Is the BAR the Critical Regionalism Police?

 After "studying abroad" in Charleston last semester, I gained a greater understanding of its BAR or Board of Architectural Review. I took a history class with 7 other students and dove into the processes, hearings, and involvement the city of Charleston and its people had in what was built and adapted within certain city limits. This sounds like something that Kenneth Frampton would have loved.

The goal of the BAR was to mandate buildings and projects to "fit into the city context and the vernacular of Charleston." Even things such as materiality are scrutinized under the BAR. Charleston proper prides itself of certain vernaculars and materials to define the city. A city, which thrives off of tourism because of its charm in having a uniformity in design thought. The city thinks "for the sake of", rather than "in order to" as Frampton states. The BAR wants to preserve the greatness they had already achieved and expand it in a respectable way.

Comments

  1. Jessica,

    I really appreciate your insight relating to the BAR in Charleston. Being from Charleston, I know a lot of the local architects have major problems with the BAR and how it has operated lately. I think architects tend to forget these rules are in order for a reason. If we could design the most modern, crazy skyscraper in the middle of the urban fabric, Charleston would essentially lose its historical essence over time.

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  2. Jess,
    It would have been interesting to have brought up the topic of Critical Regionalism in Professor Bello's course. This theory might be found here and there in Charleston, but I'm not sure if the BAR is an agent for work following this theory. While the BAR ensures, to a degree, the honesty of materials that I think Frampton would appreciate, it also really is more of an agent of sentimentality, something at odds with Critical Regionalism. If the BAR were to assume an active role as an institution for the creation of contemporary regionalism, it would favor building's who are not surface level copies of Charleston typologies. They would also regulate the creation of architecture that responds passively to the climate in Charleston, which would be a small gesture with large impacts that would make Charleston more resistant architecturally to outsider capital and influence.

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  3. Jessica,
    It is always so comical to me how controversial of an agency the B.A.R. is in Charleston. Does it restrict creativity? Hinder the advancement of Charleston as a growing city? Create a logistical nightmare for everyone involved? Yes, yes, and yes. HOWEVER, does it also protect the history and authenticity of the city? Force architects to design more critically? Also, yes.
    I could go back and forth over whether I agree with what the agency stands for. I believe the intent is good – to protect the identity of Charleston.

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  4. When a "regionalism" being forced onto designer and the client from a set of rules and regulation, do you think it is still a true "regionalism"?

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  5. Jessica,
    I agree with what you are saying but dont you think they are pushing it a little far? I feel like architects have to design restraint in an area like Charleston so how would we know if the city could be better with newer design? Newer innovation? better infrastructure?

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