Conservation as an act of interpretation : ruins in an urban setting

Abstract

Ruins are all around us. They are remnants of past human endeavour and witnesses to the passage of time. They form a visual and tangible connection with the past, and are among the most potent means by which we may perceive and understand the role of the past in shaping our present. This is particularly true in urban contexts which have developed over long periods of time, where ruins may give urban spaces added significance and sense of place. The way that ruins from different epochs are treated remains a pressing concern today, and one that is acutely relevant to the way we shape the urban spaces of the future.