| CODE | BLH5301 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Philosophy and Theory of Conservation | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Conservation and Built Heritage | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit is aimed at explaining the development of the concept of cultural heritage, and development of society's consciousness towards the importance to preserve their past. The different schools of thought of the 19th century are briefly investigated so as to be in a position to understand the values and ethical issues in conservation, as upheld today, together with the multi-disciplinary aspect of conservation. The study-unit introduces students to the under-pinning basis of all decisions taken when addressing the conservation of a heritage built asset. Study-unit Aims: The study-unit aims to introduce students to the key issues and approaches to conservation, in the past, and in the way these have developed in modern times. The study-unit aims at outlining the ethics and philosophical considerations that underlie modern approaches to conservation. The study-unit will encourage discussion, and a better understanding of why Conservation Charters came about, and why it was deemed necessary to create legal systems to control interventions carried out on cultural heritage. The study-unit also addresses the concept of cultural heritage, as it has expanded in the 20th century, namely from the consideration of the art object on its own, to the consideration of the art object within its context. These concepts apply to consideration of the ambience of, or urban space around, a heritage building, in consideration of any preservation/conservation/restoration interventions. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Define the key protagonists of conservation in the past, and their respective philosophical approaches; - Explain the process of determining the value and significance of cultural heritage; - Demonstrate the role of international Charters and Conventions and the conservation process; - Describe the inter-relationship between legislation and policy and the conservation policy. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Propose an intervention on a heritage built asset, based on an educated and critical assessment of the heritage values of the asset; - Analyze the specific context of a heritage built asset, in a holistic way. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Essential Readings: - Ruskin, J., (1989) The Seven Lamps of Architecture, Dover, New York. - Brandi, C., (2005) Theory of Restoration, Trans by C.Rockwell, Nardini, Firenze. - Earl, J., (2003) Building Conservation Philosophy, Donhead, Shaftsbury. - Caple, C., (2000) Conservation Skill: Judgement, Method and Decision Making, Routledge, London. Further Readings: - Cultural Heritage Act 2002, Amended 2005, http://docs.justice.gov.mt/lom/legislation/english/leg/vol_14/chapt445.pdf viewed March 2009. - English Heritage, (2000), Power of Place. The future of the historic environment. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.9236 viewed March 2009. - Lowenthal, D., (1985) The Past is a Foreign Country, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. - Avrami, E., Mason, R., de la Torre, M., (2000), Values and Heritage Conservation: Research Report. Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles. http://www.getty.edu/conservation/publications/pdf_publications viewed March 2009. - Jokilehto, J., (1999) A History of Architectural Conservation, Butterworth. - Stanley Price, N., Kirby Talley Jr. M., Melucco Vaccaro, A., (1996) Historical and philosophical Issues in Conservation of Cultural Heritage. The J. Paul Getty Trust. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Independent Study | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Shirley Cefai Reuben Grima |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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