Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Welcome to Save Manhattan Beach architecture!
I am an architecture student at Pratt Institute and have lived in Manhattan Beach my whole life. I grew up taking long walks through the neighborhood appreciating the eclectic mix of houses with my family. The same streets, the same historic mix of houses. I want to be able to do the same in the future. But our local architectural history is in jeopardy.
For the past few weeks, I noticed that the Field family no longer had their lights on at 230 Corbin Place. Soon afterward, I noticed the sculpture in their side garden and their stained glass were gone. The Department of Building's website confirmed my fears-- that the house has been sold and the department has authorized its demolition. Most likely a massive structure will replace the house and garden.
I feel that this is wrong on many levels.
The house style is difficult to pinpoint but is heavily influenced by Dutch design. Its roof slopes forward and delicately curls at the corners. There are two bay windows that protrude from the main facades-- one along the west and the other along the south.
In addition to its wood framed windows and doors, the roof overhangs are supported with wooden beams. These are in need of refurbishment but nonetheless are beautiful details of architecture that I have come to appreciate in work and school.
My main reason for advocacy is that the house appears to be unaltered in its 100 years of life. Its dark English bond brick facades are free of cracks which is amazing for a house of 100 years with our climate. It has never needed any brick replacement which is evident by continuous brick color. Theresa Scavo, president of CB 15 told me today that while community members have tried to get the Landmarks Commission to designate the neighborhood as a historic district, the neighborhood does not qualify because we have too few historic/unaltered buildings. If we continue to allow our local buildings that have lasted 100 years (which definitely make them historic) we will never qualify.
This picture is from Brian Merlis' Brooklyn's Gold Coast: The Sheepshead Bay Communities. The house is located to the far left in the picture, one of five standing at the time the picture was taken. 230 Corbin has seen the coastline at its door as well as seen it held at bay with the extension of Brighton Beach.
It should mainly be preserved simply for its long life and as an example of Manhattan Beach's vernacular architecture. There is no single style that is apparent in Manhattan Beach. But historic preservation is not solely about preserving famous battlefields or sites where dignified presidents were born. Historic preservation is about preserving the ordinary structures we take for granted too. We ought to designate time capsules. They connect us to people we will never know, who inhabited our homes, strolled down our streets, and visited the beach as we do now.
Construction reads back to us the history of place. Buildings inform us of the stages a community goes through-- based on style, material & color choice, and density. This house can tell us that. It is the one remaining house on Corbin Place that bears a neighboring garden lot, which I've been told was common in Manhattan Beach. It is an aspect of history that has held out for so many years. I have been able to appreciate the angel sculpture among the wild dandelions until now but I don't want to lose history now.
There are many other reasons for preservation. One can say that from a sustainability point of view, any solid construction should live out its inherent energy, the energy of each brick and each individual who built the structure. However, I will not go down that path.
I am asking readers to add their comments below with the hope that we can cause preservation to occur. I will continue to monitor the house and inquire whether anything can be done.
Until next post.
-Valerie
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