I know I’ve discussed this before, but it can’t be said enough: reuse of buildings is good for the natural environment as well as the cultural environment.
Will Hurst at the Architects’ Journal (UK) recently published a manifesto called RetroFirst. I recommend reading the whole thing: the goals and ideas make perfect sense even though some of the details are specific to the UK. (A US-centered description is here.)
In short, policy greatly affects outcome. I discussed that recently with regard to zoning, and it’s true with the decision of building new versus reuse. Various tax policies encourage new construction – in the US, the most obvious example is depreciation on new buildings – and are typically discussed in isolation from other issues. If we want to reduce waste, reduce energy used and reduce carbon emissions, we should be demolishing and replacing less and reusing more. That’s the theme of RetroFirst, which then gets into specific goals. Actually reducing energy use and carbon emissions will require some changes in how we approach the built environment. The LEED program, for example, is largely geared towards new construction, which seems to run counter to its own goals.
The fact that reusing buildings to waste less also happens to be a goal of historic preservation and the cultural heritage field is a coincidence, but a happy one.
Finally, the picture above shows the Jefferson Market Courthouse during its conversion. A long time ago, there was a public market in this part of Greenwich Village called the Jefferson Market. The city built a courthouse (the strange little castle in the foreground, with the scaffolding) and a prison (the tall building in the background, behind the courthouse) nearby. Both were abandoned in the mid-twentieth century. The jail was torn down and there’s a public garden on its site; the courthouse was, after a preservation battle, renovated for use as a new branch of the New York Public Library. I like the garden, but the jail could probably have been repurposed as well if anyone had wanted it.
