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| SPRING
VALLEY — In a world that is becoming increasingly homogenous in style,
historic preservationists often feel like the last bastion in saving a
region's character and sense of place.
From high-peaked roofs to covered porches, one
Irvington architect believes efforts to save elements of that past are
increasingly being blended with environmental "sustainability"
concerns, as preservationists seek solutions that benefit both buildings
and the environment.
Walter Sedovic, a specialist in historical
preservation and |
contextual design who has
restored churches and pre-Revolutionary War houses dating back to 1712,
presented his views on "High-Performance Landmarks" at a
standing-room-only meeting of the Rockland County Conservation
Association yesterday at the United Church of Spring Valley.
Sedovic likes to compare the image of the "Sankofa"
— a mythical West African bird that flies forward while looking
backward — to historic preservation that "builds on the future
while learning from the past." |
| His
recent restoration projects include the Riverdale Presbyterian Church,
the Timothy Knapp House in Rye and the J.P. Morgan Building on Wall
Street.
"Since World War II, technology has engineered
nature out of buildings and created 'sick building syndrome,' "
Sedovic said.
Conversely, he said, natural ventilation, radiant
heating and cooling, and using natural materials such as slate roofing
can be healthier and more cost efficient.
"Using local building materials supports the
local economy," Sedovic said. |
"And recycling buildings
is what historic preservation is all about."
While the costs of labor and materials for new
buildings are about evenly divided, Sedovic said, historical
preservation projects usually earmark from 70 percent to 90 percent of
costs for labor and from 10 percent to 30 percent for materials.
Modern building methods now include the installation
of geothermal heating and cooling systems, and the use of X-ray
technology to determine a building's architectural history. |
| He
said other progressive building trends now include recycling carpeting
and light bulbs, and recycling fly ash, a byproduct of gas-fired
electrical generation, to manufacture stronger, denser and lighter
portland cement.
Following the presentation, Rockland County Planning
Commissioner James Cymore said a sense of place was important in
maintaining an area's identity. |
"I like the idea of
getting back to regionalism, rather than one-size-fits-all
architecture," Cymore said.
Erin Martin, executive director of the Historical
Society of Rockland County, agreed that historic preservation presents
tangible benefits to a community.
"Devoting a greater percentage of your costs to
local labor has to have a ripple effect on the economy," she
said. |
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