Rethink Heritage

For many centuries throughout the history of architecture the requirement for supervising and caring for monumental assets in the face of actions of destruction or “simple” alteration has been found. Ancient civilizations always proposed guidelines for the maintenance and conservation of their more important architectures and milestones of the past.

Following a timid start in the late 18th century the discipline of architectural conservation/restoration found its first “official” spokespeople in the 19th century, in the pioneers who stood out in various countries such as France, England and Italy. Despite the fact that their voices were barely heard initially and lacked the dissemination later afforded by other tools they had a great influence in the development of theory. The Conservation Charters are without doubt one of the better-known measures characterizing the methodological proposals on an international scale.

In Rome in 1883 a group of engineers and architects gathered around the table at a major conference in order to debate and reach an agreement on several measures which could be carried out in heritage interventions. This process of mediation and discussion of principles and guidelines culminated in the drafting of the first Conservation Charter. Following this initial experience, different Conservation Charters have been continuously drawn up in different parts of the world since the early 20th century. Numerous official documents (charters, recommendations and declarations) have been published under the name of the different cities where the member countries of the organizations working in the field of conservation and restoration held these meetings.

It should be noted that the various charters have never had coercive or legislative value, but are rather seen as recommendations, insisting on increasing awareness among specialists of the dangers/benefits of conservation actions following unsuitable/relevant technical criteria affecting a specific asset. At present, the nature and content of these Charters have changed, as they have evolved considerably compared to earlier documents drafted. The more recent Charters, especially the 21st-century ones, are particularly complex and far more nuanced than the early documents, whose nature and principles were broader as they were also affected by the consequences of the dramatic wars of the 19th century.

The interpretation of these charters can follow several patterns: their evolution over time can be analysed chronologically as if it corresponded to a historical evolution. Another interesting tangential and cross-disciplinary interpretation seeks a degree of coherence based on the themes and issues examined, as well as possible conflicts to be resolved over the centuries. Yet another possible key interpretation considers the impact and repercussion of the charters (and other declarations or recommendations) over time, as well as their adoption by internationally renowned organizations such as ICOMOS and UNESCO.

NOTES ON THE THEORY OF CONSERVATION

In order to understand the current situation of conservation, the criteria guiding it and the role of professionals in the field, the past evolution of this discipline should be analysed. There are numerous studies on this topic, which is essential to ensuring responsible scientific conservation that is in keeping above all with the demands and culture of our time. Although the conservation of artworks and architecture has been present from Antiquity to the present, two very distinct stages can be identified throughout history. In an initial pre-scientific period (covering from early historic civilizations to the 18th century) the conservation of monuments, paintings and sculptures was decidedly artisanal and empirical, mostly aimed at repairing and preventing damage and deterioration, reconstructing lost elements or modifying them to suit taste, ideology or any other arguments (economic, political…). Methods were closely guarded in artists’ workshops as in professional terms there was no difference between the practices of artistic creation and conservation.

The second moment or scientific period (19th and 20th c.) started with the contemporary era and coincided with the modern interpretation of heritage and the need to conserve it to transmit it to future generations. A series of different intervention theories initially based on solid historic awareness and the knowledge of the different values of the monument, and then architectural heritage, make up the core nucleus of the discipline. In parallel, technological advances and the development of an increasing professional awareness brought about studies and research on the most suitable methods for guaranteeing the knowledge and survival of historic architecture.