Climate change trends and impacts at Martin Van Buren National Historic Site: Focused condition assessment report

This assessment synthesizes information about current and projected climate and related impacts at Martin Van Buren National Historic Park (MAVA) in order to help park stewards understand, plan, and manage for climate change. Working with a group of park managers, scientists, and local stake-holders, six key park resources were identified for assessment herein: Climate, Water quantity, Phenology, Agriculture, Trees, and Cultural resources. Where data was available, this analysis assessed current condition and considered mid-century (2030–2060) and end-of-century (2100) impacts based on a range of projected future climate conditions, including reduced, low, high and highest emission pathways. Climate change stressors identified for MAVA include: Increased temperature, increased hot days, increased precipitation, increased extreme precipitation events, increased flooding and erosion, shifting ranges of both native species and pest, pathogen and weed species, and phenological shifts and mismatches.

Dynamics of changes in the dendrocenosis of quarter 26 «Champs Elysees» of the National Dendrological Park «Sofiyivka» of the NAS of Ukraine

Since the founding of the «Sofiyivka» Dendrological Park, over more than two centuries, the structure of the dendrocenosis and park compositions including the «Champs Elysees» (Quarter 26), located in the center of the park' s historic core changed. The changes were caused by a complex of biotic and abiotic factors that influenced the taxonomic composition of plants. The paper presents the results of a study of the dynamics of changes in the dendrocenosis of the quarter 26 «Champs Elysees», which will contribute to the preservation and restoration of the historic site of the ancient park, in particular its taxonomic composition.

John Muir National Historic Site: Geologic resources inventory report

Geologic Resources Inventory reports provide information and resources to help park managers make decisions for visitor safety, planning and protection of infrastructure, and preservation of natural and cultural resources. Information in GRI reports may also be useful for interpretation. This report synthesizes discussions from a scoping meeting held in 2007 and a follow-up conference call in 2020. Chapters of this report discuss the geologic heritage, geologic features and processes, and geologic resource management issues of John Muir National Historic Site. Guidance for resource management and information about the previously completed GRI map data is also provided. A GRI map poster (separate product) illustrate the GRI map data. Geologic features, processes, and resource management issues identified include the Great Valley sequence, an unconformity, the Martinez Formation, the San Andreas Fault, an anticline, fluvial features and processes, erosion, flooding, slope movements, earthquakes, climate change, and paleontological resources.

Artistic license: Celebrating the talents of students and educators

This monthly column features a print by student Daniela Lujan focusing on wasteful practices in slaughterhouses that cause animal suffering and a photograph by art professor Gina Mumma Wenger of a dragon-shaped tree at Manzanar National Historic Site.

Material Agency

<p>The ‘material turn’ of the twentieth century focuses on the vibrancy of matter and non-human agency, providing an engaging platform from which to re-assess, and also promote, the role of materiality in design. The material turn draws away from a ‘representational’ paradigm towards a focus on materials as being non-objective, performative and responsive, where materials operate as authoritative matter. This design research thesis investigates the agential capacity of materials to amplify atmospheric experience in architecture. Through this research proposition, the thesis harnesses contemporary material perspectives to drive a series of enquiries that explore material agency in design. Within this framework, the design research seeks to strengthen relationships between user, matter and site. This method engages and evaluates materials on a tactile and emotional level, reflected in its atmospheric outputs. Ultimately, the design research employs materiality as an agent in the production of a 1:1 scale installation and two speculative building designs at the domestic and public scale. A historic site in East London has been selected to provide the contextual and material foundations for the design research. This thesis concludes that materials have an ability to exert force on the design process when they are engaged in a responsive feedback loop which acknowledges the transformative capacity of both ‘human’ and ‘nonhuman’ elements. The dynamic nature of scaling as a design method supported these findings by encouraging progressive dialogue between matter and design process.</p>

Aura of the Past: The Rehabilitation of ‘Puhipuhi Mercury Mine’

<p>Through the development of the case site ‘Puhipuhi Mercury Mines’ this design led thesis presents the fusion of ruins with new design, aiming to rehabilitate the site and its history. The delicate nature of the site’s past and its remaining relics present the potential to curate a history. The method of integrating old and new design to reestablish value is explored. Puhipuhi mine has a negative reputation today. Documented memories focus on the mine's industrial downfall and remaining areas of contamination. This has dampened its prospects. The case site has remained dormant since its closure in 1945 (Butcher). With political controversy surrounding the site, and with natural growth dominating the remains, it has become virtually inaccessible. The challenge presented by the characteristics of the site poses the following research question: ‘How can the fusion of old and new architecture add value to a forgotten and contaminated historic site as a means to preserve its history and rehabilitate it for current day use?’ Abandoned elements which lay dormant in our landscape have the opportunity to be valued as iconic elements in New Zealand's history, yet we are hesitant to seek appreciation for the narratives of their past and as a result we are presented with the possibility of historic loss. The site's processing plant presents a need to preserve its architectural heritage and document its history as a means to re mediate the damage of contamination and the devalue that has generated since the closure of the program. Attention is needed to establish it as the beautiful landscape, intriguing remains and educational opportunity that it has the potential to become. Through the establishment of age, historic and use values, new programmes are constructed: a toxicity museum and laboratory.</p>

Material Agency

<p>The ‘material turn’ of the twentieth century focuses on the vibrancy of matter and non-human agency, providing an engaging platform from which to re-assess, and also promote, the role of materiality in design. The material turn draws away from a ‘representational’ paradigm towards a focus on materials as being non-objective, performative and responsive, where materials operate as authoritative matter. This design research thesis investigates the agential capacity of materials to amplify atmospheric experience in architecture. Through this research proposition, the thesis harnesses contemporary material perspectives to drive a series of enquiries that explore material agency in design. Within this framework, the design research seeks to strengthen relationships between user, matter and site. This method engages and evaluates materials on a tactile and emotional level, reflected in its atmospheric outputs. Ultimately, the design research employs materiality as an agent in the production of a 1:1 scale installation and two speculative building designs at the domestic and public scale. A historic site in East London has been selected to provide the contextual and material foundations for the design research. This thesis concludes that materials have an ability to exert force on the design process when they are engaged in a responsive feedback loop which acknowledges the transformative capacity of both ‘human’ and ‘nonhuman’ elements. The dynamic nature of scaling as a design method supported these findings by encouraging progressive dialogue between matter and design process.</p>

Aura of the Past: The Rehabilitation of ‘Puhipuhi Mercury Mine’

<p>Through the development of the case site ‘Puhipuhi Mercury Mines’ this design led thesis presents the fusion of ruins with new design, aiming to rehabilitate the site and its history. The delicate nature of the site’s past and its remaining relics present the potential to curate a history. The method of integrating old and new design to reestablish value is explored. Puhipuhi mine has a negative reputation today. Documented memories focus on the mine's industrial downfall and remaining areas of contamination. This has dampened its prospects. The case site has remained dormant since its closure in 1945 (Butcher). With political controversy surrounding the site, and with natural growth dominating the remains, it has become virtually inaccessible. The challenge presented by the characteristics of the site poses the following research question: ‘How can the fusion of old and new architecture add value to a forgotten and contaminated historic site as a means to preserve its history and rehabilitate it for current day use?’ Abandoned elements which lay dormant in our landscape have the opportunity to be valued as iconic elements in New Zealand's history, yet we are hesitant to seek appreciation for the narratives of their past and as a result we are presented with the possibility of historic loss. The site's processing plant presents a need to preserve its architectural heritage and document its history as a means to re mediate the damage of contamination and the devalue that has generated since the closure of the program. Attention is needed to establish it as the beautiful landscape, intriguing remains and educational opportunity that it has the potential to become. Through the establishment of age, historic and use values, new programmes are constructed: a toxicity museum and laboratory.</p>

Hidden Influences: Exploring the Red Castle Restorations During the Italian Colonization of Libya

This article examines alterations made to the Red Castle in Tripoli during Italy’s colonization of Libya between 1911 and 1943. Italian architects completed two projects which both restored the castle and altered its design through the construction of a tunnel that cuts through the historic site and joined sections of the coastal road (Lungomare Conti Volpi). Using a new visual analysis of the structures, this study argues that traditional Roman architecture influenced changes to the castle, which included elements found in preexisting Roman structures. The implications of these interventions within the context of historic preservation and colonialism are also explored.