The history and theory of architectural conservation from Antiquity to the present as well as the development of the concept of heritage in the 20th and 21st centuries constitute the primary focus of the module. The role played by historic buildings, ensembles, sites and heritage places as well as other tangible and intangible artefacts of the past in social, political and cultural processes is discussed. Contemporary international discourses on significance are introduced together with methods for its assessment, preservation, management and communication that draw on a range of approaches from the humanities and the social sciences. Current challenges in conservation practice such as the management of change are examined in relation to developments in the fields of architectural design and urban planning and against the background of growing concerns for environmental protection and human rights.

Upon completion of the module, students are able to understand key aspects of the history and theory of architectural conservation, heritage and heritage management, including their conceptual foundations and core issues, and can apply this knowledge to unfamiliar situations across a range of temporal and cultural contexts. They are able to evaluate the role played by historic buildings, ensembles and heritage places as well as other tangible and intangible artefacts of the past in social, political and cultural processes both past and present. They can create strategies for assessing the significance of buildings, ensembles and artefacts, for conserving and managing their tangible and intangible values, and for communicating knowledge about them both to specialists from neighbouring fields and to a wider public. The history and theory of architectural conservation from Antiquity to the present as well as the development of the concept of heritage in the 20th and 21st centuries constitute the primary focus of the module. The role played by historic buildings, ensembles, sites and heritage places as well as other tangible and intangible artefacts of the past in social, political and cultural processes is discussed. Contemporary international discourses on significance are introduced together with methods for its assessment, preservation, management and communication that draw on a range of approaches from the humanities and the social sciences. Current challenges in conservation practice such as the management of change are examined in relation to developments in the fields of architectural design and urban planning and against the background of growing concerns for environmental protection and human rights.

Modules

Heritage Conservation and Management (Online)

Contents

Learning outcomes

Assessment

Remarks