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Chapter 3 – Design Principles for Historic Preservation

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Chapter 3 – Design Principles for Historic Preservation CHAPTER 3 – DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION The principles upon which these design guidelines are based are the foundation of historic preservation practice and have been developed over decades of professional experience working with historic buildings and landscapes. The principles are relatively simple in concept and may be applied to a wide variety of issues and conditions. Every proposed construction project involving a historic building has its distinctive attributes. The design principles for historic preservation are flexible enough to address differing issues, needs, and conditions in a manner that achieves the best possible outcome. Chapter 3 provides background on several terms and concepts used throughout these design guidelines, including significance, integrity, and authenticity. Appreciation of the meaning and concepts behind these terms helps with understanding of the design principles outlined in the guidelines and how they are applied. Most important in this chapter is its discussion of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The Standards are the touchstone for all decision making regarding the treatment of historic buildings and other resources. Wellesley has the distinction of being densely developed with high quality historic neighborhoods. People want to live in Wellesley because of its distinctive character, and most properties are well maintained. The design principles outlined below provide guidance in decision making about appropriate changes to historic properties. HISTORIC PRESERVATION DESIGN GUIDELINES 3-1 CHAPTER 3 ACCOMMODATING CHANGE WITHIN Needed change can usually be accommodated in a sensitive manner that A HISTORIC CONTEXT helps strengthen historic character. Where The following general principles are new construction is required: incorporated throughout these design § Design new construction in a guidelines in describing the preferred contemporary but respectful manner. treatment of historic buildings in Wellesley. Additions and alterations to historic They outline how needed change may be buildings and landscapes should speak of accommodated in the Town’s historic their own time but should be compatible neighborhoods and should be considered in with the character of the existing the planning and design of new projects. resource. These principles are based upon the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, which are § Follow an established design process that discussed further later in this chapter. identifies character defining features, explores a range of possible design § Continue to use a property as it was alternatives, and selects a workable designed to be used, or find a new use alternative that maximizes the that minimizes necessary changes to preservation of historic building fabric. character defining features. § Accommodate the program or use driving § Identify and retain distinguishing building needed changes to the maximum extent and landscape features, qualities, and possible without significantly altering or characteristics. destroying the character of existing § Maintain, protect, and repair authentic resources. character defining features, materials, § Respect the surrounding building and and finishes. If features are deteriorated landscape context. beyond repair, replace them in-kind. Retain authentic historic building fabric to § Maintain a high quality of design and the maximum extent possible. craftsmanship. § If a feature is missing or must be removed § Existing buildings often have multiple and it is desired that it be replaced, use layers of history and change that are of accurate documentation to guide the significance, should be preserved, and can replacement work. inspire creative and compatible design solutions for new construction. § Respect the evolution of historic changes, fashion, taste, and use – do not try to § New construction should not destroy “improve” the design of authentic character defining building or landscape building features. features or materials. § Avoid installation of conjectural “historic” § Understand that future change will features. continue to occur. Make allowances for future change in new work. § Do not use maintenance methods or materials that damage significant building and landscape fabric. 3-2 TOWN OF WELLESLEY DESIGN PRINCIPLES FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION SIGNIFICANCE, INTEGRITY, AND Wellesley’s neighborhoods are representative of the broad patterns of history in AUTHENTICITY Massachusetts and the nation, particularly The concepts of significance, integrity, and with respect to education and residential authenticity are central to the design development in conjunction with a major principles for historic preservation and are urban center. Historically significant persons referenced throughout these guidelines. The have lived in Wellesley and left their mark on background and meaning regarding these the Town’s physical presence in a variety of concepts are discussed below and should be ways. helpful in providing context for specific Wellesley’s historical development has recommendations in the design guidelines. resulted in the construction of buildings that Historic Significance – In historic embody the distinctive characteristics of type, preservation, historic districts, buildings, and period, and method of construction for the other resources are evaluated for historic region included in category C above, significance according to established particularly with respect to residential professional criteria developed in association building. Archeological resources are with listing in the National Register of Historic significant because they are likely to yield Places. Those criteria state that: information about the region’s history and prehistory. The quality of significance in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess Historic Significance is present in integrity of location, design, setting, districts, sites, and buildings materials, workmanship, feeling, and that: association, and: A That are associated with events that have § Are associated with events made a significant contribution to the contributing to the broad broad patterns of our history, or patterns of our history, B That are associated with the lives of § Are associated with the lives persons significant in our past; or of significant persons, C That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or § Embody the distinctive method of construction, or that represent characteristics of a type, the work of a master, or that possess high period, or method of artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity construction, or whose components may lack individual § Have yielded or may yield distinction; or important information. D That have yielded or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. Wellesley’s historic neighborhoods possess historic resources significant to all four categories listed above. HISTORIC PRESERVATION DESIGN GUIDELINES 3-3 CHAPTER 3 Integrity — Integrity is the authenticity of a is part of the richness of the building’s property’s historic identity, evidenced by the historical development, and it is a record of survival of physical characteristics that existed the changing ownership, values, perceptions, during the property’s period of significance. and events even though it is not part of the The seven qualities of integrity, as defined by “original” farmhouse. Removing such a the National Register program, are location, feature would destroy that record and would setting, feeling, association, design, probably diminish the overall integrity of the workmanship, and materials. resource. Integrity measures the degree to which the historically significant materials, features, and characteristics of a resource still exist. Integrity measures the degree to Integrity is frequently assessed by how much which the historically significant of a resource’s historic fabric is intact. Historic materials, features, and building fabric includes features (such as porches, windows, stairways, and trim), and characteristics of the resource materials (such as wood, stone, and plaster). still exist. When a resource Authentic woodwork, brickwork, entrances retains a great deal of authentic and windows and other historic fabric that historic fabric, the integrity of the survives help make the historical significance of a resource visible. resources is generally considered When a resource retains a great deal of to be “high.” authentic historic fabric, the integrity of the resource is generally considered to be “high.” When there is little historic fabric remaining, Authenticity – The term authenticity in integrity is generally considered to be “low.” historic preservation is defined as: Preservation efforts frequently focus on (1) the character of an historic property preserving the integrity of a resource by representing a substantial proportion of preserving historic fabric. Retaining the original fabric and materials, and integrity of a resource is of paramount importance in preservation. (2) the interpretation of an historic property based on the understanding of its history and Historic significance accrues to a building or the characteristics of the culture or cultures resource over time, and changes that have that created it. occurred to a resource can be historically significant. Authenticity related to original historic fabric
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