All Aboard the Quebec Central Railway! #presinpink

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ROM: A Museum Addition with Much To Say

Institutions grow out of their historic buildings as their functions and purposes change and time progresses. They will need new space. Architects design the latest trends, looking to make a mark on the world. Preservationists seek to find common ground and conversation between historic buildings and architects. Yet, architecture – old and new – remains subjective. The Royal Ontario Museum (“ROM”) in Toronto, Canada is a prime case study for this discussion.

Let’s start here:

The Royal Ontario Museum (“ROM”) in Toronto, Canada.

What is that?, you might ask. That is the 1912 Royal Ontario Museum building with the 2007 “Crystal” addition designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. Intriguing, yes? Take a look at more photos before we talk (and click here for the project photos from Studio Libeskind).

The view across the street.

The glass facades provides interesting angles and reflections of the adjacent buildings.

View down the street towards the entrance to the museum (via the Crystal).

My first question: is that addition over the building or through the building?

Checking out the connection on the facade.

The Crystal peeks over the side of the building, too.

Still with me? It’s a crazy building, but you can’t ignore it or turn away, right? Unable to answer the question of how does the addition connect to the original building from the outside, I ventured inside. Here’s what I found:

The atrium, of sorts.

I walked around to see the wall junctions. The Crystal addition creates odd shaped spaces.

Another connection view.

In many places, the addition seems to be a facade for the original.

The entire floor of the new building sloped towards the front door; a little disorienting for those of us accustomed to walking on generally level surfaces. After chatting with one of the employees, I learned that the building was quite controversial and does not have plumbing (it remains in the original building). Interesting. This employee indicated that the addition had a lot of political pressure behind it.

Regardless of public opinion, I want discuss, with you, the addition in terms of historic preservation (or heritage conservation as the Canadians say). Is this style of architecture appropriate for the historic 1912 museum? Is it intriguing? Atrocious? Offensive? Welcoming?

The architect’s portfolio describes the addition as this:

The entire ground level is unified into a seamless space with clarity of circulation and transparency.  The Crystal transforms the ROM’s fortress-like character, turning it into an inspired atmosphere dedicated to the resurgence of the Museum as the dynamic centre of Toronto.

The design succeeds in inviting glimpses up, down, into galleries and even from the street. The large entrance atrium, the Gloria Hyacinth Chen Court, separates the old historic building from the new, providing a nearly complete view of the restored façades of the historic buildings.   The Chen Court also serves as a venue space for all kinds of public events.

Where to start? Well, it’s interesting. It does offer glimpses of the other buildings. One street facade is restored. Still, is this an appropriate treatment of this historic building? Let’s consider what the National Parks Service and Parks Canada would say.

In the United States, we follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation when dealing with historically significant buildings and new additions or alterations, most notably the following two:

• (#3) Each property will be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or elements from other historic properties, will not be undertaken.
• (#9) New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will not destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize the property. The new work will be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment.

In Canada, the regulations are not identical, though Parks Canada has The Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. Similar to the US Standards, Parks Canada offers this about rehabilitation:

• (#2) Conserve the heritage value and character-defining elements when creating any new additions to an historic place or any related new construction. Make the new work physically and visually compatible with, subordinate to and distinguishable from the historic place.
• (#3) Create any new additions or related new construction so that the essential form and integrity of a historic place will not be impaired if the new work is removed in the future.

Basically, both the US & Canada’s guidelines say that new addition should be recognizable as new and simultaneously compatible with the old and the environment. And, should the addition be removed it should not impact the historic building (presumably the historic – the more prominent building – would be the one remaining). Due to these standards and guidelines, additions are often subservient to their predecessors. Setback from the original, additions employ similar architectural features without being renditions. Sometimes they are successful. Sometimes they are boring, because – at least if they’re boring – the additions do not overpower the original. From one streetscape, the Crystal overpowers the original, wouldn’t you say?

If we’re talking personal opinion: I like it for its intriguing angles and new approach to additions (I’m tired of boring additions that look like subdued versions of the old, unless the environment calls for such a thing). Yet, after looking through the architect’s portfolio and searching for other modern buildings, this one is not as unique as I would have expected.

But, on a professional review: the addition does not comply with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. It is not visually compatible and removal would damage the building. However, is it not visually compatible because we’re not trained to read buildings with striking modern additions? Should we redefine how we look at buildings and additions? After all, there are countless style-less additions that ruin buildings. Maybe this one doesn’t ruin it so much as highlight a restored facade and engage conversation and community.

What do you think? Does it comply with the Standards? If yes, how? If no, should we look at the Standards in a new way? Or do you despise such modern architecture?

I’d love to have a discussion and hear your thoughts, so please comment below if you’d like to join.

With Your Coffee

Basse-Ville (Lower Town), Quebec City, looking up at Le Chateau Frontenac.

Happy weekend, everyone! What an exciting week in the news, and a very special Friday for everyone: #lovewins! It’s a nice change to have good news in the news as opposed to only terrible news. Hug your loved ones.  I hope your weekend is filled with good weather and lots of outside time. While you’re sipping your coffee, here are some interesting links to read.

• The trend in house design and re-design is open floor plan; yet, many of our historic houses have rooms dedicated to specific functions. Which do you prefer?

• The creator of the plastic pink lawn flamingo (and mascot to us Mary Washington flamingos) has passed away. Don Featherstone, you will be missed. We are forever in love with your work.

• The Vanderbilts (of Newport, Rhode Island’s “The Breakers” are in disagreement with the Preservation Society as to how the house should be preserved and operated, and who can live there. “A family lived here.”  

• Remember “Brutalism is Beautiful”? or The Case for Ugly Architecture? Well, the building, the Orange County Government Center in Goshen, NY is being demolished, not saved. 

• Worth more than one line, but this article is too fascinating not to include here. A business duo in Albany, NY bought a 1950s amusement park – the entire thing – and relocated it to an underused portion of the city along the Erie Canal. Will this be the economic engine that spurs redevelopment in this part of the city. So brave, so inventive. What do you think? I am enthralled. 

• Let there be love.

Cheers! xo!

Quebec City had some interesting buildings! This one is a bank in the Montcalm neighborhood. #presinpink

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Alleys of Old Quebec City

Earlier this week, we rambled down streets of Old Quebec City and noted the cleanliness of each, as well as the architectural beauty. Those same qualities carry into the alleys of Quebec City. Neat as a pin, filled with art or interesting fire escapes, these are not typical alleys squeezed between blocks or buildings. Take a look:

A stone walkway, red staircase, and a light: quite welcoming for an alley.

Sort of an alley, sort of a street. Closed doors, lots of awnings – it was hard to tell what purpose this served, when looking at it at night.

That same alley in the day. An artists’ alley, which explains all of the awnings.

An alley filled with sculpture and a shiny metal fire escape.

Looking up in that same alley. The sculpture connects to the building and continues up. Look up!

I wouldn’t hang out in alleys (by choice or on a regular basis), but these Old Quebec City alleys filled with art are inviting people into them. What do you think?

Now that is one strong floor (looking up at the ceiling). Vermont Marble Company. #presinpink

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Texture at the Vermont Marble Company. #presinpink

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We love our food in Vermont. #presinpink

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Signage of a closed restaurant in Quebec City. #presinpink

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Streets of Old Quebec City

Quebec City (Ville de Quebec, in French) is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and one of the oldest European settlements in North America. Chock full of history, to say the least, and the architecture is spectacular. For preservationists (or heritage conservationists, as Canadians say), architectural historians and those who simply like to look at or photograph pretty buildings, every single building around every corner proved picture-worthy.

Narrow streets, stone buildings, casement windows… it was almost too much to handle. And what continued to be striking: just how neat and tidy and clean every street was. Seriously, one of the cleanest and tidiest cities I’ve seen. Rather than ramble on and on, I’ll let you ramble through these images of the streets of Old Quebec City.

View from dinner.

So lovely, even without any trees.

Stone and colors!

Looking down the street to one of the many University of LaVal buildings.

Street after street.

Impeccable.

Down another street.

See? You could take photos for days.  Left to my own devices, I’d still be there doing just that. And that’s only part of Quebec City. Stay tuned. Have you been?