Jimmy Stamp from Life Without Buildings is discussing the demolition of Modernist Schools in New Orleans...
29 of 30 schools built in the 50s have been closed and will soon be demolished unless the city makes changes to its current plan. It would be a shame to lose these astounding buildings, and rare examples of thoughtful architecture in a city best known for disaster and tourism. A few of my old coworkers and friends have started up docomomo new orleans and, perhaps more notably, the Regional Modernism Blog to help fight needless demolitions like these. The blog is an especially helpful resource in spreading awareness of New Orleans Modernism.
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none of those sites jimmy mentions tell much about what is being organized. i'll check into it. maybe a mapa-opportunity?
From a recent e-mail:
The Louisiana Chapter of DOCOMOMO US is currently active in the movement to save our modern schools in New Orleans. So far, DOCO members and non-affiliated activists with like-minded concerns and goals have been doing their part to advocate on a local, national, and even international level to preserve some of the most significant mid-century public school buildings that are in danger of demolition or demolition by neglect at the hands of the Recovery School Board's Blueprint for public schools in Orleans Parish.
I urge everyone to take a moment and submit an email voicing your support of these schools to the Recovery School Board during this period of public comment ending Sept 20th, 2008. the full blueprint is available for download at: http://sfmpop.org/
and the email address to which you may send your comment is below:
masterplan@rsdla.net
For more information on these public schools -- in support of their preservation, as well information regarding the Recovery School Board Blueprint -- please see any of the items below:
1) Louisiana Landmarks Society NOLA9:
full list: http://www.pitothouse.org/?q=/taxonomy/term/3
modern schools: http://www.pitothouse.org/?q=node/65
2) The regional modernism blog has many great posts on the modern school buildings as well as a host of local mid-century building information and updates:
http://www.regional-modernism.com/
3) Metropolis Magazine article:
http://www.metropolismag.com/pov/?p=1133
5) CityBusiness article from July 7th, 2008, by Ariella Cohen:
http://www.neworleanscitybusiness.com/viewStory.cfm?recID=31222
6) DOCOMOMO US news item dated February 28th, 2008:
http://docomomo-us.org/news/threatened/threatened_phillis_wheatley_elementary_school_new_orleans
8) Times Picayune article on the school board masterplan:
http://www.nola.com/timespic/stories/index.ssf?/base/library-153/121895174290710.xml&coll=1
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