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I'm an architecture optimist: Neither great architecture nor great design should require millions or mansions.

When this bungalow with a Greek temple for a front porch burned last fall, we nearly lost a great small house in a modest neighborhood. They are rebuilding. It will be the best of modern living. But we lost the porch's entablature, the Parthenon porch.


I can't find anything about the history of this house. All I know is that it was "neck-snapping good."
Whiteford-Burn-Street-North-Facade-Porches

It's not on any historic preservation list.
PB281998-2009-11-28-Whiteford-Ave-Fire-Porch-Triple-Arches

Only the very best new houses approach this. This reminds me a little of Spring Island in South Carolina by Historical Concepts.
PB281994-2009-11-28-Whiteford-Ave-Fire-East-Through-Arbored-Gate

They saved the columns.
P1020233-2010-05-22-Whiteford-Burn-Restoration-Gerie-Gilbert-Saved-Columns

They restored the wonderful windows.
P1020238-2010-05-22-Whiteford-Burn-Restoration-Gerie-Gilbert-Diamond-Panes-Basket-Handle Arches

It's looking good.
PB282001-2009-11-28-Whiteford-Ave-Fire-North-Facade-NW-Corner

But you can't tell from here ...
P1020232-2010-05-22-Whiteford-Burn-Restoration-Gerie-Gilbert-NorthFacade

... but we lost the porch's entablature.
800px-Entablature_(PSF)

Before:
Whiteford-Burn-Street-North-Facade-Porches-Detail-Triglyphs-Metope

P1020231-2010-05-22-Whiteford-Burn-Restoration-Gerie-Gilbert

Why?

The original house had 12 foot ceilings. With rare exceptions nobody would rebuild a 12 foot ceiling. So they are doing 10 foot ceilings. It's huge cost savings, much cheaper to heat and cool, and provides livable space upstairs where there was none before.

The house is back better than ever But I continue to mourn a bit.

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