Architecture reflects core area values

June 24, 2005

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - More than 50 warehouse-style buildings line the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, with dozens of strip malls and mini-box stores thrown in. Add to the mix a German-style pub, a couple of barn-like retail centers and an eclectic mix of gas stations, farms and gravel pits and you begin to get an idea of what Valley architecture is like.

This hodgepodge collection of buildings is growing fast and increasingly defining the landscape between the Valley's two core cities - Palmer and Wasilla.

Auto-friendly architecture dominates Mat-Su

When pressed for an answer, local architects have a hard time describing the architectural landscape of the Valley, but they keep coming back to the Palmer-Wasilla Highway as the prime example of what's happening.

"The buildings that dominate are strip developments because people have their vehicles and they like to drive places," said local architect Gary Wolf.

The ability to drive from one end of the Valley to the next in short order has created an interesting challenge for local architects as they design new buildings.

Unlike the horse-and-buggy days when buildings were closer together in core areas, the post-automobile society is more spread out, which means modern buildings are less connected aesthetically.

"You end up building stand-alone buildings that have nothing to do with their surroundings," Wolf said. "The buildings don't say anything to either side of them."

As the owner of Palmer-based Wolf Architecture, Wolf has helped design countless schools, government buildings and private projects over the last couple of decades.

While a number of buildings stand out to Wolf as quality structures with interesting designs, the problem, he said, is that they sit like islands unto themselves, making it difficult to create architectural cohesiveness.

Veteran Mat-Su architect Bonnie Allen works for Architects Alaska, and without making value judgments, she said the defining element of local buildings is individualism.

"By and large our buildings are celebrations of individual accomplishments," she said. "There is also more of a corporate presence now which is not indigenous to Alaska."

The cheaper, the better

The other big element is economics. As much as architects revel in designing landmark buildings, the money for such projects is scarce. Most people put function and economics over artistry.

This leaves architects with the task of tweaking strip malls and boxy stores in an effort to make them look just a tad more interesting. Allen said not many people are concerned with building landmarks.

"Clients don't want to play that game," she said. "Alaskans have a no-nonsense approach. There is a sense here that practicality is important."

Wolf agrees.

"Economics definitely drives the look of things," he said. "Our clients for the most part are trying to build the most building they can for a given amount of money, so we end up using a lot of metal siding because it's durable, low maintenance and cost effective. Everybody is kind of building these little retail centers."

Even with a limited budget, Wolf said small things like highlighting entrance ways can still enhance a building's visual appeal and minimize large, boxy shapes.

Long-term residents make better buildings

Over the past 30 years, much Valley architecture has been influenced by a transient population that came to Alaska to make money and leave. These people often built structures on limited budgets, with little concern about how they might look 20 or 30 years down the road. As a consequence, many buildings haven't aged well.

"People were building with the expectation to leave," Allen said. "They had an exit plan and they were building to sell or rent to someone else."

But Wolf said the tide of transients seems to be waning as more and more people move into the Valley to live and raise families.

"We try to convince our clients now when they build a building that they are making a contribution to our community," he said "It will be here longer than any of us. It's really important to give the best building they can because this is building the urban fabric of the community. People are taking that more seriously now. People are staying longer and they're willing to invest more."

Palmer vs. Wasilla, an architectural contrast

The contrasting architectural styles of individualism versus community are best illustrated in the differences between the cities of Palmer and Wasilla.

Neither city has building design requirements apart from height, size and safety stipulations, but they still offer two very different architectural atmospheres.

Wasilla was built over the last 80 years, with sporadic growth spurts during that time. The fact that the city is fairly spread out with no central downtown area is a reflection of the individualism of a frontier town, Allen said.

In contrast, the downtown area of Palmer was largely designed in the early 1930s by David Williams. He was the architect who designed the current borough building, train depot, Colony Inn building and several other landmarks in Palmer's core area, including the green space between the library and the borough building.

"Palmer started out more unified because it was laid out all at once by a single architect," Allen said. "That created a greater sense of community in terms of architecture."

Wolf said he enjoys designing buildings in Palmer because there is more opportunity to let one building comment or interact with another.

"There's actually a grid to the city of Palmer," he said. "It seems like when Wasilla does a public building like the sports center, they stick it out in the hinterlands somewhere. It doesn't seem like they are as interested in developing the city with a core, where civic buildings make the core of the city."

Cities plan for the future

Both Palmer and Wasilla, however, have what they call "planned unit developments" - areas of the city that can be approved for special projects.

In Wasilla, such a development is being planned near the post office and museum. If approved by the planning commission and city council, the area could become a multi-use complex that mixes commercial, residential and recreational uses. Such a move could create a more cohesive architectural environment.

In addition to the planned development, Wasilla is also considering whether to approve $80,000 for two studies that could lead to a downtown enhancement project. The project calls for a comprehensive plan from Crusey Street to Lucille Street and from the Parks Highway to Bogard.

The plan is to develop the space into a unified area with lighted sidewalks, parks and historic districts. The Wasilla City Council will take the issue up at its next meeting, Monday.

Palmer, too, is moving in the direction of a more defined urban center.

Currently the city is revising its comprehensive plan through public forums, held once a month to discuss architectural design, landscape and other aspects affecting the city's visual image and overall development.

After the public meetings conclude, Palmer planning technician Dawn Webster said the city hopes to adopt a final comprehensive plan sometime this fall. If the city council approves the plan, the next step would be creating ordinances to put it into action.

"Unfortunately we don't have a theme for the town yet," Webster said. "It's a wonderful goal, but I don't know if the city is ready at this time."

Allen, however, said she thinks the Valley is beginning to see the importance of more cohesive communities. It may have been 70 years since Williams first designed the buildings and layout of downtown Palmer, but Allen said his core ideas are still relevant.

"He was ahead of his time and we are coming back to those ideas," she said.

Contact Joel Davidson at 352-2266, or joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.