First Richard Morris Hunt Scholar : five weeks in the USA historic industrial sites

Posted on 29 September 2012 by rmhprize

by Isabelle Michard

It is fascinating and encouraging to see how a series of marvellous coincidences can flow from a single act. I have just had this experience!

On December 4, 2011, I applied for the Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship. As the Architecte des Batimentsde France in Moselle, I work on behalf of the the Ministry of Culture to protect the built heritage in my region. I monitor the quality and integrity of protected zones around designated historic monuments. I met the RMHF Juryand presented my research topic: the industrial heritage of Moselle, which is known for its industry, its steel factories, and especially its coal mines. Today this area is deteriorating, its landscape is polluted and abandoned, and its future is in question, to say the least. I did not receive the Fellowship, but the jury, struck by the timeliness of my topic, decided to create the first RMH Scholar Residency. I became the first Hunt Scholar and was invited to spend five weeks researching in the United States.
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Conference in Paris Belleville, May 29

Posted on 1 June 2012 by rmhprize

“Heritage Preservation in the USA and in the International Field.”
by Liz Newman (RMHF 1999) Portland – Maine and Yves Patrick Deflandre (RMHF 1997) New York

As conclusion of the RMHF Seminar 2012 “Regards Croises”, with the active support of the Ecole Nationale Superieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville, of the American Embassy in Paris en presence de Philip Breeden Ministre Conseiller pour les Affaires Culturelles et d’Information, the Fellows presented a lecture introduced by Jean Pierre Bobenriether, Directeur de l‘ENSA Paris-Belleville, and Jean Pierre Midant.

Through their extensive experience, both architects explain their approach to the preservation of architectural heritage. They have achieved a method for resolving the numerous contradictions found in the historic and technical analysis as well as the many economic challenges. They demonstrate that their in-depth knowledge is essential for all projects local and on international level.

Liz Newman received her degrees from both Princeton and Columbia University. She worked for 15 years in various projects for the New York’s architectural history. At present she is pursuing her activities in Maine. As Director and Consultant of The Kathmandu Valley Trust, (KVPT – New York/Nepal) she supervises the restoration of the Royal Palace with the purpose of transforming it into a Nepalese Architectural national Museum.

Yves Patrick Deflandre graduated from the Pratt Institute of New York with Historical Preservation degree. Based in New York, he has restored there and in Connecticut, many buildings highly representatives of the 19th and 20th centuries including San Patrick Cathedral. Yves Patrick devotes all energy for the New York Rose Hill Preservation Association, where he resides.

Drinks will be served after the presentation.

Conclusions of seminary

Posted on 20 May 2012 by rmhprize

by Jean-Christophe Simon (RMHF1993), Inspecteur Général des Patrimoines, Collège des Monuments Historiques and Ruth Todd FAIA (RMHF1994)

Page and Turnbull, Inc San Francisco (CA), Principal

RMH Fellows in Toulouse – Carcassonne – Albi

Those three days spent together in Toulouse gave us the opportunity to meet, exchange ideas with all the actors involved in preservation and heritage enhancement

Landowners and policy-makers
Project managers and general contractors
Scientific and technical control experts
Public institutions in charge of opening to the public policy
And let us not forget the artisans of another heritage: gastronomy. We have in mind the foie gras, and the elaborated wines served so generously by the Chateau de Serres.
The continuity, the vitality of our common heritage, depends on the good will and the cross hands investment of all those actors with whom we cross ideas along these days of studies.
Albi is the perfect synthesis of our work covering the three topics studied during our workshops:
The monument in its environment
The accessible monuments
The creation within monuments

From your contributions and reflexions, I shall retain that to be alive heritage has to be totally part of the city; that not only we work first for the inhabitants but also for the visitors and monument amateurs. I am deeply convinced that heritage is the common property of the nation and of humankind.

To have a real meaning it has to be accessible to all, it has to be part of everyone’s life.

We, French and American architects, share totally these opinions.

Our concerns bring us together. They are fully personified in the values of the Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship.

By those exchanges, by those “Regards Croisés”, clearly we understand how similar our worries are and how much we can bring to each other.

These crossed experiences, this network of the Fellows finds here its justification.

I, greatly and sincerely thank you for the value of your contribution and for the strength of your commitment.

Ruth Todd, FAIA adds:

Since 1994, not much have change in America regarding our preservation process. At reverse, I feel that in France, much has changed. Boundaries have expanded and urbanism is now an important issue in preservation. With the information age, technology makes it easier to communicate and participate.

We, the RMH Fellows, have achieved a critical mass and each year is raising the quality of the fellowship. We owe this to the commitment of our “chaperones”.

Toulouse, Albi, Carcasonne – Seminar RMHF 2012

Posted on 16 May 2012 by rmhprize

Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship RMH Fellows meet in Toulouse – Carcassonne – Albi. May 25th. – May 29th. 2012

Under the guidance of Vanessa Fernandez (RMHF 2010) and Jean-Christophe Simon (RMHF 1993)

After Paris, Lyon, Washington DC, Angers, Chicago, the RMHF wished to be associated with the city of Toulouse, remarquable example of «Tradition» and «Architectural Innovation» in an historical context.

Acting as a laboratory of ideas, enriched by the comparison and contrast of experiences and perspectives of each Fellow, this seminar will put into perspective the latest developments in theory and practice related to heritage conservation. It will also reinforcethe personal and professional bonds of the Fellows, ensuring the strength and sustainability of the RMHF.

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Isabelle Michard nominated as the first RMH scholar

Posted on 10 May 2012 by rmhprize

Building on a tradition of reciprocity scholarly exchange between France and United States, the American Architectural Foundation and the French Heritage Society are pleased to provide the Richard Morris Hunt Scholar program an exciting, new periodic opportunity to complement the Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship

The Richard Morris Hunt Fellowship was created in 1990, at the initiative of the American Architectural Foundation and French Heritage Society, in the spirit of Richard Morris Hunt (1827-1895) first American architect to graduate from l’Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. This prestigious Prize allows a French or American architect, highly recognized for his or her skills in architectural preservation, to spend six months of research on a topic which he will have defined as of a major importance in his field, in one or the other country.

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