Building Conservation Issues - Essay Example

It should be borne in mind that even those objects of architecture, which haven’t acquired the public acknowledgment jet, should also be maintained with the greatest care and with the least interference.

Restoration can be taken as the process of returning a heritage object to a known earlier state, without the introduction of new material. This process can be more clearly defined when combined with reconstruction. Reconstruction generally means altering a heritage object by the introduction of new, or old, materials into the fabric, to produce a work that respects the original. The two processes are often interlinked and should be approached with the utmost care. Inappropriate methods of restoration, as well as insufficient information, can do much harm to the ancient masterpiece. For example, very often the restoration work is undertaken on an old building, with the best of intentions and enthusiasm, which, through lack of information, or by the employment of inappropriate or incorrect methods, causes a great deal of unintentional damage, both aesthetic and technical.

As we can see, the history of the conservation movement in Great Britain dates back to the second half of the 19th century. Nowadays the state has elaborated its unique conservation policy and supports the reconstruction and restoration of places of historical interest. The process of conservation is worked out according to its main principles: retention and restoration of historical significance, conservation process based on research, minimum physical intervention, and maintenance of visual setting. The sequence and rules of the restoration process should be carefully followed not to harm the ancient building and to preserve it for the following generations.

From the very outset, a specialist would analyze the history and fabric of the building, which is of vital importance to restoration work. The history of a building can be discovered in various old papers, registers as well as written accounts and photographs. Information obtained from all these sources can be used in planning the restoration.

The next stage is to record the existing building using an overall and accurate measured survey. The survey should include detailed plans, sections, and elevations. Good surveys are very important for the identification of the building's history.

Restoration should be carefully planned and guided by the main principles to ensure that the least intervention possible takes place. As always, repair rather than replacement is the guiding rule. And it should be mentioned once more that the characteristic feature of the restoration is returning of the building to an earlier state, with presupposes the absence of any new material.

Finally, when the restoration process is finished there should be introduced regular maintenance procedures to ensure the building remains in good condition. It is much cheaper and better to repair regularly, rather than face major work which usually is rather costly. Safety and security procedures should also be installed and implemented.