Degrees of conservation
Conservation involves making interventions at
various scales and levels of intensity which are
determined by the physical condition, causes of
deterioration and anticipated future environment
of the cultural property under treatment.
Depending upon the extent of damage seven degrees
of intervention can be identified.
Degrees of conservation
(1) Prevention of deterioration
(2) Preservation of the existing state
(3) Consolidation of the fabric
(4) Restoration
(5) Rehabilitation
(6) Reproduction
(7) Reconstruction
Degrees of conservation
Prevention
It involves protecting cultural property by controlling
its environment, thus preventing agents of decay and
damage from becoming active.
It includes,
a) routine maintenance and good housekeeping
b) creating or maintaining a stable environment for
the character-defining elements, e.g. controlling
internal humidity, light, temperature etc.
Degrees of conservation
Preservation
It involves protecting, maintaining and stabilizing
the existing form, material and integrity of an
historic place or individual component, while
protecting its heritage value.
Repairs must be carried out when necessary.
Damage and destruction caused by water, chemical
agents, etc must be stopped
Degrees of conservation
Preservation may be considered as the primary
treatment when:
(a) Materials, features and spaces of the historic
place are essentially intact without extensive
repair
(b) Continuation or new use does not require
extensive alterations or additions.
Degrees of conservation
Consolidation
It is the physical application of adhesive or
supportive materials into the fabric of cultural
property, in order to ensure its continued durability
or structural integrity.
Traditional skills and materials like mud, unbaked
bricks, wood should be used which are compatible
and reversible.
Degrees of conservation
Rehabilitation
It involves the sensitive adaptation of an historic
place for a compatible contemporary use, while
protecting its heritage value.
It may include replacing missing historical features.
Rehabilitation allows compatible use through actions
aimed at communicating and conveying their
heritage value.
Degrees of conservation
Restoration
Restoration involves accurately revealing, recovering
or representing the state of an historic place or
individual component as it appeared at a particular
period in its history, while protecting its heritage
Value.
Restoration must be based on clear evidence and
detailed knowledge of the earlier forms and
materials being recovered.
Degrees of conservation
Restoration
It means returning the existing fabric of a place to a
known earlier state by removing accretions or by
reassembling existing components without
introducing new materials.
The objective of restoration is to revive the original
concept of the object.
.
Degrees of conservation
Restoration
It must be integrated 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.
Contributions from all periods must be recognized
and recorded
.
Degrees of conservation
Reconstruction
Reconstruction of historic buildings and historic
centers using new materials may he necessitated by
disasters such as fire, earthquake or war
As in restoration, reconstruction must be based upon
accurate documentation and evidence, never upon
conjecture
