Preservation Doctrine

Historic preservation is dead. Long live (cultural) heritage preservation.

Is historic preservation relevant to the public and to experts, including scholars? Ever since I entered the field in 1998, my anecdotal experience has been that general interest in the field has been been on the decline, while, at the same time, people who are working in an area directly related to preservation policy (i.e., …

Historic preservation is dead. Long live (cultural) heritage preservation. Read More »

The Last Gasp of Traditional Theory in Preservation?

The International Committee on the Theory and Philosophy of Conservation and Restoration (Theophilos) is one of the more active scientific committees in ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites). In the past I was involved the committee’s work, especially in contributing to its 2015 conference proceedings, although I have not been particularly active in the …

The Last Gasp of Traditional Theory in Preservation? Read More »

The “Preservation Police” Have No Evidence

“[O]pponents [of the creation of a new historic district] became increasingly vocal, warning that landmark status would … subject residents to ‘the preservation police.’” — Ellen Barry (2007) “It is true that some commissions could be accused of taking their regulatory responsibilities too far [and become] the ‘preservation police.’” — Esther Hall (2016) “Protected buildings …

The “Preservation Police” Have No Evidence Read More »