In History “Is it important that we cherish historic buildings and monuments?”

Name: Ajay Pabial

Age: 22

Hometown: Ilford, Essex, England

I see this as two questions; first what makes a building historic and second, what does it mean to cherish it?

When someone mentions a historic building, our minds quickly picture a building of age, such the ruins of a medieval castle which had been torn through by battles or even gothic mansions which has the possibility of a deceased owner wandering its halls. Either way the first thing we think of a historic building is it being old. Now that isn’t necessary a bad thing, in fact I personally think the older the better!

What we sometimes forget is why the building became historic in the first place. It’s all about meaning. It is the meaning any historic site brings to our lives as places that define and mark our history. Meaning can be attached through urban forms such as generated by signs, symbols, and their social connotations, this is known as Architectural semiotics. Urban structures often become recognisable because they have symbolic meaning beyond their functional meaning.

Semiotics as a structural tool has been used for systematically grasping the process of meaning-formation, i.e. for the interpretation of architecture. Like religion, science, and other culturally related institutions, architecture is a sign system where meaning branches from the collective analyses of the society within which it is produced. As French literary theorist, philosopher, linguist, critic, and semiotician, Roland Barthes stated, “a truly meaningless architecture remains outside the realm of culture and thus it would cease to be architecture.”

cherish
[cher-ish]
verb (used with object)
1. to hold or treat as dear; feel love for
Synonyms
2. nurse, nourish, sustain.

As our towns and cities make technological, political and economical advancements we see these older buildings become unfitting for their systematic necessities. How can we cherish our more significant buildings without completely eradicating them from our urban landscapes?

Regeneration plays an important part here when we are discussing sustaining historical buildings. Regeneration itself is a ‘growth industry’ and iconic historic buildings can play a critical role for regeneration in our towns and cities. Historic buildings play an important role in creating a sense of place and destination, becoming an asset to our community by playing a central role in adding architectural and historical character to our towns and cities. The distinctiveness of these sites stimulate community support, involvement and pride. In order to create sustainable development, we need to focus on community participation. Community Based Development (CBD), encourages a discussion with the community in order to direct funds in to assets which are seen significant to the community. A good Example was seen in the ‘Friends of Queens Market’, in East London, as they were able to negotiate, comment and facilitate the plans for the market. You can see from this example an inclusion of heritage assets in regeneration schemes which can provide a focus and catalyst for sustainable change.

Adaptive reuse may be the the solution which would deal with any issues of conservation and heritage policies. It is important to know that Adaptive reuse can also be beneficial to industrial buildings, as cities become gentrified and the process of manufacture moves away from the city. Adaptive reuse is seen as an effective way of reducing urban sprawl (a process of sub-urbanisation which describes how human populations are expanding and moving into low-density and car-dependent communities) and environmental impact. By reusing an existing structure within a site, the energy required to create these spaces is reduced considerably, as is the material waste that comes from demolishing old sites and rebuilding using new materials. One could possibly see this as a form of upcycling? As well as this, Adaptive reuse takes into the societal value which I had mentioned earlier when defining an historic building, How the community engage with a use of a site is of great importance. Through adaptive reuse old, unoccupied buildings can become suitable sites for many different types of use.

Heritage, is in my opinion valuable. These historic buildings, sites and environments become ‘heritage assets’. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in the UK defines this term as ‘a building, monument, site, place, area or landscape identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions, because of its heritage interest’. This would generally include sites such as listed buildings, conservation areas, world heritage sites, scheduled ancient monuments, areas of archaeological importance, registered parks and gardens and battlefields, as well as non designated assets identified by the local planning authority (including local listing).

These Heritage assets matter to communities which may form part of their identity. A local example of adaptive reuse of a heritage asset is Valentines Mansion, a grade ii listed late 17th Century building situated in Valentines Park, Ilford in the London Borough of Redbridge. Originally built as a country house in 1696 for Lady Tillotson, the widow of John Tillotson, Archbishop of Canterbury, it became the property of Ilford Borough Council in 1912. After complete remaining empty for 15 years the mansion was restored with Redbridge council, Heritage Lottery Fund and strong community support. Since its refurbishment the mansion is now reused as a contemporary venue hosting exhibition, creative workshops, various special events and a recreated Victorian kitchen. Visitors and users can engage with guided tours and walks and family activities.

It is in my opinion, that we should forever cherish our historical assets. Though processes such as Adaptive reuse can be controversial as it distorts the margins between renovation and façadism, it can be considered as a meanwhile negotiation between historic conservation and demolition. Being in the 21st century where there are advances in communication, travel and migration there is need for deeper understanding of modernity and the development of social norms and values. The creative class are the drivers of their generation, responding to a globalised culture. I see this more of a relational process that allows the establishment of new identities and civic growth. This cultural mixing involves the old and the new, the traditional and modern. This selective process could be a solution as it is the evolution of culture that becomes part of the inherited culture of the community.

More about Ajay:

” I have interests in Painting and making work with other mediums. I love films especially art films and anything fictional, as well as films I have developed an interest in documentaries on obscured cases, for example Shut-Ins: Britain’s Fattest People. I think one the great things of having creative friends also is the conversations we have, some can be very deep in scenarios and others can be the dumbest of topics, I don’t think there is an in-between but I like it anyway. Books are another interest; I don’t have a specific genre I read but fictional has been the majority.”

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