The Wattis House: A Case Study in Prairie Style Landscape Preservation
The E.O. Wattis house landscape is a great example of preservation of an Arts & Crafts landscape. The project included envisioning a period appropriate landscape; incorporating historic research, landscape inventory and assessment; practicing historic preservation and rehabilitation; and re-creating a prairie school garden. Prominent local architect Eber Piers designed the Wattis House, constructed in 1914. […]
Preservation of Prairie Style Arts & Crafts Landscapes
As awareness of historic preservation increases, more homeowners are restoring their historic homes, including many unique Prairie Style Arts & Crafts Landscapes in Utah. The treatment of the surrounding landscape constitutes an important component of any rehabilitation or restoration process. In many instances, all or portions of the landscapes that surround historic homes have historic […]
Resources for Historic Landscape Preservation
We wrap up this 4-part blog series with an article on resources for historic landscape preservation. When it comes to preserving our historic landscapes, we can draw on the experience of its parent movements. These include earlier historic preservation victories and the environmental conservation movement. Background The Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS) is the companion […]
Threats to Historic Landscapes
We lose many historic landscapes in Utah before they can be identified. However, several threats can affect even identified and recognized historic landscapes. Threats Neglect & Mismanagement Neglect stands as both a common threat, and one of the most difficult of threats to address. Throughout the state of Utah, the neglect, or improper management of […]
Utah’s Historical Landscapes
Because Utah’s historical landscapes are a direct result of our cultural history and historic interactions with the landscape, the periods of landscape history correlate with significant periods in Utah history. According to Esther Truitt in her 1986 thesis, the history of Utah and the resulting landscapes can be broken down into four periods. These are […]
What is Historic Landscape Preservation?
Historic landscape preservation is a smaller, and often misunderstood, field within the broader preservation movement, but it is vital for understanding and conserving the environmental and cultural narratives of places. In Utah, many historic landscapes disappear before their full significance is recognized. These landscapes are not merely backdrops for historic buildings; rather, they are integral […]
Sunnyfield Barn: An Example of Efficiency
The following is an abbreviated history of the Sunnyfield Barn prepared by our friend Rhonda Lauritzen of Evalogue.Life as part of our successful nomination of the Sunnyfield Barn in Eden Utah to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This Improvement Era dairy barn is now one of only two buildings in Ogden Valley to […]
3 Strategies for Vibrant Communities
Recently, I shared an overview of our three core principles for community revitalization on Io LandArch’s social media channels. When creating this content, it struck me that there’s much more to delve into on this subject, along with some pertinent case studies. So, let’s dive in… Whether your community is expansive or compact, there are […]
Lessons from Cemetery Design
To be listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it takes more than just being old. These historic sites undergo a thorough process of researching, writing and reviewing. But the deciding factor has to do with how it stands out in the history of the region or the nation. Io LandArch recently completed the […]
The Four Types of Historic Landscapes
The documentation and preservation of historical landscapes represents a relatively new and frequently misunderstood branch of the preservation movement. Many historic landscapes are being lost before their significance is recognized. Historic landscapes are important because often they provide context for historic buildings and structures. But historic landscapes can also exist without historic buildings, or can […]
