ARPL 3

9.6 HISTORIC PRESERVATION

MIRANDA SAN PEDRO |BSA-4B

HISTORIC PRESERVATION
It is the practice of keeping older buildings intact
using
complex
set
of
methodological,
professional, and economical factors that have
asserted the urgency for such planning and initiated in
the late nineteenth century. This has started when the
scope of demolition and other forms of destruction of
historical buildings and areas become apparent.

Preservation
Focuses on the maintenance stabilization, and
repair of existing historic materials and
retention of a propertys form as it has evolved
over time

Rehabilitation
Altering or adding a historic property to meet
continuing or changing uses while retaining the
propertys historic character

Restoration
Depicts a property at a particular period of
time in its history, while removing evidence of
other periods

Reconstruction
Re-creates vanished or non-surviving portions
of a property for interpretive purposes

METHODS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Restoration is the form of preservation

activity that involves returning buildings to
their original condition

Rehabilitation and Renovation are the

strategies that employed to make decrepit
buildings usable again

Adaptive use is a less rigorous type of

preservation. Buildings can be adapted to
serve new uses while at the same time,
maintaining their original form and character

Conservation is preserving what exists

presently and to direct change in the future

Replication
or
Reconstruction
entails
reproducing, by new construction, the exact
form and detail of a vanished building, as it
appeared at a specific time in its history.

SCALES OF PRESERVATION ACTION

METHODS OF PRESERVATION
a. Legal Methods
o Buildings identified are guaranteed some
degree of protection, when lists become law,
though the extent will depend upon the
provisions of the law
o The listing of areas and even whole towns is a
logical extension of protecting buildings
through legislation

Relocation is moving buildings from one

location to another.

CRITERIA IN MAKING A DECISION

Aesthetics
Buildings are districts whit in the cities are sometimes
preserved
because
they
represent
special
achievements within a particular historic style.

b. Zoning
o Specialized district zoning accommodates a
special set of users that deviate from
conventional patterns
o It is necessary to create a commission to
administer the area, and, in particular, to make
judgments about the appropriateness of
proposed modifications to buildings when a
historic district with special zoning is identified
o Overlay Zoning is a set f requirements in
addition to those already designated in an
existing ordinance
o Incentive Zoning provides advantages for
developers who offer amenities in exchange for
special privileges

Typical
Even buildings that are not extraordinary as examples
of architectural design are sometimes preserved as a
representatives of a special class or type of building.
They exemplify the way things were, rather than
because they are special achievements
Scarcity
Buildings that are one of a kind or that are last
remaining
Historical Role
Buildings and urban settings that have been the sites
for significant historic events are preserved to provide
a symbolic tie between those earlier events and the
current events of our own lives.

FOUR TREATMENT APPROACHES

Natural Areas
Towns and Villages
Neighborhoods
Streetscape
Buildings

c.

Variances
o It is sometimes necessary to give variances
from existing zoning restrictions in order to
promote and accommodate preservation

d. Easements and Deed Restrictions

ARPL 3

9.6 HISTORIC PRESERVATION

MIRANDA SAN PEDRO |BSA-4B

o

The public face of the building belongs to the

public and must be preserved. Restrictions can
be written into deeds whereby changes to
buildings are prohibited without permission of a
designated authority

e. Demolition Control
o Special
ordinances
also
may
demolition of historic structures
permission of a designated authority

f.

prohibit
without

Design Guidelines
o Creation of historic districts includes design
guidelines for new construction. This process
recognizes the fact that there are often vacant
lots and buildings of no historical significance
within the boundaries of the district

ECONOMIC METHODS

Grants
Tax Incentives
Development Rights Transfer
Penalties

THE PLACE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN

URBAN PLANNING
Historic Preservation is an established and accepted
facet of planning. While there are continuing
discussions regarding the extent of preservation, there
is a general agreement that the part of the built
environment that has been inherited is important both
as cultural history as well as amenity.

HISTORIC
PRESERVATION
PHILIPPINES

IN

THE

Historic preservation in the Philippines was further

supported by legislation when Republic Act No.4368
was issued in 1965 creating the National Historical
Commission.
The existence of Presidential Decree Nos. 260 and
374 brought the classification of historic sites and
structures into five categories and they are as follows:
a. National Cultural Treasures
are unique sites or objects found locally possessing
outstanding cultural, artistic and/or scientific value
which is highly significant and important to the
Philippines
b. Important Cultural Properties
are cultural properties which have been singled out
from among the innumerable cultural properties as
having
exceptional
cultural
and
scientific
significance to the Philippines

c.

National Shrines
are historic sites or objects hallowed or honoured for
their history or associations like the Rizal Shrines in
Manila, Laguna and in Dapitan City and the General
Emilio Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite

d. National Monuments
are objects, natural features or areas of special
historic interest that are set aside by local or
national government as public property. The Walls of
Intramuros and the Rizal Monument in Manila and
the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City are
examples of national monuments

e. National Landmark
are places or objects that are associated with an
event,acheivement, characteristic or modification
that marks a turning point or stage in Philippine
history like the Barasoain Church of Malolos,
Bulacan the San Sebastian Church in Quiapo,
Manila and the Underground Cemetery of
Nagcarlan, Laguna. Practically, all historic churches
built by the Spaniards are classified under this
category.

THE PRESERVATION TEAM

Architect: The architect has overall responsibility for
ensuring that the project meets the legal requirements
for health, safety, and welfare of the public, as well as
the goals for historic preservation.
Historical Architect: a registered architect who is
primarily concerned with the historic preservation
process and who has special training in and knowledge
of early building techniques
Architectural Historian or Historian: The historian
serves as a research consultant for the architect, often
conducting the literature search and preparing the
statements of significance.
Archaeologist: with specialized experience in
research, fieldwork, and analysis of historic sites and
buildings.
Engineers: The engineers are consultants to the
architect and should be sensitive to the special
requirements
of
preservation
projects
and
knowledgeable about traditional materials and
construction methods.
Landscape Architect: assists the architect with
preservation of the project environment, historic
landscapes, and site.
Architectural
Conservator:
Techniques
of
conservation require an emphasis on nondestructive
investigations, and the scientific applications of
knowledge of early building technologies, the causes of

ARPL 3

9.6 HISTORIC PRESERVATION

MIRANDA SAN PEDRO |BSA-4B

deterioration, and preservation treatments for historic
building materials.
Historic Interiors Specialist: who is experienced in
the investigation, documentation, research, and
analysis of the furnishings, lighting, and decorative
finishes of historic building interiors.

Others:
additional
consultants
whose
special
knowledge, skills, and experience may be required to
ensure proper execution of the project.