Heritology and Contemporary Architectural Theory. Universalism of Principles or Heterogeneity and Dispersion?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26485/AI/2022/24/14

Keywords:

heritage, adaptive reuse, sustainable development, architectural theory, heritage preservation, global cities, new heritage paradigm, city identity

Abstract

Contemporary architectural theory and discussions on architectural heritage protection more and more often emphasise diversity, variability and interactivity as well as a shift away from the universalism of values and assessments.

Establishing the theory of architecture as well as protection of architectural heritage on heterogeneous assumptions, which take into account a diversity of phenomena and (tangible and intangible) values, brings new aspects to the discussion, making it definitely more complex and complicated. Since it is always necessary to consider not only the historical, but also social and cultural context, creating a common universal principle and mode of action is difficult, if not impossible. At the same time, shifting away from ready-made solutions proposed by a narrow circle of specialists and replacing a doctrinal approach with experimental thinking, in which recommendations are formulated and questions are posed in a dialectical and open manner, allows for more comprehensive understanding of the complexity of processes and interactions. It also plays an extremely important social role, since embracing the idea of the diversity of human activities and values associated with them paradoxically fosters the recovery of a sense of belonging and unity in modern communities.

The article analyses changes taking place in contemporary architectural theory and protection of architectural heritage, as well as their cultural and social context. It outlines the main challenges and fields of conflict, but also benefits of shifting from a belief in the universality of principles and existing rules to a multi-level and participatory transdisciplinary approach.

References

Araoz Gustavo (2012) Protecting Heritage Places under the New Heritage Paradigm and Defining its Tolerance for Change. A Leadership Challenge for ICOMOS, [in:] W. Lipp et al. eds., Conservation Turn – Return to Conservation. Tolerance for Change. Limits of Change: Proceedings of the International Conferences of the ICOMOS, International Scientific Committee for the Theory and Philosophy of Conservation and Restoration: Prague, May 5th-9th 2009, Florence, March 3th-6th 2011, Firenze: Edizioni Polistampa, pp. 47-52.

Budapest Declaration. Building European civil society through community development, The World Heritage Committee, Budapest 2004.

Castells Manuel (2002) Local and global: Cities in the network society, “Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie” 2002, vol. 93(5), pp. 548-558.

Castells Manuel (2004) The Power of Identity, Malden: Blackwell Pub.

Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (Faro Convention), Faro, 27 October 2005.

de la Torre Marta, Mason Randall (2002) Introduction, [in:] M. de la Torre ed., Assessing the Values of Cultural Heritage. Research Report, Los Angeles: The Getty Conservation Institute, pp. 3-4.

Dziedzictwo kulturowe, Polski Komitet ds. UNESCO, https://www.unesco.pl/kultura/dziedzictwo-kulturowe/ (accessed: 29.06.2022).

European Charter of the Architectural Heritage (1975), Council of Europe, October 1975.

Europejska Konwencja Kulturalna sporządzona w Paryżu dnia 19 grudnia 1954 r. [European CulturalConvention] "Dziennik Ustaw", 1990, no. 118 item 44.

Jarząbek Marcin, Dziedzictwo – zarys historii słowa i pojęcia. Studium metod historii pojęć a badanie "przeszłości w teraźniejszości", "Historyka. Studia Metodologiczne", 2021, vol. 51, pp. 411-432.

Karta Krakowska 2000 – Pryncypia konserwacji i restauracji dziedzictwa architektoniczno-urbani-stycznego, Kraków, 26 October 2000.

Konstytucja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 2 kwietnia 1997 r. [Constitution of the Republic of Poland], "Dziennik Ustaw", 1997, no. 78, item 483.

Konwencja UNESCO w sprawie ochrony światowego dziedzictwa kulturalnego i naturalnego, przyjęta w Paryżu dnia 16 listopada 1972 r. [Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO in 1972 in Paris], "Dziennik Ustaw", 1976, no. 32, item 190.

Le Corbusier (1957) La Charte d’Athènes, Paris: Éditions de Minuit.

Migration and asylum seekers: ESPON evidence [report], ed. M. Cremaschi, F. Albanese, ESPON, Luxemburg 2020.

New Charter of Athens 2003: The European Council of Town Planners` Vision for Cities in the 21st century, Lisbon, 20 November 2003.

Nizhny Tagil Charter for the Industrial Heritage, International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage (TICCIH), Nizhny Tagil, 17 July 2003.

Plevouts Bie, Sowińska-Heim Julia (2018) Community initiatives as a catalyst for regeneration of heritage sites: Vernacular transformation and its influence on the formal adaptive reuse practice, “Cities”, vol. 78, pp. 128-139.

Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future, United Nations 1987.

Smolarkiewicz Elżbieta, Kubera Jacek (2017) Wprowadzenie. Tożsamość i identyfikacje. Propozycje teoretyczne – doświadczenia badawcze, in: E. Smolarkiewicz, J. Kubera eds., Człowiek i społeczeństwo. Tożsamość i identyfikacje. Propozycje teoretyczne – doświadczenia badawcze, Poznań: Wyd. Naukowe UAM, pp. 7-13.

Sowińska-Heim Julia (2017) Łódź as the Creative City: Cultural Industries and the Process of Urban Revival, in: R. Kusek, J. Purchla eds., Heritage and the City, Kraków: International Cultural Centre, pp. 217-238.

Sowińska-Heim Julia (2018) Transformacje i redefinicje. Adaptacja dziedzictwa architektonicznego do nowej funkcji a zachowanie ciągłości historycznej miejsca, Łódź: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego.

Sowińska-Heim Julia (2020) Transformacje i redefinicje…; Julia Sowińska-Heim, Adaptive Reuse of Architectural Heritage and Its Role in the Post-Disaster Reconstruction of Urban Identity: Post-Communist Łódź, "Sustainability", no. 12(19), 8054, https://doi.org/10.3390/su12198054. accessed: 29.06.2022

Sowińska-Heim Julia, Narratives about architecture, “Art Inquiry. Recherches sur les Arts”, 2020, vol. 22, pp. 193-207.

Statut Rady Europy, przyjęty w Londynie dnia 5 maja 1949 r. [Statute of the Council of Europe], "Dziennik Ustaw", 1994, no. 118 item 565.

Tabaszewska Justyna (2013) “Wędrujące pojęcia”: koncepcja Mieke Bal — przykład inter- czy trans-dyscyplinarności?, "Studia Europaea Gnesnensia", no. 8, pp. 113-130.

The Budapest Declaration. Building European civil society through community development, The World Heritage Committee, Budapest 2004.

The Declaration of Amsterdam, Congress on the European Architectural Heritage, pp. 21-25 October 1975.

The UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, Paris 2003.

Tunbridge John (2018) Zmiana warty. Dziedzictwo na przełomie XX i XXI wieku, Kraków: Międzynarodowe Centrum Kultury.

Ustawa z dnia 23 lipca 2003 r. o ochronie zabytków i opiece nad zabytkami, "Dziennik Ustaw", 2022, no. 840.

Wersja skonsolidowana Traktatu o Unii Europejskiej i Traktatu ustanawiającego Wspólnotę Europejską [Treaty Establishing the European Community], " The Official Journal of the European Union", 2006, no. C 321E.

Zan Luca (2015) International Perspective on Management and Cultural Heritage, in: S. Bonini Baraldi et al. eds., Managing Cultural Heritage. An International Research Perspective, Farnham: Ashgate, pp. 1-10.

Downloads

Published

2022-12-20