Great architecture deserves our attention and care.
Like many works of architecture and landscape, Charles Moore's work requires continual attention. Preservation is an ongoing effort that allows these inspiring places to welcome people from all over the world so they may in turn be inspired by Charles Moore's extraordinary talent and vision.
Here are just some of the projects recently completed or underway.
Moore/Andersson Compound
Courtyard Restoration
When the pandemic crashed down upon us, the Charles Moore Foundation Director, Kevin Keim, undertook the massive project to rebuild the courtyard. Virtually singlehanded and over the course of 20 months, Kevin demolished nearly everything in the courtyard and rebuilt from the ground up, including new foundations, footings, drainage, and framing.
We are so GRATEFUL to Alex & Robbie Robinette who contributed extra Kebony timber from their gorgeous house project in Austin.
KebonyUSA then multiplied this gift be contributing the rest of the material we needed for the project.
Kebony is an extraordinary building material, made by drying pine and impregnating it with a bio-resin. The process stiffens the pine, makes it dimensionally stable, and aides in repelling water to resist rot. Kebony is a joy to work, since it cuts so cleanly and joins beautifully.
And thank you to James Hardie for contributing panels for the restoration of the courtyard's walls and piers!
Burns House
Ahrend & Brunzema Organ Restoration
Organ Builders Manuel Rosales and Greg Harrold completed a nine-month long project to restore and tune the Ahrend & Brunzema organ that was custom built for Lee Burns in 1967.
Rosales and Harrold's work included the restoration of deteriorated leather components, the construction of a new bellows and new enclosure for the organ’s blower and motor, a new control system for the blower motor, repair of the tremolo, and complete cleaning and tonal regulation of the 546 pipes.
Seismic bracing was enhanced, including a new platform from which the pipework in the upper case can be accessed more efficiently.
Rosales and Harrold's final phase at the Burns House allowed them to complete the tuning in its original temperament of “Werckmeister III”, preparing the instrument for upcoming concerts and residencies.
Moore/Andersson Compound
Parking Structure Restoration
The parking structure is a brilliant architectural folly, built of an ingenious framework of massive Western Red Cedar timbers.
After 40 years, several of the timbers needed to be replaced.
Kevin and a team of helpers carefully shored up the structure with temporary braces. And then they gingerly removed elements one at a time, such as 17-foot long 6" x 6" chevrons. After inserting each new piece, I taught my helpers about methods of post and beam connections with plates and carriage bolts. We also added extra blocks to reinforce some of the joints.
For the final phase, Kevin acid washed the whole structure so the old timbers would match the new ones.
Moore/Andersson Compound
Roof Restoration
Nobody could design roofs like Charles Moore. Why? He mastered the fundamentals of roof framing and then adapted traditional structural concepts into startlingly original solutions. The roofs are like oragmi tents that fold over complex plans, so that from within, one discovers soaring, complex volumes. "Keep the myth up off the floor," Charles loved to say.
However, Charles Moore was always stretching the budget of his own house projects, so the original roof was constructed only with rafters, purlins, and exposed fastener metal panels. Temperature differentials caused many of the screws to loosen, allowing water to penetrate and damage interior finished.
So we finally removed the entire roof. We then added insulated decking over the purlins, which tightened up the structure. The decking provided a continuous surface for a new self-healing water and ice membrane. When the new roof panels were screwed on, the membrane "heals" around the screws to create water tight seals.
This was a major project that will extend the life of the architecture for decades to come.
Burns House
Staircase & Tower Study Floor Restoration
Charles Moore designed the great 3-story staircase as an abstract homage to the famous stone stair at Wells Cathedral in England.
Since the original carpeting was worn out after 50 years of use, the Foundation undertook a project to completely restore the stair.
After removing the carpeting, we re-clad the risers and steps in vertical grain Douglas Fir to match the dais upon which the Ahrend organ stands.
The Leland Burns Estate & Trust made this restoration possible. Thank you.
Burns House
Kitchen and Floor Restoration
To prepare the Burns House for its new life as a place to welcome residents—scholars, musicians, composers, architects, and designers—a priority was to fully renovate and restore the kitchen.
The work essentially reproduced Charles Moore's original design, but with updated materials and energy efficient appliances.
Since the originally specified Cal-Ga-Crete tile was worn and stained beyond repair, the new owner of the company reproduced the tile for replacement.
We also restored areas of the house (bedroom, study, and guest bedroom) where original tile had been replaced with carpeting.
The Leland Burns Estate & Trust made this restoration possible.
