Architecture in Conservation: Managing Development at Historic Sites / Edition 1

by James Strike

Overview

One of the problems faced by heritage organizations and museums is adapting old buildings to their needs or building new ones to fit in with historic sites. How exactly do you create a visitor's centre at Stonehenge? The real difficulty lies where the budget is minimal, and the potential damage to the environment or setting enormous. Architecture in Conservation looks at the need of the heritage industry to respond sensitively to the limitations or potentials of the environment. James Strike explains the strategies for producing new development at historic sites, examining the philosophy of conservation practive and stressing the importance of taking into account the characteristics of each individual site. He explains the way in which the methods of producing good developments relate to our very perception of history, and addresses the practical problems involved in developing appropriate sites, including the current architectural interest in pastiche versus modern design. Case studies from around the world demonstrate the potential of each approach.
James Strike draws on his broad experience as an architect at English Heritage to show that a sensitive approach to these issues can unlock conservation problems and open up new opportunities for architectural expansion. Architecture in conservation will be of considerable interest to site owners and architects responsible for site development, and to students of architecture, history and building practice and is intended as a handbook for those responsible for commissioning heritage work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415642361
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/30/2012
Series:	Heritage: Care-Preservation-Management
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	6.88(w) x 9.69(h) x (d)

About the Author

James Strike was involved with design and new developments at English Heritage until 1993. He has now joined the team of conservation specialists in the Department of Conservation Sciences at Bournemouth University. He is the author of Construction into Design (1991).

Table of Contents

List of illustrations vii

Acknowledgements x

1 Introduction 1

1.1 The aim of the book 1

1.2 Identifying the problem 1

1.3 The conservation field 3

1.4 The scope of study 4

2 The field of study 6

2.1 Views of history 7

2.2 Present attitudes 14

2.3 The special character of historic sites 18

2.4 Guides and regulations 20

3 Connections by association 22

3.1 The concept of association 22

3.2 The role of perception 22

3.3 Cognitive and instinctive actions 24

3.4 Buildings as symbols 25

3.5 Ideas and emotions 27

3.6 Levels of comprehension 28

3.7 Layers of meaning 30

3.8 Translation of ideas into architecture 32

3.9 The significance of time 35

4 Response to location 37

4.1 Historical tracks and paths 37

4.2 External spaces 40

4.3 Formal and informal sites 42

4.4 Layers of history 48

4.5 Allegiance of the new architecture 50

4.6 Grain and matrix 54

4.7 Regional traditions 56

5 At the monument 64

5.1 The paths of lords and servants 64

5.2 Perceptual transparency 66

5.3 Inside or outside space 72

5.4 Enclosures 74

5.5 New roofs and umbrellas 78

5.6 Egg in the basket 80

5.7 A sense of separation 82

6 Connections by assimilation 95

6.1 Shape and proportion 95

6.2 Morphology 100

6.3 Mother and child 102

6.4 Transitions 104

6.5 Syntax and detail 106

6.6 Modern use of historical details 108

7 Presence or anonymity 119

7.1 Blend or blatant 119

7.2 Concealed architecture 124

7.3 Preservation or restoration 126

7.4 Replacing lost fabric 130

7.5 Building history 134

7.6 Opposites 139

8 The way forward 140

8.1 Duty of care 140

8.2 Market forces 140

8.3 Commissioning the project 142

8.4 Quality 144

8.5 Approach 146

Notes and references 152

Bibliography 157

Index 160

Editorial Reviews

‘There are books on modern buildings and books on conservation. James Strike is to be congratulated on tackling that difficult in-between ground - how to insert pieces of new design into historic settings.' - Architect's Journal

‘...a brave attempt to cross the great illusory divide between conservation and design ... a book that tackles this problem is long overdue.' - Building

From the Publisher