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Moravian College • Preservation Master Plan
Chapter Six
Guidelines for Cultural Landscapes
6.0 Introduction
Recognizing the importance of the cultural
landscapes of Moravian College and the need of
the college to accommodate growth, this chapter
provides general design and development
guidelines for cultural landscape preservation
within the context of a Rehabilitation approach.
These guidelines are based on the Secretary of
the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic
Properties (Standards) with Guidelines for the
Treatment of Cultural Landscapes (Guidelines). This
publication contains ten basic principles created to
help preserve the distinctive character of a cultural
landscape, while allowing for reasonable change to
meet new needs.
6.1 Landscape Preservation
Treatment Approach
Based upon Moravian College’s desire to both
preserve historic resources and accommodate
change and growth, Rehabilitation is recommended
as the appropriate overarching treatment approach
for the campus landscapes. As defined by the
Guidelines, the Rehabilitation approach focuses
on the protection, maintenance, and retention of
historic fabric, but allows for compatible new uses
through sensitive alterations or additions and the
adaptive reuse of existing resources when the
college needs to accommodate change.
These guidelines pertain to landscape issues that
are common throughout the Moravian College
campus, regardless of character area, and should be
considered during the planning and design review
process for any alterations or new projects that
are proposed. Topics include natural systems and
features, spatial organization, buildings, land use,
circulation features, views and vistas, vegetation,
landscape structures, site furnishings and objects,
and archeology. Specific recommendations that
are applicable to conditions and resources within
each character area are identified in Chapter 7 –
Treatment Recommendations.
It should be noted that these guidelines are neither
technical nor prescriptive. In and of themselves,
they cannot be used to make essential decisions
about which features of a historic landscape should
be saved and which can be changed. Rather than
providing a set of solutions to specific design
issues, they provide a balanced, reasonable, and
disciplined approach to problem-solving.
Implemented in conjunction with the more detailed
landscape recommendations contained in Chapter
7, as well as the architectural treatment guidelines
and recommendations in Chapters 8 and 9, this
information will assist Moravian College in
effectively and comprehensively preserving and
protecting its historic resources.
6.2 Cultural Landscape
Guidelines
The cultural landscape guidelines that follow
pertain to historic areas of Moravian College’s
campus and should be used when planning for
any future landscape change. They are intended
to support the more specific landscape treatment
recommendations proposed in Chapter 7, and
should be considered in conjunction with any
project or treatment alternative undertaken within
areas of historical significance. The guidelines
begin with general recommendations. Subsequent
topics are arranged as they were in Chapter 5:
natural systems and features, spatial organization,
buildings, land use, circulation features, views and
vistas, vegetation, landscape structures, and site
furnishings and objects.
General
Implement a process for evaluating how new
projects or undertakings may affect historic
landscape resources. A recommended process is as
follows:
• Identify the type of project to be implemented.
Will it involve demolishing a feature,
constructing a new feature, or relocating an
existing feature?
• Assess how the proposed project may affect the
cultural landscape and historic character of the
campus. Will the project require the removal or
John Milner Associates • October 2009 • Chapter 6 • Landscape Guidelines • 143