There is an increasing awareness among landscape architects and other designers that although it is axiomatic that environmental concerns play a major role in design, it is also necessary to identify and address the issues of place that form a vital part of the well-being of the whole person. One major issue is that of genius loci. the spirit of place. The object of this project is to describe some of the elements that go to make up the spirit of place that is unique to Indiana. "The stage we're at in Indiana, I don't think we have a real 'Indiana' landscape that has sifted out, I think we're still stretching our wings and discovering what we have here." (Eric Ernstberger, Indiana Landscape Architect.)The project consists of four sections:1. Investigation into the history of and writings on contextualism and regionalism both in general and in relation to the Midwest of the USA in particular.2. A. Preference survey of Indiana residents taken from an opportunity sample of 180 residents in three areas of the State, administered by interview. B.Interviews with two practising Indiana Landscape Architects, expressing their thoughts on designing for Indiana.3. Visual catalog of artworks, photographs and excerpts from the writings of Christian Norburg-Schulz on Genius Loci and Rachel Peden on Indiana.4. Color slide presentation to class of students on the above. / Department of Landscape Architecture

This thesis is principally concerned with providing an inventory and analysis of public libraries in the state Carnegie. Among those states receiving Carnegie grants for library buildings, Indiana ranks first, both in funds and -the number of buildings constructed. Beginning in 1901 when newly enacted state tax laws permitted greater autonomy for municipal library boards and ending in 1917 with the entry of the United States into World War 1, the public movement in Indiana rapidly advanced. This can be seen as the direct result of Carnegie's philanthropic efforts. It is the intent of this paper to outline those activities and show the extent of his library program in Indiana.In addition, this thesis will provide an overview of architectural aspects of the libraries as shown in the buildings themselves. It will discuss the architecture of the libraries and the stylistic differences among them.. Finally a catalog is to be included, illustrating each of the buildings constructed through Carnegie's benefactions. / Department of Architecture

The purpose of this thesis is to propose a methodology for documenting historic vernacular houses in Indiana through the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Inventory. The inventory, or survey, is an essential and primary component of historic preservation. With roughly one half of Indiana's counties remaining to be surveyed, there is great opportunity to improve the quality and usefulness of the surveys as scholarship regarding the built environment advances.The thesis examines the definitions of vernacular architecture and sets forth a working definition which is fairly broad in scope. Vernacular house types found in Indiana are enumerated, described, and illustrated.The thesis then examines Indiana's methodology for documenting historic vernacular houses, and it makes recommendations, based on methodologies from other states, for positive charges.This thesis proposes an interdisciplinary approach to conductingsurveys of historic vernacular houses. It draws heavily from related fields such as folklore and material culture studies as well as from several years of experience working CX1 survey projects.The thesis also examines settlement patterns in Indiana and other cultural, building-shaping factors. The thesis is intended to serve as a guide to the vernacular house types in Indiana for use by field surveyors. / Department of Architecture

East Central Indiana's Gas Boom began when natural gas was discovered in 1886 and lasted until 1906 when the supply fell too short to meet the demand. The resource brought magnificent wealth to the region, as industries developed in the area and drew thousands of workers. The incredible population growth resulted in a building boom, creating new churches, houses, industrial buildings, and civic buildings. Although the resource ran out and many towns quickly decreased in population, the buildings remained as a testament to the Gas Boom years. Several styles of architecture were popular during this period, and for churches the predominant styles were Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival. Using a sample of Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival churches located across the nation as models, this thesis studies the Gas Boom churches of Alexandria, Elwood, and Hartford City to determine if they represented the national trends in church architecture during this period. / Department of Architecture

Heritage education is an effective strategy for teaching students about the importance of local history and its relation to state and national themes. The proposed Indiana heritage curriculum unit was designed to incorporate the local built environment into the upper middle and high school classroom. Six lessons have been designed within the unit to help teachers implement heritage education, while fulfilling existing Indiana Academic Standards. Supplemental information, including Power Point presentations, informational handouts, and suggested activities, have been designed to successfully guide lay teachers through the objectives stated in each lesson presented. Through a weeklong session with Mr. Charles Bennett and his eighth grade students, the proposed unit was piloted at Speedway Junior High School in Indianapolis during a weeklong session. The successful implementation and methodology used to create the heritage unit has been documented in the following text of the creative project. In addition, background research and conclusion chapters have been included to establish the need and validate the successful implementation of the heritage education curriculum unit proposed. / Department of Architecture

Buildings of the modern period have traditionally been absent from most architectural surveys. Part of the reason for this lies in the fact that very few guides have attempted to provide meaningful and accurate terms for post-World War II buildings, leaving surveyors without any meaningful way to categorize such structures. The purpose of this creative project, then, is to provide an accurate and meaningful means of applying style and building form categories to post-1941 architectural resources.The creative project first examines major trends in the movement to preserve and, more specifically, to document recent past resources throughout the United States. Primary and secondary sources, both popular and professional, are examined to determine the most common and appropriate labels being applied to modern architectural resources. From this, an illustrated style guide for identifying modern Indiana architecture is created.The creative project then provides a statewide survey of post-1941 architectural resources with both photographic and written documentation as an illustration of how to apply the determined styles and forms. / Project narrative -- Catalog of recent past architectural movements. / Department of Architecture

Access to abstract permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Where and why there? -- Demand for office space -- Architectural influences -- Building inventory / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Department of Architecture

Leslie F. Ayres was an accomplished architect and architectural illustrator. His appreciation for and keen sense of art is apparent in his meticulous and poetic architectural illustrations. Mastering the skill of architectural drawing established Ayres as a designer, but he wasalso a builder. A successful architect, like Ayres, is both an artist and a builder, having the capability to guide a concept from design to construction. Leslie Ayres understood and valued this critical link needed to establish himself as a professional architect.He had a significant influence on the modern movement of architecture in Indiana, and a pioneering role of integrating gardens into his overall architectural designs. His designs utilized the functionalism of the modern movement, uniting the latest in building technologies: steel, concrete, and glass. However in contrast to many modernists, his designs would often reflect architecture based on precedents, incorporating Classical and traditional elements. Moreover, Ayres had a holistic approach to architecture that distinguished him from other modernist architects, in which every detail including light fixtures, interior finishes, and the surrounding landscape, related to the whole design idea. / Department of Architecture

This thesis gives a voice to the call for a holistic approach to the preservation of commercial and particularly domestic architecture. Interior architecture is an important piece of the whole in need of consideration. Arts and Crafts interiors in the state of Indiana are considered in reference to this fact and the case studies chosen exemplify the connection between cultural history and the interior architecture and design.The Arts and Crafts Movement's philosophy worked to integrate the entire design with the surrounding site. The interior was the focus of the synthesized design and it is this emphasis that must be captured. The Midwest played an important role in the development of the Arts and Crafts Movement and central Indiana's interior residential architecture gives evidence to the movement's influential philosophy as well as social changes in the early twentieth century.An introduction to the Arts and Crafts Movement briefly discussing its history in England and the United States is provided as well as a discussion of the Movement's philosophy. Following the history is a chapter concerned with the Arts and Crafts influence in Indiana. Manufacturers and retailers are identified as well as products marketed. Architects and artisans are discussed. Next, a chapter identifies significant interior elements, furnishings, finishes and floor plans. Finally, four case studies are examined ranging from a self-built bungalow to an architect-designed estate. Floor plans, architectural features, and finishes are covered. / Department of Architecture

This creative project involved preparation of a cultural landscape report for Lindenwood Cemetery in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Using methodologies adapted from the National Park Service and National Register of Historic Places, the report sought to define the existing conditions, historic significance, and appropriate treatment approach for the historic cemetery. Report chapters include site history and contextual documentation, existing conditions assessment, analysis of historic significance and integrity, treatment recommendations, and recommendations for further study. Lindenwood Cemetery was found to be significant for its association with the major four American cemetery design movements and its ability to display all four eras in a single landscape. Overall, Lindenwood retained a high level of integrity from its historic periods of significance advocating a minimally-invasive rehabilitation treatment approach. Treatment recommendations focused on maintenance and repair, guidelines for implementing new uses, and restoration of certain sunken garden elements. / Department of Landscape Architecture