CONSERVATION

Introduction: The conservation of historic buildings constitutes an inter-professional discipline co-ordinating a range of aesthetic, historic, scientific and technical methods. Conservation is a rapidly developing field which, by its very nature, is a multidisciplinary activity with experts respecting one anothers contribution and combining to form an effective team. It is the transmission of culture from one generation to the next. Buildings are a major resource of archaeological and historical information, and the fabric of buildings surviving above ground is just as important and fragile a resource as those remains buried below the surface. Involvement in the recording and analysis of standing buildings has always formed a significant part of the archaeologists' activities and, due to increased awareness of the conservation of the historic built environment, the role of the archaeologist and the employment of modern archaeological techniques has been extended. It is increasingly realized that the success of many conservation projects depends on thorough archaeological analysis and interpretation to identify and date constituent building periods and architectural details. This information will lead to greater understanding of the structural and material performance of the fabric, thus avoiding irrevocable loss or damage and allowing for more sympathetic and appropriate preservation of particular features. Today, archaeologists are taking a leading role in the conservation and management of buildings. An integrated, multidisciplinary team approach is now required to ensure the success of major building conservation, repair, and maintenance programmes. It is only by working in close partnerships with other disciplines (such as architects, engineers, planners, quantity surveyors, building contractors etc) that the archaeological and historical value of buildings can be preserved and released.

Definition:
Conservation is the action taken to prevent decay and manage change dynamically. It embraces all acts that prolong the life of our cultural and natural heritage, the object being to present to those who use and look at historic buildings with wonder the artistic and human messages that such buildings possess. The minimum effective action is always the best; if possible, the action should be reversible and not prejudice possible future interventions. The basis of historic building conservation is established by legislation through listing and scheduling buildings and ruins, through regular inspections and documentation, and through town planning and conservative action. Architectural conservation describes the process through which the material, historical, and design integrity of mankind's built heritage are prolonged through carefully planned interventions. The individual engaged in this pursuits known as an architectural conservator. Decisions of when and how to engage in an intervention are critical to the ultimate conservation of the immovable object. Ultimately, the decision is value based: a combination of artistic, contextual, and informational values is normally considered. In some cases, a decision to not intervene may be the most appropriate choice.

Values in conservation:

Conservation must preserve and if possible enhance the messages and values of cultural property. These values help systematically to set overall priorities in deciding proposed interventions, as well as to establish the extent and nature of the individual treatment. The assignment of priority values will inevitably reflect the cultural context of each historic building. For example, a small wooden domestic structure from the late eighteenth century in Australia would be considered a national landmark because it dates from the founding of the nation and because so little architecture has survived from that period. In Italy, on the other hand, with its thousands of ancient monuments, a comparable structure would have a relatively low priority in the overall conservation needs of the community. The values as already given in the Preface come under three major headings:

(1)Emotional values: (a)wonder; (b) identity;(c) continuity; (d) spiritual and symbolic.
(2) Cultural values: (a) documentary; (b) historic; (c) archaeological, age and scarcity; (d) aesthetic and symbolic; (e) architectural; (f ) townscape, landscape and ecological; (g)technological and scientific. (3) Use values: (a) functional; (b) economic;(c) social; (d) educational; (e) political and ethnic.

CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT INTRODUCTION:

A Conservation Management includes Management Plan (often simply called a Conservation Plan) is drawn up later in the process, once agreed in outline for what purpose(s) the building is to be adapted. This Plan provides greater detail on the building's significance, assesses the impact of the proposed conversion project on its significance and explains how you will protect it - both throughout the conversion process and once the building is in use. For example, this might be through retaining original fabric and fixtures wherever possible, reusing existing materials for repairs (or carefully sourcing good matches through agreed means) and putting together a schedule for regular and frequent ongoing maintenance. The Plan will inform and influence how you manage the conversion of the building to a new use, ensuring that you conserve the significance of the building. However, this report is not itself a plan for the new use(s) of the building, which will need to be a separate (though related) piece of work. It includes an explanation of key aspects of the project to convert the building to a new use. Understanding the building and setting . The description of the Building ,its Historical Context ,The Building Elements ,its Condition ,A detailed explanation of all factors that give the building its heritage significance, and which must be protected in the building's future use, Proposals for re-use, An explanation of all factors that have had a negative effect on the significance of the building, or could do so in the conversion and future use of the building, Conservation policies In detail, how the building should be managed before, during and after its conversion to its new use, to protect its significance --Technical documentation ,Funding applications etc. to complete the whole process of conservation management .

DEFINATION:
A Conservation Management Plan is a document which explains why a site is significant and how that significance will be retained in any future use, alteration, development or repair. 'Conservation Plans: a benefit or a burden' reproduced from The Building Conservation Directory Kate Clark, 2000

The Conservation Management Plan explains in detail:

The history of the building, including major changes over time; Which characteristics of the building are of significance and why The condition of the building, setting out conservation priorities How characteristics of significance could be vulnerable to damage or loss, through conversion to the proposed new use(s) How these characteristics of significance will be protected in the proposed conversion and the future use of the building. The Conservation Management Plan will form the basis for careful and appropriate conversion, management and maintenance of the building. It is intended as a working document, which can be amended or revised over time, not one completed simply to obtain funding or planning consent and then consigned to a shelf. The Plan is intended to assist those delivering the project and those maintaining the building well into the future.

The Conservation Management Plan: Structure

Introduction to the Conservation Management Plan Understanding the building and setting Assessment of significance Proposals for re-use Vulnerability and risks Conservation policies Next steps after writing the Conservation Management Plan Adoption and Review

Historic building:
An historic building is one that gives us a sense of wonder and makes us want to know more about the people and culture that produced it. It has architectural, aesthetic, historic, documentary, archaeological, economic, social and even political and spiritual or symbolic values; but the first impact is always emotional, for it is a symbol of our cultural identity and continuitya part of our heritage. From the first act of its creation, through its long life to the present day, an historic building has artistic and human messages which will be revealed by a study of its history. A complexity of ideas and of cultures may be said to encircle an historic building and be reflected in it. the study should also deal with the political, social and economic aspects of the period in which the structure was built and should give the chronological sequence of events in the life of the building. The names and characters of the actual creators should be recorded, if known, and the aesthetic principles and concepts of composition and proportion relating to the building should be analysed. Its structural and material condition must also be studied: the different phases of construction of the building complex, later interventions, any internal or external peculiarities and the environmental context of the surroundings of the building are all relevant matters. If the site is in an historic area, archaeological inspection or excavation may be necessary, in which case adequate time must he allowed for this activity when planning a conservation programme.

Figure 1.2 Trastevere, Rome, Italy A sound structure has been neglected. The results are visible; a system of regular inspections and conservation planning could prevent this sad state of affairs

Causes of decay
Of the causes of decay in an historic building, the most uniform and universal is gravity, followed by the actions of man and then by diverse climatic and environmental effectsbotanical, biological, chemical and entomological. Human causes nowadays probably produce the greatest damage.
Natural cause Human cause

Natural agents of deterioration and loss

Natures most destructive forces are categorized as natural disasters, and include earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, floods, landslides, fires caused by lightning, and so forth. Throughout human history, they have had a spectacularly destructive effect on cultural property. A recent, archetypal example is the series of earthquakes that devastated the Friuli region of Italy in 1976, virtually obliterating cultural property within a 30 km (19 mile) radius of the epicentres. Climate is the consequence of many factors, such as radiation (especially short-wave radiation), temperature, moisture in its many formsvapour clouds, rain, ice, snow and groundwaterwind and sunshine. Together, these environmental elements make up the various climates of the world which, in turn, are modified by local conditions such as mountains, valleys at relative altitudes, proximity to bodies of water or cities, to create a great diversity of microclimates within the overall macroclimates. In general, climatic data as recorded in the form of averages does not really correspond to the precise information needed by the conservation architect, who is more interested in the extreme hazards that will have to be withstood by the building over a long period of time. However, if questions are properly framed, answers that are relevant to the particular site of the building in question can be provided by an expert in applied climatology.

Human factors
Man-made causes of decay need careful assessment, as they are in general the by-product of the industrial productivity that brings us wealth and enables us to press the claims of conservation. They are serious and can only be reduced by forethought and international co-operation. Neglect and ignorance are possibly the major causes of destruction by man, coupled with vandalism and fires, It should be noted that the incidence of arson is increasing, putting historic buildings at even greater risk. Eg taj mahal effected due to industrial pollution.

Need and Importance of conservation of historical monuments buildings or sites

The primary aim is to maintain the historical authenticity and integrity of the buildings. The historical structure should be conserved and repairs should be made with traditional materials and techniques. Craftsmanship and techniques should correspond with those used originally . All modern building services toilet, boiler room, offices etc- should be placed in a new building replacing an old wood shed behind the synagogue. To learning to read the building: recording, investigation, analysis and design. Is to get knowledge-answers to questions, and -as a result one will have a new landscape with its complexity of new truths and doubts. Is to define the existing historical value and connect it with an understanding of the existing building as a technical system and its manner of action. Is to communicate with other specialists, i.e the need of co-ordination and organization of material etc. To make proposal documents, to be approved by the authorities or owner. To tender documents, a basis for calculations and. Tenderizers those documents will enable accurate costs to e obtained and the best contractor to be chosen. Work documents, containing the instructions and requirements concerning the execution and quality of work. To make illustrations to explain the textual information. To have thorough investigation and analysis of the building and the building materials is a necessary basis for the quality and work specifications. To make special analysis if there are damages caused by fungus or insects. In many situations the best expert might be an experienced timber man or a carpenter. Preserve and restore the existing building fabrics as practical as possible and in the long term, to protect the buildings from further deterioration by effective management and maintenance plan. Conserve and adapt and revitalize the historic place as a living heritage. Recover and further enhance the cultural heritage of the building by interpretation of its heritage value for appreciation by the users and general public. Promote public awareness and education in heritage conservation and encourage community engagement in local cultural for bringing various social benefits to the local community.

Structural aspects of historic buildings: Gravity is both the force that keeps buildings standing and the major cause of their destruction. Typical defects in various forms of structures are reviewed and examined in order to enable the architect to evaluate the structural condition of the historic building for which he is responsible. Buildings are mortal. It should be stressed that there must be a point in time when a building will collapse if maintenance is neglected and the building is not repaired. Eg. The pyramids of Gizeh, as structures, have immense intrinsic strength, but even they have lost their outer skin and are gradually eroding due to the action of climate. Luckily, historic buildings were almost all overdesigned and so have reserves of strength, but this overdesign was not consistent. Any study of the strength of a building must be at three levels and consider, first, the form of the whole structure; secondly, the structural elements, i.e. roofs and walls, foundations and the soil they rest upon; thirdly, the materials of which the component parts are made. The aim of conservation procedures consist initially of making an inventory of all cultural property in the country. This is a major administrative task for the government, and involves establishing appropriate categories of cultural property and recording them as thoroughly, both graphically and descriptively, as possible. Computers and microfilm records are valuable aids. Legislation protects from demolition those historic buildings listed in inventories. Conservation is done to record methodically the present condition of the building and then whatever further studies are required can be reported. Conservation helps to assess the probable cost of its conservation policies and decide priorities in accordance with its budgetary provision.It can then plan its work-force in accordance with its needs and allocate adequate resources. Conservayion process helps to establish maintenance plans. Such preventive maintenance should in most cases forestall the need for major interventions, and it has been proved that it reduces the cost of conservation of a nations stock of historic buildings.

The final aim and the principles and rules of conservation, is particularly that the minimum effective intervention is always the best, which is described in seven ascending degrees of intervention . The seven degrees are: (1) prevention of deterioration;(or indirect conservation) (2) preservation of the existing state; (3) consolidation of the fabric; (4) restoration; (5) rehabilitation; (6) reproduction;(7) reconstruction Prevention of deterioration (or indirect conservation): Prevention entails protecting cultural property by controlling its environment, thus preventing agents of decay and damage from becoming active. Neglect must also be prevented by sound maintenance procedures based on regular inspections. Therefore, prevention includes control of internal humidity, temperature and light, as well as measures to prevent fire, arson, theft and vandalism, and to provide for cleaning and good overall housekeeping. In an industrial environment, prevention includes measures to reduce both atmospheric pollution and traffic vibrations. Ground subsidence must also be controlled; it is due to many causes, particularly abstraction of water.: Preservation Preservation deals directly with cultural property. Its object is to keep it in its existing state. Repairs must be carried out when necessary to prevent further decay. Damage and destruction caused by water in all its forms, by chemical agents and by all types of pests and microorganisms must be stopped in order to preserve the structure.

Consolidation (or direct conservation) Consolidation is the physical addition or application of adhesive or supportive materials into the actual fabric of cultural property, in order to ensure its continued durability or structural integrity. In the case of immovable cultural property, consolidation may for example entail the injection of adhesives to secure a detached mural painting to the wall and likewise grouting of the structure. With historic buildings, when the strength of structural elements has been so reduced that it is no longer sufficient to meet future hazards, consolidation of the existing material may have to be carried out. However, the integrity of the structural system must be respected and its form preserved.

Restoration The object of restoration is to revive the original concept. Replacement of missing or decayed parts must integrate harmoniously with the whole, but must be distinguishable on close inspection from the original so that the restoration does not falsify archaeological or historical evidence.

Figure 1.13 St Peters Palace, Leningrad, USSR The remains after enemy bombardment and before restoration work were daunting and grim. Cultural property must be fully documented to guard against disasters, thus making restoration possible.

Rehabilitation: The best way of preserving buildings as opposed to objects is to keep them in usea practice which may involve what the French call mise en valeur, or modernization with or without adaptive alteration. The original use is generally the best for conservation of the fabric, as it means fewer changes. Adaptive use of buildings, such as utilizing a mediaeval convent in Venice to house a school and laboratory for stone conservation, or turning an eighteenth-century barn into a domestic dwelling, is often the only way that historic and aesthetic values can be saved economically and historic buildings brought up to contemporary standards. Eg: old havelies given on rents. Reproduction Reproduction entails copying an extant artefact, often in order to replace some missing or decayed parts, generally decorative, to maintain its aesthetic harmony. If valuable cultural property is being damaged irretrievably or is threatened by its environment, it may have to be moved to a more suitable environment and a reproduction substituted in order to maintain the unity of a site or building. For example, Michelangelos David was removed from the Piazza della Signoria, Florence, into a museum to protect it from the weather, and a good reproduction took its place. Similar substitutions have been undertaken for the sculpture of the cathedrals of Strasbourg and Wells. Reconstruction Reconstruction of historic buildings and historic centres using new materials may he necessitated by disasters such as fire, earthquake, sunami or war. Reconstruction cannot have the patina of age. As in restoration, reconstruction must be based upon accurate documentation and evidence, never upon conjecture. The moving of entire buildings to new sites is another form of reconstruction justified only by over-riding national interest. Nevertheless, it entails the loss of essential cultural values and the generation of new environmental risks. The classic example is the temple complex of Abu Simbel (XIX Dynasty), Egypt, which was moved to prevent its inundation following the construction of the AswanHigh Dam, but is now exposed to wind erosion. Eg japan city reconstructed after sunami Climate also dictates what botanical, biological and entomological causes of decay may occur and to a large extent the strength of their attacks. Conservation helps to control that decay which

The view of a tsunami hit area of Ofunato, Iwate prefecture on March 14, 2011 (L) and on January 15, 2012 (R) (AFP Photo / Toshifumi Kitamura)

The view of a tsunami hit street in Ofunato, Iwate prefecture on March 14, 2011 (top) and the same scene as it appears on January 15, 2012 (bottom) (AFP Photo / Toshifumi Kitamura) The countrys Cabinet approved almost US$50 billion in spending aimed at reconstruction, the biggest building budget since the atomic disasters of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The overall cost of damage is estimated at more than $300 billion.

A replica Statue of Liberty standing next to tsunami damaged buildings at Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture on March 15, 2011 (top) and the same area on January 13, 2012 (bottom) (AFP

Preliminary investigation The conservation program

Design document

Analysis of materials and specifications

Site meetings and steering group meetings

photographs

Process of conservation

landscaping
INTRODUCTION:

Gardens are designed every day that look great on paper and when first planted but look pretty awful two years later. It has been said that poorly designed gardens can be successful if maintained well. Conversely, well designed gardens which are poorly maintained are usually failures. The design of any garden, large or small, must include maintenance considerations in the early planning stages. Unlike a building or structure which looks its best the day it is finished, gardens should look good when finished but improve each year. Landscaping, as opposed to architecture, is never static. Gardens are complex living organisms which not only change seasonally, but also grow and mature through time. The resulting change from the time of installation to later years is quite significant.

LANDSCAPE DESIGN:

Usually most landscapes do not have a design and require a professional touch in order to make it resemble a theme or provide the necessary feel. Landscape design may include installation of new elements with or without removing the older ones. Houses may seek to install new fences or dais, pond or pools. A commercial establishment may decide to install bigger elements for aesthetic reasons. The designing follows cleaning and is usually the most time consuming step. However it warrants time so as to get it right. Design may also involve altering the land if required. It may involve building terraces, for which a wall may be constructed. These changes are usually done around houses with large lawns for recreational and outdoor living. A landscape design firm may also suggest equipment for outdoor living like grills, furniture etc.

LANDSCAPING CONSERVATION

Conservation landscaping works with nature to reduce pollution. conservation landscaping incorporates environmentally sensitive design, low impact development ,non-invasive native and beneficial plant and integrated pest management to create diverse landscapes that help protect clean air and water, support wild life, and provide a more beautiful ,healthier human environment.

Conservation landscaping support clean air and water by:

using plants that are adapted to the local conditions that require less fertilizer and pesticides. Trapping localized storm water on site with rain barrels and rain barrels and rain gardens to insure slow percolation and increased filtration and nutrients entering the ground water. Reducing the amount of smog released into the air and the amount of atmospheric deposition of nutrients into our water by reducing the amount of movable lawn area.

Conservation landscaping supports wildlife by:

proving a diverse plant environment attracting greater animal diversity fostering healthier ecological communities. creating migratory corridors of conjoined healthy ecological communities.

Conservation landscaping supports a more beautiful, healthier human environment by:

reducing the amount of pollution entering the environment. displaying the beauty of well-maintained, natural landscaping.

IMPORTANCE OF LANDSCAPING MAINTENANCE

Landscaping can help conserve energy as well as beautify your property. During the summer, properly placed trees and shrubs can help reduce cooling costs. In the winter, wellplaced landscaping can reduce home heat loss by blocking cold winter winds. Additional benefits can be realized by selecting plants that are relatively pest free, and by designing a landscape that requires less water and fuel use to keep it attractive. The four main goals of energy conservation landscaping in Michigan are: 1. Maximize the amount of heat obtained from the sun during winter. 2. Maximize shade during the summer. 3. Protect buildings from winter winds. 4. Channel summer breezes toward the home. Plants to used in landscaping, are essential for horticultural success. Weak-wooded trees, pest prone plants, trees that produce hundreds of volunteer seedlings, or trees that continuously shed branches will end up creating work for the homeowner. A well-designed landscape that includes well-placed trees can save 25% of a household's energy consumption for heating and cooling. Consider that a young, eight-foot shade tree may cost about as much as an awning for a large window. As the tree grows, it will shade far more than a single window and will provide hundreds of dollars of savings during its useful life. Deciduous trees provide summer shade and then lose their leaves in the autumn. This allows the sun to shine on the house and provide winter warmth. The combination of shade and evapotranspiration (the process a plant uses to release water vapor for cooling) can reduce air temperature as much as 9 F.

Well-placed shade trees can result in considerable savings in energy for air conditioning: As compared to an unshaded home, a shaded home may have from 15% to 50% reduced energy cost for cooling. The figure will be higher for residents of mobile homes. In winter, the ability of plants to block the wind will reduce air infiltration into homes. Such air leaks can account for as much as a quarter of the heat loss in the average home. Blocking winter winds can save energy used for home heating by 10% to 40% depending on the study and the degree to which plants were used to block the wind. Computer models developed by the U.S. Department of Energy predict that three properly placed trees will save an average household between $100 and $250 in annual energy costs. Additional benefits from a well-designed landscape include dampening the sound from nearby roads or other sources of noise. Plants also remove particulate matter from the air and help control soil erosion, which helps reduce pollution. A conservation landscape is designed to benefit the environment and to function well for human use. it occurs in the context of nature .it seeks to preserve , enhance and reduce impacts upon a sites natural features. It contains locally native plants (are those that are naturally present in the region since the last ice age.) are appropriate for site conditions. The Federal native plant conservation committee defines an native as a plant species that occurs naturally in a particular region, state, ecosystem, and habitat without direct or indirect human actions. A conservation landscape has an ongoing management process to remove existing invasive plants and to manage the property to prevent future alien plant invasions. Invasive plants: Alien plants are those that occur artificially in locations beyond their known historical natural ranges, most often brought to new regions by humans through horticulture. Invasive plants are those alien that display rapid growth and spread, allowing them to establish over large areas. These plants can spread to natural areas , due to wind, water flow birds and other wildlife and other factors, causing significant ecological harm.

Provides wildlife habitat. A conservation landscape encourage native wildlife species that may include birds, butterflies ,bees , spiders ,fish ,frogs, salamanders, snakes etc. An animals habitat is the particular type of area where it find food, water, shelter and breeding or nesting space. Biodiversitya wide variety of native plant and animal life is critical to maintaining a healthy eco system. Creating conservation landscapes in residential yards, neighborhoods, parks, and business, school, and municipal properties, etc. ,will help to increase available habitat for wild life. Promotes good air quality and is not a source of air pollution. An environmentally sound conservation landscape minimize activities that directly create air pollution, promotes the use of trees and other plants that filter air pollutants, and eliminates or reduce the use of commercial products that are harmful or create polluting by products. A converse landscape conserves water and promotes good water quality: Water is a precious finite natural resource and an important component in our lives and landscapes. Without it neither would be able to survive. Less than 1% of all the water in the world is available to us as fresh clean water. It is constantly recycled through the ground and in the air to provide us with a source of fresh water. Rain water eventually becomes ground water. By compacting soils and creating abundant paved surface, we have decreased entryways for rainwater to get back into the ground to complete the natural purifying cycle.(see impervious vs runoff diagram.) Healthy soils and landscapes allow rainwater to penetrate and help to filter out pollutants. By using conservation landscaping techniques-which help to reduce pollutants in the landscape, reduce wastewater amounts, Increase groundwater recharge and reduce water use-a homeowner can help keep waterways clean ,and enjoy monthly water bills. Promotes healthy soils ,composts plant waste on site and amends disturbed soils to encourage native plant communities:

soil composition varies considerably within a region and will support different plant and animal communities. Some soils are particularly unique and support unusual or rare plant and animal communities. Native soils require thousands of years to evolve and can be destroyed in a moment. Disturbances to soil can result in a breakdown of soil structure and an imbalance of plant and animal communities. These disturbances may include compaction by heavy equipment or foot traffic, changes in nutrient cycling and pH from runoff and air deposition removal of topsoil, erosion and plowing. Thus ,a cornerstone of conservation landscaping is the proper protection and ongoing care of the soil. Works with nature to be more sustainable with less inputs: A conservation landscape is managed or maintained in a way that require fewer inputs, works with nature and promotes or works toward sustainability. How we all live on the land is important, so how each of us manages our property is important to all of us. How you manage your landscape can have an important impact on the health of your local environment.