published_or_final_version / Urban Design / Master / Master of Urban Design

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Architecture

published_or_final_version / Urban Design / Master / Master of Urban Design

No description available.

The LaSalle Coke Tower is an existing structure located on a fifty-five foot strip of land bordering the south edge of the Lachine Canal and the north side of St. Patrick's St. (Montreal, Quebec). The railway passes through the structure at its base. Built at the turn of the century, the crane was used to hoist coal from barges to an elevated conveyor that carried it across the street to Cote-St.-Paul Gas Works. It is approximately 15 storeys high (167'). The Lachine Canal serviced the cause of industry from its completion in 1824 to the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 at which time industry slowly began to abandon the Lachine Canal area. The basic premise of the design project revolved around both preservation and development of Tour LaSalle Coke (LaSalle Coke Tower). Regarding preservation, it was the state of abandonment that was to be preserved, allowing for a sense of mobility, vagrant roving, free time, and liberty. Architectural production within the abandoned site must respond to the rhythms and flows of the passing of time and the loss of limits. The two principal components include a provision for discovery (architecture as a heuristic device) and an archive component housing historical documents relevant to the tower and it's surrounding context (the Lachine Canal). The essence of the project was to develop this type of site without destroying its character and without detracting from its historical significance. Careful consideration was essential to negotiate between development and preservation. A broader interpretation of heritage preservation was necessary: moving beyond the isolated monument to include territory which characterizes a particular place. In this instance tire place consisted of the extreme linear space of the canal and its adjacent properties in addition to the remnant architectural artifact of the tower. The state of abandonment is a part of the history of the site. The provision for discovery is made through the use of stairs and an elevator, allowing visitors uninhibited access to the tower. This provision allows for multiple levels of interaction with the artifact, from the short visit to a more comprehensive survey of the object. The archive component is a smallscale intervention thereby minimizing the impact of specialized components (or private spaces) which limit the sense of mobility, vagrant roving, free time and liberty. For the same reason, the food service and primary toilet facility is located 'off site' approximately 320 feet to the east. The goal was to retain the basic features of the artifact while providing for a means of discovery and documentation of a National Historic Landmark.

Three primary mechanisms of paper deterioration in library and archival collections are driven by climatic conditions of excessive relative humidity. These are chemical reactivity, mechanical stress and biological deterioration. It is the view of the researcher that the role of chemical reactivity has not been adequately assessed in relation to the deterioration of paper. The significance of an autoxidative phenomenon, similar to the brown tideline staining at the wet/dry interface, has not been previously recognised as a cause of deterioration as an accelerated function of time under humid conditions of the macroclimate, and as a function of the unstable equilibrium moisture content of materials in a microclimate, but has been obscured by the accepted explanation of biological deterioration. An analytical procedure was developed to enable the comparison of oxidative degradation products found in stained areas of naturally aged samples with those formed during a dynamic simulated ageing programme to induce cellulosic discolouration. A relationship between the degradative mechanism and humid climatic conditions was established. Based on the findings of the analytical investigation, this study forms a contribution towards the development of a theory of deterioration. Evidence is presented of a chemical process of degradation in the oxidation of paper at the wet/dry interface, following the condensation and evaporation kinetics induced by cycling relative humidity (RH) driven by temperature fluctuations in diurnal and seasonal ranges. Sites of moisture accumulation at which the oxidative reaction readily take place, and which constitute a wet/dry interface, are identified at surface areas exposed to atmospheric exchange, in physical defects, in uneven adhesive lamination, in local wet treatments, in impervious storage enclosures or adjacent to an impervious surface which acts as a vapour barrier to the transudational force of capillary action. In advancing the theory of a chemical response of library and archival materials in the fluctuating moisture content as an explanation for the causation of cellulosic staining, the evidence of foxing is redefined. Librarians, archivists and conservators are thus assisted in the identification of the basic chemical reactions involved in the process of deterioration, and in recognising the role of oxidative degradation relation to environmental conditions. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1998.

No description available.

Wallpaper is a significant decorative finish of late nineteenth century interiors. Determining the appropriate approach for treatment in situ, execution of a custom reproduction, or the selection of an appropriate reproduction for a "period look" requires extensive research by an interior designer. The integrity of the historic interior can be lost or compromised during the restoration or rehabilitation process if it is based on misguided decisions. The conservation principles established in the Venice Charter and the criteria or guidelines established in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation must be considered before a plan is implemented.The emphasis of this thesis will be establishing a methodology which addresses the design issues confronting interior designers with regard to historic wallpaper in the context of restoration and rehabilitation or adaptive use projects. The period of 1870-1900 reflects a major change inexhibitions have examined aspects of this complex period and it style and the peak period for production and use of American wallpaper. This is the most misunderstood period with regard to wallpaper because the rejection of wallpaper by the modern movement lingers today. In the past decade, four major museum is now being viewed as a critical cultural and artistic watershed.Through research, an appreciation of the various patterns and colorways will be developed. The technological innovations which affected the quality and quantity of wallpaper will also be examined. Documentation of wallpaper for this period will also include reference collections, interior photographs taken during the period, and examination of original sources written during or preceding the period. A survey of what documented reproductions are available on the market today and which are appropriate for interiors of American buildings constructed in the decades 18701900 will be reviewed. Books have been written on the subject of wallpaper, but a single reference does not exist with the information and guidelines needed by designers working on restoration and rehabilitation projects.The selected case studies examine the restoration and rehabilitation approaches to wallpaper. Conclusions were drawn from the diverse projects to reveal the broad range of appropriate treatments or solutions in the context of projects and issues. / Department of Architecture

Marezzo scagliola is a type of artificial marble made by pulling pigmented skeins of raw silk through a wet mixture of pigmented plaster. This material was a popular architectural material used in prominent public building throughout the United States at the turn of the nineteenth century. Most of the marezzo scagliola found in American buildings today is near or more than 100 years old. While it is by nature a very durable material, the negative effects of temperature, moisture and building evolution have all but destroyed some examples of marezzo scagliola. Unfortunately, the original craft techniques used to fabricate marezzo scagliola were never well documented. Recipes and techniques were usually passed down from father to son or were closely coveted by artisans seeking to hold a monopoly in the market. In the last 20 years, a very small number of conservators working to restore all types of scagliola have begun to document the history of scagliola as well as the techniques used in repair and replication. This thesis will expand upon the small amount of information available by documenting in detail the process used to both fabricate and repair marezzo scagliola. / Department of Architecture

This thesis examines the present historical resources of the Rushville Commercial Historic District. After tracing the history of the central part of Rushville from its founding in 1822 to the present, the study describes the present condition of the district and identifies four issues hindering optimal use of the district. These issues include building use, condition, infrastructure and economic vitality. Suggestions for revitalizing individual buildings and the district as a whole are given, along with potential sources of funding. Typical problems observed in the district, such as damage from water, are more specifically covered. This thesis demonstrates how individual property owners, private organizations or public entities such as the municipal government can use historic preservation to combat urban decay and economic stagnation and spur a rebirth of the Rushville Commercial Historic District by capitalizing on its important built resources. / Department of Architecture