facadism

English

Alternative forms

• façadism

Etymology

• facade +‎ -ism

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /fəˈsɑːd.ɪzəm/, /fəˈsɑːd.ɪzm̩/

Noun

facadism (uncountable)

1. (architecture) the practice of retaining only the facade of an old building when redeveloping a site.
   • 1991, David Highfield, “Preface”, in The Construction of New Buildings Behind Historic Facades‎^[1], →ISBN, page ix:

     The Construction of new buildings behind historic facades, better know as facade retention or ‘facadism’, is a unique phase in the history of architecture.

   • 1998, Sir Patrick Abercrombie, editor, The Town Planning Review‎^[2], volume 69, page 355:

     In Chapter 10 the author goes on to explore the ways in which new development can be inserted in cityscapes through various means. In particular he examines the increased use of facadism...

   • 2003, International Council on Monuments and Sites, edited by Dinu Bumbaru, Heritage at Risk: ICOMOS World Report 2002/2003 on Monuments and Sites in Danger‎^[3], →ISBN, page 105:

     Local officers are happy with façadism because it means the townscape stays intact — and nobody should ask what happens behind the facing walls

   • 2008, John Pendlebury, Conservation in the Age of Consensus‎^[4], →ISBN, page 177:

     Façadism, with its emphasis on show and its disregard for authenticity, is very much a postmodern approach.

2. (architecture, construction) a method where the facade is designed and/or constructed independently of the remainder of the rest of the building.