Geddes’s Conservation Surgery in

Edinburgh, UK
“Heritage conservation” and “Urban Conservation” ?

Conservation : “ The Process of Protecting the Cultural

Representation of the past”

It has strong connection through time and

space

Heritage Conservation :

Process of protecting the heritage properties,

old building, monuments and structures which
represent a significant part of the human history.
 Urban Conservation

“the purpose of a Conservation Area is to preserve the

character and atmosphere of the area and good building
or
groups of building within it” Report on mound/Lawnmarket
conservation Are, University of
Edinburgh
Protect integrity of the urban fabric and the urban landscape
in an historic context.

The Historic Urban Landscape approach suggests that

intelligent planning of the larger urban area starts with
understanding
the evolution of the historic urban landscape at this
larger scale, and then seeing the current city as a
depositing of many layers over time into that setting. In
every case, the history needs to be made known and
 Sir Patrick Geddes (1854-1932 )

 SirPatrick Geddes was a British Town Planner,

biologist,
Sociology, landscape designer and urban thinker.

 He introduced the concepts ;

1. URBAN CONSERVATION
2. CONURBATION
Urban Conservation of Patrick
Geddes
Scale of approach
 Holistic
 Conserve built heritage as part of boarder vision of ‘civic
evolution’

Planning Approach –
Conservative Surgery:
“take into account the existing physical, social,
symbolic landscape of a place in order to allow
its most favorable future development “
 Patrick Geddes’ Evolution of City
“Evolution is a process of adapting over time to respond
to the needs of the time” – Charles Darwin

Stone
Age
Paleolithic Age Neolithic Age
INDUSTRIAL AGE 1.Paleotechinc Age (Kakotopia)

• Invention of machines
• Railway & Market
• Manufactures
• Optimized resource use

Crowded & dull

Industrial Town
* Coalfield
conurbation
* Modern mining town
* Pseudo cities
Slum Character

Consequences:
a. in wasting of energies
b. in decline of life stand
Trade Competition
Nature Competition
War Competition
 1.Neotechnic Age (Eutopia) – Neotechnic City

To competitor the past glories of history;

• Carefully economization of national resources

• Planting Trees
• Housing building
• Town planning & city designing
• Demand & create noble streets of noble house,
gardens & parks

• Rapidly accumulate both Civic & Individual wealth

• Rational use of resources – better use
• bettering of man and his environment together Cultural City
Garden City
 Paleotechnic Characters

Neotechnic City- EUtopia

 Therefore……………….
Town Planner Should Conserve the evolutionary
process of a city to enable of civic evolution

Planner consider: What is the difference between them?

Why they are seen to be needed?

Community needs :
aesthetic ?
religious ?
civic ?
historical ?
economic ?
political ?
 Way of the Neotechnic
City………………

Planning approach
:
Geddes’s Conservation
Surgery in Edinburgh, UK
The Cleansing of the City ;

1.Water Supply area protection- mountain area

2. Leaving unbuilt rustic area between;
* To growing together
* Placing schools, Play grounds, gardens
etc.
3. Removing slums
4. Creation of open space
5.Demolishing of unnecessary mews
(private garages, stores,etc)
small workshops, etc.
7. Formation of garden - courts
8. Value of opportunities of activity for youth,
and for citizenship : civic volunteering
 Methodology

1. Tools : Camera, measuring tools

2. Exploring city - outlook tower
3. Compiler record – Permanent and temporary elements
- static and the fluid
- people and places
4. Sort and classify:
1. examination and criticism of the material
11. selection – distinguishing the essential from the
unessential
111. drowning conclusion from the selection
 Contain in the concept

 Eutopian vision - mixed community

 Superstructure:

Educatio
n

Place

Folk ,working and Play together in harmony

:
Now ?

 Climate changes

 Environmental Problems; air pollution, Flood and Solid

waste disposal issues

 Health risks; heat stress and the spread of topical

disease (Malaria, Dengue)

 Singapore in practice - URD

Thank you