New Construction and
Additions
Statesville Historic
Preservation
Commission
Page 46
Decks
The deck is a popular contemporary outside amenity that is
comparable
in use to the more traditional patio or terrace. It is usually
constructed of wood and raised on posts
above ground level to align with the first floor level of the house.
Most typically, decks are
located on the rear elevation of a house and lead out to the backyard
via steps. Like any addition to a historic house, a deck should be
discreetly located, compatibly designed, and structurally
self-supporting. A deck should not be so large or prominent that
it visually overpowers the historic building or the site.
Planning Considerations
Locating a deck so that it does not compromise the overall
historic character of the building and site can be challenging. Since
decks are
inherently contemporary in character, it is important to site them so
they are not visible from the street. Usually, an inconspicuous
location along the building’s rear elevation can be identified. By
insetting a deck at least six inches from either rear corner its
visibility can be further minimized. It is also important to locate
decks so they do not require the removal of significant building or
site features, such as original porches or mature trees. To avoid
unnecessary damage to the historic house, the deck should be
constructed to be self-supporting and with minimal structural
connections to the house.
Given their exposure to the elements, it is best to construct decks of
pressure-treated lumber or naturally decay-resistant woods, like
redwood or cypress. In addition, decks should be painted or stained to
protect them from moisture and ultraviolet light. Painting or
staining a deck also provides an opportunity to enhance its
compatibility with the historic house through the selection of
complementary
colors. The State Building Code requires a railing for safety on most
decks. Rather than imitating the original details of the historic
house, it is best to select simple—but compatible—details for the deck
railings and steps. Traditional treatments such as foundation plantings
or lattice screening can soften the impact of the exposed deck
structure and visually tie the deck to the house foundation.
Page 47
Guidelines: Decks
1.Introduce decks, if desired, in locations that do not
compromise
the overall historic character of the building or site.
2.Locate decks inconspicuously in areas that are
not visible from
the street—typically along the rear facade, inset from either rear
corner. Locate the deck so that it does not damage, diminish, or
conceal significant features of the building or site.
3.Design decks so that their size and scale do
not visually overpower
the historic building or site. It is not appropriate to introduce a
deck if it will substantially alter the site’s proportion of constructed
area to unbuilt area.
4.Design decks and the associated steps and
railings so they are
compatible in scale, material, proportions, and details with the
historic
house.
5.Construct decks to be structurally
self-supporting and attach
them to historic houses so that the damage to historic features is
minimized.
6.Protect significant site features, such as
mature trees, from
damage during or as a result of construction by minimizing related
ground disturbance and limiting the use of heavy construction equipment.
Page 48
Additions to Historic Buildings
The continued use of a building often leads to changes over time
as the functions or occupants shift. Sometimes the need for more or
different space results in an addition to the structure. Within
Statesville’s historic districts, the goal is to ensure that additions
are
compatible to the original building in design and sensitively sited so
that they do not compromise the overall character of the historic
building or its setting.
Planning Considerations
Initial considerations for an addition include size and
location. If the addition is too large it may overpower the original
building. Similarly, an addition on a prominent facade would compromise
the historic integrity of the building. Typically, rear elevations can
provide an inconspicuous location for a modest addition that is not
visible from the street. Insetting the addition a foot or more from
either rear corner will minimize its visibility and clearly
differentiate it from the existing side wall plane. The overall form,
proportion, and massing of the addition are other important
considerations in the design of an addition. Roof form and height
should be compatible with and deferential to the original building. At
the next level of decision making, are selections of compatible finish
materials and the careful selection and placement of windows and, if
applicable, doors that are compatible with the original building in
terms of their
proportion, scale, and configuration. The final design should reflect
compatibility on the primary decisions, yet, differentiate the
addition from the original building in some more subtle ways.
If feasible, additions should be designed to be self-supporting and
their connections to the original building kept to a minimum so that
the removal or destruction of historic materials is limited.
As with any construction within the historic districts, it is important
to minimize any excavation, regrading or ground disturbance and to
protect significant site features so they are not damaged or destroyed.
Page 49
Guidelines: Additions to Historic Buildings
1.Introduce additions, if desired, in locations that do not
compromise
the overall historic character of the building or site including its
topography, significant site features, and distinctive views.
2.Locate additions inconspicuously in areas that
are not visible
from the street—typically along the rear facade and inset from either
rear corner. Locate additions so that they do not damage, diminish, or
conceal significant features of the building or site.
3.Design additions so that their size and scale
do not visually
overpower the historic building or site. It is not appropriate to
introduce
an addition if it will substantially alter the site’s proportion of
constructed area to unbuilt area.
4.Design additions so that they are compatible
in roof form,
massing and overall proportion with the historic building.
5.Design additions so that the shape, placement,
materials, scale,
size, pattern, and proportion of the window and door openings are
compatible with the windows and doors of the original building.
6.Design additions and their features so they
are compatible in
scale, materials, proportions, and details with the historic house.
Select exterior materials and finishes that are compatible with those of
the historic building in terms of composition, module, texture, pattern,
color, and detail.
7.Design additions so that they are compatible
with yet discernible
from the original building. It is not appropriate to add features or
details to an addition in an attempt to create a false historic
appearance.
8.Construct additions to be structurally
self-supporting and attach
them to historic houses so that the damage to historic features is
minimized.
9.Protect significant site features, such as
mature trees, from
damage during or as a result of construction by minimizing related
ground disturbance and limiting the use of heavy construction equipment.
Page 50
.
New Construction
Within Statesville’s historic districts, an undeveloped lot or
the loss of a historic building may occasionally provide the
opportunity for the construction of new buildings within the historic
context of a district. If properly sited and compatibly designed,
infill buildings can enhance the overall character of a district
streetscape. New construction should always reinforce the pattern and
siting of earlier houses in relationship to the street.
Planning Considerations
Siting of new buildings is critical and must be carefully
tailored to the specific streetscape. Although the setback from the
street and the spacing between houses may vary a great deal within a
large historic district, these factors are generally quite consistent
within a specific block. Typical as well throughout the districts is
the orientation of
the front facade to the street. The siting of any proposed design
should comply with the precedents set by the neighboring historic
houses and should also take into consideration any mature trees or
other significant features of the site. Other than the construction of
appropriately sited and scaled accessory structures and garages, the
construction of infill buildings in rear yards is not appropriate in
the historic districts because it conflicts with the traditional
pattern of siting and setbacks of principal structures in Statesville’s
historic districts.
Although new buildings within a historic district should reflect the
contemporary era of construction, they must also be compatible in
terms of building height, roof form, street facade proportion, scale
and overall massing with the neighboring historic houses. Beyond
the initial decisions regarding overall form, their compatibility must
also be reviewed in terms of finish materials, the selection and
placement of windows and doors, and architectural details.
While ground disturbance is essential for new construction, it is
important to keep any excavation and regrading to a minimum and to
limit the area impacted by construction equipment and related
activities so that significant site features, including archaeological
features, are not damaged or destroyed.
Page 51
Guidelines: New Construction
1.Site a new building so that it is consistent with neighboring
historic buildings in orientation to and setback from the street as well
as in distance and spacing between buildings.
2.Site and design a new building so that it does
not compromise
the overall historic character of the site including its topography,
significant site features, and distinctive views.
3.Design a new building so that its size and
scale do not visually
overpower neighboring historic buildings.
4.Design a new building so that it is compatible
in roof form,
massing and overall proportion with neighboring historic buildings.
5.Design a new building so that the proportion
of the width to
height of its street facade is similar to that of neighboring historic
buildings.
6.Design a new building so that the shape,
placement, materials,
scale, size, pattern, and proportion of the window and door openings
are compatible with the windows and doors of neighboring historic
buildings.
7.Design a new building and its features so they
are compatible in
scale, materials, proportions, and details with neighboring historic
buildings. Select exterior materials and finishes that are compatible
with those of neighboring historic buildings in terms of composition,
module, texture, pattern, color, and detail.
8.Design a new building so that it is compatible
with yet discernible
from historic buildings in the district. It is not appropriate to add
features or details to new construction in an attempt to create a false
historic appearance.
9.Protect significant site features, such as
mature trees and archaeological
resources, from damage during or as a result of construction
by minimizing related ground disturbance and limiting the use of
heavy construction equipment.