Architectural Significance of Reston (apartment, condos, townhouses)
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I was interested to see that the chief architecture critic of The New York Times (and, not surprisingly, an avowed urbanist) recently gave one of only four lectures that he's given this year at Reston Town Center, and spoke (in part) about Reston's architectural significance:
I've seen other posters assert that Reston (and NoVa in general) is a soul-less, monochromatic place that is completely car-oriented, is (and here I paraphrase) "an example of the worst suburban living that America has to offer," etc.
I'm curious as to whether others perceive Reston as an architecturally significant place and, if so, because they think it is an example of what future planners should either strive to emulate or look to avoid. Reston's distance to DC, combined with a historical lack of easy transit to the city, has always led me to cross it off my personal list of places to live, but at the same time I've always thought it was attractive, significant as a reflection of what planners hoped to achieve in the 1960s, and different from most suburban developments.
Thoughts? What works well in Reston? What does not? For example, has it done a better job of integrating people of different income levels and ethnic backgrounds than it has of welcoming people of different ages?
I can't wait to actually read the article attached - it is a little much for me right now as I am just taking a break from work to browse message boards. Anyway, I live here and am quite happy. I get the critiques of Reston and don't think it has necessarily grown as RES envisionned it, BUT I truly do appreciate the thought that went into accessibility to amenities within the community. Last year during the snowstorms, it was so very helpful to be able to walk to the grocery store (plus the wine and liquour stores) instead of have to get in my car. Could I really live without a car here? Probably not. BUT, the ability to do things like walk to several playgrounds, pools, the Village Center, schools - these are wonderful things and NOT possible everywhere. I should know since we are looking at leaving the DC area in the not too distant future. Most areas of TX are NOT planned in such a manner and car dependent takes on a whole new meaning.
Certainly in the 1960's Reston was VERY architecturally significant and unique. And, there's still aspects of it that are that way, if you ask me. Also the way it has lots of walking/bike trails is to be very much admired. Sure, it isn't perfect, but there's a lot there worth taking a look at and seeing what they did right and what they did wrong.
I've seen other posters assert that Reston (and NoVa in general) is a soul-less, monochromatic place that is completely car-oriented, is (and here I paraphrase) "an example of the worst suburban living that America has to offer," etc.
I've seen the above said too here on the subforum; some people are prone to hyperbole though. There's much worse suburban living to offered than Reston, that's for sure! I could point to any number of places far far worse than Reston. In fact, I would wager millions of people would be very happy to live in Reston and enjoy its suburban lifestyle.
Last edited by bmwguydc; 12-06-2010 at 07:20 PM..
Reason: Removed out-of-area comparisons to keep to Reston topic
I have yet to read the article too - only because it seems to have no paragraphs in it and is one very long paragraph! It makes my eyes glaze over a bit looking at something like that but I'll try and read it a bit later.
I was interested to see that the chief architecture critic of The New York Times spoke (in part) about Reston's architectural significance.
I've seen other posters assert that Reston (and NoVa in general) is a soul-less, monochromatic place that is completely car-oriented, is (and here I paraphrase) "an example of the worst suburban living that America has to offer," etc.
I'm curious as to whether others perceive Reston as an architecturally significant place and, if so, because they think it is an example of what future planners should either strive to emulate or look to avoid.
I read the article and would like a bunch of chocolate treats as a reward for being the first, and maybe only, poster to read the whole thing before posting
My impression is that he's saying the significance of Reston's architectural plan is that it has more potential than some other areas to not sink entirely into the abyss of urban sprawl/suburban blah. IMO, he was damning with faint praise, trying to be polite, and offering his honest assessment of how to hold on and maybe improve some in the world of city planning.
Reston Town Center is a nice addition and I give them props for considering walkability and community. The buildings themselves, though, are architecturally uninteresting and barely differentiated from each other or from similar town plans in anywhere, usa. Also, RTC isn't all of Reston. Despite the nice try, it still seems to me like it was plopped down fully formed and planned like a stage set. Plus, most of the surrounding townhouses and apartment buildings have no charm or character whatsoever. So, in these ways, Reston fails to be organic or to capture the authenticity he kept mentioning as essential elements of a thriving, well-planned, urban node.
Still, though, it's affordable, it's not as bad as some other places, they tried, etc. Not everyplace can be quaint villages with historic buildings and homes. IMO, architecture and city planning isn't likely to draw many people to Reston - location, accessibility, and affordability will.
One thing many people don't know is Reston's Lake Anne is a nationally registered Historic District. It's not historic because it is old but because it has a number of "firsts" and also because it is an intact piece of architectural history (more on this below).
I used to volunteer at Reston Museum, and here's a few things I remember from my days there. Lake Anne Plaza is historic in a couple of different ways. It was one of the first "new towns", a historic movement in urban design. Associations, and the designs that go with them (for example, clusters of town homes surrounded by forested common grounds) may seem commonplace today, but were innovative at that time.
Perhaps most important, it is the oldest intact, complex and multi-purpose piece (i.e. a shopping center/residential complex complete with lake). Being intact is important (and rare). That was one of the biggest reasons to pursue the historic designation.
Right now people may not appreciate having an intact piece of architectural history--that's why so few intact pieces remain. As soon as something gets a few years old folks always want to redesign things. But in 100 years the future generation will appreciate that this piece of mid century new town design was kept intact.
The Plaza also has historic significance because it features a number of unique "firsts." (Ironically, many of these firsts are not appreciated by the current residents, as they've become outdated. Sometimes it's hard to live in a historic building.). For example, Lake Anne Plaza featured an innovative cooling and heating system using the lake water that in turn inspired new concepts in this type of engineering.
Another innovation was the cable system, I believe it was the first of its kind in the country. Of course today it seems antiquated--but it's still of historic significance.
Another reason for the citation is that Lake Anne Plaza is a signficant work in the careers of both urban designer James Rossant and architect Clothiel Woodard Smith. When I worked at the Reston Museum, architecture students would come in to see The Chimney House townhomes next to the Plaza. Apparently they have a special significance.
Despite the nice try, it still seems to me like it was plopped down fully formed and planned like a stage set.
LOL, fair enough--but a beautifully designed stage set that is fully functioning. And why is that a bad thing? Why is it better to grow over time rather than be plopped down fully formed? To me, the important thing isn't how long it takes a place to grow, but how well it serves it function as the center of town. Whenever I go there, it always seems to have a lot of people and there always seems to be something going on. Isn't that what a town center is supposed to do?
A huge number of people live in and immediately around the few blocks that make up RTC. Aren't we supposed to applaus density? There are a hundred or so offices, stores, restaurants, and large corporations all within the complex., thus all within easy walking distance of these people. I thought we were supposed to applaud that, too. People genuinely use it as a town center. They meet their friends there, they eat at outdoor cafes, they go ice skating there, they attend meetings there, they shop there, they catch transportation there. What more does a town center need to do? Yes, it's design is cohesive so it looks like a place that was built all at once. Why is it better to be like topsie and be a place that "just growed"?
I guess the townhomes aren't everybody's taste (and that's ok, especially since you're a fellow Nutella fan!!!! ), but a lot of people do like them. They're certainly selling quickly. IMO, they're gorgeous (but I guess that's just my taste). I wouldn't mind owning one myself but they're out of reach for my budget.
I did a photo tour of RTC a while back. Since we're discussing the architecture, here are a bunch of photos of what we're talking about. I didn't take photos of the condos, though. Maybe tomorrow or Tuesday I'll go down and take a few so we can all see what we're talking about.
One thing many people don't know is Reston's Lake Anne is a nationally registered Historic District. It's not historic because it is old but because it has a number of "firsts" and also because it is an intact piece of architectural history (more on this below).
I used to volunteer at Reston Museum, and here's a few things I remember from my days there. Lake Anne Plaza is historic in a couple of different ways. It was one of the first "new towns", a historic movement in urban design. Associations, and the designs that go with them (for example, clusters of town homes surrounded by forested common grounds) may seem commonplace today, but were innovative at that time.
Perhaps most important, it is the oldest intact, complex and multi-purpose piece (i.e. a shopping center/residential complex complete with lake). Being intact is important (and rare). That was one of the biggest reasons to pursue the historic designation.
Right now people may not appreciate having an intact piece of architectural history--that's why so few intact pieces remain. As soon as something gets a few years old folks always want to redesign things. But in 100 years the future generation will appreciate that this piece of mid century new town design was kept intact.
The Plaza also has historic significance because it features a number of unique "firsts." (Ironically, many of these firsts are not appreciated by the current residents, as they've become outdated. Sometimes it's hard to live in a historic building.). For example, Lake Anne Plaza featured an innovative cooling and heating system using the lake water that in turn inspired new concepts in this type of engineering.
Another innovation was the cable system, I believe it was the first of its kind in the country. Of course today it seems antiquated--but it's still of historic significance.
Another reason for the citation is that Lake Anne Plaza is a signficant work in the careers of both urban designer James Rossant and architect Clothiel Woodard Smith. When I worked at the Reston Museum, architecture students would come in to see The Chimney House townhomes next to the Plaza. Apparently they have a special significance.
Lake Anne Plaza and the original residential buildings, particularly those near the lakes, are what interest me the most in Reston and give it - as Goldberger described it - a special "sense of place." While RTC is a convenient and pragmatic addition, it's indeed the type of development that could be found in many locations across the country.
Lake Anne Plaza and the original residential buildings, particularly those near the lakes, are what interest me the most in Reston and give it - as Goldberger described it - a special "sense of place." While RTC is a convenient and pragmatic addition, it's indeed the type of development that could be found in many locations across the country.
A town house on Lake Anne would give you the best of both worlds. RTC is a mile away (and an easy walk, since you take a pretty walking trail through the woods), but you also get the charm of the Plaza and (if you're lucky) a view of the lake.
These aren't the best photos, but you can sort of see a group of townhouses across the inlet that have always intrigued me.
Last edited by normie; 12-05-2010 at 03:42 PM..
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), but a lot of people do like them. They're certainly selling quickly. IMO, they're gorgeous (but I guess that's just my taste). I wouldn't mind owning one myself but they're out of reach for my budget. 
