Goodnight Raleigh | a look at the art, architecture, history, and people of the city at night

2011: Year Of Rapid Disappearance Of Raleigh’s Places With Character

401 Oberlin, one of the newest proposed teardown projects

When looking at the number of planned development projects centered around the downtown area, one feels a sense of relief that Raleigh is well insulated from the economic woes currently plaguing most cities in the United States. While on one hand these are a reassuring sign of progress, on the other they represent a rapid loss of unique buildings with character that define Raleigh.

Before they’re gone, let’s take a look at what we’re losing.

The Pope House Museum and Community Challenge

by John Morris
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One of the most overlooked historic houses in Raleigh is also one of the most important, the Dr. M.T. Pope House on S. Wilmington Street. Although modest in appearance, it’s a narrow two-story Victorian row house, a style with few surviving examples remaining in Raleigh.

This house is currently part of the 2011 Community Challenge put on by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. So before learning about the history of the man and house, please go to the National Trust web site and VOTE for this house in the challenge. Registration takes only a minute.

The winner of the contest is eligible for up to $25,000 is grant funds. The Pope House is deserving of this and needs your help.

Apple’s “Spaceship” Campus Proposal Looks Familiar

by John Morris
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Top: Rendering of Apple’s new headquarters in Cupertino, CA. Bottom: Model of Columbus Circle Shopping Center in NYC by former NCSU architecture professor Matthew Nowicki. Bottom image courtesy of and copyright NCSU SCRC.

The announcement of Apple’s new campus in Cupertino, California created a bit of buzz amongst the company’s fans as well as architecture enthusiasts. The design has been likened by many to a spaceship. It will feature several technological innovations as well as provide its own power from an on-site natural gas plant.

While many were focusing on how new and different this building is, I couldn’t help but think how similar it is to the Columbus Circle Shopping Center Proposal (unbuilt), drawn up more than 60 years ago by the former head of NCSU’s architecture program, Matthew Nowicki.

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