Hosted by the ICAA Florida Chapter | 1 Credit towards the Certificate in Classical Architecture (Elective) | 1 AIA CES Learning Units – (HSW)
Originally a diminutive essay in Victorian wood-framed whimsy, Duck’s Nest represents a story of Palm Beach that covers three centuries. Palm Beach’s second-oldest house was first transported to its current location by rail and barge, and expanded in subsequent decades - including additions by Mary Sims Wyeth and John L. Volk. The current iteration is the result of a meticulous and thoughtful restoration and renovation executed by Dailey Janssen Architects, SMI Landscape Architecture, Seabreeze Building, and interior designer Phoebe Howard. Leaders of the design team will share their insights and experiences in rehabilitating Duck’s Nest with an open discussion and a tour of the house and grounds.
The Duck’s Nest is the second-oldest home on Palm Beach, and the oldest structure on the island to remain continuously inhabited by the same family. Via a tour and discussion with leaders of the design team, participants will be able to view many different but interrelated perspectives of this case study in historic preservation. The team - which includes architects, builders, craftsmen, and landscape architects – will share insights into the challenges, obstacles, and opportunities in rehabilitating a structure that has stood in three different centuries and preserving it to endure and be gainfully occupied for many more decades to come.
This event is hosted by an ICAA Chapter. Please check the Chapter website or contact the Chapter directly for the most up-to-date details including dates, times, and pricing.
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
1. Explore the material technologies and methods of construction utilized in the first structures in erected in Palm Beach (wood frame construction, shake shingle roofing, vented crawl space, use of “Dade-County” pine), and the continued importance on traditional craftsmanship in cultural continuity and establishing a “sense of place”.
2. Describe the role of historic preservation in providing a sustainable built environment, from its material approach (natural, renewable, and non-toxic) to its effect on maintaining an intact culture and built environment proven to attract and promote human flourishing.
3. Compare modern and traditional construction methods, with an emphasis on how the latter are healthier for both occupants and craftspeople alike, such as (but not limited to) providing minimal comparative carbon footprints for production, minimal chemical off-gassing, and passive indoor and outdoor environmental management.
4. Describe the specific challenges and opportunities posed by a wood-framed building envelope in a tropical climate, particularly regarding historic solutions in shedding water and assembly “breathability,” and modern solutions that may implement more effective thermal barriers but require more robust and invasive moisture barrier and climate control systems.