The impetus for Lawrence-Zñiga’s qualitative study of residential historic preservation began in 2004 in the context of a course he was teaching on the subject of architecture. This study
examines civic engagement over issues of neighborhood aesthetics by focusing on the power of domestic materiality. This power is situated and produced in the home as occupants decorate and
remodel settings and material contents imbuing them with significance. The concept of domestic materiality revolves around socially constructed practices that shape homeowner identity and
lifestyles, but also extends into the sphere of civic engagement. This study seeks to understand why some southern California homeowners acquire older homes (over 50 years old) to renovate or
restore--gentrification. It focuses on understanding the underlying motivations and social contexts in which homeowners invest in the “historic preservation” of their properties and the
ramifications of promoting aestheticized historic values in the public arena. The role aesthetic values play as they are embodied in public policies and aimed at controlling homeowner practices
is the central question of this book. Annotation ©2016 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
