BOOK REVIEWS to conservation. A fascinating account of the developing opportunities and pressures as the Czech Republic emerges from communism to an independent state is given by Dr Joseph Stulc, Director, State Institute for the Care of Historic Monuments, Czech Republic. Entitled 'Prague - a City Poised at the Cross-roads', this formed the keynote of the original consultation. The threat posed to the historic legacy and by the push for commercial investment is felt most acutely in Prague, but is, of course, a problem shared by al1 historic cities. AsPeter Burman statesinhisintroduction, "Prague is like a microcosm of all our considerations, relating to the historic city and its future in the late twentieth century and beyond". The third and final section comes under the title of 'Practice Issues'. In my view this part of the document is less well structured. The contributions, although interesting in themselves, do not appear to form part of an integrated pattern. Nevertheless, papers include a fascinating account by Jasvinder Singh Arjani of an effort to rejuvenate a town in India through conservation, and a description by StefBinst, Project Co-ordinator of Monumentenwacht Vlaanderen, of a novel initiative in Flanders and the Netherlands offering subsidised annual surveys to owners of historic buildings. Also included are a perspective from Historic Scotland by Frank Lawrie and an account of the transformation of attitudes towards conservation in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, by Sir Bernard Fielden whose conservation consultancy has had a long and successful association with that town. Books based on conference proceedings are not always as coherent and well integrated as this publication. That it is successful is due not only to the quality of the individual papers themselves, but must also reflect the level of organisation and briefing by the initiators of the original consultation. It is therefore disappointing that more Conservation Officers were not able to attend. Although there can be no substitute for attending the Consultation itself, the resulting publication is inexpensive and worthwhile in its own right. Philip Grover CONTEXT49 THE USA'SANSWER TO PEVSNER Buildings of Michigan. Kathryn Bishop Eckert. Oxford University Press 1993. 603pp, Copious b+w photos. ISBN O 19 509379 8. Softback. £13.99. Hardback £27 50. Oxford University Press has embarked on the publication of a state-by-state Survey of American architecture. Commissioned by the American Society of Architectural Historians, this is one of the first four volumes which nm to about 500 pages apiece. Other states covered are Iowa, Alaska and the District of Colombia. A fiftyfive page introduction to the history of Michigan, its development, building types and urban development, with particular reference to Detroit and its industrial base, sets the scene for the area-by-areagazetteerofbuildings almost exclusively of post 1780 date. Basic details of the buildings are given running to between 100 and 500 words on each often supplemented by black and white photos. Not surprisingly, a good proportion are 20th century and include al1 manner of fascinating esoteric constructions many of which remain in their original form. There are copious maps showing where each building is, a glossary and index. Written by Kathryn Bishop Eckert, the State Historic Preservation Officer, this book is of use to anyone visiting the state with an interest in architectural history. Principally, a reference book, it's good value as a paperback. Francis Biard BEHINDTHEFRONT Facadism. Jonathan Richards. Routledge. lstedition 1994. Hardback. 167pp., 42 b+w illus. ISBN 0 415 08316 8. £45.00. "A market technique of heritage planning which aims to satisfy contemporary demands within the built environment." This is one eminently quotable quote from a book which is overflowing with them, most of which are not the authors' own. This understated and stylishly presented book originated as a college thesis. Unfortunately it continues in that mode with extraneous, detailed discussions on planning theory, spatial organisation and socio-economics with a bit of politicising for good measure repeated throughout each chapter. The introduction sets out the background and context of the subject matter; chapter 2, 'What is Facadism?', neatly offers several alternative explanations. The author gives examples offacadism here and abroad which can be easily argued from an historical perspective. He cites problems associated with the construction and repair of facades, for example scaffolding obstructing pavements, all of which verge on the trivial. The planning case histories, painstakingly chronicled, do not enhance the debate on facadism but rather act as an aide memoir to development control planners. The black and white plates and photographs are explicit and interesting, and the overall presentation of the book cannot be faulted; however, it is doubtful whether the subject matter can sustain abook of this length when approached in such a manner, and one suspects that the original thesis would have been much more en.lightening. Jackie Dryhurst VICTORIANVALUES Tbe Victorian Church - Architecture and Society. Edited by Chris Brooks and Andrew Saint, Manchester University Press. 1995. Softback. 228pp. 82 b+w illus. ISBN07190 4020 5.£16.99. Probably most interesting of all for Context readers is Chris Miele's '"Their interest and habit": professionalism and the restoration of mediaeval churches, 1837-77'. This is a mine of information, notably on the RIBA's 'Committee on the Conservation of Ancient Architectural Monuments and Remains' formed in 1864 to oppose harsh or ill-judged restorations, this 'permanent RIBAsubcommittee' published a pamphlet of guidelines on restoration of ancient buildings, and intervened in individual cases. As Miele notes, "it was remarkable that Morris and the SPAB refused to work with the CCAMR or even mention its existence in early published statements". His chapter fills in an important gap in the picture. Martin Cherry's chapter on 'Patronage, the Anglican Church and the local architect' focuses on the Haywards of Exeter and the Goddards of Leicester. The book concludes with Anthony Symondson on 'Theology, worship, and the late Victorian church'. All the contributors wrote their essays up without payment or other incentive. They, and the Victorian Society are to be congratulated on this very well presented book which provides a stimulating insight into Victorian society at large, as well as into the churches built for it. John Preston ((p-l)rcg Based on a lecture series held by the Victorian Society in 1992 on building the Victorian church, each chapter is closely focused (e.g. Andrew Saint's 'Anglican churchbuilding in London, 1790-1890; from state subsidy to the free market'), while the whole provides a fascinating overview touching on the rural parish (Chris Brooks on East Devon), nonconformism, and church building in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. ~pecialii,ti,~upplieri, anb (l[ontractori, for tbe l\epair anb ftlaintenanceof T!,)ii,toric;hluilbingi, m:eiepbone: (01536) 373 (431) MATURE LIME PUTTY LIMEWASHANDCOLOUREDBRICKWASHES LIMEPLASTERSANDRENDERS ORDINARYMORTAR POZZUOLANICMORTARS HISTORICALEADPAINTS TRADITIONALSOFTDISTEMPER 41
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