Unearthing the Architectural Palimpsest

 

Bivalve mollusk fossils collected from the excavation for Phase 2 of Eugene Civic Park (my photo)

Phase 2 of the Civic Park project in Eugene is underway. Upon completion, the facility will add a 2,500-seat grandstand, an elevated concourse, lockers/showers/toilets, a press box, and storage to complement the existing KIDSPORTS fieldhouse, artificial turf field, ticket office, and parking. Chambers Construction is presently excavating the site. During this work, numerous ancient fossils of bivalve mollusks have revealed themselves. Long entombed within the shale deposits of the Eugene Formation, these fossils are evidence that the Willamette Valley was once ocean-covered, millions of years ago.

This aspect of the project’s site fascinates me and got me thinking about how layered and complex the history of any place we work with truly is. As an architect, I appreciate that our architectural heritage can be understood as an accumulation of layers, whether those layers are historical, cultural, or physical in character.

The term “palimpsest” has been appropriated by architectural theorists to describe a concept that draws inspiration from its original use in literary and historical contexts. In its traditional sense, a palimpsest refers to a manuscript or piece of writing that has been erased or partially erased, and then overwritten with new text, often resulting in a complex layering of different texts and meanings. 

In its architectural and urban interpretation, a palimpsest is a place or space that bears visible traces of its historical layers, revealing that accumulation of different periods, styles, and functions. The idea behind this appropriation is that cities and buildings can be seen as representing a dynamic and layered history that is physically manifested in their structures and forms. 

By considering the built environment as a palimpsest, architects can seek to understand and reconcile the tensions between preservation and transformation, tradition and innovation. The concept of the architectural palimpsest encourages a deeper understanding of the historical, cultural, and social dimensions of a place, as well as the relationships between its various architectural elements and the narratives they embody. By adopting such a mindset, we acknowledge that architecture exists within a continuum, where new interventions become part of an ongoing dialog with the existing built fabric. 

My professor Bill Kleinsasser wrote about how it is possible to see the entire history of a place recorded and presented in the built artifacts and spaces that form it. This, he said, is particularly true in the great cities of the world that have preserved and added to the contributions handed down by many generations. These cities have accumulated built forms, ideas, and principles that would be impossible to duplicate at a single moment in time. I learned from him to respect the historical, cultural, and social dimensions of any place, because all project sites provide us with a means to realize the continuity of human existence. 

There are plenty of examples of how contemporary architects and their projects have exhibited an appreciation for the palimpsest; here are just a few: 

• The High Line, New York City – The High Line is an adaptive reuse of an elevated railway into a vibrant linear park, one that has created a unique urban experience.
• Granville Island, Vancouver, B.C. – Granville Island is a repurposing of an inner-city warehousing and manufacturing backwater into a popular multiuse cultural and commercial destination that retains the bones of its industrial architecture. 
• Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao – The museum’s distinctive titanium-clad design and sculptural form have become an emblem of contemporary architecture, harmonizing with the industrial heritage of the city while revitalizing the waterfront.

The High Line, New York City (my photo)

But what about the history and culture of a place for which little in the way of records or a built legacy exists? Eugene is part of the indigenous homeland of the Kalapuya people. A tremendous amount of knowledge and culture was lost with the decimation of the Kalapuya population following the arrival of white settlers and the subsequent dispossession of the people’s traditional lands. We do bear a responsibility to recognize the entire history of the sites we design upon. At the least, we can inspire ongoing awareness and action, and collectively accept responsibility for understanding the continuing impact upon the descendants of the historical Kalapuya communities. This awareness can meaningfully contribute to our region’s palimpsest. 

Archaeological discoveries can likewise impact and influence contemporary design solutions. Investigations are often necessary when artifacts are encountered during excavations. Influenced by archaeological findings, architects can develop a more informed and nuanced understanding of a project site. A multidisciplinary approach incorporating such discoveries promotes a respectful and contextually sensitive engagement with the layers of history, fosters sustainable design practices, and preserves the integrity of the palimpsest for future generations. 

Expanding the use of the term palimpsest to additionally encompass pre-human interventions and their influence on architects and urban designers is an extension of the concept. While the traditional use of the palimpsest refers to the layering of human history and culture, applying it to pre-human interventions introduces an even broader perspective to the appreciation of a locality. 

When we consider pre-human interventions as part of the palimpsest, we acknowledge the significance of natural formations, geological processes, and ecological systems that have shaped a particular site over time. Furthermore, by doing so we recognize that the physical environment and its natural history are integral to understanding and designing within a specific context. 

Phase 2 work at the west side of Civic Park, May 30, 2023 (my photo) 

While the discovery of the marine fossils came too late for our team to incorporate an understanding of the significance of their presence into our design for Civic Park, it has enhanced my appreciation for the site. This moment is merely a tiny blip on the geologic timeline, so it’s humbling to consider human existence on a much vaster scale. Such knowledge is as powerful as the historical connections and evidence of continuous human effort are to the palimpsest. While this expanded use of the term may not align with its traditional literary or historical definition, it serves as a conceptual tool to explore the interplay between human and natural forces, broadening the discourse around the palimpsest and enriching our understanding of the complex layers that contribute to the identity of a place. 

Complexity really is the crux of the matter. The palimpsest and the notion of complexity are closely correlated. The palimpsest is a physical manifestation of complexity, where multiple layers, histories, and meanings may coexist within a single entity. Both concepts acknowledge and appreciate the intricate and multifaceted nature of the world, whether it is in the physical environment or within complex systems and structures. 

I’m glad the serendipitous unearthing of eons-old, mineralized mollusks prompted me to muse about the nature of change and how incorporating or preserving evidence of that change enriches our built environment. The concept of the palimpsest underscores how architecture is profoundly influenced by the complex stratigraphy of time and place.