D letter
Declaration
Another means of defining norms, which are not subject to ratification. Like recommendations, they set forth universal principles to which the community of states wished to attribute the greatest possible authority and to afford the broadest possible support. The term is deliberately chosen to indicate that the parties do not intend to create binding obligations but merely want to declare certain aspirations, which are not always legally binding. In cultural heritage some of the declarations are The Florence declaration (2014), UNESCO Declaration concerning the Intentional Destruction of Cultural Heritage (2003) etc.
Deconstructivism (around 1980)
A movement of postmodern architecture that gives the impression of the fragmentation of the constructed building. It is characterised by an absence of harmony, continuity, or symmetry. Its name comes from the idea of “Deconstruction”, a form of semiotic analysis developed by the French philosopher Jacques Derrida. Architects whose work is often described as deconstructionism (though in many cases the architects themselves reject the label) include Peter Eisenman, Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, Daniel Libeskind, Bernard Tschumi, and Coop Himmelb(l)au.
Degradation
A process that renders an object (also environment or space) abandoned useless or less useful over time, sometimes we can see it as also degraded areas, for example old factory areas etc. Degradation can be caused by many different means, and it is almost always considered an undesirable process. Preventing and combating the degradation of a city part, product or structure is a major challenge that many architects and engineers face.
Designation
The act of officially choosing someone or something to do or be something. Legal protection through passage of a by law (local or regional government) or Order in Council (provincial). Designation offers long term protection and allows regulation and control of alterations and demolition.
Designed Landscape
Area of land which has been modified by people for primarily utility and aesthetic effect. Historians use the term to denote various types of a site, such as gardens, parks, cemeteries, and estates. Such sites are often protected for their historic or artistic value. A designed landscape may comprise landform, water, built structures, trees and plants, all of which may be naturally occurring or introduced. Designed landscape differs from the architectural landscape, since in designed landscapes we get processed part of the building site. Architectural landscape is in meanwhile the whole area where we can see common types of an area.
De Stijl (The Style) (1917 to 1931)
An art and design movement that developed in the Netherlands, partly as a consequence of its isolation during WWI. It was recognisable for its use of strong geometric lines, bold primary colours, and the articulation of distinct functional elements. It was adopted in art (notably by Mondrian), furniture and architecture. Whilst relatively little architecture was actually produced, the influence of buildings such as the Rietveld Schroder House (1924) can be seen in the work of architects such as Mies van der Rohe.
Deterioration
Action or process of becoming impaired or inferior in quality, functioning, or condition. Deterioration implies that things are falling apart: something once in good condition is now weakened, worn out, or otherwise in decline. Things often undergo deterioration because of neglect. Time also has a lot to do with deterioration. The physical manifestation of failure of a material (e.g. cracking, delamination, flaking, pitting, scaling, spalling, staining) caused by service conditions or internal autogenous influences.
Development
Process in which something grows or changes and becomes more advanced. As every process also architecture gets upgraded, it appears in development discourse as a terrain between culture and economics nonetheless also the cultural heritage.
Documentation of cultural property
All of the records, written and pictorial, accumulated during the examination and treatment of a cultural property. Where applicable, documentation includes the examination records and report, treatment proposal, owner consent, the treatment records and report, the recommendations for subsequent care, samples taken from the cultural property and relevant correspondence. The purpose of documentation is:
- to record the condition of the cultural property;
- to record information revealed during examination or other conservation activities that assists in the understanding of the cultural property;
- to record the changes to the property due to conservation activities, and the justification for those changes;
- to provide inform action helpful to future care and treatment of the cultural property;
- to record agreements or understandings between the conservation professional and the owner; and
- to provide documents that can be made available if and when required for legal purposes.
Durability
The ability to exist for a long time without deterioration. In heritage conservation: All actions or processes that are aimed at safeguarding the character-defining elements of a cultural resource so as to retain its heritage value and extend its physical life. This may involve “preservation,” “rehabilitation,” “restoration,” or a combination of these actions or processes The Latin root word, durabilis, means "lasting or permanent," and comes from durare, "to last or harden. The word durability is to describe the quality of permanence or strength that keeps something working or holds it together.