World Cultural and

Natural Heritage
 Definitions:
(UNESCO meeting in Paris, 17 October to 21 November 1972)

CULTURAL HERITAGE:
monuments: architectural
works, works of monumental
sculpture and painting,
elements or structures of an
archaeological nature,
inscriptions, cave dwellings
and combinations of features,
which are of outstanding
universal value from the
point of view of history, art
or science;
Definitions:
CULTURAL HERITAGE:
groups of buildings: groups of separate or connected buildings
which, because of their architecture, their homogeneity or their
place in the landscape, are of outstanding universal value from
the point of view of history, art or science;
Definitions:
CULTURAL HERITAGE:
sites: works of man or the combined works of nature and
man, and areas including archaeological sites, which are of
outstanding universal value from the historical, aesthetic,
ethnological or anthropological point of view
Definitions:
NATURAL HERITAGE:
natural features consisting of physical
and biological formations or groups of
such formations, which are of
outstanding universal value from the
aesthetic or scientific point of view
Definitions:
NATURAL HERITAGE:
geological and physiographical formations and precisely
delineated areas which constitute the habitat of threatened
species of animals and plants of outstanding universal
value from the point of view of science or conservation
Definitions:
NATURAL HERITAGE:
natural sites or precisely delineated natural areas of
outstanding universal value from the point of view of
science, conservation or natural beauty
The International Charter
for the Conservation and
Restoration of Monuments
and Sites (ICOMOS)
“The intention in conserving and restoring
monuments is to safeguard them no less as
works of art than as historical evidence.”
CONSERVATION
Intended as a means to safeguarding
heritage, with the view to suitably
adapting it to the society’s needs, by a
series of technical, legislative,
financial, fiscal, educational and other
measures
RESTORATION
Meant as a technical means of
intervention, with the aim of
maintaining intact the above
heritage and transmitting it to
the future in all its integrity
ICOMOS Provisions on Conservation

• Maintenance on a permanent basis

• Retaining of layout and decorations while
making them socially useful
• Movement of monuments
• Movement of integral parts of monuments
ICOMOS Provisions on Restoration
• aim is to reveal aesthetic and historical value
• respect for original materials and authentic documents
• preceded and followed by archaeological and historical
study
 ICOMOS Provisions on Restoration
• use of modern in place of
traditional techniques
• valid contributions of all
periods
• unity not the aim
• replacement of missing
parts
• addition of new parts
Basic Conservation Principles

“The least intervention is the best conservation.”

“It is better to preserve than to repair, better to

repair than to restore, better to restore than
reconstruct.”

“Any form of restoration should follow

predetermined lines. It must include criticism and
objectivity; it cannot vary according to whoever
carries it out.”….
Basic Conservation Principles

“We do not restore the monument, but we restore

the materials of the monument.”

“Restoration is not carried out to return the work

of art to its primitive splendor.”….

“The principle of reversibility : whatever added to

or applied on the monument must be reversed or
taken out in cases of negative effects…”
Basic Conservation Principles
“Conservation is part of positive
development; modernization does not
necessarily mean progress; conservation
does not displace, it attracts.”

“Restoration must never be: 1) an imitation

2) a falsification 3) in competition with the
original
Basic Conservation Principles
“Restoration should be more utilitarian than
romantic.”
“Restoration is not luxury (over-restoration);
not nostalgic (over-romantic); not a masking
(superficial)
Basic Conservation Principles
“The basic purpose of preservation is not to
arrest time but to mediate with the forces of
change.
It is to understand the present as a product of
the past and a modifier of the future.”
Restoration Techniques

1) Dynamic Restoration - no direct intervention

2) Static Restoration - with direct intervention
Dynamic Restoration Techniques

1) Anastylosis: reassembly of fallen

fragments or elements; substitute materials for
missing elements
Dynamic Restoration Techniques
2) Substitution: replacing original object with
a replica
Dynamic Restoration Techniques
3) Relocation: removal or transfer from a
hazardous to a safe place
Dynamic Restoration Techniques
4) Total Protection Shed: enclosing a structure
to protect it from the elements
Dynamic Restoration Techniques
5) Traces of time: leaving traces of various
periods on the face of the object
6) Projection of extant features: intended to
show a virtual reality of the complete original
structure
Dynamic Restoration Techniques
7) Integration of modern structures
“Historic buildings subject to alteration, repairs,
renovations, additions, upgrading necessary for the
preservation, restoration, rehabilitation or continued
use need not conform to all requirements of this code.
However, such shall be subject to regulation of the
government agencies concerned like the National
Historical Institute (NHI) or National Museum, the
DPWH [thru the recommendation for approval of the
UAP Architectural Code Committee]
ARCHITECTURAL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
November 2000