Doug Wittnebel’s Post

Very sad to hear of the destruction of more than 30 architectural gems, including Modernist, Beaux-Arts, Victorian, Spanish Revival and Craftsman style buildings. Many were privately owned homes, while others fulfilled community uses or were places of worship. All are now lost, however perhaps this is an opportunity to restore these important historic structures and plan for a more sustainable and resilient future? https://lnkd.in/eBqQnqMm

San Francisco's charm lies in its history, and if you own a historic property, renovations come with a few extra steps! Preservation laws mean that changing facades or structures requires city approval to protect our architectural heritage. It's a way of keeping SF's story alive, one building at a time! 💡 Have questions about historic property guidelines or looking to restore a piece of SF history? Let's chat about making it happen the right way! #HistoricHomesSF #SanFranciscoPreservation #ArchitecturalHeritage #DeanBadessa #SFHomeRenovations #BayAreaRealEstate #PreserveSF #HistoricCharm #RealEstateTips #SFRealEstate 🏡

As Basic cube high rises are on the rise in this city (pun intended) the more important it is for us to continue historic architecture preservation!!

Join RDG’s Charlie Cowell, AICP, Scotney Fenton and Michelle Sacco Cunliffe as they present an introduction to historic guidelines at the Preserve Iowa Summit on June 7. Historic design guidelines ensure that the quality and integrity of neighborhoods and downtown districts are not lost. Whether for residential neighborhoods or commercial districts, historic design guidelines can be a useful tool for educating residents or can be used as a "how-to" guide for historic preservation commissions. Further action includes these guidelines in the regulatory standards for city staff and planning commissions. https://ow.ly/ETM950RPktj

Ever wondered where the phrase ‘daylight robbery’ came from? 🔨💡 Our property is a classic example! After the war, the government was short on cash and introduced a window tax. Many windows were bricked up to avoid paying it — reducing natural light and leading to the phrase "daylight robbery." This is exactly what has happened in our Victroian property. We'll restore this window by removing the brickwork to add more natural light to this amazing period property. It’s all about preserving the property's heritage whilst adding value. What’s the strangest thing have you uncovered in period properties? #PropertyRenovation #History #VictorianArchitecture #RenovationProject

We are currently exhibiting the work that we have been doing in LAND411/2024 course at Worser Bay Lifesaving Club (251 Marine Parade, Seatoun, Wellington). This project has been a fantastic experience. We have been working with many individuals and representatives from more than 20 local community groups, as well as with mana whenua (indigenous people who have historic and territorial rights over the land). We have engaged with them through a series of site visits, lectures, workshops and reviews. The project advocates for the protection and restoration of this exceptional land by proposing an Ecosanctuary and Heritage reserve. Mātai Moana has a rich history as the former site of a Māori settlement, military emplacements, two historic prisons, and a strategic ecological value due to its location in Wellington harbour. It is mostly public land but it has no specific legal protection. As a consequence, it has been at the centre of recent controversy around how it should be transformed. This project aims to contribute to that discussion by proposing an inclusive design process, where different voices and interests have been considered. Designs have been grounded on site knowledge, Mātauranga Māori and community aspirations, considering community efforts as part of a 30-50 years restoration project. Public identity and sense of belonging aim to be achieved through engagement with biodiversity and cultural heritage, integrating into the reserve physically existing heritage, but also removed heritage, intangible heritage, and memories. The feedback received during the exhibitions will be used to develop a final consensus design while facilitating a deliberative process within the local community and mana whenua. This consensus design will go on public display during spring 2024, with the aim to inform the legal process towards land protection and the gradual transformation of the area. In case that you are interested but cannot attend, get a glimpse of the exhibition here ( https://lnkd.in/gigAGpcm ), or watch this video of the different designs ( https://lnkd.in/gVpQAtn2 ). If you are in Wellington, come along this weekend! Saturday 22nd of June from 13.00-16.00 and Sunday 23rd of June from 11.00-16.00.

It is with great pleasure that I share the publication of the article 'Inclusive urban planning for upgrading an informal settlement', which aims to highlight the importance of planning the city with the community by including intangible, cultural elements and social dynamics as fundamental elements of urban planning. Finally, the article highlights the need to find new tools for planning informal neighbourhoods. 

A thoughtful analysis in this article in Governing: "But preservation serves the vital purpose of helping people to understand, appreciate and connect with their local history at a time when historical awareness is a missing element in much of America. If preservation has gone too far, it has gone too far in the right direction. We ought to be able to manage it without denigrating the things it has achieved." Equity-based preservation is the way forward. https://lnkd.in/gPGp3Jc2 #HistoricPreservation #equity #UrbanDesign

🌉 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 🌉 An architect was hired to design a bridge across a vast river that divided two rival towns. The towns had long held grudges, each seeing the other as inferior, and the bridge was meant to bring trade between them. The architect designed a grand structure, pouring all his skill into the project. But as the bridge neared completion, whispers of sabotage emerged. People from both towns tried to dissuade him, claiming they didn’t want “𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦” coming too close. Yet, he ignored the protests, determined to finish. He didn’t stop, even as threats escalated. On the bridge’s opening day, few dared to cross it, fearing hostility. But one brave child from the north side took the first step and walked all the way across, where a child from the south welcomed him with a smile. Soon, others followed, until the bridge buzzed with people from both towns. Years later, it was more than just a bridge—it was a symbol of unity, built by a man who dared to see beyond the walls people placed around themselves. 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧: 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒉𝒚𝒔𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒚𝒎𝒃𝒐𝒍𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔. 𝑻𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏’𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕. #Leadership #Unity #Inspiration #Collaboration #BuildingBridges

This post is a timely reminder to property owners, and relevant stakeholders, of the importance of ensuring that re-instatement cost assessments are up to date. If you would like more information around the necessity of re-instatement cost assessment and how Graham + Sibbald's nationwide Technical Services team might be able to assist, please do not hesitate to contact us. #hotels #reinstatementcostassessment #historicbuilding #buildingsurveying #casestudy Neil MacFarlane Graham + Sibbald