In their work together on this renovation, Hull and Franck demonstrate how principles of classical architecture such as proportion and scale, so often misunderstood in today’s typical McMansions, should work together harmoniously.

            Brent Hull is a builder of fine residences, master-craftsman, author, and nationally recognized expert on historic millwork and molding design.  Christine G. H. Franck is a designer, professor of architecture, and author specializing in classical architecture and traditional American domestic architecture.

            This and other outstanding works in the field of historic preservation will be recognized at the Samuel Benton Cantey III Lecture and Annual Preservation Honor Awards, Thursday, September 23, 2010 at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center.  Contact Historic Fort Worth for reservations at (817) 336-2344.

 

Contact:

Brent Hull, President, The Brent Hull Companies

bhull@hullhistorical.com

(817) 332-1495

 

Christine G. H. Franck, President, Christine G. H. Franck, Inc.

christine@christinefranck.com

(212) 421-3465

 

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(Above: View of Byrd Residence, AFTER renovations.) 

 

Image002

(Above: View of Byrd Residence, BEFORE renovations.)

 

Image003

 (Above: View of Byrd Residence entablature, AFTER renovations.)

 

Image004

(Above: View of Byrd Residence entablature, BEFORE renovations.)  

 

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ICA&CA Texas Spruces Up Dallas with Habitat for Humanity Design Comp.

http://bit.ly/c551ta

Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity sprucing up home designs through competition

The Dallas Morning News, 12:00 AM CDT on Friday, May 21, 2010

 Habitat for Humanity homes don't have to look mass-produced, so the Texas chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Classical America, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity and Lambert's are introducing a little pizzazz into future designs.

They're inviting teams of architectural professionals or students to participate in the inaugural Dream Dallas Home Design Competition to create a new design and look for a single-family Habitat for Humanity home.

The competition was introduced during an ICA event last month hosted by Sam and Shannon Gilliland at their home in Highland Park and organized by Lyn Muse of the ICA.

The evening also featured a lecture by Christine Franck and Brent Hull, co-authors of Traditional American Rooms: Celebrating Style, Craftsmanship, and Historic Woodwork (Winterthur Style Sourcebook).

Teams can register through May 31, and the design submission deadline is July 30.

Winners will be announced Sept. 9.

Seven awards will be given by the design competition committee, which will include design professionals, Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity staff and a Habitat homeowner.

The first-prize team gets $3,000, and its design will serve as a basis for building a Habitat for Humanity home in West Dallas in 2011; second prize is $1,000; and five teams will receive honorable mention recognition and $250 prizes.

The winning design and other recognized designs will also be published in a pattern book.

The Dream Dallas Home Design Competition is open to teams of architectural professionals and students in the fields of architecture, interior design, planning and landscape architecture.

Each team must have a host who is an Institute of Classical Architecture and Classical America member.

Student teams may request a grant of $200 to help defray entry fees by sending a written request to ICA@lebarchitects.com.

To download the full criteria for submissions, visit www.classicist-texas.org or call Larry Boerder at 214-559-2285.

Major donors include:

$10,000: Lambert's (the title sponsor) and XTO Energy .

$5,000: Larry and Debra Boerder, Royal and Debbie Carson, Kent Kunkel, Lyn Muse Interiors Inc., Mack and Jean Pogue and Vaughn Vennerberg.

$1,000: Gil Andres/Andres Construction Services, Barry and Lana Andrews, Asselin Windows, Bordeaux Custom Homes, Harlan and Kathy Crow, David and Marcia Dowler, Elegant Additions, Sam and Shannon Gilliland, Harry and Norma Longwell, Sarah and Ross Perot Jr. Foundation, Preston Center Rotary Club, Leonard and Peggy Riggs, Sebastian Construction Group Inc. and Michael and Alison Weinstein.

The Institute of Classical Architecture and Classical America was founded as two separate organizations that merged in 2002. The national nonprofit group is dedicated to advancing the classical tradition in architecture, urbanism and their allied arts.