Not All Buildings Are Worth Saving

Released: Oct. 21, 2011

Jim and Duncan talk about Historic Preservation on their return drive from the annual conference of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, held in Buffalo this week. This show includes an excerpt from the keynote address Jim gave to kick off the conference. During the talk JHK explained to preservationists that not all buildings are worth saving — particularly the modernist architectural abortions of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Note: This episode contains cursewords

Watch JHK’s full talk to the National Trust for Historic Preservation here:

Video streaming by Ustream

Upcoming:

KunstlerCast Book Release Party
Nov. 1, 2011
Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Daisy Bakers, Troy NY

Books Available for Purchase via website next week!

Restoring Traditional Building Crafts, Design and Urbanism

Released: Oct. 7, 2010

James Howard Kunstler checks in with Duncan via phone on the West Coast leg of his book tour for The Witch of Hebron. The bulk of the converstaion is about JHK’s recent visit to New Orleans and his experience meeting preservationists working to replace the historic shotgun shacks of that city. He rounds out the converstaion by describing Portsmouth and Exeter, N.H., and arriving in Bellingham, WA.

Check out JHK’s Book Tour Schedule” http://www.kunstler.com/sched.php

The Residue of Pre-industrial Artistry and Craft

Released: June 11, 2009.

James Howard Kunstler addresses some issues regarding historic preservation. Kunstler supports historic preservation, because adaptive reuse is part of what makes the great European cities so rewarding to be in. According to Kunstler, the historic preservation movement really ramped up in the U.S. after the destruction of Penn Station in New York City. At times the historic preservation movement has gotten hysterical to save any scrap of anything built before WWII. But Kunstler believes that hysteria is understandable when one considers that modern Americans do not create buildings that are as good as the old buildings we are losing. Other topics include facade preservation, cheap cladding, a return of traditional building materials, passive heating, cooling and energy conservation.

Direct Download:
KunstlerCast_68.mp3
(25 MB | 26:42 mins.)

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This week’s sponsor is PostPeakLiving.com, offering online courses that prepare you for the post peak oil world.

Google Street Views of Buildings Discussed in this Podcast

Proctor’s Troy, NY

(1:22 mins)

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Wellington Row, Albany, NY

(7:12 mins)

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Elk Street, Albany NY

(10:41 mins)

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