1. Conservation and
revitalization of historic
building
lecture 4
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2. CONTENTS
– Conservation and Revitalization of Architecture
• What is Conservation? What is Revitalization?
• Methods of Building Conservation
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3. Introduction to Conservation and
Revitalization
Do you know these historic buildings?
What is special about them?
Why do we need to conserve them?
What is their relationship with us?
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St debrebrhan silase of gonder

5. Kizhi island
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| Conservation and revitalization of architecture |

6. Kizhi island russia
| Conservation and revitalization of architecture | 6

7. Luang Prabang
Compared to many places, Luang Prabang has generally abided
by UNESCO’s regulations, which here include forbidding pane
glass and using only traditional materials when restoring temples
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8. General adherence to UNESCO’s regulations: no
panel glass and only traditional materials in temple
restorations

9. Magical Laotian town preserved by UNESCO loses
its soul
Luang Prabang renowned for rich
architectural heritage.
“We have saved Luang Prabang’s buildings but we
have lost its soul.”
According to former UNESCO consultant and longtime resident.

10. Currently, 48 sites are on a UNESCO “danger list” for being
seriously degraded by humans or nature
Ranging from the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem to Florida’s
Everglades National Park — while two have been delisted for
gross violations. Many long-listed sites have yet to present
required conservation management plans.”
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11. What is OUV?
How does the World Heritage
Convention Work?

12. Gondar Architecture
The Imperial Compound
Ethiopian History of Architecture(Architecture Gondarean
period)
Palace of Fasilades
Bath of Fasilades
Palace of Empress
Mintiuab
Castle of Ras
Micheal Sehul
Qusam Palace and
Active period of construction is a little over one hundred
years, approximately 1640-1750.

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Conservation
is all the processes of looking after a place so as to retain its
cultural significance.
It includes maintenance and according to circumstances may
include preservation, restoration, reconstruction and adaption
and will be commonly a combination of more than one of these.
Source: Australia ICOMOS. The Burra Charter: The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance.
Burwood: Australia International Council of Monuments and Sites. 1999.

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Revitalization
to conserve existing (sometimes historic) buildings or
districts while putting them into good use.

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How does revitalization
benefit the society?

17. Methods of Building Conservation
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Preservation Maintenance Restoration
Adaptation
Reconstruction
Methods of
building conservation

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Example:
Hong Kong Observatory 1883 Building
Year of completion: 1883
To maintain the fabric of a place in its existing state
and retarding deterioration.
Preservation

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Example:
Kom Tong Hall (Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum)
Former residence of Ho Kom Tong and later the headquarters
of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Year of completion: 1894
Restoration
Returning to a known earlier state without the introduction of
new materials
© Architectural Services
Department, HKSAR

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Example:
Murray House
Former office quarters of Murray Barracks in Central
Year of completion: 1846
Reconstruction
• Returning to a known earlier state
• Introduction of new materials
© Information Services Department

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• Change in function
• Introduction of new materials
Example:
Yau Ma Tei Theatre in 1990 and 2011
Adaptation
© Leisure and Cultural
Services Department

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Maintenance
Example:
Main Building, the University of Hong Kong
Year of completion: 1912
Continuous protective care of fabric
and setting of a place, and to be
distinguished from repair, repair
involves restoration or reconstruction

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[Discussion]
What are the pros and cons, constraints and effects of each
method?

25. Summary
• Conservation is the process of looking after a place
or building so as to retain its cultural significance.
• Revitalization is to conserve existing (sometimes
historic) buildings or districts by putting them in
good use.
• Five methods of building conservation include
Preservation, Maintenance, Restoration,
Reconstruction and Adaptation
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26. Class Activity – Role Play
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Tsang Tai Uk, Shatin
Completion year: 1867
Grade 1 historic building

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Hong Kong City Hall
Completion year: 1960s
Grade 1 historic building

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Class Activity
Identify a historic building or any old building in the nearby
area which faces the threat of demolition.
Step 1- What is the target of redevelopment?
Name of the building?
Where is it?
When is the year of construction?
What is the current use of the building?
Proposed use?
?