Boathouses: Buildings for Re-Creation

PETERSON ARCHITECTS “The world is doubled by reflections in still water; down becomes up.” Photo by Nick Wheeler Boathouses: Buildings for Re-creation By Jeffrey D. Peterson, AIA, LEED AP This essay was originally published as the Foreword to the book “Boathouses: Architecture at the Water’s Edge,” by E. Ashley Rooney, Schiffer Publishing, 2009. The experience of being in a boat on the water Yet, most importantly, a boathouse is a building is exhilarating and slightly unsettling. We float, with a function: a structure on or near the not quite so in control of ourselves as we are water, built to store and protect a boat or boats accustomed to being. We are isolated. Our when not in use. When stored in a boathouse, perspective is low and the world we experience a boat may be completely removed from the becomes flatter, with horizon lines echoed by water, so that it is protected from the action of tree lines above. Our view is broad and the tides or waves, from saturation or rot, or from water is undifferentiated. The sun pervades barnacles, worms or other degradation. Such unimpeded by trees or other obstructions. boathouses also protect their contents from The world is doubled by reflections in still sun, rain, and snow. Boathouses built on the water; down becomes up. As a portal to these water often protect a boat as it floats and allow unique experiences, boathouses capture our use without the need to put the boat in and out imagination. of the water. Many of these structures are used seasonally. Boathouses are unusual because they are located at the intersection of water, earth and Boathouses have certainly been in use for sky. They are vertical objects that interrupt the thousands of years and in thousands of flatness of the water and the horizon beyond. ways. Most of them have been built either Boathouses are also signposts, helping to on freshwater lakes and rivers or in sheltered define location in the sameness of the water saltwater locations; boats that are large all around. As a gateway, they are ambiguous; enough and rugged enough to weather the which side of the building is its front? open ocean do not generally need protection from rain or snow. Further, the larger the boat Boathouses can also appeal to our sense of that needs to be protected, the larger and culture and history. They create nostalgia in more expensive the structure needs to be to connecting us to an era of social elitism: the do so. Economy and the nature of the boats realm of wealthy recreation and the private themselves have constrained the kinds of club. boathouses that have been built. 1 PETERSON ARCHITECTS acknowledging the grand history of that Rowing and Recreation institution’s rowing program. Although the variety of boathouses is nearly Despite the substantial differences between endless, those presented in this book fall these structures, both private and institutional essentially into two categories. First, there are boathouses as building types became residential boathouses that serve to shelter prominent in the 19th century and continue, privately owned boats. Second, there are within modern constraints, to this day. These boathouses that accommodate rowing shells buildings both trace their history back to and the equipment and activities related to the reactions against changes brought on by the sport of rowing. Beyond the obvious similarity industrial revolution. that both of these kinds of boathouses house and protect boats near or on bodies of water, there are also considerable differences. 19th Century Urban Life Private boathouses frequently house a small Industrialization caused continuous and boat or boats used by an individual or just profound change in US culture throughout a few people. The boats they protect range the 19th century. Early in the century, from canoes to rowboats to “guideboats,” to mechanization began to supplant physical small motor boats. They are generally small labor as a means of production. The changes structures, although some contain secondary were incremental at first, but in the second half functions often related to their role as the of the century, and particularly after the Civil arrival point on wilderness lakes. These War, they became rapid and dramatic. Among buildings are generally pastoral and private. other things, they led to the rise of recreational Indeed, the boats they shelter are used by activities. people who want isolation, whether they are fishing, hunting, or exploring the wilderness. Cities in the 19th century were difficult places. As mechanization vastly improved Rowing boathouses, in contrast, are often both agricultural efficiency, a smaller proportion collegial and collegiate. They are typically of the population was necessary to work in much larger and house a number of rowing agricultural production. At the same time, shells. Most of these shells are designed manufacturing processes evolved from cottage for four or eight rowers and a coxswain; industries to factories. These factories needed the activity they serve generally requires people to work in assembly lines or sweatshops, active engagement with others. In many and were thus located in population centers. ways, rowing is the ultimate team activity; The resultant redistribution of the population other than the single scull, rowing demands from rural to urban areas, also fueled by a unparalleled synchrony amongst teammates. steady influx of immigrants, created cities of As they serve large numbers of people, these staggering density. boathouses are typically easily accessible and often located in urban areas or affiliated with The rookeries and tenement houses that clubs or educational institutions. Further, as housed much of the urban population were meeting places for large groups of people, built amongst unpaved streets filled with frequently with views of and over the water, potholes, sewage, and garbage. Horses and institutional boathouses often contain spaces free-roaming pigs also contributed to the that complement the boat storage functions. filth. Disease was rampant and spread easily These additional spaces can range from amongst the closely packed citizens. Coal use locker rooms to training spaces to meeting jumped dramatically, first in the production of spaces. The most elaborate and impressive of metal goods, and then as the power source these contain magnificent “Club Rooms” with for the steam engine, which powered industrial fine finishes, trophy cases, and memorabilia machinery as well as steamboats and trains. The Boathouses: Buildings for Re-creation 2 PETERSON ARCHITECTS new widespread use of coal coated industrial of the upper class to the fringes or other cities in soot. Chemicals also found new undeveloped parts of the city, and eventually in uses use in metallurgy, fabric dyeing, leather the creation of residential suburbs, particularly tanning, and as pharmaceuticals, explosives, along rail lines. Central Park was established and fertilizers There was no understanding of as the first landscaped urban park in 1857. In their toxicity, and no means of appropriately 1871, the first public playgrounds were built disposing of chemical waste; it was often there. (Mumford, p. 429). Further from the dumped in the open where it contributed to city, the movement to protect natural resources the city’s pollution. began to pick up speed. In 1864, Yosemite was set aside for preservation and, in 1872, Dirty, smelly, noisy, and fostering disease, the Yellowstone became the first national park. city, originally the seat of humane civilization, Concurrently, resort hotels were developed became, in many cases, a dangerous place in remote locations (but near enough to from which escape, both physically and cities) to entice wealthy city dwellers to visit spiritually, was desirable. Spiritual escape the countryside, such as the Adirondacks in sometimes took place with intense physical upstate New York. activity that required focus and exertion that forced one to forget the oppressive forces of Transportation allowed reconnection with the city. This activity led to the development nature in different ways. The proximity of the of rowing as a sport and the need to build Adirondacks to New York and Boston made boathouses to facilitate the activity. The other them an appealing destination. However, in desire, to physically leave the city behind, the first half of the 19th century, access was not spurred the ultimate development of private easy. The stagecoach was the main means of rural boathouses as part of a new interest in access to the central Adirondacks (Kaiser, p. 34), recreational vacations. The boathouses shown and small parties or individual hunters were the in this book were built as a result of these two most typical visitors to make the journey. In the different means of finding an escape from the middle and latter half of the century, Thomas difficulty of urban life. Durant and others oversaw the extension of rail lines throughout the Adirondacks. In 1869, William Murray published “Adventures in the Leisure and the Vacation from Wilderness; or Camp-Life in the Adirondacks.” Urban Stress This book, which became incredibly popular, caused a dramatic increase in visitors to the The increased efficiency of industrial Adirondacks. Indeed, many lamented that the production, combined with the number of special charm of the area had been ruined. immigrants who could do the more difficult or dirty work, created an expanded upper class that was now able to spend time in activities not Adirondack Camps: A Rural related to industrial or agricultural production. Escape This new freedom, along with the oppressive urban conditions, created a powerful desire to This new access and popularity led to the reconnect with things that were missing in their establishment of a number of Adirondack lives—most notably, clean air and the natural hotels specifically intended to cater to the world. Many Americans, especially the upper new “leisure class.” Eventually, some wealthy class, now sought out nature as a desirable families felt that buying or leasing their own land experience, as opposed to the longstanding would provide them with a better wilderness attitude that its rigors were something to be experience.

Load more