This thesis explores the historic preservation projects in two cities: Suzhou, China, and Pasadena, California, United States. The purpose of investigating the strategies and policies used in each of the historic districts is to discuss whether preservation strategies applied in both cases could represent historic authenticity. The first two chapters focus on the project plan of the two historic districts. By evaluating the preservation policies at both national and regional level, histories of the districts, and approaches adopted by two cities, this thesis discerns the different perceptions of “authenticity” in preservation strategies in two countries. The next part of the thesis compares the two historic districts in terms of their distinctive focuses on preservation approaches. I, therefore, conclude that even though both cases have been deemed as successful models of preservation projects in each country, both historic district has demonstrated different levels of insufficient protection in culture and social sustainability.

This thesis analyzes the English National Trust’s interpretation of the making and reception of Stowe Landscape Garden. Specifically, this is a critique of the Trust’s narrative of nationalism, which is overlaid by the use of romantic interpretive themes. Arguably, Stowe’s first contribution was the combination of expressions of nature through landscape with architectural and sculptural monuments of Englishness. The National Trust, however, has combined interpretations of multiple landscape gardens across a century, thus blurring its actual significance. Stowe has been lumped into a jumbled framework of anachronistic landscape commentary much based in the literature of reception. The use of receptive history as fact to define concepts like ‘Englishness’, ‘Landscape Garden’, and the ‘Picturesque’ only further aid the unsustainable development of the historical landscape. Stowe is recognized as the most extensive extant landscape garden to exemplify contributions by the first four designers in the medium: Vanbrugh, Bridgeman, Kent, and Brown. Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown’s place-making role in the history of English landscape, much derided by the proponents of the Picturesque, found its first expression at Stowe from 1740 to 1751. Thus, Stowe’s Brownian dominant landscape, of which the bones are still largely intact, should be used as the designated period of interpretation. In this way, the National Trust could fulfill a modern desire for connection to nature, and with greater specificity, diversity and transparency in historical accounts, expand the accessibility of ‘Englishness’ in the form the consummate national landscape garden.

As medicines continue to evolve, as well as our tendency to misuse and abuse them, viruses become more and more resilient. While the flu is largely an inconvenience which at its worst may result in a missed day of work, it bears the risk of returning to the days of old when it was a terminal disease. With the imminent risk of resistant super viruses emerging,New York Cityhas taken precautions to prepare for the worst case scenario. If deemed necessaryNew Yorkhas plans to completely quarantine and isolate the city from the world. This provides us with the perfect opportunity to ask the questionHollywoodhas become fascinated with…How would a city likeNew Yorkfunction and survive in the Apocalypse? The answer is not as simple as waiting out the storm; with limited resources, no access to the outside world and a crippled infrastructure. What this thesis also aims to experiment with is the notion of not only barely surviving, but the creation of a new way of life; a truly self – sufficient city, perhaps even creating a Utopian society. This can be analyzed with a systems based approach regarding the different scales of life; from the survival of the individual, the function of the physical shells remaining, and finally the development of a Dynamic City composed new communities

Existing office buildings’ embodied energy, history and culture offer something a newly constructed building cannot. On the other hand, new office buildings’ adoption of new technologies and building philosophies offer a range of sustainable efficiencies previously unavailable. Combining these efficiencies with elements that embrace human diversity and well- being offer the opportunity to not only mend our existing buildings’ deteriorating physical bodies but aid in creating workplaces that promote good physical and mental health. This project provides recommendation on how an existing high-rise commercial building can incorporate a number of incremental improvements that continually evolve to meet rapidly changing market demands. This design approach allows for ease of installation and modification to meet the needs of the tenants and the building owner.

Zoning map for the city of Johnson City and the outlying areas. Original map was drawn January 11, 1972 and was originally adopted by the city April 20, 1972. This revised map is a duplicate of the original and was produced September 27, 1983. This was likely when the hand drawn lines were added to update the zoning districts. Most main streets are also labeled with arterial streets notated by dotted lines. While not included in the legend, it is likely that R stands for residential and I for industrial. East Tennessee State University can be found in zone R-6 located next to Greenwood Drive. The left portion of the map has been cut as you can see by the title Johnson City partially missing. No accompanying maps are found in the collection. Physical copy resides in the Government Information, Law and Maps Department of East Tennessee State University’s Sherrod Library. / https://dc.etsu.edu/rare-maps/1002/thumbnail.jpg

City map of Bristol, Virginia. While date is not printed on map, "1962" is written in pencil on the back. This is the assumed publication date. Sullins College, which closed in July 1976, being included confirms that publication at least predates the mid 1970s. The legend includes the scale - 1"=500'. Road, railways, and large cemeteries are labeled. A few streets such as Midway Street and Memorial Drive are written by hand in blue ink. These additions were made at an indeterminate time post publication. Physical copy resides in the Government Information, Law and Maps Department of East Tennessee State University’s Sherrod Library. / https://dc.etsu.edu/rare-maps/1008/thumbnail.jpg

Produced by the Johnson City GIS Division on May 8, 2006, this map denotes the annexations of Johnson City and the surrounding area from 1960 to 2006. The map scale indicates a ratio of 1:24,000. In the text box on the left side, the ID, date, and annexation names are listed. As part of the legend, each 5 year annexation period is color coded. Physical copy resides with Johnson City, Geographic Information Systems Division. 1 in= 2000’ / https://dc.etsu.edu/rare-maps/1057/thumbnail.jpg

This thesis discusses the potential for preserving the cultural assets embodied in built heritage, which is damaged in disasters and further threatened during recovery processes. The general underlying assumption is that the use of reclaimed and recycled building materials is a way to retain heritage and cultural values in a sensitive post-disaster reconstruction. It looks at the development of the reclamation practice in Germany, and through analysis of successes and barriers there, it makes parallel comparisons for opportunities and limitations in the Chilean post- February 27th, 2010 earthquake context. This thesis goes on to propose a housing prototype design, which aims to address the undervaluation of traditional building materials and to recommend improvements to urban quality through the design of a house prototype intended to replace those lost in the earthquake. The design site is Chanco, a town that typifies regional heritage architecture of adobe, timber, ceramic tiles and continuous facades in the Maule region of Chile.

Drawing from the ongoing revitalization efforts in the Western Massachusetts post-industrial city of Springfield, Massachusetts, this adaptive reuse project aims to bring the public back to the city center by providing a common space for cultural connections. Sensitivity to preservation of the historic fabric of the existing Court Square Building is blended with the transformative potential of introducing architectural expressions of dance theory to create a school and theater for the performing arts. The study of balance between opposing, yet complimentary forces, as they exist in architecture and dance, creates a conceptual interplay that guides the design of this project. Viewing the existing historic building as a dance partner to the proposed contemporary addition, leads an exploration in the tectonic translation of form, rhythm, weight, movement and breath, as elements of dance theory that are developed to represent the building envelope, structure, materials, circulation and openings. Ultimately, the adapted building creates a dialogue for the past and present city of Springfield, simultaneously honoring its unique cultural heritage and future potential in serving as an icon for successful urban transformation.

An area can be torn by the competition between the preservation of its character and the desire for new development. Cayucos’ downtown area is recognized by both residents and visitors as a special place with a strong, small, coastal town feel. However, issues such as accessibility, public amenities, parking, maintenance, and general development needs have to be dealt with. This thesis deals with the issue of how to plan for change while maintaining the character of Cayucos, and presents an enhancement plan proposal for its downtown. The development of this plan was based on a research-based design methodology, which included a literature review on sense of place, a review of five case studies, and fieldwork with surveys, interviews, and on-site observations and analysis. The research included the understanding of the needs, interests, and expectations of the stakeholders, including local business owners, residents, and visitors, in order to help define core issues and to inform the vision and a series of responsive goals for the area’s enhancement. The final enhancement plan proposal followed a design approach that was responsive to site, context, and stakeholders, and will contribute to Cayucos’ quest for the increase of the quality of its downtown while responding to market and development needs.