OVERVIEW

The teaching “Principles of Conservation” introduces and reflects on the concepts of conservation, restoration, and preservation by proposing an outline of the broad theoretical debate and themes concerning architectural restoration that developed since the 19th century in Europe. The course will examine and discuss the foundations of the conservation movement in Europe in order to understand the role of architectural conservation in the wider process of built environment continuous development and change. Contemporary challenges faced by architectural and landscape conservation theory and practices will be introduced and addressed through lectures, seminars, and case studies.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to reflect on the idea of conservation, preservation and restoration with attention to their meanings in the different national and cultural contexts of the contemporary world. The course will deal with themes that are fundamental to the culture of protection and conservation and its plurality of interpretation through the study of exemplary cases of intervention in relation to different social, political, economic and cultural contexts. Fundamental references will be the many doctrinal documents issued in recent years by various international bodies involved in this complex field of theoretical debate and design practice.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aims

The objective of “Principles of Conservation”, as a theoretical course of the MA in “Architectural Composition” and in relation to the professionals’ competencies and functions that the MA intends to train, is to:

• provide students with the basic knowledge of the main architectural restoration theories and conservation principles.
• increase awareness around the important role played by architectural restoration and conservation in the broader process of development and continuous transformation of the historic built environment with reference to the contemporary architectural debate.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the teaching, students  will be able to understand and describe the main theories concerning architectural restoration and conservation. They will be able to identify, critically illustrate, and elaborate on the main architectural restoration and conservation theories in relation to possible design-driven choices with reference to architectural restoration and conservation case studies.

By the end of the course, the students should be able to:

• understand and describe the main architectural restoration and conservation theories and principles.
• recall relevant knowledge from international doctrinal documents on architectural heritage preservation.
• identify and elaborate on the main architectural restoration and conservation theories in relation to design-driven choices in architectural restoration projects considered as case studies.
• concentrate and reflect on architectural restoration case studies justifying context-specific design-driven decisions.
• use of sources and aids of various kinds to analyse and summarize information in support of their case study analysis.
• communicate effectively in oral form.

TEACHING METHODS

The course will be delivered through lectures and seminars, also held by experts or invited lecturers with knowledge and expertise on specific architectural heritage and landscape issues. Students are expected to participate actively in the lectures and seminars that will be implemented through an inquiry-based approach and the discussion of case studies. Students’ participation is highly recommended during lectures and it is mandatory for seminars that will be organised during the course. Students are expected to take notes, follow and contribute actively to the course, while studying the recommended readings.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Essentials readings

• Jukka Jokilehto (1986). A History of Architectural Conservation. The Contribution of English, French, German and Italian Thought towards an International Approach to the Conservation of Cultural Property. University of York, England. https://www.iccrom.org/publication/history-architectural-conservation (Open Access - PDF download).
• M. Glendinning (2013). The Conservation Movement: A History of Architectural Preservation. Antiquity to Modernity. London and New York: Routledge, pp. 390-414; 417-450. (Available at the DAD Library “Nino Carboneri”).

Further readings

• S. Caccia Gherardini (2016). The Architectural Restoration and Conservation Handbook. Firenze: Didapress. https://didapress.it/pubblicazione/the-architectural-restoration-and-conservation-handbook (Available on DIDAPRESS website upon account free sign-in).
• Merbach, K. Stamm (2020). International Heritage Conservation Principles: Historical Overview. In: Smith, C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Global Archaeology. Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 5881-5889. Web. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-30018-0_432 https://unopertutto.unige.net/permalink/39GEN_INST/1t4pt0g/cdi_springer_books_10_1007_978_3_030_30018_0_432 (Open Access via UniGe pass on UnoPerTutto)
• S. F. Musso (2018). Challenges, competencies, professions for the built heritage conservation in the Contemporary World, PLURAL: History, Culture, Society=Istorie, Cultură, Societate, Journal of the History and Geography Department “Ion Creangă” Pedagogical State University, Vol. 6, 2, 2018, 5-16 https://unopertutto.unige.net/permalink/39GEN_INST/1t4pt0g/cdi_ceeol_journals_741654 (PDF available on Aulaweb)
• S. F. Musso (2009). Conservation/restoration of built Heritage. “Dimensions of contemporary culture”. In: Piet Lombaerde, Laura Lee (editors), Bringing the World into Culture. Comparative Methodologies in Architecture, Art, Design and Science, Antwerpen: UPA Editions (University Press Antwerp), 86-107. https://unopertutto.unige.net/permalink/39GEN_INST/tigon9/alma990010844460204051 (PDF available on Aulaweb)

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

FEDERICA POMPEJANO (President)

SARA ROCCO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

2° semester

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final exam consists in an oral discussion with the members of the examination board. Students will be asked to prepare and discuss a presentation related to a case study in architectural heritage conservation and restoration and to answer questions on topics related to the mandatory readings, lectures’ and seminars’ topics.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Students' performance during the final exam will be assessed against the following criteria:

• The ability to recall and describe the main restoration/conservation theories and principles and the relevant knowledge from international doctrinal documents on architectural heritage preservation.
• The capacity to identify, reflect, and elaborate on the main architectural restoration and conservation theories in relation to design-driven choices in architectural restoration projects which are proposed as a case study.
• The ability to properly use diverse sources and aids to prepare, analyse, summarize and present information on a chosen case study analysis and communicate it in an effective and clear way.

Exam schedule