Historic and heritage conservation and planning is an architectural field that

focuses on research, assessment, recording, management, interpretation and conservation of

historical heritage. It considers strategies on prolonging the life and preserving the

architectural character, such as its form, style and materials through carefully planned

interventions, policies and regulations on cultural preservation. It aims to conserve history

and culture especially those of which are manifested in our built heritage.

Historic and heritage conservation may come in different ways such as:

preservation, restoration, reconstruction, rehabilitation, protection, adaptation, or any

combination thereof. Preservation is defined as the act or process of applying measures

necessary to sustain the existing form, integrity, and materials of a historic property.

Restoration is the act or process of accurately depicting the form, features, and character of a

property as it appeared at a particular period of time by means of the removal of features

from other periods in its history and reconstruction of missing features from the restoration

period. Reconstruction is the act or process of depicting, by means of new construction, the

form, features, and detailing of a non-surviving site, landscape, building, structure, or object

for the purpose of replicating its appearance at a specific period of time and in its historic

location. Rehabilitation is defined as the act or process of making possible a compatible use

for a property through repair, alterations, and additions while preserving those portions or

features which convey its historical, cultural, or architectural values. Conservation of cultural

heritage involves protection and restoration using "any methods that prove effective in

keeping that property in as close to its original condition as possible for as long as possible.

Adaptation means changing a place to suit the existing use or a proposed use.

Historic and heritage conservation is of great interest to me primarily because

I do believe that our cultural identity is the backbone of our country. Our cultural markers set

us apart from others and make us unique. Those are the ones which is a great treasure to the
past which identifies the present and will inspire the future. Awareness of our cultural

heritage has been increasing but the fact that people keeps on appreciating what exists in the

present compromises the importance of our heritage as a foundation to the development of

planning in the future.

What I want to study about this field are the design guidelines, heritage

planning policies as well as the policies on heritage protection. I’d also want to learn about

architectural history and construction techniques as a tool for its analysis and as a basis for a

design of its interventions. The modern techniques in conserving a historic environment

would also be interesting.

Sources:

Heba. (2017). What is architectural conservation. Retrieved from:

http://www.ierek.com/news/index.php/2017/06/24/architectural-2/

Historic preservation. Retrieved from:

http://nhcp.gov.ph/nhcp-2/divisions/historic-preservation/

Preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and rehabilitation: different treatments for

historic properties. Retrieved from:

hisp102.umwblogs.org/preserving-historic-america/study-guides/preservation-

rehabilitation-restoration-andreconstruction-different-treatments-for-historic-
properties/

Nieuwenhiuezen.( 2016 ). Give me a break art conservation. Retrieved from:

www.gmabartconservation.com/about
UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF SOUTHERN PHIPPINES

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
RESEARCH METHODS OF ARCHITECTURE

ARRS 18

FIELDS OF ARCHITECTURE

ANGELLIE FAYE V. SALE

ARCH 4A_A1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architectural_conservation

http://ncca.gov.ph/about-culture-and-arts/in-focus/getting-our-heritage-to-survive-the-
ages/

http://upca.upd.edu.ph/heritage-conservation.html

http://nhcp.gov.ph/nhcp-2/divisions/historic-preservation/

http://www.ust.edu.ph/services/ust-graduate-school-center-for-conservation-of-cultural-
property-and-environment-in-the-tropics/

http://www.ierek.com/news/index.php/2017/06/24/architectural-2/

http://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2010/ra_10066_2010.html

http://hisp102.umwblogs.org/preserving-historic-america/study-guides/preservation-
rehabilitation-restoration-and-reconstruction-different-treatments-for-historic-properties/