Community Corner

Newport Tree Society, Cliffside Inn, Seaweed, Win Doris Duke Awards

The award winners were chosen by a committee comprised of representatives from NRF, the City of Newport, and individuals involved in historic preservation at the local and state levels.

The Newport Restoration Foundation has announced the winners of this year's Doris Duke Preservation Awards and they reflect the importance of blending the landscape with architecture into a cohesive whole.

The winners, which will receive recognition at a celebration to be held on Duke's Newport Home, Rough Point, on Sept, 25, are the Newport Tree Society/The Newport Arboretum, for it's city-wide heritage horticulture projects and community education efforts; Bill and Nancy Bagwill, for Cliffside Inn, which has been meticulously restored; and Holly Bannister and Douglas Newhouse, for Seaweed, which was restored with a few changes to its original design.

“Cliffside Inn initially caught our eye because of the attention paid to its landscape design which accentuates the historic front façade,” said Naomi Neville, architect, City Council member and member of the awards committee. “Rebuilding the canopy entry at Seaweed brings the architecture into the landscape. And the Tree Society dedication to preserving Newport's unique, historic landscape that accentuates not only historic structures but surrounds all of Newport and adds a level of living historical fabric onto every neighborhood.”

The award winners were chosen by a committee comprised of representatives from NRF, the City of Newport, and individuals involved in historic preservation at the local and state levels. Winners will also be publicly acknowledged on August 27th at Newport City Hall.

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“Jointly, the 3 projects exemplify the importance of landscape's integration into the historical fabric as it acts as the weave between our beautiful unique historical structures,” continued Neville. “With a history that stretches beyond 375 years, Newport is fortunate that the early builders understood landscapes importance and the City we celebrate today is a full amalgamation of historical architecture, natural landscape and historical manmade landscape.”

All proceeds from the awards celebration benefit the Doris Duke Fund for Historic Preservation, which distributes grants to civic and non-profit organizations on Aquidneck Island and Jamestown. Administered by the NRF, these grants are generally given for bricks-and-mortar projects or project planning. The funds from the 2013 awards celebration benefited projects by: Chevra Kadisha Association of Newport County, City of Newport, Star of the Sea, LaFarge Restoration Fund and St. Columba’s Chapel.

Find out what's happening in Newportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Support for the 2014 Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards has been provided by ArtCare Resources, Banfi Wines, BankNewport, Bowen’s Wharf, DF Dwyer Insurance Agency, Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, Home & Commercial Security, Sandra Liotus Lighting Design, Slocum Gordon, The Cocktail Guru and Van Gogh Imports.  Sponsor opportunities are still available.  Contact Jeanine Kober at Jeanine@NewportRestoration.org.

More information and tickets to the awards celebration are available by calling 401-849-7300 or at http://www.newportrestoration.org/calendar/details/36955-doris_duke_historic


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