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This paper aims to raise awareness of how design methods can significantly influence the visual perception and contextual relationship of contemporary extensions and historical buildings. This study focuses on assessing the design elements that affect visual perception and contextual relationship in 15 contemporary extensions designed by different architects. First, the authors reviewed the literature on restoration, conservation and contemporary extensions, and then generated a questionnaire. The authors surveyed 223 respondents. A mixed qualitative and quantitative evaluation model was established. SPSS was used to evaluate and analyze the 15 selected contemporary extensions and 223 survey samples. The results indicated that contemporary extensions are considered successful when designed using a method compatible with the historical buildings in congruence with related literature and hypothesis. For the buildings examined within this research, no examples were found that copied historical buildings within the scope of visual perception. Despite rich variety, contemporary extensions have been rarely investigated within the scope of visual perception and context relationship. This paper is among the few works that investigate contemporary extensions using approaches of visual perception and context relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of accessibility to the information associated with European built heritage is a significant factor of exclusion that precludes many European citizens from appropriating a shared cultural heritage. Nowadays, three-dimensional scanning, modelling, and rendering technologies provide many highly effective tools to virtually access the available digital heritage of many European buildings in different historical periods through images, videos, texts, libraries, or specific databases of information associated with historical-scientific knowledge. However, several factors, such as the availability of human, economic, and technical resources, the heterogeneity of the standards and the lack of regulations, still hinder the possibility of translating data into usable content for a wider audience and the chances of creating collaboration between professional experts and scholars. Considering that, the paper focuses on defining the User Experience (UX) of INCEPTION's web platform, a European-funded multidisciplinary research project that has adopted new web technologies to develop open-source three-dimensional models of cultural heritage buildings for digital architectural conservation. The paper evaluates the importance of adopting a User-Centred Design (UCD) approach and involving stakeholders and end-users throughout the design development process, as they actively contributed to fostering more accessibility and inclusiveness for the final INCEPTION's web configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There continues to be much debate as to whether to preserve buildings, and this is particularly pertinent to post-war architecture, especially in the UK. This paper further explores the issue by concentrating on the acquisition of a fragment of Robin Hood Gardens by the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Smithsons' key work was deemed a failed social experiment in its listing verdict, and the acquisition of the fragment during demolition sparked controversy when exhibited at the 2018 Venice Biennale. Devoid of its context in an exhibition setting, the fragment of building questions the applicability of traditional conservation values, particularly those relating to age or architectural value. This paper aims to demonstrate the value of taking a more sociological approach to this dilemma. It uses theories of collective memory, specifically Halbwachs and Bachelard's variations, to explore multiple interpretations of the fragment's physicality. Three frameworks have been chosen for analysis: the changing social housing rhetoric, its listing campaign, and finally the present, a speculative section on what the current interpretations of the past indicate for the future. Through this chronological analysis it is concluded that the Estate's physicality is reduced to a semantic contribution, representative of our current crisis of collective memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ginling College is the first women’s university founded by the British and American Christian Churches in China at the beginning of the twentieth century. Its school building is not only the earliest and largest concrete school building group in Nanjing in near modern times, but also a masterpiece of the church's implementation of the ‘Chinese native architectural style’. This ‘combination of Chinese and Western’ creative method initiated by the churches is called the ‘Renaissance of Chinese Traditional Architecture’, which has a profound impact on later generations and has important historical significance and research value. At present, the school’s historical buildings are in urgent need of conservation and refurbishment. The conservation project strives to maintain the original appearance of the building, optimize the space design, and achieve the coordinated development of culture heritage conservation and the overall campus area. This paper provides a comprehensive evaluation and research on this school building heritage from the different perspectives of architectural history and regeneration. Given the significance of this historic building group in modern China, this research will fill a gap in relevant historical study, offering a typical case study of modern school buildings and their utilization in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Older buildings are often vilified for alleged poor energy performance. This discussion has, however, been limited to operational energy, rather than whole-life carbon. This paper compares both embodied and operational carbon emissions of building preservation to new construction. Methodologically, it relies on consequential replacement LCA. Using a representative 1950s school building as a case study, a locally heritage-listed example of Modernist architecture, four retention scenarios are devised. The scenarios represent different approaches towards repair needs, cost implications, time horizons of refurbishment, and conserving the building's architectural-historical value. For the contemporary new build, two scenarios are developed based on a case study school building completed in 2018. They differ by the material of the structural frame (concrete or cross-laminated timber). The concrete-framed alternative corresponds to the present business as usual, whereas the wooden alternative represents a competing lower-carbon technology. The study was conducted in Finland, i.e. a cold continental climate. In such conditions, operational energy consumption is significant for a building's carbon footprint. Nevertheless, the findings show that building preservation results in lower emissions than new construction in most of the scenarios. The climate change mitigation potential of building preservation is significant at the scale of singular buildings and the building stock scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to assess the sustainability potential of Algerian desert Ksour's architectural and urban heritage. It identifies systems aligning with the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), categorized into formal, spatial organization, and architectonic aspects. The approach correlates Ksour's architectural features with SDGs defined by the International Union of Architects, yielding 40 passive features applicable for achieving SDGs. Notably, features like high windows (architectural) and strategic siting (urban) remain relevant for energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction. This research gives us the opportunity to improve our strategies for rehabilitating and adapting built heritage so that it can meet current environmental challenges, but also opens up the possibility in the future of continuing to identify more sustainable systems by extending the study of heritage examples, but also and above all of developing a reflection on the adaptation of these passive systems in the design of contemporary architectural and urban projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction techniques and building materials are greatly affected by traditions and local factors which makes each historical structure unique. Therefore, the structural evaluation of these structures should be a structure-specific evaluation rather than a common-precise acceptance. The first step is to set the aim of the evaluation such that it would increase the level of knowledge through field studies and non-destructive experimental methods. This paper presents a formal and structural evaluation of the traditional timber structure, an impressive Turkish Storage Building known as 'Serender', in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. The formal assessment includes an analysis of construction materials and techniques. The structural evaluation consists of non-ambient vibration test which help determine the dynamic responses of the structure. The method details the natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping ratios, representing the dynamic behavior of the structures. For this purpose, 8 Serender buildings were analyzed and detailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxburgh Hall in Norfolk is used to provide a case study of what wallpaper analysis can tell us about the history and development of interiors and the current status of methods, sources, collections and limitations of wallpaper analysis in the UK. Wallpaper might be described as a kind of 'vertical archaeology' offering insight into layers of historical decoration of rooms and buildings. The history of wallpaper has tended to be marginalised in the study of historic interiors and decorative wall surfaces, partly because it is often lost from its original location. This paper considers the major British collections that can be used for investigating wallpapers, highlighting in particular the use of the Cowtan Order Books at the Victoria and Albert Museum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural heritage structures reflect the lifestyles and creative aspects of our ancestors. Indeed, they contain the cultural roots of today's societies and connect the past to the present. There is no doubt that architectural and structural evaluation plays important role in the conservation of these structures for the future. This paper focuses on an architectural evaluation and current usage of the specific timber vernacular structure, the Turkish Storage Building 'Serender', which has not yet been protected in the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. The architectural assessment includes morphological analysis, material, and construction techniques of the timber storage buildings. We believe that this assessment will contribute to the preservation of the authenticity and integrity of these structures, and also will contribute to sustaining the skills of craftworker and their traditional and cultural knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When armed conflicts devastate a country, its architectural heritage suffers. Its recovery is a multifaceted problem. This paper explores the architectural conservation challenges and complexities in conflict-ravaged Syria through in-depth interviews with Syrian heritage officials, practitioners, and experts. Analysis of the interviews and observations in the field has revealed the significant domestic challenges, threats, and weaknesses in the post-conflict recovery of built heritage. Syria shares characteristics with other post-conflict societies, especially the lack of financial and human resources, which are vital for efficient post-conflict conservation planning. However, Syria is also challenged by a diversity of domestic issues relating to the deficiencies in its heritage management and legislation systems. These include, among others, weaknesses in the preservation legislation, lack of archival records/documentation of the pre-destruction state of built heritage, inadequacies of the skilled workforce, and inefficient coordination and collaboration between the stakeholders. The article shows how improving the local heritage management capacity and infrastructure during peacetime is the key to an effective recovery in the aftermath of human or natural catastrophes. Doing so would reduce the uncertainty of depending on global aid and resources, which are scarce and politically complicated to access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tirana National Theatre was demolished on 17 May 2020. For the previous eighty years and up to that moment, it had maintained its public and societal function, documenting the changes of twentieth-century Albanian history. The Theatre was inaugurated in 1938, during the Italian Protectorate, as part of the Italian-Albanian Circolo Scanderbeg, a multifunctional complex conceived for entertainment as well as for Fascist propaganda. The construction, by the Italian company PATER, used a prefabricated system that well-exemplified the new building technologies and material research developed under the Fascist autarchy restrictions. This paper deals with the construction history of this building approaching questions around fabrics which significance is neglected in favour of new developments. Even if time-specific, architecture is often characterized by a lifespan that is longer if compared to its original construction purpose. Hence, despite the denial of any possible conservation or reuse, the Theatre's cultural resilience and architectural, historic, and societal significance will continue to reverberate in the void created by its demolition. Unpretentiously, this paper honours the memory of a disappeared twentieth-century architecture, which ambiguous protection history was overcome by a much more sincere guardianship by the civil society and conservation community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current approach to retrofit has failed to deliver the promised reductions in energy use in the built environment, but it has exposed many historic buildings to maladaptation, and is threatening many more. This paper argues that the problem rests in a classic misalignment between the intentions behind retrofitting, and the means being used to assess retrofit options. Underlying issues include a poor understanding of how buildings were designed and operated before the Industrial Revolution radically changed our approaches to materials, construction, and use. This pre-carbon past still has much to teach us, with lessons that can be integrated with the best of the modern tools. But this requires careful planning for the long term, together with a much more flexible approach to modelling and assessment. This paper suggests a simple approach that might be used to unlock whole-life energy or carbon assessment, encouraging feedback and sharing of knowledge to achieve the rapid improvement needed to tackle the climate emergency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

City walls have played a significant role in the history of many cities in both Europe and Anatolia in the Middle Ages. Following the development of war technology, the city walls lost their importance as defensive structures, which led to changes in the urban patterns of walled cities. In the case of Istanbul, the city walls began to lose their defensive role after the Ottoman takeover of the city in the fifteenth century. However, the walls have continued to play new roles beyond defense, such as forming the city's physical, legal, and fiscal boundaries. The Ottoman authorities repaired and conserved the city walls in line with their changing roles, values and meaning for the city. Nevertheless, the city walls in Istanbul were damaged by earthquakes, city fires and particularly urban planning practices in the nineteenth century, as was the case in many walled cities. This paper discusses the intertwined history of preservation and demolition of the city walls by analyzing a cost estimate, dated 1894 and located in the Ottoman State Archives, which was prepared by the modernizing administration of the Ottoman State for the repairs of the Istanbul Land Walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UNESCO 2011 Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) states community participation is an essential tool to elicit values attributed by diverse stakeholders in built heritage, to better prioritise actions based on public interests and needs. Traditional value elicitation often takes place in an expert-driven process following value typology frameworks, which is, however, widely criticised under the self-examination and reflection within built heritage protection and management. Therefore, it is still not adequately explored how values of built heritage can be identified through a process-led methodology of inclusive public participation. Using the method of a systematic literature review, this paper collected and analysed documents published between 2010 and 2020, from both qualitative and quantitative perspectives. The findings show that process-led value elicitation has been widely discussed and applied within the international practices of built heritage management, as five main themes are synthesised in this paper. This review could be inspiring and pioneering in the field of international built heritage management, pushing methodological changes to focus more on the use and significance of heritage in local residents and their living experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protection of colonial-era buildings as part of the modern heritage is now viewed more positively as part of the texture of urban memory and fabric. However, there are major challenges for the preservation of ecclesiastical buildings erected in Christianized non-Western territories during the European colonial era. By utilizing physical observations, interviews and primary documents, this paper examines the current conservation state of colonial-era Anglican ecclesiastical heritage as well as the mechanics of their upkeep, using the early church buildings in Yorubaland (South West Nigeria) as the empirical focus. This article raises questions about challenges and threats to their protection, revealing the deficiencies in conservation know-how and problems with the current management structure, in particular the way the original buildings' fabric is modified or the building demolished to create more space. The paper proposes a set of recommendations for building institutional capacity for a better way forward. The example of Anglican ecclesiastical heritage in Yorubaland offers insights into colonial-era's heritage in sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses the value of Hubei Ancient Village as an example of urban villages by examining its historical evolution, cultural continuity, existing problems and corresponding connection to the development of Shenzhen. This paper expounds the necessity of maintaining Hubei Ancient Village, an urban village, and proposes a low-disturbance plan for protecting the human environment and advancing the progressive renewal of the material landscape to ensure the overall protection of the village at the dual levels of material and culture. This study also provides a reference for the formulation of protection rules for other urban villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preservation of the built vernacular heritage contributes to maintaining a 'sense of place' and cultural diversity; yet, it is often ignored in preservation practices that favour high styled architectures and monumental sites. In China, although the understanding of the value of vernacular expression has shown some progress, technical and methodological efforts are still necessary to address the diversity and complexity of vernacular heritage. In this paper, the Xijie Historic District in Dujiangyan City in China provides an example for the preservation of the built vernacular heritage in the context of neighbourhood revitalization during a post-earthquake reconstruction project. Five types of intervention are examined in this paper, including the repair and restoration of the monuments, restoration of historic buildings, rehabilitation of traditional houses, contextual design of new buildings, and demolition to provide public space and facilities. In particular, the measures implemented to meet the residents' needs while maintaining the diversity of the built vernacular heritage are inspected. This study concludes with three recommendations: the classification of vernacular environments and employment of diverse measures to each type; the adaptation of the vernacular environment to meet residents' expectations and aspirations; and recognition of the development and reasonable control of the changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optical telegraphic system was introduced in Spain in 1844. In fact, more than a hundred towers were built to connect Madrid to Irún, Valencia and the Andalusia. Decommissioned at the end of the nineteenth century, despite their historical value, the towers are today abandoned with a high level of material and functional obsolescence, waiting for a new utilization. In light of the above-mentioned aspects, the research aims at the identification, cataloguing and qualification of the telegraphic towers located on the pathway from Madrid to Valencia in order to propose a large-scale territorial project for their preservation and enhancement. In particular, the paper is going to describe, first, a historical and morphological evolution of the telegraphic towers. Second, a methodology for qualification of the architectural, material, constructive and functional characteristics of the towers is reported, with a specific reference to the given case study of the telegraphic paths between Madrid and Valencia. Finally, a redevelopment scenario is proposed for the restoration of the towers as well as for their integration in a cycling and pedestrian naturalistic pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper elaborates on the reuse of architectural fragments in new constructions as a strategy for the conservation of cultural heritage. The ancient practice of spolia is used as a frame of reference to analyze contemporary reflections and examples. The introduction reflects on the tension between the practice of spolia and heritage conservation. Next, a review of relevant literature is presented, including sources from different disciplinary backgrounds, like heritage conservation, architectural history, architectural theory, and interior architecture. Furthermore, two precedent-setting studies are investigated: the decomposition of the interiors of the Generale Bank in Brussels (Belgium) by Rotor and the reuse of its fragments in new projects, and the Lin'an History Museum in Hangzhou, China by Amateur Architecture Studio. The following research questions steered the investigations: (1) what is the origin of the spolia? (2) how are the spolia reintegrated into a new building? (3) is the heritage embedded in the spoliated fragment transferred to or appropriated by the new host? A final reflection highlights gaps in the literature study and proposes directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vernacular architecture has played an important role in construction and building spaces over human history. The disappearance of vernacular architecture leads to the extinction of experience available through our ancestors or earlier generation, the disturbance of peace and consistency and damage to our quality of life. Today's man is regarded as a generation full of experience and innovation over centuries. Therefore, this heritage should be well preserved and taken advantage of through recognition and research. Since Iran, an ethnically diverse country with a variety of architectural patterns, is truly unique in terms of its vernacular architecture, its conservation is of vital importance. In this respect, one of the incomparable architectural patterns is the city of Masouleh. What distinguishes this city from other areas is its historical, cultural and architectural values. This paper aims to identify its construction techniques in order to preserve its vernacular architecture. For this purpose, a combination of interpretive-historical and qualitative strategies was used. Research tools include documentary research, observation, interviews, studying maps and sketches. The findings show environmentally friendly construction techniques were well responsive to the needs of residents of Masouleh in the past and that these techniques can fulfill current and future sustainability purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this paper is the state of conservation of the Afro-Brazilian mosques in Yorubaland in Nigeria. These mosques signify a symbolic moment in West Africa's architectural history as a cross-fertilization of Luso-Brazilian architectural elements with West African Islamic architectural traditions. Their architectural characteristics have been described based on extensive fieldwork in Yorubaland, during which they have been identified, located and documented. By utilizing physical observations, anecdotal evidence, and secondary literature, the paper categorizes the Afro-Brazilian mosques according to their typological and morphologic characteristics and identifies their heritage values. Their significance is highlighted as the evidence of cross-fertilization of imported and local architectural ideas as well as the negotiation of the indigenes with this imported architecture and its implications for urban memory. After addressing the conservation problems concerning the legacy of Afro-Brazilian mosques, the paper finally recommends a way forward for mobilizing action in response to their deterioration and loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies XiPuXinJu, a Hakka-enclosed house that is located in the Longgang District, Shenzhen, China. By analysing the building's development history and transformation process, it is proven that XiPuXinJu has both the characteristics of traditional Hakka-enclosed houses and is obviously influenced by Guangfu architecture from the Han culture from ancient central China. XiPuXinJu is typical of western Canton with important historical value; its development is a microcosm of the destiny of numerous unlisted historical buildings that have survived the torrent of urbanization. The main problems faced by XiPuXinJu are (1) stripped environmental elements; (2) weakened traditional architectural style, with the need to improve quality and living comfort; and (3) high vacancy rate. This paper suggests solutions for the activated re-utilization of XiPuXinJu with regard to three aspects: environmental reconstruction, building renovation and the implementation of new functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After years of neglect, along with the rise of Reza Shah Pahlavi in 1925, Western Orientalist and Iranian enlightened thinkers provided a forum to proliferate the discourse on cultural heritage. During the Pahlavi epoch (1925-1979), Western archaeologists and architects were closely involved in cultural heritage affairs, which effectively manipulated the concept of Iranian nationalism, particularly by focusing on the pre-Islamic heritage. Despite the underlying role of the Western Orientalists in the conservation of architectural heritage, it has not been scrutinised yet, and a few publications merely studied their cooperation from an archaeological and architectural perspective. Employing an interpretive-historical research method using significant primary sources this paper examines the role and involvement of four key figures, namely Ernst Herzfeld, André Godard, Arthur Upham Pope, and Maxime Siroux, in the restoration projects that has simply slipped into neglect after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Drawing upon the under-researched and unpublished primary materials such as government letters and memoirs, this paper elucidates the involvement of Western Orientalists in conservation and/or destruction of cultural heritage in Twentieth-Century Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite that large investments have been made by the European Union in restoring and preserving heritage damaged after the Kosovo War 1998-99, there have been no previous attempts to gain more in-depth knowledge about the implementation and success of the interventions. Organisations involved in funding and facilitating architectural interventions in post-conflict zones may have differing aims and agendas that influence selection and methods, and ultimately the results. This paper aims to shed light on a pioneering project carried out on damaged kullas, massive masonry towers connected to farmsteads, in Kosovo 2001-02. Kullas were systematically attacked and burned during the conflict. The methodology is based on interviews with involved people and on documentation that is publically available, since it is crucial to uncover the aims and agendas of involved actors if one wishes to understand how and why decisions were made. In the end, what was deemed most important in the process was not the reconstruction in itself, but rather the development of craftsmen's skills and the need to create a dialogue on the values of Kosovo heritage. The paper shows how the reconstruction of built heritage can facilitate processes of dialogue in conflict areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of conservation aspects is rarely considered in energy-related retrofit assessments. Particularly, vulnerable to inappropriate retrofit is the mid-twentieth century heritage, constructed during an era of experimentation with new materials and construction techniques and little regard to energy performance. This paper presents an assessment methodology and its application on a retrofit assessment of the 1960s Canongate Housing complex in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. The aim was to systematically integrate conservation with energy performance, economic feasibility and construction practices. The paper demonstrates that, through production of a Statement of Significance and the identification of character-defining elements, conservation can be integrated into retrofit assessment in the form of a long- and short-listing process. The assessments show that retrofit of technical building systems and renewable-energy generation systems achieves larger reductions than fabric improvement measures and that payback periods can vary substantially for different flat types, leading potentially to diverging interests amongst flat owners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of this paper is to advance concrete strategies for integrating objectives of environmental sustainability in the conservation of wood elements in Canadian modernist architecture. To do so, the paper considers: how wood and engineered wood products were used in modern building in Canada; how environmental values associated with wood in modern architecture have evolved; and what new issues are raised by current sustainable forestry and building practices. Finally, preliminary strategies are suggested for integrated approaches to conserving modern wood, which will be of value beyond the Canadian context. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper seeks to demonstrate the historical and aesthetic importance of wallpapers and to introduce the relevant techniques for investigation, conservation, and care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many, our climate emergency is real. The evidence is all around us and no longer the subject of any serious debate. Architects ⁣are often seen as 'first responders' in this crisis - reacting to fires and leaning into increasingly violent weather to understand their origin so that we can deliver a safer and resilient built environment for those we continue to serve. Our response to this crisis? In a word: Sustainability. No longer a buzzword or clever term-of-art, sustainability is, for many, both religion and a dogma that has emerged as the single most important driver in how we will educate and train the next generation of architects. But what of this 'religion'? This dogma. Is it the root of yet another blind faith? Or is it perhaps the beginning of a new chapter - a new testament, if you will - upon which we, as architects, will lead a return to first-principles in sustainable design and re-affirm the architect as responsible steward of our built environment. This paper will look briefly at the evolution of the design profession and the emergence of the accredited professional in sustainable design, then use case studies to demonstrate the limitations associated with point-driven sustainable design before arguing for a return to first principles in how we educate and train the next generation of architects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mid-twentieth century was a period of architectural idealism and rapid technological innovation paired with unprecedented growth in construction and built square footage. As design movements became global and mechanical systems evolved to provide ready access to heating and cooling, buildings became less climate responsive and more energy intensive to operate. Architecture of this time also celebrated structural innovation and novel materials, which led to frequent integration of structure, envelope, and systems. These characteristics resulted in a building stock with typically poor energy efficiency and new material challenges for conservation. Rather than a justification to tear down these buildings and replace them, their vast numbers and significant contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions are reasons why mid-century buildings must be effectively repurposed to meet climate goals while respecting their history. With the imperative to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius, reusing and upgrading these buildings provides a critical near-term carbon reduction strategy. This paper presents two case studies involving the reuse of undergraduate residence halls of this era. The first illustrates the substantial total carbon savings from restoration and reuse. The second proposes an analysis-based methodology for designing retrofits that optimize carbon payback of targeted interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two key benefits of building retention and adaptation, over demolition and new build are identified in the academic literature as: the conservation of heritage, and reductions in embodied greenhouse gas emissions from construction materials. A four-year research project, including expert interviews, focus groups and three detailed case studies, developed extensive data on how these benefits are considered in decisions to demolish or retain buildings within larger urban development sites. The research found that heritage and embodied impacts are considered quite differently. Heritage is frequently a key driver towards retaining individual buildings, whilstembodied emissions are rarely key considerations. Where there are insufficient arguments based on heritage value, many buildings are therefore demolished and replaced rather than retained. To reduce the impact of construction on the environment it is crucial that we calculate the embodied as well as operational impacts of demolition decisions and retain and refurbish buildings where this is the lower carbon choice. Using heritage arguments as a basis, this paper proposes that the introduction of policy drivers for retention and against demolition, and the conversion of environmental value into economic uplift, are likely to be necessary conditions to encourage the retention of buildings for lower whole life carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mandala Agung at Puri Ahimsa displays the concept of 'Architecture being non-architectural' yet it remains based on Balinese culture. This paper reveals the forms of local traditions in the lay-out and preservation of these buildings in a qualitative-descriptive manner. The Balinese physical-social value system is revealed through sense-purpose-essence-awareness. The lay-out of Puri Ahimsa signifies Cosmic Balance through the harmonious relations between humans, God, and nature. Architecturally, Mandala Agung is a synthesis of the rice cone form and the openness of Balinese traditional pavilions (wantilan), applying the Cosmic Balance through space in forming harmonious relationships. Singling out the roof as the divine realm, the inner space is regarded as a human realm (Tri Loka concept). The semi-circular space with the doors in opposite directions signifies the balance of opposing forces. Natural balance and the Tri Hita Karana philosophy are maintained in the Puri Ahimsa lay-out. The shape and the openness of the wantilan are adapted to the Mandala Agung architecture, while the Nawa Sanga concept is adapted to the eight main pillars and the sky-light roof. Tri Hita Karana is maintained in the inner space, and the philosophy of Desa Kala Patra is concretised through its uniqueness for today's activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North Shore Congregation Israel complex was designed by modernist architect Minoru Yamasaki and completed in 1964. Yamasaki's notable work includes the Pacific Science Center (1962), World Trade Center (1971), and many other significant large scale projects. North Shore Congregation Israel exemplifies his early work, which included low-rise modernist structures with decorative concrete facades. Yamasaki was very interested in the design potential of precast and cast in place concrete and the materials versatility as both a structural and decorative material, as illustrated in this complex. After several decades, spalling was observed along the edge of the architectural precast concrete panels. Previously installed concrete patch repairs were visually apparent and many were no longer serviceable. Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. was engaged to perform an assessment of the existing architectural precast concrete, document the extent and types of distress, and develop repair documents. The paper will describe and illustrate the process of developing concrete repairs for North Shore Congregation Israel, including an overview of the assessment process and development of repair details, concrete cleaning procedures to address soiling and biological growth present on the building, and concrete mix design and finishing procedures to blend the repairs with the existing concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant energy and carbon originate in the existing built environment and retrofit is therefore a key carbon reduction strategy. However heritage buildings -comprising around 20% of UK buildings- are challenging to retrofit appropriately due to their historical values and traditional construction. Retrofit carbon savings are dependent on current energy use which is strongly influenced by residents' behaviours, and retrofit decisions for domestic heritage are generally the responsibility of homeowners. Therefore both residents' views and behaviours are important for effective retrofit strategies. However behaviours are rarely considered in standard energy models and residents' views are often overlooked in heritage retrofit policy. This paper analyses a survey of the views, values and behaviours of 147 residents of pre-1940 buildings. The majority are found to strongly value their homes' heritage and mainly view exterior building alterations negatively. However residents' heritage values and acceptable retrofits, frequently differ from those of experts and policy makers. Residents report actively engaging in several positive energy behaviours and many have already undertaken common carbon saving measures. These findings imply that, for effective carbon reduction from heritage buildings, policy and legislation needs to extend beyond current definitions of 'heritage' and acknowledge residents' complex values, motivations and energy behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contributes to the debate on modern architectural heritage by emphasizing the values-based context of conservation. Considering the abstractness of the concepts and the clarity of realities, the paper tries to introduce the uncertainty of the valuation phase for the conservation of modern architectural heritage by presenting a remarkable case study: The Headquarters Building of the Turkish Republic (T.R.) 17th Regional Directorate of Highways Complex, Istanbul. Designed by Mehmet Konuralp in 1973, the Headquarters, as one of the first skyscrapers in Istanbul presenting the basic qualities of modernism, was listed as an architectural asset in 2004 based on its art-design, artistic-technical, social, and symbolic values. However, it fell victim to a series of decisions taken by administrative authorities on the grounds that the attributed values are not worth protecting. Through a comprehensive analysis of the Headquarters, this study intends to demonstrate the incomplete understandings of modern architectural heritage and its values, as well as to present a discussion concerning similar cases at risk. As a concluding remark, the existing values-based approach of conservation for the modern architectural heritage calls into question and some initial possibilities are proposed to raise awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the relocation of the former International Export Company 4 years ago, its building group, which includes not only the earliest existing modern food industry buildings imported from Western countries but also the earliest large-scale reinforced concrete buildings in good condition domestically, has now ceased the functions of food processing and cold storage since first establishment in 1912. This earliest foreign-funded factory with a history of over 100 years in Nanjing will be transformed into a landmark complex integrating commerce, culture and tourism according to the requirements of regional development. As a main member of the design team, as well as a participant in the project 'Research on reinforced concrete building protection technology in early modern China' supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, I have the ability to provide a comprehensive evaluation and research on this industrial architectural heritage from the different perspectives of architectural history and regeneration in this paper. Given the significance of this historic building group in modern China, this research will fill a gap in relevant historical study, offering a typical case study of modern industrial buildings and their utilization in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents evidence supported by scientific analyses and historical documents that medieval plasters used for wall paintings in Denmark were, with high probability, produced by mixing quicklime, aggregate and water in an exothermic process, resulting in a mortar referred to as hot-mixed. This process enables the production of plaster with a very high binder content. Previous thin-section analyses were supplemented by recent analyses of samples collected from three medieval wall paintings in Danish churches. Also included in the analyses were plaster samples produced from hot-mixed mortar and samples produced from lime putty mortar. The analyses of the medieval plasters showed an average binder content in the range of two parts lime to one part aggregate. Moreover, lime inclusions, a characteristic of hot-mix, were found in all samples. SEM analyses showed a similar microstructure in the medieval plasters and the samples produced by hot-mixed mortar, while significant differences were found between the medieval plaster and lime putty samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Britain, the use of concrete as a construction material is relatively recent. The first recorded concrete bridge in Britain was built in 1867, but because it used lime concrete it did not survive and was replaced by a Portland-cement concrete bridge in 1873. It was not until 1880 that the first mass-concrete railway bridge in Scotland was constructed. By the end of the nineteenth century mass concrete for bridges was being replaced by reinforced concrete. This paper discusses the issues surrounding the early concrete bridges in Scotland that were constructed up to 1950. This was the period when concrete developed from an innovative but poorly understood material to what might be recognised as modern concrete with research-based design codes. Within Scotland approximately forty-eight percent of all concrete bridges built up to 1950 are listed buildings, with many more being of genuine historic interest and part of our heritage. These early bridges are now of an age where concrete deterioration is becoming more of a concern and unless appropriate, conservation-based action is taken, their survivability as part of the built heritage may be compromised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legislation on architectural heritage protection in Albania follows the political and historical events of the country. In this paper, I will outline how 'cultural monument' concept evolves within the main Albanian legislative timeline in the cultural heritage protection field. The discussion will highlight how cultural monuments significance, from the early concept of 'National Monuments' at the dawn of the new Albanian State, to 'Cultural Monuments' conceived as people common heritage, have always had, and still have, a pivotal role in the Albanian cultural debate. Purged from the regime ideology, those notions reflect the concept of monument intended as the main outstanding material testimony of an artefact or a constructive culture or of its formal and technical evolution which cannot be preserved through passive constraints. Finally, following the years after the regime collapse (1992), the recent updating of the national law on cultural heritage protection has been a priority for the country and the debate is still open. Thus, the 2000s legislative framework, evolved since the post-communist period until present, should be considered in the light of the transition from the notion of cultural monuments to that one of cultural heritage paying attention to cultural values recognition process and significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities are the carrier of culture and collective memory of a place. Nowadays, however, there are already globally developed frameworks for the conservation of tangible urban heritage with the loss of historic meaning, which means, the public (including local residents and tourists) can hardly perceive the authenticity of urban heritage in the modern society. As a result, few of them can understand the identity and historical layering process of the city. From the perspective of Historic Urban Landscape (HUL), this paper sets out the experience and approaches of public perceptions of authenticity through literature review and comments data mining, and takes the Five Avenues Historic District in Tianjin as a case study in order to propose strategies for enhancing public perceptions of authenticity of urban heritage. By doing this, the public can have a better understanding of the meaning of urban heritage, which would contribute to its distinctive identity, as well as the management of change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Yangtze River and the Yellow River are located in the south and north of China respectively. They are considered the two sources of Chinese civilization. For thousands of years, the cultures of the two river basins have merged, thus forming the five thousand years of Chinese civilization. Despite this long integration, the two cultures have maintained their distinct personality. Vernacular dwellings are no exception. This paper researches the architectural decoration of traditional vernacular dwellings in these two basins. After field investigations, a total of 308 examples of traditional vernacular dwellings have been selected from the two regions. 186 examples are located in the Yangtze River basin and 122 examples in the Yellow River basin. The architectural decoration of these traditional vernacular dwellings is examined from the aspects of brick carvings, wood carvings, stone carvings, oil paintings and colour paintings. The focus of this study is the identification of decorative variances in the architectural decoration of these traditional vernacular dwellings due to regional influences. Attempts were made to ascertain the reasons for these differences, in terms of geography, climate, politics, technology and folk customs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses current trends and approaches towards the conservation of abandoned monuments, demonstrating different strategies applied to historical buildings in Cyprus with an emphasis on medieval monasteries. Through the examination of two cases - the restoration of Panayia tou Sinti Monastery in Paphos and the revival of Ayios Nicolaos Monastery in Orounda - the positive and negative consequences of the different philosophy and strategy followed in each case is demonstrated. With the involvement of the authors, the monastery of Panayia tou Sinti was partly restored in the form of ruins and became an open-air museum, whereas the monastery of Ayios Nicolaos underwent a comprehensive maintenance and new extensions were designed by the authors using appropriate materials and forms. Through these examples, the different concepts of conserving historic complexes - such as 'museum' conservation, final form of ruins, matters of authenticity, dynamic maintenance, compatibility of materials, structural reinforcement - are discussed. This paper demonstrates that before making final decisions for the strategy to be followed for the conservation of a historic abandoned building, investigation and assessment of all its values within the philosophical framework of international principles for rehabilitation should be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a consequence of the devastating fire on 31 March 2010, in which the Grill Room (part of the Grade II listed Cafe Royal) was considered to have been largely destroyed, we commenced a two-year project to re-instate the interior, which also provided an opportunity for a re-evaluation of the historic fabric of this significant room. The Grill Room is synonymous with the artists and writers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who frequented it and who made it famous. This paper is a case study of the project. The paper discusses the forensic approach to the methodology for the restoration and explains the justification for the re-construction of the room including alterations to suit twenty-first-century use. The re-construction was based on evidence taken from the fire-damaged room and from desktop and archival research. The room has recently re-opened to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designed by John and Robert Adam in 1774, the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) is the earliest example in English architecture of purpose-built headquarters for a learned society. Described at its opening as 'beautifully simple without meanness, and grand without exaggeration', it underwent numerous architectural transformations in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Today, the London-based RSA combines research and practical experimentation in the spheres of Community and Public Service, Design and Enterprise, Learning, Cognition, and Creativity, drawing on the knowledge and experience of the RSA's 27,000 Fellows in 100 countries. They hold public lectures and seminars, and publish reports, pamphlets and a quarterly journal. This paper investigating the recent works by Matthew Lloyd Architects contains a brief historic overview of the building with a chronology of alterations, an explanation of the original brief and its evolution, and the restoration principles for the five Georgian town houses of which the RSA is composed. The paper's focus is on the restoration of the important Grade I Listed Great Room and the discreet insertion of twenty- first-century technology within the historic spaces, but it also looks at the Vestibule, the Great Stairs, and the Anteroom to the Great Room, as spaces pertinent to the Great Room itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crimea is a region full of historic monuments from different periods including Seijuk, Golden Horde, Ottomans, and Crimean Khanate. Beginning with the thirteenth century, Islam began to spread widely in the Crimean peninsula. As a result, many Muslim architectural monuments such as mosques, baths, madrasahs, and tombs were built in Crimea. Among these, tombs are of great importance in terms of understanding the nature and development of architectural typology in the region. Traces of most historical tombs in Crimea have disappeared either due to natural or political events. That is why in this paper only the tombs intact today are presented. The information on these monuments comes from in situ observations, measured drawings, photographs, and historical sources. There are many studies conducted previously on the historic monuments in Crimea, but they are either out-dated or just give limited general knowledge about these monuments without measured drawings and deep research on condition assessments and typology studies. Hence, the aim of this paper is to make a thorough evaluation of tombs in Crimea, thus drawing attention to their conservation and for the promotion of cultural diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first aim of this paper is to provide an illustration of fabric survey, damage assessment, and structural consolidation of the mud brick structures of Al Ain, an oasis in the United Arab Emirates. The buildings mostly date to the turn of the last century and it was concluded that damage of such vernacular architecture is represented by thermal movement, structural cracks, leaning walls, granular disintegration, erosion and creation of preferential channels, and coving. Furthermore, damage caused by animals and by recent interventions was also surveyed. The second aim of the paper is to illustrate the structural consolidation of mud brick masomy by explaining the work undertaken in the mosque of Al Jahili (1891-1898). This includes eroded wall repair, window filling, repair of cracks with the stitching technique, wall top consolidation, and roof repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to demonstrate the use of timber ties in the construction of Stone masonry arches in Jordan from the late first century BC onwards. It investigates the techniques used and relates them to present-day structural design. In Nabataean architecture, tie-beams were used for strengthening of masonry structures and, in particular, to strengthen masonry arches and vaults against their most critical failure mechanism. The tie-beams introduce tension resistance. This fact has two important consequences: the capacity of the arch itself is increased, and the lateral thrust transmitted to the piers is reduced, thereby increasing the strength of the arch–pier system. Collapse of an arch typically occurs when notie-rods or tie-beams are used and the piers are unable to bear the thrust of the arch. While the first effect has been stressed by the existing research, less attention has been paid to the second effect, which nevertheless is very important for practical applications. In this paper, the main methods are critical analysis of archaeological information enriched by structural evaluation of the strength of such systems. From such an approach, reliable hypotheses can be made concerning the design and construction process. The effect of bonding a tie-beam to the intrados of a semi-circular arch on the lateral thrust is evaluated analytically using the non- linear finite element package ABAQUS software (HKS, version 6.5). The results are analysed based on the determination of the thrust line. This study concludes some recommendations for the conservation of historical buildings in seismic regions, based on a thorough understanding of their structure, construction features and materials, which may help to prevent earthquake-induced damage to buildings taking into account traditional and modem materials and techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study of Bolognese terracotta decoration aims to identify the chronology of decorative typologies and to determine the appropriate conservation methodology. Practical proposals can change depending on the different types of terracotta and the techniques used in their production. The first part of this paper describes cornices from the eleventh to the sixteenth century, paying particular attention to how individual elements are combined and arranged together. The second part examines the coatings and colours applied in the second half of the fifteenth century by comparing mineralogical and stratigraphic analyses conducted on the cornices of three buildings. The third part proposes solutions for cleaning, consolidation and conservation that aim to preserve the stratigraphy and surface finish. The paper concludes with proposals for rapid prototyping and reverse engineering of the restoration of ruined terracotta friezes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preserving cultural heritage doesn't simply imply handing down the image of a building as a whole, it also means safeguarding its material nature through knowing its construction-related features. The need to make buildings meet present-day requirements as regards acoustic and thermal performances must come to terms with the demand of preserving what has been built, avoiding marring its features. This is particularly felt in Italy, since most of the buildings in historical towns were built before the nineteen century. The object of the research is studying plastered wooden-structure partition walls to be found in brick-work Venetian buildings with a view of their refurbishment and conservation. Such walls, consisting in boards and wooden strips (scorzoni and cantinelle) play an important functional and construction-related role inside Venetian buildings. The resort to other materials unconnected with Venetian building tradition has often led to their being substituted with walls built according to more up-to-date techniques which has caused the loss of historical identity as well as quite different thermal-acoustic, rigidity and weight performances. The paper presents the first results of the construction-related analysis of the existing walls and some guidelines aiming to improve their performances, at the same time making their preservation viable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the use of the photogrammetric method to obtain 3D model of artworks for their characterisation and conservation. The high-resolution reproduction of a piece of art allows both the identification of constituent materials, decorative elements and detailed features and its digitalisation and enjoyment and then enhancement. In this study the approach was applied to the polychrome marble altars in the crypt of the St. Sabino's cathedral and in the St. Giacomo's church, both in Bari (Italy), significant evidences of virtuosity of Baroque sculptors and of use and reuse of precious Roman marbles combined with more recent and local stones. For this purpose, firstly, a three-dimensional model and high definition survey were performed by collection of numerous photographs and their processing using photogrammetric method and digital survey software; in addition, identification of Roman marbles and other decorative stones was carried out in terms of lithological classification, provenance locality, the historical period of employ. Results, obtained through an inexpensive, fast and complete survey, allowed to produce a high definition representation of the altars for a complete mapping of used material and decorative features and to guarantee their conservation, sharing and enhancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Al Hayla tower is a historic stone building located in Liwa Oasis in the vast 'Empty Quarter' desert of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. As one of the few remaining unaltered stone buildings in the emirate, Halya is a rare record of stone construction techniques and a significant part of Abu Dhabi's heritage. When first surveyed in 2009, the tower was in critical condition with large vertical cracks that threatened to cause total collapse of the structure. Emergency conservation measures including shoring and strapping were carried out and a conservation management plan was drafted to guide future interventions. Documentation, materials analysis and treatment trials were also carried out followed by conservation. The interventions included structural reinforcement, grouting, repointing, and application of a shelter coat. Geogrid fiber was chosen for reinforcement because of its high tensile strength and resistance to heat deformation and corrosion in the desert environment. After several years of monitoring following the interventions, the tower has remained stable. This paper describes the conservation and structural stabilization work in detail, focusing on materials analysis, mortar selection, and the conservation and structural solutions chosen to stabilize the tower. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]