Architectural Heritage and Conservation

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 1024278BNW for working students in the 1st semester of even academic years (e.g. 2012-2013) at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

biennial: 1st semester of an even academic year (e.g. 2012-2013)

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

English

Faculty

Faculty of Languages & Humanities

Department

Art Sciences and Archaeology

Educational team

Tom Packet
Pieter Martens (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

26 contact hours Lecture
70 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

This course focuses on architectural heritage (‘monuments and sites’) and discusses the history, theory and practice of architectural conservation. A first part considers architectural ‘conservation’ in a long-term historical perspective, from antiquity and the middle ages through the ages of renaissance, reason, romanticism and revolution; it looks at perennial themes such as the destruction, spoliation, reconversion, relocation, restoration and reuse of historic buildings and ruins. A second part deals with the development of the modern ‘Conservation Movement’, from the emergence of the first ideologies of conservation in the 19th century to the international charters and conventions elaborated in the postwar era (e.g. 1964 charter of Venice, 1994 Nara document on authenticity, 2000 Riga charter on historical reconstruction), which still dominate conservation policies in many contexts today. This part focuses partly on Belgium, but adopts an international, global perspective. Different theories, principles, methods, practices and challenges regarding the conservation, restoration, reconversion or reconstruction of historic buildings are reviewed. Students also explore different viewpoints and possibilities by critically analyzing recent examples of architectural conservation through casestudies.

Course material

Digital course material (Required) : Digital course materials (slides, pdfs, texts) are made available on the digital learning platform (Canvas).
Practical course material (Required) : Students are expected to take their own notes of the lectures. Additional recommended literature is made available through the VUB library.

Additional info

For more information about the specifics of this course, see the digital learning platform (Canvas).

Learning Outcomes

General Competences

Learning outcomes:

1. The student has insight in the history, theory and practice of architectural conservation.

2. The student can reflect critically on different themes related to architectural heritage and conservation.

3. The student can make critical use of the reference framework in the field of architectural conservation.

4. The student is capable of critically analyzing and contextualising specific cases from recent architectural conservation practice.

5. The student is able to apply relevant theories and principles of architectural conservation to a specific conservation problem.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 60% of the final mark.
Other Exam determines 40% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Examen mondeling with a relative weight of 60 which comprises 60% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Paper with a relative weight of 40 which comprises 40% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The evaluation is based on the student’s paper (case study) and an oral examination.

The evaluation of the paper is based on the process and the final result. In writing this paper the limited use of generative AI in a supporting role (e.g. as spelling corrector) is allowed, on the condition that it is used in a responsible and honest manner. Every use of generative AI must be referenced in a suitable way (see guidelines on Canvas).

The oral exam comprises different types of questions that asses (a) understanding of the history and theory of architectural conservation; (b) ability to apply the relevant principles and theories in practice; (c) quality of the student’s case study.

In order to be able to pass for this course, both parts of the assessment (paper and oral exam) are mandatory. Absence on one part results in an ‘absent’ for the entire course.

A weighted average is made of the two assessment parts: paper (40%) and oral exam (60%).

Partial marks for one assessment part are transferred to the second session if the student obtains at least half of the score for this part. Students may not relinquish partial marks.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context