Is there such a thing as a global conservation philosophy for cultural heritage? Should there be? Or should cultural heritage conservation reflect cultural diversity? The Conference will consider these thoughts through exploring conjunctions and differences between conservation philosophies and principles in UK, India and China.   

Agra Fort, India, photo: M & G Therin-Weise

These aspirations were translated into an Australian national framework by the Burra Charter, the Australian National Charter, 1979. The idea of universality was strengthened by the 1972 World Heritage Convention with its concept of outstanding universal value for properties that might be seen part of the ‘world heritage of mankind as a whole’, which thus translated universal ideas to places perceived to be of universal value.   

In recent years the China Principles, 2002, and the INTACH Charter for the Conservation of Unprotected Architectural Heritage and Sites in India, 2004, have developed conservation guidance related to specific cultural traditions. Do these still somehow reflect the idea of an over-arching conservation philosophy that can be seen to be global? Or are they stand alone documents whose similarities merely reflect the interchange of ideas between east and west?  We considered these thoughts through exploring conjunctions and differences between conservation philosophies and principles in UK, India and China.  

The Conference included three keynote speeches from internationally prominent practitioners in China, India and UK. They explored conjunctions and differences between conservation philosophies and principles in China, India and UK and discussed international conservation instruments and guidelines including the China Principles, INTACH Charter and English Heritage Conservation Principles and a possible UK Charter.  

Keynote speakers:

• Professor Guo Zhan (China), Director, World Heritage Expert Committee of China; Vice President, ICOMOS International: Universality and Individuality in the Concept of Conservation.  

• Professor A. G. Krishna Menon (India), Convenor, Delhi Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH): The evolving conservation movement in India: its relevance in a globalising world.  

• Paul Drury (UK), The Paul Drury Partnership: Culture, heritage values and places – relating the abstract to the concrete.  

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The other distinguished speakers at the conference included:

Xue-cai Yu,  Department of tourism, Southeast University, Nanjing, CHINA

Namiko Yamauchi, Japan Cultural Heritage Consultancy, Tokyo, JAPAN

Souad Sassi, University of Mentouri, Constantine, ALGERIA

Biumol Tom, Assistant Professor, College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, INDIA

Vikas Dilawari, Head of Conservation, Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute of Architecture and Environment Studies, Mumbai, INDIA

Jeff West, ICOMOS-UK Executive Committee, UK

Keith Emerick, Inspector of Ancient Monuments, English Heritage, UK

Louise Cooke, Independent Consultant, UK

Sarah Wolferstan, Consultant, Institute of Archaeology, University College London, UK

Susan Denyer, Secretary, ICOMOS-UK; World Heritage Advisor, ICOMOS, London, UK

Their presentations addressed the following themes:  

• Are coincidences in conservation ideas between east and west the result of direct contact and exchange of ideas between conservation professionals in the 19th and 20th centuries?  

• Are coincidences of outcome influenced more by changing overarching philosophies – the westernisation of the east (colonialism) and the easternisation of the west?  

• Is there an over-arching conservation philosophy which brings east and west together at a global level and within which regional and national principles, policies and practice can be developed, or are there fundamental dichotomies and irreconcilable differences?  

• At a practical level, is there potential for international agreement on methods of, and standards for, conservation interventions at cultural heritage sites?    

York Minster, UK

The conference also included a tour of York Minster led by Andrew Arrol, York Minster’s Surveyor of the Fabric,

An optional site visit to Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal World Heritage Site took place on Saturday 5th June. 

For more information please contact:

Camilla Massara, Events Co-ordinator, ICOMOS-UK: camillamassara@icomos-uk.org  

The aim of the conference is to consider the threat to the UK’s unique heritage from fire and other such incidents and is a must attend for anyone who is involved with Fire Protection or the restoration and preservation of heritage buildings.

The conference will involve key players from across the cultural and heritage sectors as well as representatives from the world of fire engineering, architecture, tourism and planning.

For more information and to book please contact Mandy Eeles on 07919 175310 or Richard Daly on 01606 868290.   

Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service
The Institution of Fire Engineers

The Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA), AIA NY Chapter, is pleased to announce its fourth biennial international ideas competition, High Bridge: Bronx, Building Cultural Infrastructure (HB:BX). This competition is open to all emerging professionals, including, but not limited to, architects, artists, engineers, landscape architects, urban designers, and planners who have completed their education at the undergraduate or graduate level within 10 years of the competition announcement (September 10, 2009).

Registration Begins: Sept 10, 2009
Registration Ends: Nov 18, 2009
Submission Deadline: January 18, 2010 (postmarked)
Open to: Emerging Designers
Entry Fee: $35 Student, $65 Individual, $110 Team (2-4), $300 Group(5+)
Awards: $5,000 (ENYA prize), $2,000 (2nd Place), $1,000 (3rd Place), $1,000 (Student)

HB:BX is an open ideas competition to design an arts center that culturally reinforces the physical connection between the Manhattan and Bronx High Bridge communities of New York City. Working in cooperation with the arts organizations Artists Unite and the Bronx Museum of the Arts, ENYA means to draw awareness to the current efforts to restore and reopen the historic High Bridge. This competition is a forum to explore the urban and community improvement opportunities that may come with the achievement of such a momentous milestone. Thus, ENYA challenges designers to explore how disused structures can be reprogrammed into elements of a vibrant urban cultural center. Entrants are also challenged to rethink the relationship between existing infrastructure (aqueduct, railway, highway) and the contemporary urban context. These issues, universally relevant to any growing city, take on a more site-specific nature when considering the importance of the High Bridge and the topographic challenges posed by the steep riverbanks of the Harlem River. Also defining this competition are the unique clients who ask entrants to reconsider architecture’s role in the creation, display, and experience of viewing art in one of the world’s most culturally vibrant cities.

General information about HB:BX follows:
Type: International Ideas Competition. The competition results are intended to generate ideas for the site and will not result in actual development by ENYA or other parties involved.

About ENYA, AIA New York Chapter
ENYA (Emerging New York Architects) is a forum for the interests and activities of students, interns, associates, and new architects. The committee, which is part of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, establishes networking, mentoring, technical, and public advocacy initiatives to foster the professional development of architecture students and young professionals and to strengthen the quality of the built environment.

About the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter
Founded in 1857 by seven visionary architects, the AIA New York Chapter is the first and largest chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Today, the AIA New York Chapter is a membership-based organization comprised of licensed architects and professional affiliates in real estate, construction, engineering, and facilities management, and currently has 4,300 members. Operating out of the Center for Architecture, a storefront space in Greenwich Village, the Chapter is dedicated to three Primary goals: public outreach, professional development, and design excellence.
The AIA New York Chapter is guided by the work of its dedicated committees. Over two-dozen committees, open to all interested, are continually exploring such vital issues as housing, planning, urban design, community development, historical preservation, and environmental sustainability. The AIA New York Chapter also serves as an advocate in public policy discussions with governmental decision-makers and other civic and professional associations.

More information

Contact: enyacompetitions@gmail.com

1 October 2009, The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London

St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, Orkney, photo: Emily Tracey

This meeting will address current issues of building and roofing stone in the UK and how to improve the use and availability of indigenous building stone today and for the future. It brings together those with a professional interest in the use of building stone from throughout the UK to address the key issues for heritage and new construction. The event is aimed at planners, architects, stone producers, heritage conservation professionals and all those with a professional interest in stone.

More information

Contact: Emily Tracey emiace@bgs.ac.uk or Tel: 0131 667 1000

This tour will explore four towns in the Republic sharing information and good practice on what makes a high quality place.

From contemporary lighting schemes and public realm design in Cork to the colourful shop fronts in Youghal, embedded in the towns history, and Waterford’s vision “ to create a framework of public and civic spaces of character and visual quality” in a medieval city known for its ancient City Walls and craftsmanship, and finally an international conference in Kilkenny Castle – “Serving people while preserving heritage” – which will bring together practitioners and representatives from policy making bodies.

Programme Details and Online Booking

Places are limited and bookings must be received by 12 June.

Please join an evening looking at contemporary architecture in the context of a World Heritage City with a special guest from Canada, Herb Stovel, an expert on World Heritage matters, to speak about his experiences with the changing landscape of international world heritage cities.

Please contact Glasgow City Heritage Trust on 0141 552 1331 to reserve your place (limited spaces available).

3rd-5th July 2009

at St Fagans National History Museum (near Cardiff)
Part of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

The 2009 ICOMOS-UK Summer meeting and AGM took place at St Fagans National History Museum, south Wales, in collaboration with Eurwyn Wiliam, our Vice President for Wales, former Director of St Fagans, Deputy Director General of National Museum Wales and latterly Keeper Emeritus, National Museum Wales.

The ‘first generation’ open air museums were set up in Scandinavia at the end of the 19th century. Over the next 80 years many others followed in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Eastern Europe and North America.

Set up to highlight the value of regional buildings which contribute so much to our national identity at a time when many vernacular buildings were becoming vulnerable to destruction or radical change, they became the repositories of ‘unspoilt’ structures which could be read as social documents, particularly of rural life before the industrial era.

The meeting included visits to the museum’s buildings, a concert in its painted, mediaeval church and a seminar discussing the vision, extraordinary diversity and benefits of open-air museums in Europe.

Programme:

Friday 3rd July:

5.30 – 6.30 Drinks Reception at St Fagans

6.30 – 8.00 Informal Concert at recreated mediaeval church of
St. Teilo’s from Pontardulais, West Glamorgan

8.30 – 9.30 Supper at Iolo Morganwg restaurant, St Fagans

Saturday 4th July:

Seminar: Open-Air Museums and Society,
(Committee Room, St Fagans)

10.00 – 10.30 Coffee

10.30 – 10.40 Introduction and welcome

10.40 – 11.00 Dr Eurwyn Wiliam, Keeper Emeritus, National
Museum Wales: Open-air museums in Europe: a visionary idea

11.00 – 11.20 Gerallt Nash, Senior Curator, St Fagans National History Museum: Presenting recent history at St Fagans

11.20 – 12.00 Richard Suggett, Manager of the Emergency Building Recording Team, Royal Commission for Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales: Searching for the earliest houses in Wales

12.00 – 12.20 Dr Thomas Bloch Ravn, Director of Den Gamle By, Denmark’s National open air museum, Chair of the Association of Open-Air Museums: Open-air museums and society

12.20 – 12.45 Discussion

12.45 – 1.45 Sandwich Lunch Iolo Morganwg restaurant

1.45 – 4.15 Guided visit to St Fagans National History Museum

5.00 – 6.00 ICOMOS-UK AGM in the Committee Room (The Annual General Meeting is open to all members and their guests)

6.00 – 7.00 Optional Supper

Sunday 5th July:

Tour to the landscape of the Blaenavon World Heritage site

ICOMOS-UK visit to Blaenavon landscape

Download the flyer and booking form

For more information please contact:
Camilla Massara
Events Co-ordinator
ICOMOS-UK
Tel: 020 7566 0031
e-mail: camillamassara@icomos-uk.org

This event was organised in collaboration with Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

This groundbreaking two-day conference takes as its focus how our built heritage can address the challenge of climate change.

Leading experts will provide perspectives on how historic buildings can sensibly and realistically meet the challenge of global warming.
Delegates will have the opportunity to view an exhibition of cutting edge environmental products and services.

The conference is organised by the Chartered Institute of Building, National Trust, English Heritage and Somerset House, and will be held in the prestigious surroundings of the Embankment Galleries at Somerset House.

Preferential Rate for Partner organisations: CIOB members and employees of The National Trust, English Heritage and Somerset House.

View more information

Contact details:

Veronica Dunn
The Chartered Institute of Building
t: + 44 (0) 1344 630 798
e:  vdunn@ciob.org.uk

Architectural Records, Inventories and Information Systems for Conservation

2 September – 2 October 2009, Rome, Italy

Application deadline:
Applications should reach ICCROM by 16 February 2009 to ensure inclusion in our selection process

This international course on architectural records, inventories, and information systems for the conservation of cultural heritage will address the needs, methodology, and techniques for acquiring and using this knowledge. The course will draw upon the vast wealth of cultural material in Rome and will be taught by leading experts in the field. Records, inventories, and information management tools are continuously being developed and must be considered as a fundamental part of the conservation process.

The course will feature a range of learning strategies that will draw upon participants’ own professional knowledge while adding new information and skills through readings, discussions, and a number of collaborative practical exercises. The course will include a required preparatory phase prior to arrival at ICCROM. This preparatory phase will allow participants to increase their background knowledge in key topic areas through readings and exercises that they will undertake while in their home countries.  The course will be structured around three main blocks of knowledge, through four weeks of study, on specific matters relating to:

Architectural Records: theory and practice for generating records will include direct, topographic, GPS, photogrammetric, and 3D laser scanning techniques, and archival research (historic, archaeological, structural, condition);
Inventories: the course will stress the notion of ‘inventory’ as the core element of information systems to be able to establish links between the various aspects and fields relating to architectural documentation processes;
Information Systems: planning, practice, access and dissemination of information (computer graphics, multimedia) will be emphasized, in particular principles, design and management of records in data base systems (GIS) and methods to process architectural records and related information.

Participants
This international course is designed for a maximum of 18 conservation professionals.  The course will be for conservators, architects, planners, engineers, archaeologists, historians, topographers, photogrammetrists, surveyors, cartographers, documentalists, and other conservation professionals involved in the field of recording, documentation and inventories through information management systems.

Admissions
Preference will be given to candidates working in positions in which they can share, transmit and disseminate the skills and information gained during the course.  Preference will also be given to applicants from ICCROM Member States.

Course fee: 900 € (Euro).

Read more information and download an application form