Keystone Bank Building to become hotel?

[eldondre]

Restoration plans for the former Keystone National Bank, Willis Hale's striking 1887 landmark at 1326-28 Chestnut Street, continue to be debated by the Philadelphia Historical Commission. Developer Alon Barzilay and architects JKR Partners propose converting the long-neglected property into a boutique hotel and restaurant, faithfully restoring the majority of the building's ornate masonry exterior but replacing the current 1960s-era storefront with a starkly contemporary glass entryway. The Commission initially rejected the design, arguing that it was too incongruous with the character of the existing historic fabric. After slight design revisions, including a proposal to etch abstracted elements of the historic design onto the new glass surfaces, a divided architectural committee recommended approval. On February 12, 2010, the full Historical Commission reversed course and denied approval of the design, requesting instead that the architects add more substantial masonry elements to the storefront. The Commission stopped short of requesting a full reconstruction of the building's historic appearance, however.

The proposal has drawn a wide range of opinion among architects and preservationists. Some feel the new design is an exciting contemporary intervention and a necessary component of the building's badly-needed rehabilitation. They point to the building's long history of storefront alteration (the current Valu-Plus facade is the building's fifth) and argue that the reconstruction of any one historic design is arbitrary and obscures the building's legacy of stylistic evolution. Others contend that the new design is poorly integrated into the existing historic fabric, lacks the compatibility of material, color, and texture appropriate to a landmark rehabilitation, and would waste a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an historically accurate reconstruction of one of the city's most significant buildings.

Barzilay and JKR Partners must resubmit plans to the Historical Commission before any work on the site commences. The Preservation Alliance will continue to participate in these discussions, and we encourage you to share your thoughts on the proposed design with us by emailing advocacy@preservationalliance.com.

Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia

seems to me that either they restore the arch as pictured or let them go with the glass box, the abstract details just sounds corny. no matter, the plan sounds "about friggin time." here's hoping it goes through, I suppose the front entrance of the hotel will be on juniper?

[nanyika]

It appears that the main entrance would be on Chestnut from the drawing on the Preservation Alliance website. I'd like to see more views of the proposed alteration. It's very difficult to understand the full effect from the one drawing. But it does seem obvious that the proposal would be far less intrusive than what is there now, since it would only cover the ground story front -- and it's transparent. I wonder if the developers plan to reconstruct the high pointed cupola that used to top the front tower? Also, the roof line on the Juniper side used to have pointed pilasters that are now missing.

The arch in the picture cannot be restored, since it is part of the twin building next door, the old Garrick Theatre. The entire theatre building was torn down around 1934, and replaced by the modernistic (former) Woolworth Building. The Hale building, when it was first constructed, had its own flamboyant arch, but that was demolished back in 1901, when the Garrick was built, and replaced by the square storefront in the picture.

[eldondre]

you know I didn't catch that. looks like it was a neat building.
things I didn't know about juniper and chestnut
old us mint 1901


a shot of the arch you mention next tot he garrick theater


pre valu plus


interesting

[bentleech]

The Preservation Alliance just posted a correction to its quoted passage, reading:

Restoration plans for the former Keystone National Bank, Willis Hale's striking 1887 landmark at 1326-28 Chestnut Street, continue to be debated by the Philadelphia Historical Commission. Developer Alon Barzilay and architects JKR Partners propose converting the long-neglected property into a boutique hotel and restaurant, faithfully restoring the majority of the building's ornate masonry exterior but replacing the current 1960s-era storefront with a starkly contemporary glass entryway. The Commission rejected an initial design, arguing that it was too incongruous with the character of the existing historic fabric. A divided architectural committee recommended approval of a second design (illustrated on right above), that included elements of the historic storefront composition etched onto the new glass surfaces. On February 12, 2010, the full Historical Commission approved this design in concept, with the request that more substantial masonry materials be added to the storefront. The Commission stopped short of requesting a full reconstruction of the building's historic appearance, however. [...]

[eldondre]

The Preservation Alliance just posted a correction to its quoted passage, reading:

Restoration plans for the former Keystone National Bank, Willis Hale's striking 1887 landmark at 1326-28 Chestnut Street, continue to be debated by the Philadelphia Historical Commission. Developer Alon Barzilay and architects JKR Partners propose converting the long-neglected property into a boutique hotel and restaurant, faithfully restoring the majority of the building's ornate masonry exterior but replacing the current 1960s-era storefront with a starkly contemporary glass entryway. The Commission rejected an initial design, arguing that it was too incongruous with the character of the existing historic fabric. A divided architectural committee recommended approval of a second design (illustrated on right above), that included elements of the historic storefront composition etched onto the new glass surfaces. On February 12, 2010, the full Historical Commission approved this design in concept, with the request that more substantial masonry materials be added to the storefront. The Commission stopped short of requesting a full reconstruction of the building's historic appearance, however. [...]

sounds like they are asking for a wrose deal with the corny references. like that awful facadectomy on walnut (600 block?) where the facade is just standing there like it was bombed out in WWII or something. I say either let em go or require actual restoration to the pic where it's says frocks.

[billy ross]

I particularly enjoy seeing a building which is representative of a certain era and has has one discrete portion of it redone in a way which is representative of a completely different era. The layering effect is fascinating. On Roberts Avenue near Wayne Junction there is a 19th Century loft building / factory with an obviously redone Art Deco entrance. It's awesome, and I always marvel at it when I pass by. To me both layers are historic and should be preserved.

[elfreth]

Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia

seems to me that either they restore the arch as pictured or let them go with the glass box, the abstract details just sounds corny. no matter, the plan sounds "about friggin time." here's hoping it goes through, I suppose the front entrance of the hotel will be on juniper?

that would be great. i wondered what it was before a value plus/bath house.

and they will have parking next door with the new auto-parking garage almost finished.

[Voodoo]

I don't really like the glass. Looks kind of cheap and cheesy. I'd rather see some creative use of precast (durable looking) materials to better complement the existing facade. It wouldn't cost much more to do a better job. The building deserves more respect.

[Eames]

I'm lean a great deal toward using the modern glass 1st story fascade, the only caution being that it's totally impossible to comprehend the full effect of the glass renovation in the fractional rendering presented on the web site. I'd prefer to see the exact same view of the original fascade, 1960s hatchet job that we now endure, and the full, new proposed fascade, all side-by-side. It will make it easier to feel the full effect.

To me, the second story is really the ugliest aspect of the current fascade. It looks like the proposed renovation will restore the 2nd story to original and use the modern glass design on the 1st floor only. I really hope that the plan goes through, as this has always been an architectural favorite of mine.

[eldondre]

yes, whatever the street level facade (even the annoying idea of putting "features" in a modern glass one) renovation of this great building is undoubtedly a big plus.

[nanyika]

The original arch that I spoke about on the Hale building was not the one that eldondre showed in the 2nd picture he posted. The original arch was lighter and more fanciful (see url. below). Later, the ground floor tenant changed from a bank to a shop, and a store front and a differently styled arch were added. I thought that took place when the Garrick Theatre was built next door (1901), but I was obviously incorrect, since eldondre's photo shows the modified Hale building arch together with the Garrick arch.

In these photos altogether, we see five different remodelings of the building's ground-floor facade. In my opinion, the arte moderne version (shown in the 1955 photo that eldondre posted) wasn't too bad.

Building with its original arch: http://www.brynmawr.edu/iconog/washw/images/C/C20.jpg

[3rd&Brown]

I'd rather see some creative use of precast (durable looking) materials to better complement the existing facade.

I guarantee you that almost any precast would look cheaper and cheesier than this; it is just nearly impossible to do well.

I like the idea of a stark but translucent modern solution (i.e. along the line of what I envision Apple is doing to its storefront on Walnut). That being said, it could probably be done better than is proposed here.

[Jayfar]

The original arch that I spoke about on the Hale building was not the one that eldondre showed in the 2nd picture he posted. The original arch was lighter and more fanciful (see url. below). Later, the ground floor tenant changed from a bank to a shop, and a store front and a differently styled arch were added. I thought that took place when the Garrick Theatre was built next door (1901), but I was obviously incorrect, since eldondre's photo shows the modified Hale building arch together with the Garrick arch.

In these photos altogether, we see five different remodelings of the building's ground-floor facade. In my opinion, the arte moderne version (shown in the 1955 photo that eldondre posted) wasn't too bad.

Building with its original arch: http://www.brynmawr.edu/iconog/washw/images/C/C20.jpg

No actually I think you were right, the later arch is next door (look at it in relation to the position of the tower).


http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org...ates.cfm/12393

Project Chronology

1887
BUILT Architect: Hale, Willis Gaylord (1848 - 1907)
1890-1891
ADDITIONS/ALTERATIONS
Extended to Sansom St.

Architect: Hale, Willis Gaylord (1848 - 1907)
1892
ADDITIONS/ALTERATIONS Architect: Hale, Willis Gaylord (1848 - 1907)
1900
ADDITIONS/ALTERATIONS
Alterations to front

Architect: Hale, Willis Gaylord (1848 - 1907)
Contractor: Benjamin Ketcham's Sons

[eldondre]

I think either you go with the original design show by jayfar, since there areso few hales left, or you go with the developers proposal but the compromise glass rendering is corny.

jayfar: you're missing a pic, the one with the arch that followed the original

[Voodoo]

I guarantee you that almost any precast would look cheaper and cheesier than this; it is just nearly impossible to do well.

Pretty blanket statement considering that precast architectural elements have been around for centuries and have been (and continue to be) used on some of the most magnificent architecture in the world.

But if "precast" means Home Depot to you, knock yourself out.

[DCnPhilly]

God bless Barzilay's patience. This building is rotting from the inside out, has been slashed in half, refaced six times, and someone has finally stepped in to save it, and the Preservation Alliance's main concern is the integrity of the Value-Plus facade?

[billy ross]

I'd love to see the witch's cap on top of the turret eventually restored. It really doesn't meet the sky properly now.

[Phillyurban8]

My gawd, that building's had five different entry facades! The glass cube will be #6!!

The glass option is very European. Euro architects love to juxtapose ultra contemporary with historical design, being true to the times.

Yes, patische could be created at high cost for great results or lower cost (precast) for really cheesey results. Somehow I had naively thought that if they pulled the existing facade down, the old one would be beneath!

Btw the Deco alteration looks like a mini PSFS!

[nanyika]

It is impossible to make a choice without seeing more views of the proposal. In the one drawing that has been posted of the contemporary glass box, key elements are not shown.

It's necessary to know, for example, whether the developers are planning to restore the three little windows at the bottom of the round tower. Those windows were important to the original design. But the single drawing that we've seen leaves the area at the bottom of the tower completely blank.

The Preservation Alliance has invited people to write them about their opinions on the matter. But no informed opinion can be given unless we get more information.

[Phillyurban8]

^Yes, the three little windows, but the little window below it and the witch's hat turret are also integral. The latter is probably more important than the three windows but I think it's unlikely to be restored.