Description
Book SynopsisWhy Old Places Matter is the only book that explores the reasons that old places matter to people. Although people often feel very deeply about the old places of their lives, they don’t have the words to express why. This book brings these ideas together in evocative language and with illustrative images for a broad audience. The book reveals the fundamentally important yet under-recognized role old places play in our lives. While many people feel a deep-seated connection to old places -- from those who love old houses, to the millions of tourists who are drawn to historic cities, to the pilgrims who flock to ancient sites throughout the world -- few can articulate why. The book explores these deep attachments people have with old places –the feelings of belonging, continuity, stability, identity and memory, as well as the more traditional reasons that old places have been deemed by society to be important, such as history, national identity, and architecture. This book will be appealing to anyone who has ever loved an old place. But more importantly, it will be an useful resource to articulate why old places are meaningful to people and their communities. This book will help people understand that the feeling many have for old places is supported by a wide variety of fields, and that the continued existence of these old places is good. It will give people the words and phrases to understand and express why old places matter.
Trade ReviewThompson Mayes presents the case for being loyal to places we love. Actually, he makes the case for falling in love and remaining true through a series of thoughtful and stimulating essays. Rome is Mayes’ muse. One of the world’s oldest and most significant cities, Rome provides the inspiration for his clarion call for preservation. The interdisciplinary community of the American Academy in Rome, where Mayes was a Fellow, enriches his deep grounding in the historic preservation institutions built heritage of the United States. Mayes’ essays are lively and full of insight and hope. Why Old Places Matter is essential reading for anyone engaged in the design or planning of the built environment. -- Frederick Steiner, Dean and Paley Professor, Co-Director, The Ian L. McHarg Center: Urbanism + Ecology, University of Pennsylvania
Mayes has framed the context of historic preservation for the next generation. Whether you’re a student, an activist, a professional in the field, or just care about your community, there is no better way to understand the ‘why’ of historic preservation than by reading this superb book. -- Donovan D. Rypkema, President, Heritage Strategies International
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Foreword, by Stephanie K. Meeks Prologue Introduction Chapter 1: Continuity Chapter 2: Memory Chapter 3: Individual Identity Chapter 4: Civic, State, National, and Universal Identity Chapter 5: Beauty Chapter 6: History Chapter 7: Architecture Chapter 8: Sacred Chapter 9: Creativity Chapter 10: Learning Chapter 11: Sustainability Chapter 12: Ancestors Chapter 13: Community Chapter 14: Economics Epilogue Bibliography
