Conservation Process

and Design

Lecture-3
Ayesha Agha Shah

ARCG 557- Architectural Heritage and Conservation

Semester-I 2022-23
What is Conservation
Conservation is all the processes of looking
after a place so as to retain its cultural
significance. It includes maintenance and
according to circumstances may include
preservation, restoration, reconstruction and
adaption and will be commonly a
combination of more than one of these

Heritage Conservation
To preserve, conserve and protect
buildings, objects, landscapes or other
artifacts of historic significance.
 What is Architecture Conservation?

• Architectural
conservation describes
the process through
which the material,
history and design
integrity of mankind’s
built heritage are
prolonged through
carefully planned
interventions.
Heritage conservation - scopes of work

Single monuments/ Groups/ area/

buildings city scale

PROCESS AND SOURCES FOR DATA:

The process builds upon available resources and information through methodical
research methods including literature review, field surveys and comparative analytical
studies. The process may involve following stages;

• Historical Research (literature review of primary and secondary sources using

historic maps, survey sheets, chronicles/ gazetteers, previous listings, etc. to
develop an understanding of the case study town/ area/ building; focused on
identifying different periods of history, stages of development and period
influences on the built fabric)
PROCESS AND SOURCES FOR DATA:

• Field work for area studies involves compilation of primary (updated) data
using a standardized ‘Core Data Index Form’ and transferring the collected data
into a comprehensive database. In the case of individual buildings/ monuments
this stage involves detailed measured survey and documentation.

• Compilation of collected data – for areas studies involves preparation of

Inventory Document and Mapping giving a unique ID to each identified historic
property to help correlate the data with the map. For single monuments this
stage involves preparation of documentation/ measured drawings .
 Conservation Process

❖ A multi- disciplinary approach with the

specialist techniques

❖ A thorough approach in relating the theories

of conservation to their practice
 1-Understanding the
Historic Place

2-Evaluate
Significance

4-Develop
Conservation Policies 3-Access Potential
Impact
What is meant by “Understanding”
‘reading’ the fabric in order to analyze its
construction, alteration and use through time,
and then placing it in a wider context in
order to assess its significance.
Understanding the Fabric
Understanding the Site
Understanding the Alteration
For understanding a heritage building for Conservation Process,
Documentation and Analysis are the essential steps

Measured surveys Technical research

DOCUMENTATION:
(It is the 1st stage and is carried out on the field)
It can involve two types of surveys on field:

▪Measured Survey ▪Photographic survey

➢Make sketches
➢Interiors
➢Start putting dimensions
➢Exteriors
➢Triangulation method (for
plan) ➢Details

➢Cartesean Method (for

elevations)
 ANALYSIS
Comparative Analysis
➢Based on historic research on
similar buildings or same building
type examples.
➢Typological Analysis
➢Period style analysis
Building Analysis
➢Causes of decay or
deterioration,
➢ cause of structural failure (if
any),
➢reasons for identified problems
in the building materials.
➢Analysis of structural
deformations recorded through
measured survey.
➢Analysis through material
deterioration mapping.
Dendrochronology

Architectural paint research

Evaluate Significance

• Archaeological evaluation

Tree survey and ecology

• Architectural Interest

• Environmental/ Natural Asset

• Historic Interest
• Historic Association

Harrods, UK Khamis Mosque, Bahrain

• Group Value

Royal Crescent, Bath, UK

Access Potential Significance
Many other regulatory factors related to planning and building regulation
can have an impact on the heritage values of the place.

• Requirements for retaining significance

How the heritage value and sustainable use of the historic place is
affected by its present circumstances

• Client Requirements
Access, Parking or Emerging community value
• Physical Condition
By undertaking a proper condition survey of the historic
place. Assessing all of its elements, record each defect and
prioritize these activities in order of urgency

Ceiling decay
Plaster falling apart
• External Factors

➢Consider the impact of addressing relevant laws and bylaws

including the Building Code.
➢ Consider how responses to climate action will have an
impact on the values of the historic place.
➢ Consider stake holders to constructively engage with
conservation projects
GUIDELINES FOR CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES

For a good conservation policy, the following points should be considered

• The original layout and overall scheme of the building is not being
tempered.

• Any later additions or phases of development in the life of the monument

are respected as part of its history (only those which deface or negate
the fabric should be removed).

• All repair and maintenance interventions should have sensitivity and respect
towards original materials (use of any incompatible material to be
discouraged).

• The monument and its surroundings are treated as a comprehensive part of

each other and should be treated to compliment one another
 Case Study
Conservation Design proposal for
MOTTISFONT ABBEY
 Mottisfont Abbey is a historic site near Romsay,
Hampshire, England. It is set in a scenic countryside along
the River Test. Mottisfont was the site of the 13th century
Priory of Holy Trinity which was later converted into a
private house
 For the Conservation Process and Design, research, analysis,
survey and investigation needed to understand the significance
of a building and its landscape and thus inform decisions
bout repair, alteration, use and management.

Reporting,
archiving and
publication Assessment

Analysis Survey in
during advance of
work work

Targeted
specialist
investigation
 Assessment
1
Survey in advance
of work
2
Targeted specialist
investigation
3

Analysis during work

4
Reporting, archiving
and publication
5
Illustrated Proposal for Mottisfont Abbey,
The Priory

Design brief
A key concern is to finding a creative reuse for the building which not
only protect its significance but at the same time play an important
part to regenerate income for the National Trust to maintain this
property with its historical significance.
The building was originally used as a Priory, where believer lived and
spend their time to the worship of God. For the effective and creative
reuse of the place, it is proposed to enhance the quality of space with
the spiritual function which can revive the essence of the place.
 Concept development
Main objectives Self income
generate
Harmony in design, both Views from
inside and out side inside

Significance ‘reading’ the fabric in order to analyse its

of the site
construction, alteration and use through time, and
then placing it in a wider context in order to assess
its significance, (Clark, 2001)
Different
activities for
commercial use

Creating spiritual effect with divine light

Existing book
shop can be use
as Spa products/
Herbs, to
generate
additional
income
Mottisfont Abbey,
A National Trust
property

Existing tea room,

proposed to be
Group Meditation
Area
Conservation is based on a respect for the existing fabric, use, associations and
meanings. It requires a cautious approach of changing as much as necessary but
as little as possible. (Burra Charter, Cautious approach, 3.1)

Ground Floor Plan,

Based on a plan by Purcell,
Miller, Tritton and Partners

The concept of proposing the new use is to maintain the original essence of the
place, with maximum utilisation and minimal interventions,
The great significance of the site is Tudor House and its interior, historic
character of 1st floor should be revive for tourist attraction, whereas 2nd
floor can be use for motel for them to enjoy the historic building and
landscape beauty.

First floor plan

Section B-B1 Second floor plan

 View C
The spiritual and relaxing
cool shade under the canopy
of trees can be enjoyed by
treading slowly under them,in
deep thaughts,this can be
enhanced by the minimal
interventions of some paved
pathways,to give the space
more variety of materials...

HARMONY View B
BETWEEN INSIDE The space quality of
AND OUTSIDE solitude and
ENVIRONMENT silence,under the
huge trees,can be
used for
meditation ,by using
low profile seating
View A arrangement around
The trickling sound the tree trunk,
of the river Thames to celelbrate the
can be heard and felt closely,by treading relaxing mood of
slowly on the wooden bridge,flowing nature...
above the river crossing,hence
enhancing the spiritual quality of the
space,by halting few currents of the
running waters... 35
Proposed activities

Meditation is a sacred
activity, a threshold
between the physical
and spiritual worlds.

36
Any structure needs a good foundation. An
effective conservation project will require
complete “understanding” of the site for
its conservation design.

Having said that as a professional, we need

to use our own judgment on how much
time to spend in “understanding” a given
project.