Authentic Reconstruction: Authentic ReconstructionAuthenticity, Architecture and the Built Heritage

Description

Notions of authenticity lie at the heart of many questions about heritage and identity in the built environment. These questions are most pertinent when buildings have been destroyed in disaster or war, and the built fabric is being reconstructed to reinstate traditional or historic appearances in place of what was lost. Authentic Reconstruction examines this idea of reconstruction, using it as a prompt to examine a range of deeper issues on heritage and the built environment. From post-WWII reconstruction programmes through to the rebuilding of historic cultural landscapes lost in natural disasters, this collection of essays by heritage specialists provides a wide range of case-studies and discussions. Each presents responses to crises and lessons learned, in order to extrapolate general guidelines for future actions by politicians, architects and planners in reconstructing buildings. The book also looks beyond disaster and war, noting how authenticity bears on political intentions and image building, exploring how reconstruction is used to tell a political or historical story, so conditioning the ways in which the built environment is perceived and appreciated by its users. This is not just about the buildings as bricks and mortar, but about perceptions of identity and the social and historical values which buildings and spaces embody for a richly diverse population. This book will be valuable to all who are concerned with heritage as practitioners or consumers, particularly those concerned with reconstruction and the creation of authentic places and experiences: architects, architectural historians, town planners, preservationists, conservationists, and those involved in heritage management and material culture. Cover Contents Notes on contributors Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction: Reconstruction: The Built Heritage Following War and Natural Disaster John Bold Part 1 Reconstruction in Traditional Style after Conflict Chapter 1.1 Traditional Rebuilding in Germany after the Second World War Eva von Engelberg-Dočkal and Hans-Rudolf Meier translated by Morgan Powell Chapter 1.2 Reconstruction of Historic Monuments in Poland after the Second World War – the Case of Warsaw Ingrid Appelbom Karsten Chapter 1.3 Post-conflict Urban Reconstruction of Bazaars in Gjakova and Peja, Kosovo Bujar Demjaha translated by Lumnije Ahmeti Part 2 Reconstruction in Contemporary Style after Conflict Chapter 2.1 Originality and Authenticity in the Post-War Reconstruction of Britain Peter J. Larkham and David Adams Chapter 2.2 Dutch Reconstructed Monuments in Review Marieke Kuipers Chapter 2.3 The Reconstruction of France in the Twentieth Century Following Two World Wars: A Political or Technical Challenge? Danièle Voldman translated by Sarah Cartwright Chapter 2.4 Reconstruction in South-East Europe and Georgia: An Architect’s Perspective – Scale, Materials and Appearances David Johnson Part 3 Reconstruction after Natural or Accidental Disaster Chapter 3.1 Post-Disaster Reconstruction in the United States: A Review of the Role of ‘Authenticity’ in Historic Preservation Policies and Practices Gail Sansbury Chapter 3.2 Reconstruction after Fire Robert Pickard Chapter 3.3 The Path of Reconstruction of the City of L’Aquila after the Earthquake of 2009 Alberto Lemme Chapter 3.4 The Town Reassembled: Authenticity and Transformation in Kiruna, Sweden Jennie Sjöholm Part 4 Political Dimensions and Image Building Chapter 4.1 Historic Buildings Preservation and Public Opinion in England Martin Cherry Chapter 4.2 Politicized Reconstruction – the Project ‘Skopje 2014’ Julija Trichkovska Chapter 4.3 The Future of Post-Civil War Reconstruction: Lessons from Spain Olivia Muñoz-Rojas Conclusions, Guidelines and Looking Forward John Bold, Robert Pickard and Peter J. Larkham Index