This architectural photography project was a renovation. The University of Arkansas Fort Smith has a historic interpretation program and was gifted this house in downtown Van Buren. MAHG Architects has been involved in the restoration of the Willhaf House for the past six years in multiple stages.
The house was built in1851. A back addition was constructed in 1852 and porch added in 1858. In the photos below, you can see a snap shot I took of a framed print with the before images of the exterior, what a huge change. Even the magnolia tree in front was there when the house was built. There are parts of the interior that have been completely renovated and upgraded to last for generations while the certain features are kept for the original historical feel. For example, it's important for me to keep vertical walls vertical and horizontal floors, ceilings and door tops horizontal in the photos. While photographing the hallways and a couple of rooms, the walls would be vertical but the floors tilted and not in alignment with ceiling. Also, in certain rooms of the house the floors creaked, as they should, preserving the historic value.
One of the cool features of the house renovation is what I call the 'windows to the past'. There are glassed windows in the walls giving you a view into the ORIGINAL 1851 walls and a 2 areas allowing you to view into the attic/roof construction. They have had the wood tested and found that the logs were from the west Arkansas area. You can learn more about the restoration here.
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