GUIDE LINES

PRESERVATION, REHABILITATION, ADAPTIVE RE-USE

The Standards
1. Conserve the heritage value of a historic place. Do not
remove, replace or substantially alter its intact or
repairable character-defining elements. Do not move a part of
a historic place if its current location is a character-defining
element.
2. Conserve changes to a historic place that, over time, have
become character- defining elements in their own right.
3. Conserve heritage value by adopting an approach calling
for minimal intervention.
4. Recognize each historic place as a physical record of its time,
place and use. Do not create a false sense of historical
development by adding elements from other historic places or
other properties, or by combining features of the same property
that never coexisted.
5. Find a use for a historic place that requires minimal or
no change to its character-defining elements.
6. Protect and, if necessary, stabilize a historic place until
any subsequent intervention is undertaken. Protect and
preserve archaeological resources in place. Where there is
potential for disturbing archaeological resources, take
mitigation measures to limit damage and loss of
information
7. Evaluate the existing condition of character-defining
elements to determine the
appropriate intervention needed. Use the gentlest means
possible for any intervention. Respect heritage
8. Maintain character-defining elements on an ongoing
basis. Repair character- defining elements by reinforcing
their materials using recognized conservation methods.
Replace in kind any extensively deteriorated or missing
parts of character-defining elements, where there are
surviving prototypes.
9. Make any intervention needed to preserve character-
defining elements physically and visually compatible with
the historic place and identifiable on close inspection.
Document any intervention for future reference.
Additional Standards Relating to
Rehabilitation

10. Repair rather than replace character-defining elements. Where

character- defining elements are too severely deteriorated to repair,
and where sufficient physical evidence exists, replace them with new
elements that match the forms, materials and detailing of sound
versions of the same elements. Where there is insufficient physical
evidence, make the form, material and detailing of the new elements
compatible with the character of the historic place.
11. Conserve the heritage value and character-defining elements when
creating any new additions to an historic place or any related new
construction. Make the new work physically and visually compatible
with, subordinate to and distinguishable from the historic place.
12. Create any new additions or related new construction so that the
essential form and integrity of a historic place will not be impaired if
the new work is removed in the future.
Additional Standards Relating to
Restoration

13. Repair rather than replace character-defining

elements from the restoration period. Where character-
defining elements are too severely deteriorated to repair
and where sufficient physical evidence exists, replace
them with new elements that match the forms, materials
and detailing of sound versions of the same elements.
14. Replace missing features from the restoration period
with new features whose forms, materials and detailing
are based on sufficient physical, documentary and/or oral
evidence.
Retain visual identity

▪ In a globalising world, where visual spaces are rapidly

becoming homogenised, it is necessary to retain the
specific visual identity of a place created by the presence
of unprotected architectural heritage and sites.
▪ The visual cacophony created by advertisement boards,
signage, hanging electric cables, air conditioning units, dish
antennas, etc. must be carefully controlled to enhance the
visual character of the architectural heritage and site.
▪ Additions of street furniture, pavement material, lighting,
signage, etc. can add to the experience and appreciation of
the heritage.
Adaptive re-use

▪ The re-use of historic buildings and neighbourhoods is

economically sensible. It is an effective strategy to
conserve architectural heritage, particularly by using
traditional craftspeople in the process.
▪ Such re-use distinguishes between preservation as an
ideal on the one hand and, on the other, the goal to
prolong the useful life of architectural heritage by
retaining as much (and not necessarily, all) of the
surviving evidence as a vestigial presence.
▪ Priority must be accorded to retaining the continuity of
original functions. Any new use must be introduced only
after studying its effect on the local context, and must
conform to the carrying capacity and vulnerability of the
▪ All changes to the original fabric should be preceded
and followed by comprehensive documentation.
Additions and alterations must respect the coherence of
the whole, and must, to the extent possible, engage
traditional materials, skills and knowledge in the
process.

▪ When it becomes necessary to modernise and

comprehensively alter the original internal functional
characteristics of the building or site, its external image
must be retained.
▪ At the outset, the local community must be made aware
of the changes envisaged and explained the benefits to
Restoration/ Replication/ Rebuilding

▪ Restoration is an appropriate conservation strategy to reinstate

the integrity or complete the fractured ‘whole’ of the
architectural heritage/ site. It must aim to convey the meaning of
the heritage in the most effective manner.
▪ In addition, reconstruction/ rebuilding can provide the impetus to
develop a parallel market for local buildings materials and new
opportunities for the use of alternative systems of building.
▪ Reconstruction based on minimal physical evidence is
appropriate where it is supported by the knowledge of local
craftspeople, including folklore, beliefs, myths and legends,
rituals, customs, oral traditions, etc. The objective of this practice
must be to interpret the original meanings of the resource in the
contemporary context and reinforce its bond with society.
Employment generation

▪ Conservation strategy must focus on the potential for

employing local raj mistris, labour and materials
because this will prolong the economic viability of
traditional ways of building.
▪ In conditions of resource scarcity, the use of
architectural heritage can provide an alternate and
more economic strategy to meet contemporary needs
as well.
Local material and traditional technology

▪ The use of local materials and traditional technologies

must invariably be preferred. Their choice must be based
on the availability of traditional knowledge systems.
▪ Modern substitutes should be considered only after their
use is proven efficient and judicious, and must not
compromise the integrity and continuity of local building
traditions.
▪ It is necessary to recognise that the use of certain
traditional building materials may be inadvisable on
account of the damage this can cause to the natural
ecological systems.
Integrated conservation

▪ Conservation of architectural heritage and sites must be

integrated with the social and economic aspirations of
society.
▪ Conservation-oriented development must be the
preferred strategy for social and economic progress.
▪ This necessitates the formation of multi-disciplinary
teams to undertake integrated conservation projects.
▪ Since social aspirations are diverse and often at odds
with each other, the conservation team must include
social workers to facilitate dialogue and decision-
making.
Sustainability

▪ The objective of conservation should be to sustain the

building and/or the traditional skill and knowledge
system of building.
▪ In this context, continuity must be seen as evolving
over time.
▪ The test of its validity must be the positive contribution
it makes to the quality of life of the local community.