The Development of Modernism in Raleigh 1945-1965 - Triangle ...

The Development of Modern Architecture in Raleigh 1945-1965 22The post-World War II single-family house in Raleigh has significance because itrepresents the influence of nationally popular house types in the city. The thousands ofRanches, Split-Levels, and other house types are indicative of Raleigh’s connection withthe suburban residential trend that characterized the United States in the mid-twentiethcentury. These houses reflect Raleigh’s substantial postwar growth. Because the vastmajority of the single family houses are archetypal or Colonial Ranches, theserepresentative dwellings do not appear to have individual significance as examples oftheir type. The statistically much rarer contemporary houses stand out for theirprogressive architectural character, are often the work of architects, and are oftenendangered because of the high value of the land on which they are sited. Some of thefinest contemporary residences in Raleigh, such as the Gregory Poole House onLakeview Drive, have been torn down in recent years to make way for monster-sized newhomes. Contemporary houses that are over fifty years old may be eligible under CriterionC for their distinctive architectural designs.The issue of eligibility of the less than fifty-year-old houses must be addressed.Contemporary residential design evolved in Raleigh on a continuum, and late 1950s andearly 1960s houses differ little from earlier examples except for their size, which tendedto increase. Some of the more recent houses have exceptional architectural significanceas rare surviving, intact examples of the most sophisticated residential designs in Raleigh.Some of the houses have potential eligibility under Criterion B as the residences ofindividuals significant in Raleigh history, e.g. the residence of developer Willie York.Registration RequirementsGiven their rarity and significance in Raleigh’s postwar architecture, Contemporaryhouses that retain a high level of integrity of materials, workmanship, and design will beindividually eligible for listing in the National Register under Criterion C. Not onlyexterior integrity, but interior integrity must be high as well. This is especially true ofhouses that are less than fifty years old. Minor alterations and small additions that do notdetract from the public’s view may not affect the house’s integrity. Particularly importantfeatures are the original roof shape, original wall materials or in-kind replacement,original windows or a similar replacement, and the retention of appendages such asporches and carports. The most frequent type of alteration is the enclosure of side or rearscreen porches as sunrooms and the enclosure of carports as garages. If the original formof these spaces remains, the enclosure of the space will not ruin the dwelling’s integrity.Front additions will always impact negatively upon integrity. The recent remodeling ofthe Parker House, 2106 Banbury Road, 1952, illustrates the often difficult issue of loss ofintegrity. The side carport of the contemporary residence has been enclosed as livingspace; the façade has been covered with wood shingles, and the windows have beenreplaced. Window replacement, if handled sensitively, does not necessarily destroy ahouse’s integrity. However the façade has lost both its rhythm of open and closed spacesand its original wall texture, thereby dramatically altering its character.