Heritage Information Leaflet 1.2

Guidelines to Approaches for Conserving Heritage Places

Owners are always well intentioned in their approaches to conservation work but sometimes are not aware of proper methods and techniques. Good information and good planning are indispensable.

An important point to remember is to do no more than is absolutely necessary.

In order to further encourage careful conservation activity, exploration of the following definitions and concepts may be useful as particular meanings are often given to some terms.

Conservation

Conservation is the umbrella term for all the processes of looking after a listed property and may be simply regular maintenance. Often however the needs of both the owner and the place may require consideration of processes including preservation, restoration, reconstruction and adaptation in order that the property can respond to satisfy changed circumstances or expectations or retard the processes of decay. The benchmark for guiding the extent of change and the management of its impact on the fabric of the place is the value of the property in aesthetic, historic, scientific or social terms.

Cultural Significance

Cultural significance is the value of the property to present or future generations. It is embodied in the listed property and it is this value which led the property to be heritage listed. The cultural significance of the property is invariably given tangible expression in, and represented by, the physical material of the property. Changes to this material whether painting, part demolition or addition among a host of activities can remove or amend that cultural significance and its appreciation. It is particularly important therefore that planning for change allows for a detailed understanding of that significance.

Some assistance may be needed to understand the levels of significance or location of material which best represents the history of the property and therefore contributes to that identified cultural significance. Local government increasingly employs or has access to heritage advisers who can help to give the reasons for the heritage listing and significance of the property. They can also assist in the process of change and obtaining the relevant approvals required.

Place

The term place can mean a structure, ruin, archaeological site or a landscape modified by human activities. It is taken to incorporate the site, the area, the building, the group or ensemble and its surroundings.

Fabric

The term fabric of the place means the physical material, the management of which is critical to the survival of the cultural significance of the place. It is the relationship between the cultural significance and the fabric which needs to be understood when planning for change to a heritage listed property. Parts of the fabric may have special meaning to the cultural significance of the place. Obviously this is an area where sensitive negotiation and informed discussion can foster an outcome appropriate to the needs of both the place and the owner. The more the context of change and the cultural significance of the place are understood, the more likely it is that the decision making process will be appropriate.

Conservation outcomes may be enhanced by the early consideration of several issues basic to general conservation approaches:-

• understand the significance of the place;
• avoid changes that detract from that significance;
• plan for minimal physical change and flexibility;
• keep use and development options open;
• anticipate future constraints or opportunities and plan for reversible change;
• record the present state of the place and record the changes while underway by photos etc.;
• consider the relationship of the place to its surroundings;
• hold in equal regard the small detail of craft techniques employed as well as larger issues such as scale and built form;
• allow for emergency maintenance access and security prior to work being undertaken, but particularly when the property is vacant;
• use traditional techniques where possible;
• protect archaeological components that are recognised to be part of the place.

Preservation

Preservation means maintaining the fabric of a place in its existing state to retard further decay or deterioration. Preservation needs should be identified in the process of planning and it may well be that particular areas of craft or decoration or evidence of particular patterns of use or historical association need to be preserved intact. On other occasions, however, the survival of valuable but previously hidden fabric may become apparent during the process of construction. Expertise is vital in such instances in order that such fabric is not lost but may be preserved for possible revelation at a later date. Specialist expertise will be more than likely required in such instances.

Maintenance

Maintenance means the continuous protective care of the fabric and its setting and is more similar to the process of preservation than the process of repair. Maintenance will often include the process of preservation, but most frequently will require repair of the fabric. Repair involves the processes of restoration and/or reconstruction. As irreparable damage can be caused by seemingly simple repair, such processes should be dealt with carefully and as appropriate to the needs and technology of the fabric. Regular inspections are essential to the process of maintenance.

Familiarity with the fabric of the place, recording of deterioration, and its stabilisation or acceleration is vital in identifying and planning for recovery of integrity of the fabric. Routine protective tasks may be as simple as ensuring under floor ventilation is working, that stormwater is disposed of away from footings and that gutters are in good condition. Simple but regular inspections as part of a maintenance program will help ensure that repair work is minimised. In particular:

• prepare a specific maintenance schedule for the place;
• avoid unnecessary replacement and repair;
• avoid the use of modern materials just to reduce maintenance cycles.

Restoration

The term restoration, unlike its use in so many articles in the popular press, is intended to define activities which return a place to a known earlier state by re-assembling existing components without the introduction of new materials. In practice this is rarely possible. Restoration has been taken to mean many things. There is, for example, a desire to strip bare, reveal, distress or age, and improve or tidy up a place for the sake of fashion or a better aesthetic. Such activities may or may not detract from cultural significance. As a guide, it is advisable to keep as much fabric as possible; naturally a balance must be struck between the reasonable expectations of owners or tenants and the significance of the property. Unless an intimate understanding of the place has been obtained it is not advisable to:

• remove fabric, unless significance will be more readily understood and appreciated;
• remove fabric solely on the basis of improving its appearance;
• strip layers of paint or other finishes unless a detailed understanding of the underlying layers has first been obtained.

Reconstruction

Reconstruction means returning a place to a known earlier state by the introduction of materials new to the place (either old from elsewhere or new). It should be grounded in a thorough understanding of the place. Reconstruction should ideally be based on original drawings, specifications or photographs and use historically appropriate materials. Reconstruction or reinstatement of lost features should be carefully considered in order to not re-activate previous structural problems or exacerbate any latent building defects that may have prompted the loss of the feature in the first place. Generally, however, features or components, such as shopfronts, balconies, verandahs, or parapets and the like have been deliberately removed due to their advanced decay or for reasons of fashion. Reconstruction of significant missing features or elements should not be undertaken on the basis solely of conjecture. In the absence of surviving documentation, however, evidence of the lost feature(s) on the building, such as anchorages, paint shadows or silhouettes can provide a starting point for a period-correct reconstruction.

Adaptation

Adaptation means changing a place to suit the changed expectations or requirements of owners or tenants. Adaptation, amending, altering or changing a place should be achieved in full knowledge of what is of cultural significance. Ideally changes should occur with presumptions in favour of the future longevity and enhancement of that significance. In reality negotiation is required to carefully identify what is essential for change and what balancing may be required in respect of cultural significance. Adaptation may be required as a result of new uses being proposed for the place. Often the impact of change can be accommodated but sometimes the impact of change is so great that questions should be asked as to whether or not it is the right place for that use. Adaptation of a heritage listed property may be one of the more controversial conservation activities. Planning and building approvals are invariably required and the role of local government can be extremely helpful to what is generally termed Heritage Asset Management (See Information Leaflet 1.3).

While local government is increasingly required by legislation and able through its own resources to assist planning for careful and appropriate adaptive change, the following general guidelines may be useful:

• respect the historical context;
• identify the likely impact of change on the cultural significance of the place;
• evaluate alternatives to minimise impact of a new use or change on that significance;
• avoid uses that dilute or obscure cultural significance and erode the fabric;
• give preference to reversible changes;
• give preference to additions and alterations which reinforce and do not blur historical appearance;
• store material unavoidably removed for possible future reinstatement.

The above material has been prepared with reference to The Illustrated Burra Charter, Marquis-Kyle, P. and Walker, M., Australia ICOMOS, 1992.