The Cornhusker Hotel: A case study of the meaning of architectural ornamentation.

摘要

Historical restoration has gained support through efforts to reclaim, salvage, and restore buildings or their components that hold meaning and contribute to the identity of communities. The case study of the Cornhusker Hotel tells of the struggle of the citizens of Lincoln, Nebraska to preserve the building's exterior sculpture and is unique in providing a perspective concerning the reclamation of architectural ornamentation. By salvaging the existing stone faces from the former hotel and placing them in a new structure, the residents of Lincoln demonstrated the value of these forms to the community. The story of this restoration includes a synthesis of viewpoints that includes the hotel owners, community members, historic preservationists, and architects.;This dissertation adds to literature concerning architectural embellishment through a unique and inclusive perspective of human interaction with such forms. The words of the participants of the project and those interested in the Cornhusker Hotel and its sculpture reflect personal viewpoints concerning the meaning of architectural ornamentation. Qualitative research techniques used in this research reveal feelings and emotions as told through the words of those who came in contact with the building. The resulting knowledge can contribute to studies examining the impact of the designed environment on the people who inhabit it.