by Architectural Observer | Nov 5, 2018 | Blog, Projects
It’s been over two weeks since I posted about a big old abandoned farmhouse that is destined to be demolished. Jim and I have been salvaging interior woodwork, doors and windows for use in a future project. The first floor has been salvaged, and we’re...
by Architectural Observer | Jun 25, 2018 | Blog, Projects
Archways in plaster walls – without a traditional wood casing surrounding them – became highly fashionable in the 1920’s and remained popular with builders into the 1950’s. They are most likely to be found in Tudor Revivals and Spanish...
by Architectural Observer | Mar 26, 2018 | Blog, Projects
One of my favorite movies, a close second to “Mars Attacks!”, is the slightly surreal Goff in the Desert by German documentarian Heinz Emigholz. The video has no narration; it is simply a series of video shots taken around 2002 of various structures...
by Architectural Observer | Nov 30, 2017 | Blog, Projects
Why would anyone update when it’s just as easy to backdate? After all, there’s not much appealing design out there these days; design from the early 20th century is almost always a sure bet to be more interesting than whatever has been marketed for the...
by Architectural Observer | Oct 1, 2017 | Blog, Observations, Projects
Historic preservationists understand the term “stabilization” to mean putting the brakes on further decay of historic structures by making them watertight, structurally braced, and resistant to animals, vegetation and vandals. Also known as...
by Architectural Observer | Apr 19, 2017 | Blog, Observations, Projects
In an interesting experiment, a decrepit barn is getting an unusual update. It was desired to immediately utilize the building as a workshop and storage, but the numerous holes, cracks, and missing chunks of wood siding made it drafty and vulnerable to moisture....
