Vernacular Architecture

Set in Stone

Stonework must surely rank as one of
the oldest of folk arts, if only for the
longevity of the material used—hence its
presence in the historical record. While an
immense but finite supply of wood drew
Europeans to the shores of North America,
once they had exhausted local forest stands
through clearing, burning, ship building,
and construction, stone became the material
of choice. The ensuing works in stone
have been the longest lasting remnants of
vernacular architecture.

From the Waterfront

…Over the following weeks, I received calls
from FEMA and the National Park Service,
who wanted to see the bungalows and the
bay houses that survived. The staff of these
large agencies were as curious as I was as to
why the bungalows showed little damage.
From that point on, they recommended that
residents begin planting beach grass to create
dunes, a scene we saw happening throughout
coastal communities in the following months.

From the Waterfront

The boatyard has a long and impressive history, as one of the first to cater to recreational fishermen and boaters in this “Five Towns” community on Long Island’s South Shore….The architecture of boatyards is somewhat traditional, but there are unique structures
found in each one.

From the Waterfront

Fieldwork with Long Island architects and planners provides insight into problems facing waterfront homeowners due to climate change.

Telescope Houses in Buffalo

A photo essay about Buffalo’s Telescope Houses that were built as worker cottages by German and Polish immigrants, or the companies that employed them.