'Facadism' Passing for Preservation in Seattle

Lamenting the gutting of historic buildings and leaving them a shell of their former selves.

1 minute read

April 3, 2015, 12:00 PM PDT

Knute Berger wonders if Seattle's beauty is only skin deep in a recent post for Crosscut. According to Berger, "[e]fforts to preserve local 'character' while accommodating massive development have seen a revival of what’s called 'façadism' where old building exteriors are used as a kind of ground-level wrapping on new structures. Façadism is not a new phenomenon, but it’s booming in Seattle these days."

Berger points to the façadism trend as especially prevalent along the Pike-Pine corridor and in South Lake Union. Berger quotes Eugenia Woo, director of preservation for Historic Seattle, who states that "[f]açadism is NOT preservation." [Emphasis from the original.] Yet, according to Berger's analysis, the regulations written into the Pike-Pine Conservation Overlay District actively encourage façadism.

The article includes more detail about the politics surrounding preservation in Seattle and some examples of developments along the spectrum of façadism to preservation.

FULL STORY: Seattle’s facadism fetish makes fools of history & progress

Wednesday, April 1, 2015 in Crosscut

History / Preservation Washington Seattle Historic Preservation Overlay Zones facadism

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.