​THE RECENT PAST & THE QUESTION OF AUTHENTICITY

Year 2018, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 88 - 101, 01.04.2018

Stıne Dalager Nıelsen

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to undertake a theoretical discourse on preservation and adaptation of recent past built heritage through an analysis of two case study projects. This involves challenging the current ideological separation between recent built heritage and “classical” conservation with particular focus on their diverging relationships to authenticity and appraisal. The paper will discuss two case studies, the first, a 1930s carpark, “Palægaragerne”, in Copenhagen Elgaard Architecture and the second, a 1970s student accommodation building, “The Florey”, in Oxford Avanti Architects , which reflect the author's work in practice with recent past heritage. Furthermore, the paper will compare national regulation in the UK and in Denmark and show how they relate to key international guidelines on the subject matter. Here, a particular focus will be on their interpretation of the Burra Charter Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter, 2013 and the Nara Charter of Authenticity ICOMOS 1994 and how this may have affected the different project outcomes. The two exploratory case studies contained in the paper will be used to exemplify current regulation and practice in the field and the findings will summarise methodological and legislative shortcomings and recommended updates of these. General findings of the paper indicate, that heritage bodies tend to emphasise the overall appearance of recent past heritage rather than the originality of the fabric. Appraisals are based on general assumptions that most materials of this era are of a lesser quality and importance and therefore replaceable. This touches upon the core ethics of traditional conservation practice: The question of authenticity. Is it acceptable to replace original fabric of a listed building due to improved, technical solutions currently available, that were not possible at the time of construction? Or should we merely preserve/improve what is built? The paper concludes that there is a need for a more comprehensive understanding of our resent past as a historic and aesthetic periods in its own right. This includes appraisal of typical material uses, maintenance requirements, tectonics and guidance on diagnosing problems and systematically working through repair options as practised in traditional conservation including dedicated training at an international level

Keywords

Authenticity, 20C Heritage, Conservation, Transformation, Tectonics

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