Why are historic sites important?

As I recently noticed, there has been insufficient respect to our old architectural
monuments in the media around the world. Articles appeared tackling the topics
of new innovative designs and modern architecture projects. However, lacking
attention to our heritage.

The popular opinion has been that it is more simple, beneficial and cheaper to
build new buildings instead of preserving the old ones. Demolish the crumbling
shack and construct a shiny skyscraper. You cannot escape the progress, or can
you? I want to tackle this topic and remind of the often forgotten benefits of
keeping our heritage intact.

First of all, preservation and restoration plays a cultural role. Old buildings teach
us about the history that happened before we were born and promotes the
respect for those who lived in different times and different societies. Architectural
monuments cultivates pride of our past and heritage making us unique in the
world. For Paris is knows for the Eiffel tower, London for the Big Ben and etc.
Historical structures bring character and certain charm to the neighborhood that
people live in. Moreover, restoring an old building is often way cheaper than
building the new one. Just think of all the costs you can save on creative project
team, interior dcor and other things that were initially already thought of in the
old structure.

Secondly, economy is an important merit of keeping the old. Architectural

monuments are great attractors of tourists. Everyone likes to experience the
spirit of the place, which most often is represented through architecture.
Tourists can provide locals with jobs and extra income. Restoring locally
important historical structures generates workplaces for both local people and
international experts. Restoration works require more skills and knowledge than
simple building and thus result in higher salaries and also contribute to boosting
the economy.

Finally, it is environmentally friendly. Building new green buildings and energy-

saving houses is important, but restoring the old ones is as green as it can get.
Preservation and restoration is the ultimate form of recycling. It helps reduce
construction waste and save the energy that is usually spent on manufacturing
and transporting building materials and tools.

Hopefully, these short points will make you think of an decaying oldie not as an
object of demolition but as an opportunity of reborn and contribution to the local
wellbeing.

As well as being indispensable to the study of history and archaeology, the

historic thread of our environment is vital to our understanding of how our
society and our landscape have developed over time. Its contribution to modern
life is varied.
Enhancing our quality of life: In contributing to the familiar, aesthetic quality of
our surroundings, where we live and work, the historic environment enhances our
sense of well-being. As it is all around us and easily accessible, it provides a setting
for a great variety of local activities.

Knowing ourselves: the historic environment is fundamental to our sense of place,

helps link us to our roots and underpins our sense of cultural identity. It is of value
for what it tells us about past society, modern culture and human interaction with
the environment, and it helps give us a long-term view of social and
environmental change.
Place-making: the historic environment contributes significantly to peoples sense
of place and their enjoyment of different spaces. The character of our local
landscape and townscape is largely the product of historic development, and this
is reflected in the diversity and distinctiveness of field patterns and settlement
lay-outs, as well as in building styles, materials and cultural traditions. This historic
character is not only attractive in its own right, but it can act as a catalyst for
creative new designs.

Sustainability: the historic environment represents considerable past investment

of physical, natural and intellectual resources. Where archaeological and historic
features already exist, it makes good sense to make the most of the resource they
provide, rather than destroy them or allow them to decay with consequent
cultural, environmental, social and economic costs.

Environmental regeneration: the historic environment can make a beneficial

contribution to the regeneration of both urban and rural areas. Through the
adaptation of historic buildings for modern uses, and in providing a high quality
setting for new development, the historic environment provides a unique
environment where people choose to live and work. Their inherent quality
provides an opportunity for reviving run-down areas.

Employment and economic success: the historic environment can make a

significant contribution to economic prosperity. The historic environment
generates value by creating a high quality setting for modern life, attracting
inward investment and helping to create economic prosperity. The economic
benefits of tourism are also closely linked to the historic environment - 83% of
visitors to Scotland come primarily to visit historic sites and make an important
contribution to the Scottish economy. Attracting visitors to an area provides
economic benefits through direct employment linked to the historic sites, as well
as to tourism-related businesses, while heritage projects also generate
employment and play an important role in maintaining traditional skills for wider
application.
An educational resource: the historic environment provides a focus and resource
for lifelong learning about the human past and how people have inhabited the
landscape and used natural resources through time. This aids teaching about our
modern culture and our present environment.

Recreation and access: archaeological and historic sites are popular places for
recreation, attracting local people and visitors alike.

Our broader environment: investigation of the historic environment contributes

significantly to our understanding of environmental change and the impact of
human activity on natural resources through time. Such knowledge of the past is
vital for informing management decisions today. Historic features frequently
provide locally important habitats for flora and fauna, the nature of which is often
closely related to human activity in the past.