Facadism

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Facadism is the practice of renovating old buildings leaving the facade of a building intact while demolishing and rebuilding its innards.

This is often seen as a compromise between property developers who need to develop properties for modern uses and standards and preservationists who wish to preserve buildings of historical interest. It can be regarded as as compromise between Historic Preservation and Demolition. The practice is derided by preservationists however because it is seen as destructive, where a building is essentially destroyed save for its most superficial details. Despite being highly controversial and denounced by preservationists as vandalism, facadism is used when the demand for new development is overwhelming community desires for preservation.

[edit] See also

• Historic Preservation
• Demolition

[edit] References

• Goldberger, Paul. "'FACADISM' ON THE RISE: PRESERVATION OR ILLUSION?", The New York Times, 1985-07-15. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
• King, John. "Insulting historic preservation", San Francisco Chronicle, 2005-02-22. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
• King, John. "Classics preserved -- or are they?", San Francisco Chronicle, 2006-09-20. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.
• Heffern, Sarah. "When History Is Only Skin Deep", Preservation Online, 2002-08-16. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.