Architectural Conservation: Principles and Practice

This book provides an introductory text for students in built environment disciplines, as well as those who manage or own historic properties, and those embarking upon architectural conservation professionally. It is designed to give an understanding of the main principles, materials and problems in the field of conservation and it features a number of case studies.

Table of Contents:
Preface Part I Theory and Principles 1 Introduction 3 What is architectural conservation? 3 Why conserve? 3 Architectural conservation 5 Conservation as a profession 6 Professional roles in building conservation 7 Craft skills 10 Studies in building conservation 10 Professional accreditation 11 Working internationally 11 Structure of the book 12 2 International and historic context of conservation 15 Historic context 16 The symbolic and nostalgic connotations of historic monuments 16 ‘Restoration’ in the nineteenth century 17 The search for authenticity 17 Conservation in the twentieth century 20 Built heritage as a symbol of national identity 20 International conservation charters 21 The non-Western perspective 23 The urban conservation movement 25 UNESCO and the World Heritage Convention 26 Shifting emphases 28 Conservation-led regeneration 29 The industrial heritage 29 The legacy of the twentieth century 31 Cultural landscapes 32 Intangible heritage 33 Integrated approaches 35 Summary and conclusion 35 3 Theoretical framework and conservation principles 37 Values and definitions 38 A values-based approach 38 Terms and definitions 46 Principles, philosophy and guidance 50 Ethics in conservation 51 Principles 52 Summary and conclusion 63 4 Legislation, Policy and Guidance 66 Decision making in conservation 67 International level 67 National level 68 Local level 69 Non-governmental organisations and amenity societies 71 The private sector and property owners 72 Public participation 73 Statutory protection 74 Archaeological sites and ancient monuments 75 Monuments and buildings of architectural and historic significance 76 Area-based designation (conservation areas) 81 Historic gardens and landscapes 84 Other forms of control and legislation that impact on historic buildings 86 Summary and conclusion 87 Part II Principles Into Practice 5 Managing conservation 91 Survey and analysis 91 Understanding 91 Research 94 Survey 95 Specialist investigations 96 Information management 97 Making and evaluating proposals 98 Conservation management plans 98 Impact assessment 100 Project implementation 102 Financing conservation 102 Construction contracts for conservation 103 Implementation on site 104 Managing historic properties 105 Maintenance planning 105 Risk assessment and preparedness 108 Access management 108 Summary and conclusion 110 6 Causes of decay, environmental services and structures in conservation 112 Causes of decay 112 Climatic causes 113 Biological and botanical causes 115 Natural disasters 115 Human beings 118 Managing environmental conditions in historic buildings 120 Designing for and locating services in historic buildings 122 Heating and cooling 123 Improving environmental performance 125 Lighting historic buildings 125 Fire protection 128 Structural conservation 130 Structural failure 130 Understanding and analysing structures 131 Repair and conservation of historic structures 133 Summary and conclusion 135 7 Conservation of materials 137 Earth structures 139 Building in earth 139 Causes of decay and failure 141 Principles and techniques of repair 142 Thatch 143 Thatching 143 Causes of decay 144 Principles and techniques of repair 144 Timber 145 Building with timber 145 Causes of decay and failure 148 Principles and techniques of repair 149 Stone 152 Building with stone 152 Causes of decay and deterioration 154 Principles and techniques of repair 155 Bricks and clay roof tiles 159 Building in brick 159 Causes of decay and failure 160 Principles and techniques of repair 160 Tiles, faience and terracotta 163 Tiles, faience and terracotta on buildings 163 Causes of decay and failure 165 Principles and techniques of repair 166 Structural metals 166 Structural use of metals in buildings 166 Causes of decay and failure 168 Principles and techniques of repair 169 Sheet metals 169 Sheet metals in buildings 169 Causes of decay and failure 169 Principles and techniques of repair 170 Glass 172 Renders, plasters and mortars 172 Renders, plasters and mortars in building 172 Causes of decay and failure 174 Principles and techniques of repair 174 Concrete 175 Building in concrete 175 Causes of decay and failure 175 Principles and techniques of repair 175 Plastics and resins 176 Finishes 177 Materials used for coatings and finishes 177 Principles and techniques of conservation 178 Cleaning surfaces 181 Summary and conclusion 182 8 Regeneration, reuse and design in the historic environment 185 Urban regeneration 185 Conservation-led regeneration 185 Urban conservation 187 Economic viability 191 Adaptive reuse 194 Design in the historic environment 197 The context of townscape 197 Architectural interventions 198 Summary and conclusion 206 Conclusion 208 Glossary 211 Bibliography 215 Index 221

About the Author :
Aylin Orbasli, BArch, DPhil trained as an architect in Turkey before completing a doctorate at the University of York in England. She works as a consultant in heritage management and historic building conservation, and at Oxford Brookes University.

Review :
"This is a sound introductory basis for those embarking on the study of architectural conservation and can be recommended to anyone thinking of joining the profession." (Journal of Architectural Conservation, November 2008) "Outlines the importance of architectural conservation on our society." (UK Construction)