mary mccahon bridge aesthetics

7/28/2019 Mary McCahon Bridge Aesthetics

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Practical Ideas for Making History &Context Matter in Design Decisions

Mary E. McCahon

Senior Historian


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How do we make history live andat the same time point the way tothe future?

I. M. Pei

When History Is the Context


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Yesterdays Context, Todays or Tomorrows?

Courtesy: Fred Gottemoeller


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Yesterdays Context, Todays or Tomorrows?

Courtesy Fred Gottemoeller

Columbus, OH


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Regulations Require it. Community Wants to Be Considered Historic & Special. Only Imitation of the Past Will Fit. Engineers Do It To Appease Preservation & Public. Its Cheaper & Easier to Make Standard Bridge Look Sort of Old. Preservation Hates Because Creates False History.

No Winners.

History and Context Are Supposed to Matter


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Are Context-Sensitive

Design Choices Really

Limited To (Poorly)

Imitating the Past?

History and Context Are Supposed to Matter

Too Often

History &CSS Ends

Up Being

Applied

Decoration


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Take Away Point -- Contemporary Is Often Better Choice

How Much More Appropriate Would This Railing Be For ModernBridge in Rural Setting, Like At the Mill?

-- Meets Design Criteria & Makes Historic & Contextual Sense.


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Old Bridge

ModernReplacement

There are Good Choices Beyond Decoration Ones

That Defer To Past But Dont Create False History

Modern Bridges Where History Matters


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History Not Understood: Old Was Once Modern

Modern 1914 Encased Stringer

Decorated Box Beam Replacement


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History Not Understood: This Is Decoration, Not Preservation

New Bridge Creates

False Sense ofHistory: Design isPure Conjecture


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History Not Used to Inform Design of New Bridge


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Historic RoadsThrough Estate

New Bridge

& Road

HD Boundary

Back Channel

Historic Bridge Isolated

Historic

Bridge

New Bridge and Road


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Real Stone Masonry IsHistoric Material


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History Overshadowed by Applied Decoration


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More Appropriate Designs for Rural and Suburban Settings

Simple, Quiet Designs

Use Color To Blend

Let Context or Setting MakeStatement


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Since 1979, codified (36 CFR 67)measure of appropriateness for federallyfunded or permitted work to identifiedhistoric properties.

10 Points Guiding Rehabilitation & NewConstruction

National Policy Since 1979


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3. Changes that create a false sense ofhistorical development shall not beundertaken.

9. New Construction shall be

differentiated from the old and becompatible with the massing, size, andcharacter of the setting

Criteria Against Which Effects Assessed


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Creating False History

Decorated Box BeamsAttempt to Recreate Arch

Bridge

Not Conform to SOI Standards

Box Beam Superstructure

Old Arch


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TY Lin Internationals Olympia-Yashiro Friendship Bridge

Olympia, WA

Old

New

New Bridge UsesPrinciples of Good

Design to BeCompatible withHistory: MeetsSOI Standards


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Good Contemporary Design

Compliments Historic & ScenicContexts

Yuma, AZ I-8


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Looking Forward In Historic District

Source: Anonymous


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New Sauvie Island Bridge Modern Technology

and history in the making.

Courtesy Robert Hadlow, ODOT


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Standard Designs Are Often The Correct Design: Its Our History Too

Many Times Workhorse Bridge Is OK

P. Brandenburg


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Moderns Still Needs to Blendwith Historic

Historic Districts

Generally All AboutScale and Material


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Old Informs New to Preserve Historic Significance

Oregons Stealth Railing Provides 10 Kip Containment ; Used

When Design Exception Can Be Supported.


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Old Informs New To Preserve Historic Significance

Same Intent

Preserve OriginalDesign WhileMaking Adequate forCurrent Use

Carroll Co. Indiana


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SuccessfulModificationof StandardDesign


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Forming (and Enjoying) Traffic Railings


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Is This AnAdverse Effect?

Lets Talk


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Dayton @ Confluence 4 Rivers -- 10 bridges 1907-1927

City Embark on Construction

Campaign Using Good

Contemporary Design Based

on Old City Beautifu l Movement

Philosophy


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8 Bridges At End of Useful Life Rehab Not Prudent

Washington St.

We learned a lot

on this one.


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The Learning Curve

Monument Ave

Ridge Ave

Monument Ave


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Old Bridge

New Does Not Have to Replicate Old

SHPOAgrees


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Stewart St Replacement Moves To Strong Statement of Own Time

Design TeamWoolpert EngineeringTY Lin International

and Context Reflects Yesterday,Today and Tomorrow


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Mary E. [email protected]

Thank You

mary mccahon bridge aesthetics

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