What role do historic sites play in a country ( Any country - general ) - Essay Example

The Role of Historic Building in UK Introduction In the UK, historic buildings play a significant purpose in many cities and towns. These structures provide a foundation for the regeneration initiatives. This is only if the buildings are protected by improving the environment in which they are situated. This allows room for the buildings to be reused, making a crucial contribution to the country in general. Furthermore, these buildings are tourist attraction sites. Thus, in the process of reusing them, it will be a source of job creation for the residents and a boost to the local economy of the area (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2009).

Some of the roles these buildings play in the UK include;Regeneration of a Wider AreaIn Britain, historic buildings catalyze structural economic development, create jobs for the residents and attract a higher value investment in the region (The House of Commons, 2004). Furthermore, these buildings offer high-quality design in a new development. The good urban design and historic environment are the main elements in the process of achieving urban Renaissance (Corbishley, 2014).Economic RegenerationEvidence in the UK (The House of Commons, 2004), shows that commercial schemes that use historic buildings achieve a higher value than those that use new buildings.

This forms the basis for regenerating and developing a local economy (The House of Commons, 2004). These buildings and heritage define the identity of towns and cities in the UK. Research from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors done by Dr. Rob Pickard shows that offices situated in historic building tend to be charged higher rents.Social RoleMembers of the public use public places and historic buildings as rallying points. Most of the people in the UK spend most of their free time in these historic buildings, with some holding their social meetings at these sites (Bandarin, 2012).

Some of the renovated historic buildings like the St John’s Hoxton, a 19th century church building have been utilized as a children’s nursery and a gym for the disabled people (European Union Agency For Fundamental Rights, 2009) and others converted into theatres that serve as educational and leisure centers for residents (The House of Commons, 2004). Theatres are vital places of assembly and a focus of the local pride. They provide fond memories for all sectors of the community where they are situated (Dedek, 2014).

Environmental BenefitsReusing historic buildings is more sustainable in terms of utilization of natural resources. Therefore, it is better to recycle old historic buildings than destroying them to construct new ones. As per the English heritage claim (The House of Commons, 2004), historic buildings are efficient in energy usage and are not expensive to maintain. Thus, more people should be encouraged to make good use of these buildings (The House of Commons, 2004). ReferencesBandarin, F. (2012).

The Historic Urban Landscape: Managing Heritage in an Urban Century. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.Corbishley, M. (2014). Pinning Down the Past: Archaeology, Heritage, and Education Today. London: Boydell & Brewer Ltd.Dedek, B. (2014). Historic Preservation for Designers. Edinburgh: A&C Black.European Union Agency For Fundamental Rights. (2009). The role of historical sites and museums in Holocaust education and human rights education in the EU. London: European Union Agency For Fundamental Rights.

The House of Commons. (2004). The Role of Historic Buildings in Urban Regeneration. London: The House of Commons.