ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION

PREPARED BY AR. A. MISBA

 SYLLABUS
UNIT I INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
• Understanding Heritage • Case studies of Palaces in Rajasthan, Chettinad and
• Types of Heritage Swamimalai dwellings,
• Heritage conservation- Need, Debate and purpose. • Seismic retrofit and disabled access/ services additions to
• Defining Conservation, Preservation and Adaptive reuse. historic buildings
• Distinction between Architectural and Urban Conservation. • Heritage site management
• International agencies like ICCROM, UNESCO and their role in
Conservation UNIT IV URBAN CONSERVATION
• Over view of urban history of India and Tamil Nadu
UNIT II CONSERVATION IN INDIA • Understanding the character and issues of historic cities
• Museum conservation • Case studies of towns like Srirangaram, Kumbakonam and
• Monument conservation Kanchipuram
• Role of Archaeological Survey of India • Historic districts and heritage precincts.
• Role of INTACH
• Central and state government policies and legislations – UNIT V CONSERVATION PLANNING
Inventories and projects • Conservation as a planning tool
• Case studies of sites such as Hampi, Golconda, Mahabalipuram • Financial incentives and planning tools such as Transferable
• Craft Issues of conservation Development Right(TDR)
• Urban conservation and heritage tourism
UNIT III CONSERVATION PRACTICE • Case studies of sites like for Cochin, Pondicherry French town
• Listing of monuments • Conservation project management.
• Documentation of historic structures
• Assessing architectural character
• Historic structure report
• Guidelines for preservation, rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of
historic structures

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1. UNDERSTANDING HERITAGE
Heritage is our legacy from the past, what
UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
we live with today and what we pass on to
the future generations. Our heritage, both
cultural and natural is irreplaceable source
of life and inspiration.
Heritage is a full range of our inherited
traditions, monuments, objects and
culture. It is something that gives us a
sense of place and informs us about who
we are and how our societies have
developed over time.

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 UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
CULTURAL HERITAGE
Cultural Heritage is an expression of the ways of living
developed by a community and passed on from generation to
generation, including customs, practices, places, objects, artistic
expressions and values. Cultural Heritage is often expressed as
either Intangible or Tangible Cultural Heritage (ICOMOS, 2002)
As part of human activity Cultural Heritage produces tangible
representations of the value systems, beliefs, traditions and
lifestyles. As an essential part of culture as a whole, Cultural
Heritage, contains these visible and tangible traces form
antiquity to the recent past.
Tangible and Intangible Heritage
Having at one time referred exclusively to the monumental
remains of cultures, cultural heritage as a concept has gradually India’s Ancient Kumbh Mela - Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO
come to include new categories. Today, we find that heritage is
not only manifested through tangible forms such as artefacts, In conservation projects the aim is always to preserve both the
buildings or landscapes but also through intangible forms. tangible as well as the intangible heritage. The intangible heritage
Intangible heritage includes voices, values, traditions, oral includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our
history. Popularly this is perceived through cuisine, clothing, ancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions,
forms of shelter, traditional skills and technologies, religious performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge
ceremonies, performing arts, storytelling. Today, it is considered and practices concerning nature in the universe or the knowledge
that the tangible heritage is inextricably bound up with the and skills to produce traditional crafts. Examples of Intangible World
intangible heritage. heritage include Vedic Chants, Ramlila, Tagores Poetry etc.

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Natural Heritage –
UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
"Natural heritage" is also an important part of a society's heritage,
encompassing the countryside and natural environment, including
flora and fauna, scientifically known as biodiversity, as well as
geological elements (including mineralogical, geomorphological,
paleontological, etc.), scientifically known as geo-diversity. These
kinds of heritage sites often serve as an important component in a
country's tourist industry, attracting many visitors from abroad as
well as locally. Heritage can also include cultural landscapes
(natural features that may have cultural attributes).

Lamington National Park, Gondwana Rainforests

of Australia (World Heritage Site)

Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Park

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Culture - It is a total way of life. It encompasses a
system of belief (ideology). Culture may vary from
place to place which could have been formed
because of its historic evolution, geographic location
and so on.
Heritage Building - A historic building is one that
gives us a sense of WONDER and makes us want to
know more about the people and culture that
produced it. It has different values but the first one is
always emotional, for it is a symbol of our cultural
identity and continuity – a part of our heritage.
Urban Conservation – This deals with conservation of
different kinds of heritage within a city or town. The
approach here is not for individual buildings but an
overall approach to taking policy level decisions
keeping in mind the issues relating to heritage. This
may include creating of heritage zones, precincts etc.,
to do special planning so as to conserve the overall
heritage value of the urban fabric. The first step in
this will include listing the heritage available with the
help of inventor forms and understanding the
heritage so as to solve the issues.
UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
Architectural Conservation – It is process in which MATERIAL, HISTORICAL AND
DESIGN integrity of mankind’s built heritage are prolonged through carefully
planned interventions.
Architectural conservation deals with issues of prolonging the life and integrity of
architectural character such as form and style, and/or its constituent materials,
such as stone, brick, glass, metal, and wood. In this sense, the term refers to the
"professional use of a combination of science, art, craft, and technology as a
preservation tool“ In addition to the design and art/science definition described
above, architectural conservation also refers to issues of identification, policy,
regulation, and advocacy associated with the entirety of the cultural and built
environment. This broader scope recognizes that society has mechanisms to
identify and value historic cultural resources, create laws to protect these
resources, and develop policies and management plans for interpretation,
protection, and education. Typically this process operates as a specialized aspect
of a society's planning system, and its practitioners are termed built or historic
environment conservation professionals.
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Urban Design – Urban design is a process which addresses the
larger scale of group of buildings, of streets and public spaces,
whole neighbourhoods and districts and entire cities, to make urban
areas functional attractive and sustainable. Urban Design falls
between the professions of planning and Architecture. It involves a
spectrum of social, cultural, and physical design issues. Urban design
is concerned with the physical form of cities, buildings and the space
between them.
Urban Renewal – It is program of land redevelopment in areas of
moderate to high density urban land use, sometimes also called as
reconstruction. It may involve relocation of businesses, the
demolition of structures, the relocation of people and converting
private property into public property. In some cases it may lead to
urban sprawl.
Urban renewal attempts to sustain or improve some particular
commercial functions of the city, most commonly retailing.
Furtherance of urban design goals –attempts to beautify – or
deuglify a downtown street might be tied to attempts to increase
downtown retailing activity that might be part of a larger effort
aimed at employment expansion. Provision of a variety of services
as social services: day care, job training, or drug rehabilitation.
Service provision is likely to be directed primarily to less affluent
segments of the community’s population.
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UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
DEGREES OF INTERVENTION IN CONSERVATION
The minimum degree of intervention necessary and the
techniques used depend upon the conditions of climate and
exposure to which the cultural property is likely to be subjected.
Interventions practically always invoke some loss of value in
cultural property, but are justified in order to preserve the object
for the future. In some cases, a decision not to intervene may be
the best appropriate choice. It is good for people dealing with
heritage buildings or remember that the “minimum effective
intervention is always the best”.
a. PREVENTION OF DETERIORATION: (indirect conservation)
• Prevention entails protecting cultural property by controlling its
environment, thus preventing agents of decay and damage from
becoming active
• Sound maintenance procedure is very important, mainly
external control without touching the building as such
• Regular inspection of the heritage building is the basis of
prevention of deterioration.
 UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
b. PRESERVATION:
• Use of traditional skills is very important; however in certain
• It deals directly with the cultural property. Its object is to keep it in
cases reversible modern techniques can be used.
existing state. Repairs must be carried out when necessary to prevent
• In many cases it will be better to buy time when dealing with
further decay
historic
• Damage and destruction caused by water in all its forms, by chemical
building in order to conserve it properly.
agents and by all types of pests and micro-organisms must be stopped
d. RESTORATION:
in order to preserve the structure.
• The object of restoration is to review the original concept or
c. CONSOLIDATION:
legibility of the object
• Consolidation is the physical addition or application of adhesives or
• Respect for original material, archaeological evidence,
supportive material in order to ensure its continued durability or
original design and authentic documents.
structural integrity
• The replaced part should integrate harmoniously with the
• Sometimes, it may entail the injection of adhesives to secure a
whole, but must be distinguishable on close inspection from
detached mural painting to the wall.
the original.
• If the structural supports or elements have become weak
• Contribution from all periods must be respected
consolidation in the form of new supports may be required.
• The revealing of underlying layer can be justified only in
• However, to the maximum the integrity of the historic structure’s
exceptional circumstances; the material brought to light is of
structural system must be respected and its form preserved.
great historical or archeological values
• Only by understanding how an historic building acts as a “spatial
• Restoration by anastylosis, recreation by or with original
environmental system” is it possible to introduce new techniques
material and elements. Care to be taken that the finished
satisfactorily
product does not look like a film set

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e. REHABLITATION: (ADAPTIVE REUSE)
• The best way of preserving buildings as opposed to objects is to
keep them in use.
• Sometimes structural rehabilitation is only done (when
structural members are only are added)
• Adaptive reuse refers to the process of reusing an old site or
building for the purpose other than it was built or designed for.
• Mainly when old buildings becomes unsuitable for their
programmatic requirements
• However the original use is the best use for any heritage
building, as it means fewer changes.
• Rehabilitation emphasizes the retention and repair of historic
materials, but more latitude is provided for replacement because
it is assumed that the property is more deteriorated prior to
work.
f. REPRODUCTION:
• Reproduction entails copying an extant artifact, often in order to
replace some missing or decayed part, generally decorative, to
maintain its aesthetic harmony.
• If valuable cultural property is being damaged irretrievably or it
is threatened by its environment and a reproduction substituted
in order to maintain the unity of the site or a building
CAAD | BATCH 2014 | AR 6016 - ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION | PREPARED BY AR. A. MISBA
UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
• Rescue archaeology or preventive archeology or salvage
archeology is the collection of data and materials from the
site in danger of imminent destruction, as from new
construction or flooding. In this case new construction can
be dams, roads etc.,
g. RECONSTRUCTION:
• Reconstruction of historic buildings using new materials
may be necessitated by disasters such as fire, earthquake or
war.
• However it will never have the patina of age (showing the
oldness of the structure)
• The reconstruction should always be based on accurate
documentary evidence and not on conjuncture
(assumptions)
• The moving of entire buildings to the new sites is another
form of reconstruction justified by overriding national
interests.

ROLE OF CONSERVATION ARCHITECT
• In addition to his/her practice as general architect,
he must have the knowledge and understanding of
the early building technology.
• He must be able to identify the original fabric and
later additions, and interpret the findings to the
client.
• To execute any scheme the conservation architect
must coordinate the work of archaeologists,
engineers, planners, landscape architects,
contractors, suppliers, craftsmen, anthropologists,
historians and others who might be involved in the
project.
• The conservation architect should have
knowledge of all periods of architecture combined
with the understanding of the modern building
techniques.
• He must be able to preserve the historic and
artistic values of the structure yet giving respect to
the modern requirements.
• Relevant requirements laid down by the codes of
practice and building regulations, or obtaining
waivers
UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
ETHICS OF CONSERVATION
• The condition of the building before any intervention and all the
methods and materials used during intervention must be fully and
carefully documented
• In any case historic evidence must not be destroyed, falsified or
removed
• Any intervention must be the minimum necessary intervention
• Any intervention must be governed by the unswerving respect for
the aesthetic, historic and physical integrity of cultural property
• Any intervention should be reversible
• It should not prejudice a future intervention whenever this may
become necessary
• It should not hinder the possibility of later access to all evidence
incorporated in the object
• It should allow the maximum amount of existing material to be
retained
• It should be harmonious in color, tone, texture, form and scale, if
additions are necessary, but should be less noticeable than the original
material, while at the same time being identifiable
• It should not be undertaken by conservators/restorers who are
undertrained.
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LEVELS OF INVOLVEMENT OF CONSERVATION
ARCHITECTS
LEVEL I – Study & Research through the following steps
a. Documentation of the structure, analysis and its
interpretation
b. Historic documentation through primary and secondary
sources
The above given study and research can be for individual
building or precinct or even larger setup of the city
depending upon the scope of the project
LEVEL II – Technical aspects Covering (this is for building
level only)
a. Traditional building materials
b. Structural repairs
c. Maintenance and up gradation of historic structures.
LEVEL III – Design, reuse, infill, modification and new
buildings in historic areas
LEVEL IV – City Level policies, regulations, guide lines etc.,
UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
PROBLEMS IN CONSERVATION WITH RESPECT TO INDIA:-
(i) DIVERSITY - Almost 3000 different cities and towns in India
displaying diversity in their characteristics, now the problem lies
in how to understand it in a better way so as to save it-can it be
looked into one frame work.
(ii) POLITICS - The second problem is identifying the role and
activities of the people, along with the objects, and hence has a
political meaning in the contemporary phase of our development.
(iii) PEOPLE - Demographically, economically and socially transforming
our society. Hence there should be in protection of cultural
heritage. This leads to the question development versus
conservation. Some also say conservation is being anti-progress.
(iv) LACK OF RESOURCES - Scarcity of both material and professional
resources.
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VALUES IN CONSERVATION:- UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
• Conservation must preserve and, if possible, enhance iii. USE VALUES.
the messages and values of proposed cultural • FUNCTIONAL
interventions, as well as to establish the extent and • ECONOMIC
nature of property. • SOCIAL
• These values help systematically to overall priorities in • POLITICAL.
deciding proposed interventions, as well as to establish
the extent and nature of individual treatment. (i) EMOTIONAL VALUES.
(i-a) WONDER:-
VALUES ASSIGNED TO CULTURAL PROPERTY:- Anyone who sees this heritage gets this question in the mind.
i. EMOTIONAL VALUES. Who made it? How was it made?
• WONDER Why was it made? What made him make it?
• IDENTITY In short one simply wonders at the creation at first glance.
• CONTINUITY (i-b) IDENTITY:-
• SPIRITUAL The monument or property is an identity of our own, we identity ourselves with
• SYMBOLIC. that with pride.
• AETHETIC AND ARTISTIC. (i-c)CONTINUITY:-
ii. CULTURAL VALUES. Confers legitimacy and reassures us when we face the future. The fact that the
• DOCUMENTARY monuments have stood the test of time gives us the sense of continuity.
• HISTORIC (i-d)SPIRITUAL AND SYMBOLIC:-
• ARCHEOLOGICAL-ANTIQUE • Veneration, an emotion related to the respect for, or belief in, the history or
• AESTHETIC AND SYMBOLIC myths that are attached to an objects or site thousands of pilgrims travel etc.
• ARCHITECTURAL • Many times monuments have been used to symbolize the achievements of
• TOWNSCAPE,, LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL great people. eg:- QutbMinar
• SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL

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• Certain monuments have spiritual messages – different forms for
different religions and cultural eg:-Hagia Sophia in Istanbul turkey, a
church, a mosque, a museum a universal message of equality.
• Some attached values like reading the heaven – beliefs as like that.
(i-e)AESTHETIC AND ARTISTIC VALUE:-
• It is related to the pleasure, to the emotions experienced by a
person on seeing a heritage object.
• This may change from one individual to other.
• The artistic worth of a monument or an object is determined by its
contribution to the general artistic movement.
• The perfection of its workmanship in terms of a particular style or
the progress that it represents.
(ii) CULTURAL VALUES :-
(ii-a) DOCUMENTARY VALUES :-
• Objects and buildings convey the most complete record of the past
civilizations.
• The historic evidence provided by the buildings must be recorded
properly.
(ii-b)HISTORIC VALUES :-
• Must be related to a historic event or a person very famous in
history.
• Helps in understanding about the person who built it.
• If artifact belonged to a person helps to gauge a character of the
person.
• They teach history with that.
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UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
(ii-c)ARCHEOLOGICAL VALUES:-
• It involves the unexplored potential of a building or site to give
information.
• Generally done using scientific studies.
• The fact, that these studies will someday lead to discovery of
certain knowledge of the past which can be used for future is
very important.
• Hence the retention of the cultural fabric is very
important.(building fabric).
(ii-d)AESTHETIC AND SYMBOLIC:-
• Sometimes the buildings aesthetic presence acts as a symbol in
itself. Eg:- The Taj Mahal (symbol of love)
• It becomes symbolic either because of its aesthetic appeal
(mostly) or because of human perception.
(ii-e)ARCHITECTURAL VALUES:-
• Are related to the individual’s movement through spaces and the
feelings generated from the same.
• The vitruvian virtues of Architecture. UTILITAS, FIRMITAS,
VENUSTAS.
• UTILITAS (function-commodity-utility) It relates to the usefulness
of the building. If it cannot be used then it becomes a economic
threat to its own existence.
• FIRMITAS (solidity-materiality) It relates to the
strength of the building with respect to the
resisting of the loads and a standing tall with only
very minor damages of some of the buildings only).
• VENUSTAS (Beauty-delight-desire) It covers the
artistic element in architecture such as the
relationship of the building to the site, the massing
and silhouette, the proportions of the element to
the whole.
(ii-f)TOWNSCAPE, LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL
VALUE:-
• The Urban setting of a monument with regards to
the townscape. It is related to what kind of a
skyline that monument brings to the urban skyline.
• The views of significant reference points and vistas.
• Analysis of the quality of a town including the
compression and opening of space, formal spaces,
surprises, and drama.
• The fact that how the landscape setting has been
used by the previous generation and how that has
been passed on to the future.
• Natural sites like Mountains, forests, rivers and
seas which man made buildings and town contrasts
• In certain cases the values generated by climate
and underlying geology.
UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
(ii-g)TECHNOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC:-
• These values in an object, building or site can enhance its significance.
• Appreciating the technological achievements of casting bronze or iron in a fine
building or sculpture, tells us a real deal about the civilizations that created them.
Usually found in pioneering structures.
(iii) USE VALUES:-
(iii-a) FUNCTIONAL VALUE:-
• One of the important positives of historic building is the continuity of its function.
• The continuation of the same function for years increases the use value of the
building.
(iii-b)ECONOMIC VALUE:-
• If the building is going to be functional is going to be functional it is going to be
economical.
• Secondly the building may also be economical due to various values given above
due to the generation of tourists traffic to the site.(Emotional value).
• Related to the revenue generation from cultural property.
(iii-c)SOCIAL VALUE:-
• Identity and continuity of the society.
• The word “OURS” –OUR HERITAGE play an important part.
(iii-d)POLITICAL VALUE:-
• Establish National pride.
• Past history of politics directly linked to the buildings.
• Eg:-RashtrapathiBhavan.
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UNESCO
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization
UNESCO works to create the conditions for dialogue among
civilizations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for
commonly shared values.
It is through this dialogue that the world can achieve global
visions of sustainable development encompassing
observance of human rights, mutual respect and the
alleviation of poverty, all of which are at the heart of
UNESCO’S mission and activities.
The broad goals and concrete objectives of the
international community – as set out in the internationally
agreed development goals, including the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) – underpin all UNESCO’s
strategies and activities.
Thus UNESCO’s unique competencies in education, the
sciences, culture and communication and information
contribute towards the realization of those goals.
UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
UNESCO under its aegis has five main themes or programs namely Education
Natural Sciences
Social & Human Sciences
Culture
Communication & Information
Under the theme Culture, there are different themes of which some are listed
as follows,
• Culture and Development
• World Heritage
• Intangible heritage
• Armed conflict and heritage etc.,
The UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection and
preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to
be of outstanding value to humanity. This is embodied in an international
treaty called the Convention (World Heritage Convention) concerning the
Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in
1972.
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UNESCO's World Heritage mission is to:
• Encourage countries to sign the World Heritage
Convention and to ensure the protection of their
natural and cultural heritage; once the countries sign
the convention they become the State Parties.
• Encourage States Parties to the Convention to
nominate sites within their national territory for
inclusion on the World Heritage List.
• Encourage States Parties to establish management
plans and set up reporting systems on the state of
conservation of their World Heritage sites.
• Help States Parties safeguard World Heritage
properties by providing technical assistance and
professional training.
• Provide emergency assistance for World Heritage sites
in immediate danger.
• Support States Parties' public awareness-building
activities for World Heritage conservation
• Encourage participation of the local population in the
preservation of their cultural and natural heritage
• Encourage international cooperation in the
conservation of our world's cultural and natural
heritage.
UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION:
• The most significant feature of the 1972 World Heritage Convention is
that it links together in a single document the concepts of nature
conservation and the preservation of cultural properties.
• The Convention recognizes the way in which people interact with nature,
and the fundamental need to preserve the balance between the two.
• The Convention defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be
considered for inscription on the World Heritage List.
• The Convention sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying
potential sites and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing
the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the World
Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to protect its national
heritage. The States Parties are encouraged to integrate the protection of
the cultural and natural heritage into regional planning programmes, set
up staff and services at their sites, undertake scientific and technical
conservation research and adopt measures which give this heritage a
function in the day-to-day life of the community
• It explains how the World Heritage Fund is to be used and managed and
under what conditions international financial assistance may be provided.
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• The Convention stipulates the obligation of States Parties to UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
report regularly to the World Heritage Committee on the
state of conservation of their World Heritage properties. The Committee can also defer its decision and request further
These reports are crucial to the work of the Committee as information on properties from the States Parties. It examines reports on
they enable it to assess the conditions of the sites, decide the state of conservation of inscribed properties and asks States Parties to
on specific programme needs and resolve recurrent take action when properties are not being properly managed. It also
problems. decides on the inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World
• It also encourages States Parties to strengthen the Heritage in Danger.
appreciation of the public for World Heritage properties
and to enhance their protection through educational and The Advisory bodies: Three international non-governmental or
information programmes. intergovernmental organizations are named in the Convention to advise
the Committee in its deliberations.
THE WORLD HERITAGE COMMITTEE:
The World Heritage Committee meets once a year, and consists IUCN – The International Union for the Conservation of Nature
of representatives from 21 of the States Parties to the ICOMOS – The International Council on Monuments and Sites
Convention elected by their General Assembly. At its first ICCORM – The International Centre for the study and preservation of
session, the Committee adopted its Rules of Procedure of the cultural property
World Heritage Committee
The Committee is responsible for
• The implementation of the world heritage convention
• Defines the use of the world heritage fund
• Allocates financial assistance upon requests from
states parties.
It has the final say on whether a property is inscribed on the
World Heritage List.

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Selection criteria for World Heritage Sites:
(i) to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
(ii) to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a
span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on
developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts,
townplanning or landscape design;
(iii) to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural
tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared;
(iv) to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural
or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a)
significant stage(s) in human history;
(v) to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement,
land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or
cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially
when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible
change;
(vi) to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living
traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works
of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that
this criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other
criteria);
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UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
(vii) to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of
exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic importance;
(viii) to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's
history, including the record of life, significant on-going geological
processes in the development of landforms, or significant
geomorphic or physiographic features;
(ix) to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going
ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development
of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and
communities of plants and animals;
(x) to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for
in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing
threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of
view of science or conservation.
The protection, management, authenticity and integrity of
properties are also important considerations.
Since 1992 significant interactions between people and the natural
environment have been recognized as cultural landscapes.
ICOMOS
International Council on monuments and sites
• ICOMOS works for the conservation and protection of cultural
heritage places.
• It is the only global non-government organisation of this kind,
which is dedicated to promoting the application of theory,
methodology, and scientific techniques to the conservation of the
architectural and archaeological heritage.
• Its work is based on the principles enshrined in the 1964
International Charter on the Conservation and Restoration of
Monuments and Sites (the Venice Charter).
• ICOMOS is a network of experts that benefits from the
interdisciplinary exchange of its members, among which are
architects, historians, archaeologists, art historians, geographers,
anthropologists, engineers and town planners.
• The members of ICOMOS contribute to improving the
preservation of heritage, the standards and the techniques for
each type of cultural heritage property : buildings, historic cities,
cultural landscapes and archaeological sites
UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
ITS ROLE: TO PRESERVE AND ENHANCE
• ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, is a
global non-governmental organization associated with UNESCO.
• Its mission is to promote the conservation, protection, use and
enhancement of monuments, building complexes and sites.
• It participates in the development of doctrine, evolution and
distribution of ideas, conducts advocacy.
• ICOMOS is the Advisory Body of the World Heritage Committee for
the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention of UNESCO.
• As such, it reviews the nominations of cultural world heritage of
humanity and ensures the conservation status of properties.
• Its creation in 1965 is the logical outcome of the first interviews as
architects, historians and international experts have begun early in
the twentieth century and that had materialized in the adoption of
the Charter of Venice in 1964. In light of numerous studies,
conferences, symposia and discussions led by its National
Committees and International Scientific Committees, ICOMOS has
gradually built through philosophical and doctrinal heritage
internationally.
CAAD | BATCH 2014 | AR 6016 - ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION | PREPARED BY AR. A. MISBA
• In light of numerous studies, conferences, symposia and
discussions led by its National Committees and
International Scientific Committees, ICOMOS has gradually
built through philosophical and doctrinal heritage
internationally.
ITS VALUES: TO UNITE AROUND HERITAGE
Cultural and social diversity, collegiality
From around the world, with diverse and complementary
professional backgrounds, researchers, scientists, lawyers
Heritage, economists, engineers, artisans, professionals,
academics, private consultants, elected officials, state
representatives, etc.., Put their ideas and expertise together
in a spirit of collegiality and respect for their cultural and
religious differences.
Impartiality
As the NGOs, ICOMOS is one of the three Advisory Bodies of
the World Heritage Convention. Institution to prepare its
opinion, it uses a network of experts, chosen for their
expertise and experience, who advise technology
independently and in accordance with the ethical rules.
•
UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
Exchanges between countries, North-South dialogue,
solidarity
ICOMOS, like any organization related to UNESCO's mission is
the reconciliation of peoples and cultures. That's why it
created the Fund in 2003 Victoria Falls which facilitates the
mobility of members from poor countries. In addition, during
the great natural disasters, ICOMOS provides experts and
specialists in the development of emergency measures for the
preservation, conservation and restoration of heritage (Haiti,
China, Iran, etc.). It is a founding member of the Blue Shield.
Transmission and youth involvement
ICOMOS' mission is to raison heritage awareness. It
participated in training activities, welcomes and involves
young researchers and professionals around his issues and his
actions. Raymond Lemaire International Fund awards
scholarships to young hopefuls to complete their education or
improve their experience.
FREE ACCESS TO INFORMATION
Finally, ICOMOS supports open access, free and unrestricted,
scientific publications, through the project "ICOMOS Open
Archive: EPrints on Cultural Heritage".
CAAD | BATCH 2014 | AR 6016 - ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION | PREPARED BY AR. A. MISBA
ICCROM
• International Centre for the study of the preservation and
restoration of the cultural property
• ICCROM is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to
the conservation of cultural heritage. Its members are
individual states which have declared their adhesion to it. It
exists to serve the international community as represented
by its Member States, which currently number 132.
• It is the only institution of its kind with a worldwide mandate
to promote the conservation of all types of cultural heritage,
both movable and immovable.
• The decision to found the International Centre for the Study
of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property was
made at the 9th UNESCO General Conference in New Delhi in
1956, at a time of mounting interest in the protection and
preservation of cultural heritage. It was subsequently
established in Rome in 1959 at the invitation of the
Government of Italy.
• ICCROM aims at improving the quality of conservation
practice as well as raising awareness about the importance of
preserving cultural heritage.
ICCROM contributes to preserving cultural heritage in the world
today and for the future through five main areas of activity -
Training, Information, Research, Cooperation and Advocacy
UNIT I – INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION
1. TRAINING - ICCROM contributes to conservation training by
developing new educational tools and materials, and organizing
professional training activities around the world. Since 1966, ICCROM's
courses have involved over 4,000 professionals.
2. INFORMATION - ICCROM has one of the world's leading
conservation libraries. The catalogue contains over 89,000 entries
relating to books, reports and specialized journals in more than 40
languages. ICCROM also has a collection of over 17,000 images. In
addition, this website offers comprehensive information on
international events and training opportunities in the field of
conservation-restoration.
3. RESEARCH - ICCROM organizes and coordinates meetings to devise
common approaches and methodologies and to promote the
definition of internationally agreed ethics, criteria and technical
standards for conservation practice. The ICCROM Laboratory is both a
resource and reference point for conservation experts.
4. COOPERATION - All ICCROM activities involve institutional and
professional partners. Cooperation is provided in the form of technical
advice, collaborative visits, and education and training.
5. ADVOCACY - ICCROM disseminates teaching materials and organizes
workshops and other activities to raise public awareness and support
for conservation.
CAAD | BATCH 2014 | AR 6016 - ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION | PREPARED BY AR. A. MISBA