1.4.2 Development: Different Understanding
Although attempting to go back to experience the original context and the author’s thinking is the best way to re-appear the authentic meaning of text.In fact, it is not possible to understand text by moving oneself into historical horizon without carrying any biases.“In a tradition this process of fusion is continually going on, for their old and new are always combining into something of living value, without either being explicitly foreground from the other.”[17]Due to the different context and historical horizon, interpretation becomes necessary, and only by this difference can the process of interpretation be full of creation.Therefore, “understanding is not merely a reproductive but always a productive activity as well.”[18]Different interpreters have different thoughts about the same text, and interpretation always have new meanings as time goes.Thus, understanding is a kind of relative relationship: past and present, subjective and objective, self and other together constitute effective historical consciousness.The best interpretation is the conversation of present and past, and the result can be applied to the future.In this way, history becomes our eternal treasure and continuously produces new value.
In considering a historical personality’s residence, the value of any protection work is not only preservation of the original meaning, but also creating a new physical or spiritual function for the new situation.These former homes are no longer occupied by the famous individuals, but a variety of people surround and experience within it at different times.Although the original physical and spiritual elements of these residences are necessarily preserved in its basic format, the new development of the residences and their culture will become the essential task for the new ‘readers’.They will discover the historical building’s new value and evolve environment.It is the driving force of preservation, and it is also the only way in which we can keep this cultural heritage in a sustainable manner.(https://www.daowen.com)
The final aim of interpretation is to turn the past works to be useful for today.The sustainable development activities for historical personalities’ residences that are living in the present time should seek not only to discover its original significance, but also to find its new meaning in this new world.It is the final aim of their preservation and the main task of sustainable development to expand the influence of these residences and to make full use of them in the present time.Every generation has their own view to understand and use this cultural heritage in their own living context.Therefore, Historic personalities’ residences development should connect a past story with the present situation and pass its value forward.
It is worth noting that the innovative interpretation and development of any architectural heritage space should be based on the protection of its historical authenticity and avoid the destruction of the original elements such as structure, material, color and the intangible culture, which are the value of architectural heritage, and the basis for the continued development of history.