UNIT–I INTRODUCTION TO CONSERVATION

WHAT IS HERITAGE?

Heritage is the full range of our inherited traditions, monuments, objects, and culture. Most
important, it is the range of contemporary activities, meanings, and behaviors that we draw from
them.

Heritage includes, but is much more than preserving, excavating, displaying, or restoring a
collection of old things. It is both tangible and intangible, in the sense that ideas and memories--
of songs, recipes, language, dances, and many other elements of who we are and how we identify
ourselves--are as important as historical buildings and archaeological sites.

Heritage is, or should be, the subject of active public reflection, debate, and discussion. What
is worth saving? What can we, or should we, forget? What memories can we enjoy, regret, or
learn from? Who owns "The Past" and who is entitled to speak for past generations? Active
public discussion about material and intangible heritage--of individuals, groups, communities,
and nations--is a valuable facet of public life in our multicultural world.

Heritage is a contemporary activity with far-reaching effects. It can be an element of far-

sighted urban and regional planning. It can be the platform for political recognition, a medium for
intercultural dialogue, a means of ethical reflection, and the potential basis for local economic
development. It is simultaneously local and particular, global and shared.

Heritage is an essential part of the present we live in--and of the future we will build.

TYPES OF HERITAGE

Cultural Heritage –
Cultural Heritage is an expression of the ways of living developed by a community and passed
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on from generation to generation, including customs, practices, places, objects, artistic
expressions and values. Cultural Heritage is often expressed as either Intangible or Tangible Cultural
Heritage (ICOMOS, 2002)
As part of human activity Cultural Heritage produces tangible representations of the value systems,
beliefs, traditions and lifestyles. As an essential part of culture as a whole, Cultural Heritage, contains
these visible and tangible traces form antiquity to the recent past.

Tangible and Intangible Heritage –

Having at one time referred exclusively to the monumental remains of cultures, cultural heritage as a
concept has gradually come to include new categories. Today, we find that heritage is not only
manifested through tangible forms such as artefacts, buildings or landscapes but also through intangible
forms. Intangible heritage includes voices, values, traditions, oral history. Popularly this is perceived
through cuisine, clothing, forms of shelter, traditional skills and technologies, religious ceremonies,
performing arts, storytelling. Today, it is considered that the tangible heritage is inextricably bound up
with the intangible heritage. In conservation projects the aim is always to preserve both the tangible as
well as the intangible heritage.
The intangible heritage includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed
on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events,
knowledge and practices concerning nature in the universe or the knowledge and skills to produce
traditional crafts.

Examples of Intangible World heritage include Vedic Chants, Ramlila, Tagores Poetry etc.,

Natural Heritage –
"Natural heritage" is also an important part of a society's heritage, encompassing the countryside and
natural environment, including flora and fauna, scientifically known as biodiversity, as well as
geological elements (including mineralogical, geomorphological, paleontological, etc.), scientifically
known as geo-diversity. These kinds of heritage sites often serve as an important component in a
country's tourist industry, attracting many visitors from abroad as well as locally. Heritage can also
include cultural landscapes (natural features that may have cultural attributes).

Culture –
It is a total way of life. It encompasses a system of belief (ideology). Culture may vary from place to
place which could have been formed because of its historic evolution, geographic location and so on.

Heritage Building –
A 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 different values but the first one is always emotional, for it is a
symbol of our cultural identity and continuity – a part of our heritage.

Conservation –

It can be shortly described as an action taken to prevent decay.

Architectural Conservation –

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It is process in which MATERIAL, HISTORICAL AND DESIGN integrity of mankind’s built heritage
are prolonged through carefully planned interventions.
Architectural conservation deals with issues of prolonging the life and integrity of architectural character
such as form and style, and/or its constituent materials, such as stone, brick, glass, metal, and wood. In
this sense, the term refers to the "professional use of a combination ofscience, art, craft, and techno logy
as a preservation tool"
In addition to the design and art/science definition described above, architectural conservation also refers
to issues of identification, policy, regulation, and advocacy associated with the entirety of the cultural
and built environment. This broader scope recognizes that society has mechanisms to identify and value
historic cultural resources, create laws to protect these resources, and develop policies and management
plans for interpretation, protection, and education. Typically this process operates as a specialized aspect
of a society's planning system, and its practitioners are termed built or historic environment conservation
professionals.
Urban Conservation –
This deals with conservation of different kinds of heritage within a city or town. The approach here is
not for individual buildings but an overall approach to taking policy level decisions keeping in mind the
issues relating to heritage. This may include creating of heritage zones, precincts etc., to do special
planning so as to conserve the overall heritage value of the urban fabric. The first step in this will
include listing the heritage available with the help of inventory forms and understanding the heritage so
as to solve the issues.
Urban Design –
Urban design is a process which addresses the larger scale of group of buildings, of streets and public
spaces, whole neighborhoods and districts and entire cities, to make urban areas functional attractive and
sustainable.Urban Design falls between the professions of planning and Architecture.It involves a
spectrum of social, cultural, and physical design issues.Urban design is concerned with the physical
form of cities, buildings and the space between them.
Urban Renewal –
It is program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use, sometimes also
called as reconstruction. It may involve relocation of businesses, the demolition of structures, the
relocation of people and converting private property into public property. In some cases it may lead to
urban sprawl.
Urban renewal attempts to sustain or improve some particular commercial functions of the city, most
commonly retailing.Furtherance of urban design goals –attempts to beautify –or de-uglifya downtown
street might be tied to attempts to increase downtown retailing activity that might be part of a larger
effort aimed at employment expansion.
Provision of a variety of services as social services: day care, job training, or drug rehabilitation. Service
provision is likely to be directed primarily to less affluent segments of the community’s population.

DEFINITION:

“Heritage building” means and includes any building of one or more premises or any part
thereof and/or structure and/or artefact which requires conservation and / or preservation for
historical and
/ or architectural and / or artisanary and /or aesthetic and/or cultural and/or environmental and/or
ecological purpose and includes such portion of land adjoining such building or part thereof as
may be required for fencing or covering or in any manner preserving the historical and/or
architectural and/or aesthetic and/or cultural value of such building.
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 “Heritage Precincts” means and includes any space that requires conservation and /or
preservation for historical and / or architectural and/or aesthetic and/or cultural and/or
environmental and/or ecological purpose. Walls or other boundaries of a particular area or place
or building or may enclose such space by an imaginary line drawn around it.
“Conservation” means all the processes of looking after a place so as to retain its historical
and/or architectural and/or aesthetic and/or cultural significance and includes maintenance,
preservation, restoration, reconstruction and adoption or a combination of more than one of these.
“Preservation” means and includes maintaining the fabric of a place in its existing state and
retarding deterioration.
“Restoration” means and includes returning the existing fabric of a place to a known earlier
state by removing accretions or by reassembling existing components without introducing new
materials.
“Reconstruction” means and includes returning a place as nearly as possible to a known earlier
state and distinguished by the introduction of materials (new or old) into the fabric. This shall not
include either recreation or conjectural reconstruction.
“Architectural Conservation” describes the process through which the material, historical, and
design integrity of humanity's built heritage are prolonged through carefully planned
interventions. The individual engaged in this pursuit is known as an architectural conservator.
WHY CONSERVATION?
Heritage largely defines the identity of a society and it is passed down from one generation to
another.
In order to pass on to future generations what is currently identified as being of cultural
significance today, we must imbibe good conservation practices especially for the heritage
buildings in order to prevent them from deterioration and extend the life and basic functions of
these buildings.
Heritage buildings differ from modern buildings in the sense that they are anticipated to last
permanently.
Also heritage buildings are buildings that for various factors society has decided that they
shall be preserved for as long as possible.
The heritage buildings constructed in the past that have high historical, architectural,
spiritual,social, political and economical values.
 Similarly heritage buildings are highly valuable and
informative in terms of socio-cultural,
 socio-political,
 socio-economical and
 even technological activities
 of a specific society or group of individual.

Most buildings are capable of beneficial use, whether for their original purpose or for some
other use. Buildings and their precincts need to be used in order to
survive and such use can be made into an economically viable enterprise.
• Retain visual identity
• Adaptive re-use
• Restoration/ Replication/ Rebuilding
• Employment generation
• Local material and traditional technology
• Integrated conservation

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 • Sustainability
FACTORS DETERIORATING HERITAGE BUILDINGS
Natural Factors :
• Flood
• Biological Factors
• Moisture
• Rainstorm
• Ground salts and water
•Windstorm
• Air Pollutant
• Solar Radiation
• Temperature
• Vibration

Social Factors :
• Fire
• Urban Development
• Vandalism

CATEGORIES OF SPECIAL INTEREST

A protected structure be of special interest under one or more of the following
categories Architectural; Historical; Archaeological; Artistic; Cultural; Scientific;
Technical; Social.

URBAN CONSERVATION
The brief for the project outlined the term Urban Conservation Areas as applying broadly to a
range of city, urban and suburban streetscapes, landscapes, spaces and places focused on local
and central city commercial areas. For the purposes of this project, the definition of ‘commercial’
encompasses retail and light industrial areas, although an urban conservation area may include a
building that is not strictly commercial but whose existence relates to commercial development.
Collectively, urban conservation areas contain a range of features, buildings and places that
form a unique or representative group that typifies the local character and identity. The special
qualities of these areas does not come from the buildings alone but includes historic road layouts,
paths and boundaries; building and paving materials; a particular mix of building uses; public and
private spaces, such as gardens, parks and greens; and trees and street furniture, which
contributes to particular views – all features are recognised as part of is heritage character.
Global processes have a direct impact on the identity and visual integrity of historic cities and
their broader setting, as well as on the people who live in them. While some cities are growing
exponentially, others are shrinking and being radically restructured as a result of shifting
economic processes and new patterns of migration. To address these issues, local urban strategies
are becoming the key component of urban development planning. The increasing globalization of
the economy is radically transforming many contemporary cities, benefiting some groups, whilst
marginalizing others. In some countries, centrally controlled planning has given way to

decentralization and market-oriented approaches. The result is that cities have been exposed to
new pressures, among which the following:
CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES

 Rapid urbanization threatening the sense of place and identity of communities

 Uncontrolled, poorly conceived and/or badly implemented urban development
 Intensity and speed of changes, including global warming
 Unsustainable consumption of resources.
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 ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION
Architectural conservation describes the process through which the material, historical, and
design integrity of mankind built heritage are prolonged through carefully planned interventions.
Architectural conservation deals with issues of prolonging the life and integrity of architectural
character and integrity, such as form and style, and/or its constituent materials, such as stone,
brick, glass, metal, and wood.

The Department of the Interior of the United States defined the following treatment approaches
to architectural conservation:

"Preservation" places a high premium on the retention of all historic fabric through
conservation, maintenance and repair. It reflects a buildings continuum over time, through
successive occupancies, and the respectful changes and alterations that are made.

“Rehabilitation" emphasizes the retention and repair of historic materials, but more latitude is
provided for replacement because it is assumed the property is more deteriorated prior to work.
(Both Preservation and Rehabilitation standards focus attention on the preservation of those
materials, features, finishes, spaces, and spatial relationships that, together, give a property its
historic character.

“Adaptive reuse" refers to the process of reusing an old site or building for a purpose other than
which it was built or designed for. Along with Brownfield reclamation, adaptive reuse is seen by
many as a key factor in land conservation and the reduction of urban sprawl. However adaptive
reuse can become controversial as there is sometimes a blurred line between renovation, facadism
and adaptive reuse. It can be regarded as a compromise between historic preservation and
demolition.

"Façadism" (or Façadomy) is the practice of demolishing a building but leaving its facade intact
for the purposes of building new structures in it or around it.

"Restoration" focuses on the retention of materials from the most significant time in a
properties history, while permitting the removal of materials from other periods.

“Reconstruction" establishes limited opportunities to re-create a non-surviving site, landscape,

building, structure, or object in all new materials.

Degrees of Intervention in Conservation

The minimum degree of intervention necessary and the techniques used depend upon the conditions of
climate and exposure to which the cultural property is likely to be subjected.Interventions practically
always invoke some loss of value in cultural property, but are justified in order to preserve the object for
the future.In some cases, a decision not to intervene may be the best appropriate choice. It is good for
people dealing with heritage buildings o remember that the “minimum effective intervention is always
the best”.

a. PREVENTION OF DETERIORATION: (indirect conservation)

• Prevention entails protecting cultural property by controlling its environment, thus preventing agents of
decay and damage from becoming active

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• Sound maintenance procedure is very important, mainly external control without touching the building
as such
• Regular inspection of the heritage building is the basis of prevention of deterioration.

b. PRESERVATION:
• It deals directly with the cultural property. Its object is to keep it in 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 micro-organisms must be stopped in order to preserve the structure.

c. CONSOLIDATION:
• Consolidation is the physical addition or application of adhesives or supportive material in order to
ensure its continued durability or structural integrity
• Sometimes, it may entail the injection of adhesives to secure a detached mural painting to the wall.
• If the structural supports or elements have become weak consolidation in the form of new supports
may be required.
• However, to the maximum the integrity of the historic structure’s structural system must be respected
and its form preserved.
• Only by understanding how an historic building acts as a “spatial environmental system” is it possible
to introduce new techniques satisfactorily
• Use of traditional skills very important; however in certain cases reversible modern techniques can be
used.
• In many cases it will be better to buy time when dealing with historic building in order to conserve it
properly.

d. RESTORATION:
The object of restoration is to review the original concept or legibility of the object
• Respect for original material, archaeological evidence, original design and authentic documents.
• The replaced part should integrate harmoniously with the whole, but must be distinguishable on close
inspection from the original.
• Contribution from all periods must be respected
• The revealing of underlying layer can be justified only in exceptional circumstances; the material
brought to light is of great historical or archeological values
• Restoration by anastylosis, recreation by or with original material and elements. Care to be taken that
the finished product does not look like a film set

e. REHABLITATION: (ADAPTIVE REUSE

The best way of preserving buildings as opposed to objects is to keep them in use.
• Sometimes structural rehabilitation is only done (when structural members are only are added)
• Adaptive reuse refers to the process of reusing an old site or building for the purpose other than it was
built or designed for.
• Mainly when old buildings becomes unsuitable for their programmatic requirements
• However the original use is the best use for any heritage building, as it means fewer changes.
• Rehabilitation emphasizes the retention and repair of historic materials, but more latitude is provided
for replacement because it is assumed that the property is more deteriorated prior to work.
f. REPRODUCTION:
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• Reproduction entails copying an extant artifact, often in order to replace some missing or decayed part,
generally decorative, to maintain its aesthetic harmony.
• If valuable cultural property is being damaged irretrievably or it is threatened by its environment and a
reproduction substituted in order to maintain the unity of the site or a building
• Rescue archaeology or preventive archeology or salvage archeology is the collection of data and
materials from the site in danger of imminent destruction, as from new construction or flooding. In this
case new construction can be dams, roads etc.,
g. RECONSTRUCTION:
• Reconstruction of historic buildings using new materials may be necessitated by disasters such as fire,
earthquake or war.
• However it will never have the patina of age (showing the oldness of the structure)
• The reconstruction should always be based on accurate documentary evidence andnot on conjuncture
(assumptions)
The moving of entire buildings to the new sites is another form of reconstruction justified by overriding
national interests.

ROLE OF CONSERVATION ARCHITECT

• In addition to his/her practice as general architect, he must have the knowledge and understanding of
the early building technology.
• He must be able to identify the original fabric and later additions, and interpret the findings to the
client.
• To execute any scheme the conservation architect must coordinate the work of archeologists,
engineers, planners, landscape architects, contractors, suppliers, craftsmen, anthropologists, historians
and others who might be involved in the project.
• The conservation architect should have knowledge of all periods of architecture combined with the
understanding of the modern building techniques.
• He must be able to preserve the historic and artistic values of the structure yet giving respect to the
modern requirements.
• Relevant requirements laid down by the codes of practice and building regulations, or obtaining
waivers to any if applicable building regulations and codes wherever applicable.

ETHICS OF CONSERVATION
• The condition of the building before any intervention and all the methods and materials used during
intervention must be fully and carefully documented
• In any case historic evidence must not be destroyed, falsified or removed
• Any intervention must be the minimum necessary intervention
• Any intervention must be governed by the unswerving respect for the aesthetic, historic and physical
integrity of cultural property
• Any intervention should be reversible
• It should not prejudice a future intervention whenever this may become necessary
• It should not hinder the possibility of later access to all evidence incorporated in the object
• It should allow the maximum amount of existing material to be retained
• It should be harmonious in color, tone, texture, form and scale, if additions are necessary, but should be
less noticeable than the original material, while at the same time being identifiable
• It should not be undertaken by conservators/restorers who are undertrained.

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LEVELS OF INVOLVEMENT OF CONSERVATION ARCHITECTS

LEVEL I – Study & Research through the following steps

a. Documentation of the structure, analysis and its interpretation

b. Historic documentation through primary and secondary sources
The above given study and research can be for individual building or precinct or even larger setup of the
city depending upon the scope of the project

LEVEL II – Technical aspects Covering (this is for building level only)

a. Traditional building materials
b. Structural repairs
c. Maintenance and up gradation of historic structures.

LEVEL III – Design, reuse, infill, modification and new buildings in historic areas

LEVEL IV – City Level policies, regulations, guide lines etc.,

PROBLEMS IN CONSERVATION WITH RESPECT TO INDIA:-

(i) DIVERSITY - Almost 3000 different cities and towns in India displaying diversity in their
characteristics, now the problem lies in how to understand it in a better way so as to save it-can it be
looked into one frame work.
(ii) POLITICS - The second problem is identifying the role and activities of the people, along with the
objects, and hence has a political meaning in the contemporary phase of our development.
(iii) PEOPLE - Demographically, economically and socially transforming our society. Hence there
should be in protection of cultural heritage. This leads to the question development versus conservation.
Some also say conservation is being anti-progress.
(iv) LACK OF RESOURCES - Scarcity of both material and professional resources.

VALUES IN CONSERVATION:-
-Conservation must preserve and, if possible, enhance the messages and values of proposed cultural
interventions, as well as to establish the extent and nature of property.
-These values help systematically to overall priorities in deciding proposed interventions, as well as to
establish the extent and nature of individual treatment.

VALUES ASSIGNED TO CULTURAL PROPERTY:-

i. EMOTIONAL VALUES.
(a) WONDER (b)IDENTITY (c)CONTINUITY (d)SPIRITUAL AND SYMBOLIC. (e) AETHETIC
AND ARTISTIC.

ii. CULTURAL VALUES.

(a)DOCUMENTARY (b)HISTORIC (c)ARCHEOLOGICAL-ANTIQUE (d)AESTHETIC AND
SYMBOLIC (e)ARCHITECTURAL (f)TOWNSCAPE, LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL
(g)SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL

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iii. USE VALUES.
(a)FUNCTIONAL (b)ECONOMIC (c)SOCIAL (d)POLITICAL.

(i) EMOTIONAL VALUES.

(i-a) WONDER:-
Anyone who sees this heritage gets this question in the mind.
Who made it? How was it made?
Why was it made? What made him make it?
In short one simply wonders at the creation at first glance.

(i-b) IDENTITY:-
The monument or property is an identity of our own, we identityourselves with that with pride.

(i-c)CONTINUITY:-
Confers legitimacy and reassures us when we face the future. The fact that the monuments have stood
the test of time gives us the sense of continuity.

(i-d)SPIRITUAL AND SYMBOLIC:-

- Veneration, an emotion related to the respect for, or belief in, the history or myths that are attached to
an objects or site thousands of pilgrims travel etc.
- Many times monuments have been used to symbolize the achievements of great people.eg:-
QutubMinar. Commerative
- Certain monuments have spiritual messages – different forms for different religions and cultural eg:-
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul turkey church, a mosque, a museum a universal message of equality.
- Some attached values like reading the heaven – beliefs as like that.

(i-e)AESTHETIC AND ARTISTIC VALUE:-

- It is related to the pleasure, to the emotions experienced by a person on seeing a heritage object.
- This may change from one individual to other.
- The artistic worth of a monument or an object is determined by its contribution to the general artistic
movement.
- The perfection of its workmanship in terms of a particular style or the progress that it represents.

(ii) CULTURAL VALUES :-

(ii-a) DOCUMENTARY VALUES :-
- Objects and buildings convey the most complete record of the past civilizations.
- The historic evidence provided by the buildings must be recorded properly.

(ii-b)HISTORIC VALUES :-
Must be related to a historic event or a person very famous in history.
- Helps in understanding about the person who built it.
- If artifact belonged to a person helps to gauge a character of the person.
- They teach history with that.

(ii-c)ARCHEOLOGICAL VALUES:-
- It involves the unexplored potential of a building or site to give information.
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- Generally done using scientific studies.
- The fact, that these studies will someday lead to discovery of certain knowledge of the past which can
be used for future is very important.
- Hence the retention of the cultural fabric is very important.(building fabric).

(ii-d)AESTHETIC AND SYMBOLIC:-

- Sometimes the buildings aesthetic presence acts as a symbol in itself.
- Eg:- The TajMahal (symbol of love)
- It becomes symbolic either because of its aesthetic appeal (mostly) or because of human perception.

(ii-e)ARCHITECTURAL VALUES:-
- Are related to the individual’s movement through spaces and the feelings generated from the same.
- The vitruvian virtues of Architecture. UTILITAS, FIRMITAS,
VENUSTAS.

- UTILITAS (function-commodity-utility) It relates to the usefulness of the building. If it cannot be used

then it becomes a economic threat to its own existence.

- FIRMITAS (solidity-materiality) It relates to the strength of the building with respect to the resisting
of the loads and a standing tall with only very minordamages.9some of the buildings only).

- VENUSTAS (Beauty-delight-desire)
It covers the artistic element in architecture such as the relationship of the building to the site, the
massing and silhouette, the proportions of the element to the whole.

(ii-f)TOWNSCAPE, LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL VALUE:-

The Urban setting of a monument with regards to the townscape. It is related to what kind of a skyline
that monument brings to the urban skyline.
- The views of significant reference points and vistas.
- Analysis of the quality of a town including the compression and opening of space, formal spaces,
surprises, and drama.
- The fact that how the landscape setting has been used by the previous generation and how that has been
passed on to the future.
- Natural sites like Mountains, forests, rivers and seas which man made buildings and town contrasts
- In certain cases the values generated by climate and underlying geology.

(ii-g)TECHNOLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC:-

- These values in an object, building or site can enhance its significance.
- Appreciating the technological achievements of casting bronze oriron in a fine building or sculpture,
tells us a real deal about the civilizations that created them. Usually found in pioneering
structures.
(iii) USE VALUES:-
(iii-a) FUNCTIONAL VALUE:-
- One of the important positives of historic building is the continuity of its function.
- The continuation of the same function for years increases the use value of the building.

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(iii-b)ECONOMIC VALUE:-
- If the building is going to be functional is going to be functional it is going to be economical.
- Secondly the building may also be economical due to various values given above due to the generation
of tourists traffic to the site.(Emotional value).
- Related to the revenue generation from cultural property.

(iii-c)SOCIAL VALUE:-
- Identity and continuity of the society.
- The word “OURS” –OUR HERITAGE play an important part.

(iii-d)POLITICAL VALUE:-
- Establish National pride.
- Past history of politics directly linked to the buildings.
- Eg:-RashtrapathiBhavan.

UNESCO

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

UNESCO works to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based
upon respect for commonly shared values. It is through this dialogue that the world can achieve global
visions of sustainable development encompassing observance of human rights, mutual respect and the
alleviation of poverty, all of which are at the heart of UNESCO’S mission and activities.

The broad goals and concrete objectives of the international community – as set out in the
internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) –
underpin all UNESCO’s strategies and activities. Thus UNESCO’s unique competencies in education,
the sciences, culture and communication and information contribute towards the realization of those
goals.

UNESCO under its aegis has five main themes or programs namely Education, Natural Sciences, Social
& Human Sciences, Culture, Communication & Information Under the theme Culture, there are
different themes of which some are listed as follows, a.Culture and Development, b. World Heritage, c.
Intangible heritage, d. Armed conflict and heritage etc.,

The UNESCO seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and
natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity.
This is embodied in an international treaty called the Convention (World Heritage Convention)
concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, adopted by UNESCO in
1972.

UNESCO's World Heritage mission is to:

• Encourage countries to sign the World Heritage Convention and to ensure the protection of their
natural and cultural heritage; once the countries sign the convention they become the State Parties

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Encourage States Parties to the Convention to nominate sites within their national territory for
inclusion on the World Heritage List;
• Encourage States Parties to establish management plans and set up reporting systems on the state
of conservation of their World Heritage sites;
• Help States Parties safeguard World Heritage properties by providing technical assistance and
professional training;
• Provide emergency assistance for World Heritage sites in immediate danger;
• Support States Parties' public awareness-building activities for World Heritage conservation;
• Encourage participation of the local population in the preservation of their cultural and natural
heritage;
• Encourage international cooperation in the conservation of our world's cultural and natural heritage.

The world Heritage convention:

• The most significant feature of the 1972 World Heritage Convention is that it links together in a single
document the concepts of nature conservation and the preservation of cultural properties. The
Convention recognizes the way in which people interact with nature, and the fundamental need to
preserve the balance between the two.
• The Convention defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on
the World Heritage List.
• The Convention sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites and their role in
protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only
the World Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to protect its national heritage. The States
Parties are encouraged to integrate the protection of the cultural and natural heritage into regional
planning programmes, set up staff and services at their sites, undertake scientific and technical
conservation research and adopt measures which give this heritage a function in the day-to-day life of
the community.
• It explains how the World Heritage Fund is to be used and managed and under what conditions
international financial assistance may be provided.
• The Convention stipulates the obligation of States Parties to report regularly to the World Heritage
Committee on the state of conservation of their World Heritage properties. These reports are crucial to
the work of the Committee as they enable it to assess the conditions of the sites, decide on specific
programme needs and resolve recurrent problems.
• It also encourages States Parties to strengthen the appreciation of the public for World Heritage
properties and to enhance their protection through educational and information programmes.

The world Heritage Committee:

The World Heritage Committee meets once a year, and consists of representatives from 21 of the States
Parties to the Convention elected by their General Assembly. At its first session, the

Committee adopted its Rules of Procedure of the World Heritage Committee The Committee is
responsible for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention, defines the use of the World
Heritage Fund and allocates financial assistance upon requests from States Parties. It has the final say on
whether a property is inscribed on the World Heritage List. The Committee can also defer its decision
and request further information on properties from the States Parties. It examines reports on the state of
conservation of inscribed properties and asks
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States Parties to take action when properties are not being properly managed. It also decides on the
inscription or deletion of properties on the List of World Heritage in Danger.

The Advisory bodies:

Three international non-governmental or intergovernmental organizations are named in the
Convention to advise the Committee in its deliberations.

IUCN – The International Union for the Conservation of Nature

ICOMOS – The International Council on Monuments and Sites
ICCORM – The International Centre for the study and preservation of cultural property

Selection criteria for World Heritage Sites:

(i) to represent a masterpiece of human creative genius;
(ii) to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of
the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, townplanning or landscape
design;
(iii) to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is
living or which has disappeared;
(iv) to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or
landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history;
(v) to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is
representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it
has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change;
(vi) to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with
artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance. (The Committee considers that this
criterion should preferably be used in conjunction with other criteria);
(vii) to contain superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty and aesthetic
importance;
(viii) to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth's history, including the record of life,
significant on-going geological processes in the development of landforms, or significant geomorphic or
physiographic features;
(ix) to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in
the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and
communities of plants and animals;
(x) to contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological
diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of
view of science or conservation.
The protection, management, authenticity and integrity of properties are also important considerations.
Since 1992 significant interactions between people and the natural environment have been
recognized as cultural landscapes.

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ICCROM

International Centre for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments

Imbued with a message from the past, the historic monuments of generations of people remain to the
present day as living witnesses of their age-old traditions. People are becoming more and more
conscious of the unity of human values and regard ancient monuments as a common heritage. The
common responsibility to safeguard them for future generations is recognized. It is our duty to hand
them on in the full richness of their authenticity. It is essential that the principles guiding the
preservation and restoration of ancient buildings should be agreed and be laid down on an
international basis, with each country being responsible for applying the plan within the framework
of its own culture and traditions. By defining these basic principles for the first time,
the Athens Charter of 1931 contributed towards the development of an extensive international
movement which has assumed concrete form in national documents, in the work of ICOM and
UNESCO and in the establishment by the latter of the International Centre for the Study of the
Preservation and the Restoration of Cultural Property. Increasing awareness and critical study have
been brought to bear on problems which have continually become more complex and varied; now the
time has come to examine the Charter afresh in order to make a thorough study of the principles
involved and to enlarge its scope in a new document. Accordingly, the IInd International Congress of
Architects and Technicians of Historic Monuments, which met in Venice from May 25th to 31st 1964,
approved the following

ICCROM is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the conservation of cultural heritage. Its

members are individual states which have declared their adhesion to it. It exists to serve the international
community as represented by its Member States, which currently number 132.

It is the only institution of its kind with a worldwide mandate to promote the conservation of all types of
cultural heritage, both movable and immovable.

The decision to found the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of
Cultural Property was made at the 9th UNESCO General Conference in New Delhi in 1956, at a time of
mounting interest in the protection and preservation of cultural heritage. It was subsequently established
in Rome in 1959 at the invitation of the Government of Italy.

ICCROM aims at improving the quality of conservation practice as well as raising awareness about the
importance of preserving cultural heritage.

ICCROM contributes to preserving cultural heritage in the world today and for the future through five
main areas of activity:

Training, Information, Research, Cooperation and Advocacy

Training
ICCROM contributes to conservation training by developing new educational tools and materials, and
organizing professional training activities around the world. Since 1966,
ICCROM's courses have involved over 4,000 professionals.

Information

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ICCROM has one of the world's leading conservation libraries. The catalogue contains over 89,000
entries relating to books, reports and specialized journals in more than 40 languages. ICCROM also has
a collection of over 17,000 images. In addition, this website offers comprehensive information on
international events and training opportunities in the field of conservation-restoration.

Research
ICCROM organizes and coordinates meetings to devise common approaches and methodologies and to
promote the definition of internationally agreed ethics, criteria and technical standards for conservation
practice. The ICCROM Laboratory is both a resource and reference point for
conservation experts.

Cooperation
All ICCROM activities involve institutional and professional partners. Cooperation is provided in the
form of technical advice, collaborative visits, and education and training.

Advocacy
ICCROM disseminates teaching materials and organizes workshops and other activities to raise public
awareness and support for conservation.

ROLE OF ICCROM
The concept of a historic monument embraces not only the single architectural work but also the urban
or rural setting in which is found the evidence of a particular civilization, a significant development or
a historic event. This applies not only to great works of art but also to more modest works of the past
which have acquired cultural significance with the passing of time
The conservation and restoration of monuments must have recourse to all the sciences and techniques
which can contribute to the study and safeguarding of the architectural heritage.
The intention in conserving and restoring monuments is to safeguard them no less as works of art than
as historical evidence
 Encourage States, if they did not already have it, to establish a governmental organization
responsible for the protection and maintenance of historic monuments as testimonies to the
history of peoples;
 Guarantee that restoration be assigned only to qualified architects;
 Envisage the constitution of an International Association of Architects and Technicians
responsible for historic monuments.

ICOMOS
International Council on monuments and sites
ICOMOS works for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage places. It is the only global
non-government organisation of this kind, which is dedicated to promoting the application of theory,
methodology, and scientific techniques to the conservation of the architectural and archaeological
heritage. Its work is based on the principles enshrined in the 1964 International Charter on the
Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites (the Venice Charter).
ICOMOS is a network of experts that benefits from the interdisciplinary exchange of its members,
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 among which are architects, historians, archaeologists, art historians, geographers, anthropologists,
engineers and town planners.

The members of ICOMOS contribute to improving the preservation of heritage, the standards and the
techniques for each type of cultural heritage property : buildings, historic cities, cultural landscapes
and archaeological sites

Its role: to preserve and enhance -

ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, is a global non-governmental
organization associated with UNESCO. Its mission is to promote the conservation, protection,
Finally, ICOMOS supports open access, free and unrestricted, scientific publications, through the
project "ICOMOS Open Archive: EPrints on Cultural Heritage".

use and enhancement of monuments, building complexes and sites. He participates in the
development of doctrine, evolution and distribution of ideas, conducts advocacy. ICOMOS is the
Advisory Body of the World Heritage Committee for the Implementation of the World Heritage
Convention of UNESCO. As such, it reviews the nominations of cultural world heritage of humanity
and ensures the conservation status of properties. Its creation in 1965 is the logical outcome of the
first interviews as architects, historians and international experts have begun early in the twentieth
century and that had materialized in the adoption of the Charter of Venice in 1964. In light of
numerous studies, conferences, symposia and discussions led by its National Committees and
International Scientific Committees, ICOMOS has gradually built through philosophical and doctrinal
heritage internationally.

Its values: to unite around Heritage

Cultural and social diversity,collegiality

From around the world, with diverse and complementary professional backgrounds, researchers,
scientists, lawyers Heritage, economists, engineers, artisans, professionals, academics, private
consultants, elected officials, state representatives, etc.., Put their ideas and expertise together in a
spirit of collegiality and respect for their cultural and religious differences.
Impartiality
As the NGOs, ICOMOS is one of the three Advisory Bodies of the World Heritage Convention.
Institution to prepare its opinion, it uses a network of experts, chosen for their expertise and
experience, who advise technology independently and in accordance with the ethical rules.

Exchanges between countries, North-South dialogue, solidarity

ICOMOS, like any organization related to UNESCO's mission is the reconciliation of peoples and
cultures. That's why it created the Fund in 2003 Victoria Falls which facilitates the mobility of
members from poor countries. In addition, during the great natural disasters, ICOMOS provides
experts and specialists in the development of emergency measures for the preservation,
conservation and restoration of heritage (Haiti, China, Iran, etc.). It is a founding member of the Blue
Shield.

Transmission and youth involvement

ICOMOS' mission is to raison heritage awareness. It participated in training activities, welcomes and
involves young researchers and professionals around his issues and his actions. Raymond Lemaire
International Fund awards scholarships to young hopefuls to complete their education or improve
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 their experience.

Free Access to Information

Finally, ICOMOS supports open access, free and unrestricted, scientific publications, through the
project "ICOMOS Open Archive: E Prints on Cultural Heritage".

UNDP

United Nations Development programme

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and
drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in 177
countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build
resilient nations.

World leaders have pledged to achieve the Millenium Development Goals, including the overarching
goal of cutting poverty in half by 2015. UNDP's network links and coordinates global and national
efforts to reach these Goals. Our focus is helping countries build and share solutions to the challenges
of:
• Poverty Reduction and Achievement of the MDGs
• Democratic Governance
• Crisis Prevention and Recovery
• Environment and Energy for Sustainable Development

UNDP helps developing countries attract and use aid effectively. In all our activities, we encourage the
protection of human rights, capacity development and the empowerment of women.

The annual Human Development Report, commissioned by UNDP, focuses the global debate on key
development issues, providing new measurement tools, innovative analysis and often controversial
policy proposals. The global Report's analytical framework and inclusive approach carry over into
regional, national and local Human Development Reports, also supported by UNDP.

In each country office, the UNDP Resident Representative normally also serves as the
Resident Coordinator of development activities for the United Nations system as a whole.

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