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A PRIORI DEMOLISH?

We are facing the consequences of the determination to build on any plot PROTECT the heritage by keeping it out of harm’s way
of land available for construction that has We have forgotten the human
need to enjoy a common environment which is fundamental to our identity. CONSERVE IT by permanently maintaining it in a good state

And heritage is about authenticity, an act of certification that embodies but LET’S RESTORE IT in order to revert it to its former state while
unchallengeable objectivity, the issue being that even modest constructions respecting its original form, i.e. the style
are part of the collective memory and serve the public good.
but RENOVATE if the building requires real improvement, including some
Human beings need familiar landmarks, in fact their attachment to their demolition, and give it the appropriate contemporary elements needed.
heritage is emotional and linked to memories. Change brings about a And let’s take into account the public areas, the mobility we need, the
feeling of powerlessness and grief over the disappearance of the elements green zones that have become indispensable.
that make up their collective identity.
Let’s not stop at the Question “Demolish or Not Demolish”
The “wasteful” destruction of elements that have not been the subject of
community discussion can even go as far as to squander cultural gems. The need for familiar landmarks arises from our need for time and our
perception of space.
When reflecting on the values that guide and motivate our actions in
the management of our cultural assets, the ethics relating to heritage The preservation of a building is a sign of respect for the generations
comprise our significant resources from the perspective of sustainable that have gone before us, including ecological concerns, which are
development. inherently non-renewable.

International Charters such as the Venice Charter, established by collective “Architecture contributes to the richness of our man-made environment
agreement, provide regulations for the application of the list of World and to the preservation of biological diversity.”
Heritage Cultural Properties established by UNESCO in 1980. Extracts from the text Conserver ou démolir ? by G.Germann

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