Overall page navigation start option: INTRODUCTION: What is the Historic Character? STEP ONE: Identify the building's overall visual aspects STEP TWO: Identify the close range visual aspects STEP THREE: Identify the interior visual aspects Introduction to Identify the Historic Character QUIZ
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RELATED SPACES: Look Inside the Building
This graphic Number 3 is non-navigational This is an image of a hallway--the circulation artery for the building. It leads both horizontally and vertically to other rooms and spaces, but is also an open and inviting stairway. Photo: John Tennant.
Look at the Building's Individual Space Individual Space
Look at the Building's Related Spaces Related Spaces
Look at the Building's Interior Features Interior Features
Look at the Building's Surface Materials + Finishes Surface Materials + Finishes
Look at the Building's Exposed Structural Elements Exposed Structural Elements
Visual Character Check List checklist
The stairway itself is the second part of this sequence of related spaces, and provides continuing access to the upper floors. This is one example of related spaces, but it does not have to be elegant space. Photo: John Tennant.		 Walk Through Historic Buildings

ASK
Are these interior spaces visually linked to each other and is that spatial relationship part of the visual character? Yes.

LOOK + IDENTIFY
The hallway (top) is the circulation artery for the building, and leads both horizontally and vertically to other rooms and spaces, but is also an open and inviting stairway. The stairway itself (bottom) is the second part of this sequence of related spaces, and provides continuing access to the upper floors. This is one example, but it does not have to be elegant space.

WHAT IF THESE RELATED SPACES ARE ALTERED? Almost any change to these spaces, such as enclosing the stair, would seriously impact their interior character and the way that character is perceived.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
Preserve character-defining related spaces in the process of rehabilitating a historic building for a continuing or new use!
Identifying Visual Character HOME
visual character