Art Gallery of Hamilton Thursday Night Talks: Restore, Repurpose or Replace

From Art Gallery of Hamilton Website: 


T.N.T. (thursday night talks)
Restore, Repurpose or Replace:
What happens when a building gets old? 

Hamilton is a city of aging buildings, hidden gems and historic sites. Issues around preserving or replacing older buildings are often complicated and contentious. What role should real estate investors and developers, absentee landlords, heritage advocates and the City itself play in preserving or replacing the Hamilton of old?

Join us as T.N.T. panelists answer the question: what should Hamilton do with its old buildings?

With panelists Jeff D. Feswick, (President, Historia Building Restoration Inc.), Matt Jelly(Community Advocate and Art Director, H Magazine), Kayla Jonas (Heritage Planner, Heritage Resources Centre University of Waterloo) and Glen Norton (Sr. Business Development Consultant, Downtown Renewal, City of Hamilton). Moderated by
David Adames (Executive Director, Tourism Hamilton).

Date & Time: Thursday, April 28 at 7:00 pm

Hamilton Celebrates Mid Century Modern

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hamilton, ON - November 1, 2010
Exhibition Showcases Hamilton’s Modernist Residential Architecture
Hamilton HIStory + HERitage Celebrates Mid-Century Modern Architectural Gems

Hamilton HIStory + HERitage, billed as Hamilton’s only storefront museum, is launching a fascinating look at some of the city’s most remarkable modernist houses. All built between 1950 and 1975, the homes were designed by architects, most for individual clients.

The names of the well-known architects featured in the exhibition include Anthony Butler, Stanley Roscoe, Jerome Markson, Mac
Gerrie, Barton Myers, Joe Singer, Harry Lennard, Trevor Garwood-Jones, and J.D. Kyles.

“It has been a great pleasure to meet with homeowners who have been so generous with us in permitting their homes to be part of this exhibition,” says Graham Crawford, founder of Hamilton HIStory + HERitage, located at 165 James Street North in Hamilton.

“The quality of the design and the construction materials, inside and outside of the homes, is still evident today. In fact, most of the homes are in pristine original condition.”

The exhibition was created by a team of volunteers, including retired architect, Tony Butler, who took on the challenge of researching
the houses, including when they were built and who designed them. “I must admit it’s been a very pleasurable challenge for me. As a result of the project, I’ve been in touch with colleagues whom I have not spoken with in many years.” For some on the list, that meant phone calls to California, or Calgary. Some were still in Hamilton. Others were in Toronto.

Given the period on which the exhibition focuses (1950–1975), it meant that most of the architects were in their late 70’s or older.

Photographer Jeff Tessier took on the task of taking images of the exterior and interior of the nearly dozen homes featured in the exhibition. “I have always admired this period of residential architecture, so it was an amazing opportunity to spend time inside the homes with the owners. Clearly, they understood what they bought and have taken such remarkable care of their homes. It’s really evident in the photographs.”

The exhibition features photographs and a series of multi-media presentations that provide not only great images of the homes, but
also information about when they were built, by whom, and the primary construction materials. There are also print materials including
posters, a calendar, and a small book featuring the homes.

The team also included the creators of Historical Hamilton, a website that documents Hamilton’s architectural history through photography and satellite maps. Brain Kowalewicz and Paul Dolanjski have created a special SLEEK section on their website that shows each of the homes in the exhibition, both photographically as well as on an interactive Google Earth map. “This exhibition was a natural fit with the vision we have for our site,” says co-founder Brian Kowalewicz. Graham and his team provided the content and
Historical Hamilton provided the platform to ensure all Hamiltonians, and anybody else anywhere in the world with an internet connection, can enjoy this exhibition.”

The SLEEK exhibition premieres on Friday, November 12 during Art Crawl, the monthly event that brings nearly 1500 people to James North, one of Hamilton’s oldest streets that features blocks of Victorian buildings now housing art galleries, cafés and restaurants.

The exhibition runs until February 11, 2011.
-30-
For more information, contact Graham Crawford at:
905-546-0660
gcrawford6@gmail.

Heritage Planning Workshop in Hamilton- Day 2 Pictures

Participants learning about the different buildings

and protection on the site

Our second day of the workshop consisted of an overview of the Ontario Heritage Act, and a hands on exercise for writing Statements of Significance and By-laws. We also had a guest speaker. The curator of the Hamilton Steam and Technology Museum (a National Historic Site) spoke about Commemorative Integrity Statements and took us on a private behind the scenes tour to show us some of the significant elements of the site.

Our guide explaining the site's context and how you interpret

things you can not see to visitors

Behind the scenes

Heritage Planning Workshop in Hamilton- Day 1 Pictures

In the first day of our Heritage Planning workshop we discussed different definitions of heritage, introduced ourselves and our interest in the topic, looked at the international context as well as had a visual presentation of some international heritage themes.

We also got a tour of our workshop location, the Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology Museum:

Group learning about the architecture of the buildings

Listening to an explanation of how the waterworks operated.

Observing the two large engines that pumped the water to the City of Hamilton

Director of the HRC, Robert Shipley wearing a safety hat

that the young oilers use to wear

Heritage Planning Workshop This Weekend

This weekend is the first weekend of our two weekend Heritage Planning Workshop.

We are looking forward to meeting everyone that signed up.

For those of you thinking about taking one of our workshops, stay tuned for the 2011 workshop schedule coming soon!

Blog Article about our Heritage Planning Workshop

Laura at History to the People has posted a great introduction to our upcoming Heritage Planning Workshop in Hamilton.

Thanks Laura!

Also, we are currently putting together our list of workshops for 2011. Is there are topic you are interested in? Leave a comment and let us know.

HRC Fall Heritage Planning Workshop

Offered by the School of Planning and the Heritage Resources Centre at the University of Waterloo

Hamilton, Ontario

October 23 -24, 2010

and

November 6 -7, 2010

Hamilton Steam and Technology Museum

900 Woodward Ave., Hamilton

Tour of museum included

Goals

• To create a greater awareness and understanding of heritage among professionals and citizens
• To provide needed information
• To provide needed skills
• To empower both professionals and citizens by encouraging engagement, co-operation and team work

Who Might Benefit

Those who will gain from this workshop include:

• Students
• Planners and other professionals
• Citizens concerned with and involved in heritage work
• Educators
• Members of heritage and related organizations

We are planning for a maximum of 20 registrants consisting of students, professionals and other citizens concerned about and involved in heritage work. Enrollment for the workshop will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Program

A number of themes will be covered including:

• Examining the Concept of Heritage
• The International Context
• Heritage Legislation
• The Full Range of Planning Tools
• Writing Statements of Significance
• The Heritage Property Business
• The Heritage Consulting Business
• Decision Making

Each of the four days of the workshop will run from 10:00am to 4:00pm with a break for lunch.

Fees

Fees for practicing planners and other concerned citizens will be $350 or $300 for students (HST included*) to attend the workshop series. People with limited resources can contact us to see if a workable alternative can be reached. Participants will receive a Verification of Attendance Certificate. *HST# R119260685

To register or for more information contact:
Heritage Resources Centre
Environmental Studies Bldg. 1
Room 351
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1
Tel: (519) 888-4567 ext. 36921
Fax: (519) 746-2031
Email: hrc@uwaterloo.ca

Efforts to Save Auchmar Estate Hamilton

Auchmar Estate in Hamilton is undergoing efforts to restore the building. An Ancaster News article outlines the work being undertaken as well as the vision for the future of the building.

The recent photographers day raised over $350 dollars.

If you are interested in volunteering the site is hosting a Cleaning Bee:

On September 18, we invite you to take part in our “cleaning
bee” project. Working as a community we will make this jewel
sparkle again. Watch for more information in your email box
soon, however feel free to register now if you are interested in
putting a scrub brush and some soap to good use.
auchmar@hamilton.ca

If you want to keep updated on the activities at the estate e-mail auchmar@hamilton.ca to be put on the mailing list.

Auchmar Photographs: Interior

Pictures by Kayla Jonas

These pictures were taken at the Auchmar Estate during the first Photographer's Day.
All money raised will go towards restoration efforts at the site.

Tomorrow: Exterior Photographs

Auchmar Estate - 1st Annual Photographers Day

Saturday, June 26, 2010
10 am to 4 pm - $25.
88 Fennell Avenue West

Photographers will have access to:
• All floors of the Manor House
• Stable/Carriage House
• Dove Cote and Grounds

All proceeds raised are for Auchmar restoration projects

Please register by emailing your request for participation to Auchmar @hamilton.ca

Doors Open Hamilton: Review in Pictures

This past weekend was Doors Open Hamilton. This week we will be presenting some of the properties that were featured through pictures.

Today's building is Auchmar. According to the Doors Open Guidebook:

"The last surviving country estate on Hamilton Mountain was built for the Honourable Isaac Buchanan Scotsman, entrepreneur, civic leader, politician and legendary public figure in Canada. Enjoy this rare opportunity to view the main floor of the Gothic Revival manor house and the walled and landscaped grounds that surround it. Auchmar is a significant cultural landscape under threat. "

Photos by Kayla Jonas

Find out more about Auchmar

Stay tuned this week for other Doors Open Hamilton Buildings: Stinson School, The Studios at Hamilton Hotel and MacMaster University Buildings.