Bachelor Of Architecture –Year V; 2019/20
ABA 2502 - ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION STUDIES
LECTURE NO 3: APPROACHES OF CONSERVATION
Lecturer: Arch. Kariuki Kamaru
May –Aug 2021
1
CONTENT
Approaches of Conservation
• Italy
• Britain
• France
• USA
• Other parts of the World
Lecturer: Arch. Kariuki Kamaru
May –Aug 2021
2
APPROACHES OF CONSERVATION
• In Britain the conservation process started
gradually from 1882 when the Ancient Monuments
Protection Act was enacted
• It took a long time (10 years) for the Act to become
law mainly because some people thought it was
an infringement on the rights of private property.
Landowners were reluctant to allow other people
to manage their property because they were
already protecting the monuments even before the
laws were enacted. They also argued that those
monuments that were not protected had no
major significance attached to them.
Lecturer: Arch. Kariuki Kamaru
May –Aug 2021
3
APPROACHES OF CONSERVATION
• In France the protective law, the Ancient
Monuments Protection Act was enacted in
1905 while;
• In Germany it was created in 1906 to protect
both natural areas and historical monuments.
• In USA the Historic Sites Act of 1935 was the
responsibility of the National Parks Service
that was established in 1916
Lecturer: Arch. Kariuki Kamaru
May –Aug 2021
4
APPROACHES OF CONSERVATION
• During the first half of the 20th century, there was an increase in the
number of conservation societies because of the need to slow down the
effects of the changes brought about by modernization.
• Many people especially those in the upper and middle-income classes in
some developed countries wanted to maintain cultural traditions that
would uphold their historical identity. This increased after the Second
World War since nations wanted to restore their pride that had been
ruined. In England and Wales for example, about 350,000 dwellings
were demolished in the 1970's and places such as Newcastle had
their historic hearts destroyed during modernization.
• Improvements in education and television and availability of more
leisure time led to increased interest in history and heritage
conservation. Governments developed conservation plans to safeguard
their heritage from destruction.
Lecturer: Arch. Kariuki Kamaru
May –Aug 2021
5
APPROACHES OF CONSERVATION
• During the early days of heritage conservation, local
people were not always involved in decision-making
affecting their heritage. Indeed this is still happening
even today in many places. Nevertheless, pressure
groups and stakeholders are voicing concern about the
need to be involved in heritage preservation.
• Other bodies and international organizations such as
UNESCO are now at the forefront of safeguarding historic
towns such as the Town of Venice, the Medina of Fez, the
monuments, temples of Nubia etc through restoration of
monuments and revitalization of urban centers.
Lecturer: Arch. Kariuki Kamaru
May –Aug 2021
6
APPROACHES OF CONSERVATION
Over 100 historic sites and urban centers have so far been inscribed on the
UNESCO World Heritage List. e.g. Lamu Old Town in Kenya.
Lecturer: Arch. Kariuki Kamaru
May –Aug 2021
7