ASLA 2012: Historic Landscape Preservation- Attend, Visit, and Save

The Boulders Resort
The Boulders Resort
image: The Boulders

The ASLA Annual Meeting & Expo will be here before we know it in Phoenix, Arizona from September 29 – October 1.

Here is a list of Historic Landscape Preservation related meetings, field sessions, and education sessions.

MEETINGS:

Saturday, September 29

Our annual Historic Preservation Professional Practice Network (HP-PPN) meeting is in PPN Room 2 – 11:00-12:30 & Our annual Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS) Subcommittee/Liaison meeting is in Room 229B in the Convention Center – 5:00-7:00 At the end of this meeting, the winning entries for the 2012 HALS

Challenge: Documenting the American Latino Landscape will be officially announced, and certificates will be presented.

 

FIELD SESSIONS:

Friday, September 28

FS004 The Legacy Hotels of Arizona: Evolution of the Resort Landscape -7:00-4:30

FS006 Sonoran Sampler: Cactus, Canals, and Petroglyphs – 7:30-4:00

FS010 Saddle Up at South Mountain Park and Preserve – 8:00-1:00

FS012 Following the Water: history, Art, and Development Along the Ancient Hohokam Canals – 8:00-3:30

 

EDUCATION SESSIONS:

Friday, September 28

FRI-B1 Landscape as Sponge: Re-engineering a Historic Campus to Absorb the Rain – 10:30-noon

FRI-B4 Connecting the Tree to the Soil: Methods in Preservation During Construction – 10:30-noon

FRI-D2 (Re)Mediating Nature & Culture: The Post-Industrial Urban Park as Learning Lab – 3:30-5:00 & Monday, October 1

MON-D1 Journey of an All-American Road: SR 179 through Sedona’s Red Rock Country – 3:30-5:00

MON-D7 Papago Park Regional Master Plan: Planning the Future for a Great American Park – 3:30-5:00

 

FURTHER AFIELD

Michael O’Brien suggests taking time to visit some of Phoenix’s two dozen districts, where you can trace the development of residential Phoenix. For maps and more information go to Phoenix Historic Property Register.

Homestead Tract 1930's Adobe Homes
Homestead Tract 1930’s Adobe Homes
image: Archithings

 

Jonathan Ceci, the new HP-PPN Chair, recommends visiting the following sites in Phoenix.

Arcosanti- the Vaults
Arcosanti- the Vaults
image: Tomiaki Tamura

Arcosanti – A 40 year old project to build the city of the future

Taliesin West , Scottsdale, AZ–Frank Lloyd Wright’s school of architecture

Tovrea Castle and Carraro Cactus Garden, Phoenix

Pueblo Grande Museum and Archeological Park and Park of the Four Waters:

Features extant remains of the ancient Hohokam Canal System, Phoenix

 

John Douglas suggests heading to the Papago Park (historically Saguaro National Monument), which includes the Desert Botanical Garden, Pueblo Grande, and the Phoenix Zoo. The Zoo is of interest because it is built upon the remnants of the WPA Fish Hatchery lagoons.

Salt River, downstream from Tempe Town Lake, is the Audubon Center and its associated riparian restoration along the dry riverbed.

Mormon Temple grounds in Mesa – historic formal gardens.

 

GET INVOLVED

Save the David and Gladys Wright House (1950-52) in Phoenix. The challenge to preserve an unusual design by Frank Lloyd Wright’s son, David.

Hugh Miller, FAIA, brought this preservation challenge to my attention. The subdivision is an interesting development in the sprawl of Phoenix. There is an active preservation community in Phoenix who would welcome the interface with landscape architects.

 

We hope to see you in Phoenix!

Chris Stevens and Jonathan Ceci, Chairs of Historic Preservation PPN

 

 

NPS HALS Information:

www.nps.gov/history/hdp/hals/

ASLA HALS Information:

http://www.asla.org/HALS.aspx?id=10088

Search Our Collections at the Library of Congress:

www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/

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www.facebook.com/HeritageDocumentationPrograms

Watch our YouTube Channel:

www.youtube.com/user/HDPNPS

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