> As to facadists... it is my understanding that many of them were
> brought over to the US following WWII and put in high positions
> with the oil companies... tying into the auto industry...
> relating to the highway system... encouraging urban flight to the
> suburbs... necessitating increased parking lot areas and
> therefore making facadism an economic viability for developers.

> ][<en
============

There may be one hiding in the wood pile or getting ready to knock on
your back door. They could be anywhere and looking at the publication
dates of these two books and Ken's above observations, we have started
gathering evidence. Soon there will be enough material to sell a story
to the NTHP magazine.

This one provides justification for the process.

(1991 The Construction of New Buildings Behind Historic Facades
        by: D. Highfield, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK
Contents: Preface. The redevelopment and conservation of historic
buildings. Why facade retention? The acceptability of facade retention
as a means of architectural conservation. The planning and
decision-making process. Design criteria for facade-retention schemes.
The technical aspects of facade retention. Case studies. Index., 160pp.

This one reinforces  the idea of facades as separate pieces of art

(1996) Building Facades: Faces, Figures, and Ornamental Details
        by: Ernest Burden
A visual library of the world's most beautiful building facades, this
original work offers architects, preservationists, historians, and
restorers the first complete guide to the identification and restoration
of the "face" of buildings. This book employs a photo-essay approach to
chronicle the diversity of building facades around the world. Includes
multiple cross-referencing that allows readers to access specific
information or images chronologically or geographically, as well as by
building type, structural location, type of detail, or material.299pp.,
cloth.

Anybody else with related info please provide copies to Ken.

Bryan

On second thought, maybe we could set up a clearing house for building
fronts. I'd be interested in a nice 16th century Dutch brick townhouse
with those ornate gables for my "blue collar" neighborhood suburban wood
frame house. Anybody got any likely leads?