Making the Woods Hole Dome: the Story of R
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Falmouth Historical Commission 59 Town Hall Square, Falmouth, MA 02540 Telephone: 508-495-7440 Fax: 508.495.7443 email: [email protected] Certificate of Appropriateness & FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Administrative Review Application Application # ___________________ Received by Planning Department Application is hereby made for the issuance of a Certificate of Appropriateness on: under the provisions of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 40C, as amended. Please check all the categories that apply: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION: __New __Addition __Renovation DEMOLITION/REMOVAL OF: __Building __Fence __Other:_____________________ TYPE OF BUILDING: __Residential __Commercial __Accessory/Other: ____________ EXTERIOR: __Roof __Siding __Windows __Doors __Other__________ OTHER STRUCTURES: __Fence __Wall __Flagpole __Lighting __Other_________ SIGN: __Please attach a completed “Town of Falmouth Sign Permit Application” PROPERTY ADDRESS:______________________________________________ MAP # __________________ PROPERTY OWNER’S NAME:________________________________________ PHONE __________________ OWNER’S SIGNATURE:______________________________________________ DATE ___________________ CONTRACTOR/AGENT:_____________________________________________ PHONE __________________ MAILING ADDRESS:_________________________________________________________________________ Please provide a brief description of the proposed work: Documents attached: Scaled drawings and photographs ___ addendum of existing conditions and ___ photographs proposed work must be provided. ___ material and/or color samples Incomplete applications will not be considered. ___ scaled architectural drawings If you think that your proposal qualifies for administrative review and does not require a hearing before the conditions and Historical Commission, please check the appropriate box below: proposed work must be ___ photographs I certify that the proposed work is not visible from any public way within the historic district. provided. I certify that the proposed work is considered a detail of design, ordinary maintenance, or repair. Incomplete applications will be ___ material and/or color samples not be considered by the Commission. Falmouth Historical Commission Application #_________ Addendum #1 Specification Sheet Property Address____________________________________________Assessor’s ID #_______________ FEATURE PROPOSED EXISTING Solar Panels Make/Model/Size Chimney Material/Size/Color Roof Type/Material/Size/Color Gutters Type/Material/Color Decking Material/Size/Color Railing Material/Size/Color Balusters Material/Profile/Color Siding Type/Material/Color Windows Style/Size/Material/Color Trim Material/Size/Color/Profile Ornamental Features Material/Size/Color/Profile Shutters Type/Material/Color Doors Type/Material/Color Garage Doors Style/Size/Material/Color Lighting Type: Freestanding or Fixed Fence Type/Material/Size/Color Retaining Wall Material/Size Foundation Type/Material Other Additional Project Information: _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ Falmouth Historical Commission Application #_________ Addendum #1 Specification Sheet Property Address____________________________________________Assessor’s ID #_______________ FEATURE PROPOSED EXISTING Solar Panels Make/Model/Size Chimney Material/Size/Color Roof Type/Material/Size/Color Gutters Type/Material/Color Decking Material/Size/Color Railing Material/Size/Color Balusters Material/Profile/Color Siding Type/Material/Color Windows Style/Size/Material/Color Trim Material/Size/Color/Profile Ornamental Features Material/Size/Color/Profile Shutters Type/Material/Color Doors Type/Material/Color Garage Doors Style/Size/Material/Color Lighting Type: Freestanding or Fixed Fence Type/Material/Size/Color Retaining Wall Material/Size Foundation Type/Material Other Additional Project Information: _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ Description of Proposed Work 533 Woods Hole Road Falmouth Historical Commission Certificate of Appropriateness Application Description of Proposed Work The proposed project is located at 533 Woods Hole Road, a 5.41-acre parcel partially located within the Woods Hole Historic District. The project will include the demolition of the remains of the Nautilus Motor Inn, the preservation of the 1953 Buckminster Fuller geodesic dome located at the southeastern corner of the property, and construction of new residential buildings. Nautilus Motor Inn The original twelve motel rooms of the Nautilus Motor Inn were constructed in 1953 to the designs of Falmouth architect E. Gunnar Peterson with additional units added in six phases between 1956 and 1980. The motel consists of three wood framed two-story buildings arranged in a semi-circle facing south toward Falmouth’s harbor. The buildings are constructed with features typical of the mid-century Modern style, including flat roofs, rectilinear forms, flush board siding, and an absence of decorative ornamentation. The motel closed in 2004 and has been vacant since. The buildings are in extremely poor condition; potions of which have collapsed. The project includes the complete demolition of the buildings and their removal from the site. Buckminster Fuller Dome The geodesic dome located at the southeast corner of the site is an original design by Buckminster Fuller and was constructed on commission in 1953 as a restaurant for the Nautilus Motor Inn. The dome is the first permanent wood member dome directly designed and overseen by Buckminster Fuller. The wooden dome has two flat-roofed additions extending to the northeast and northwest. While the northeast extension (a.k.a. the kitchen wing) appears to be original, the northwest extension (a.k.a. the entrance wing) dates to around 1975. The restaurant which occupied the dome closed in 2002 and the dome has since fallen into disrepair. The dome will be preserved as a separate free-standing structure independent of the new construction on the site. The dome structure consists of wood members bolted together with steel angles. The structure of the Dome has been surveyed and documented. Damaged or decayed components and connections will be repaired or replaced as needed, per the enclosed report by Structures North. The exterior of the dome was originally covered in a translucent mylar skin, tightly wrapped over the structural frame. Later renovations have altered this original skin, replacing it with fiberglass, plexiglass, and layers of paint and elastomeric coatings. These later materials will be removed and new translucent mylar will be installed over the dome frame, consistent with historic photographs of the dome. As illustrated on the attached plans, the smaller non-original entry wing which extends to the northwest of the dome structure will be removed and the entrance returned to its original configuration of a small entry door with canopy and stone steps. The design is based on the attached historic photographs. A portion of the kitchen wing will be removed with the remainder to be preserved and used as the new accessible entry. A new one-story flat roofed entry porch will be constructed. The concrete block and plywood panel structure will be preserved using the modular sizes and systems of the original. Windows and doors will also follow the modular pattern. 533 Woods Hole Road Falmouth Historical Commission Certificate of Appropriateness Application Description of Proposed Work New Construction The project will involve the construction of seven detached buildings of various sizes; including five two- story duplexes; a single, three-story, 13-unit building; and a single three-story 20-unit building. Four of the proposed buildings are located within the boundaries of the historic district: three duplexes (Buildings B, C, and D) and the three-story 13-unit building (Building E). The site will retain two entrances, with paved driveways and parking areas connecting the new buildings. As detailed in the enclosed plans, the buildings will be designed in a modern interpretation of the late 19th and early 20th century Shingle Style commonly found in the Woods Hole community and greater Cape Cod region. Consistent with the Shingle Style, architectural elements will include shingle exteriors, broad sloping roofs, divided light window sash, porches, and columned entrance porticos. Buildings B, C, and D, located at the southwest corner of the site, are two and a half story buildings with broad gable roofs. The buildings will be clad in wood shingles with asphalt roofs. Building E, located at the center of the site and adjacent to the Fuller Dome, is a three-story building topped by a broad gambrel roof and gambrel roofed projecting bays. The rectilinear building is oriented with its narrow end facing south toward Woods Hole Road. Similar to Buildings B, C, and D, the building will be clad in wood shingles and an asphalt roof. Specific materials for the buildings are as follows: Siding will