2.2.1 What is Historic Personality’s Residence
The former residences of historic personalities, as the words imply, are local places where well-known people once lived.But, what kind of people are they? Whose house should be preserved? In numerous houses a notable person lived during his or her life, which houses are worthy of preservation? In fact, although the protection awareness of these historic residences began relatively early in each country, the identification and preserving principles of such sites are carried out in accordance with the policies and legislation of cultural heritage, protecting together with historic buildings, historic streets and areas.The specific criteria for identification and protection of historic personalities’ former residences were not clear in international policy.
The earliest legislation to protect these residences occurred in the United Kingdom.The criteria for historic personalities and their former residences have become the standard that most countries follow.According to the Blue Plaque scheme of The English Heritage Commission[16], famous or important people should meet the following requirements: “They should be of significant public standing in a London-wide, national or international context; and they should be understood to have made some important positive contribution to human welfare or happiness; and their achievements should have made an exceptional impact in terms of public recognition; or there shall be strong grounds for believing that they are regarded as eminent and distinguished by a majority of members of their own profession or calling.Without exception, proposals for such commemoration will not be considered until the subject has been dead for twenty years.”[17]Therefore, ‘significant public standing’, ‘important positive contribution’, ‘exceptional public recognition’, ‘eminent’, ‘distinguished’, and ‘at least 20 years deceased’ are the key requirements for defining an important historic personality.
What kind of houses should be protected? The Blue Plaque scheme formulated the follows directives:
● “A person’s residence in London should have been a significant period, in length of time or in importance, within their life and work.Where this association totaled less than five years, far greater stringency will be applied in assessing the case.
● Although most plaques are erected on houses, flats and places of work associated with famous people, other types of building are not excluded.However, plaques shall not be erected to commemorate short term associations with educational or ecclesiastical buildings, military establishments, hospitals, hotels, private clubs, Inns of Court or royal palaces - or on any other building that is associated with so many well-known figures as to make the selection of an individual for commemoration inappropriate or invidious.
● A plaque will only be placed on building fabric that is contemporary with or pre-dates the association being commemorated, and not on the site of a former residence or on buildings that have since been radically altered.”[18]
Figure 2-4.Lao She’s Residence marked by a Blue Plaque in London(https://www.daowen.com)
From the criteria quoted above, we can see that the protected residences are usually their primary dwellings instead of temporary houses which “have been a significant period, in length of time or in importance, within their life and work”.But public spaces or any buildings associated with many notable people are not included.At the same time, these former residences should still keep their original characteristics instead of being radically altered (Fig.2-4, 2-5).
Figure 2-5.Lao She’s Residence in London, 1926
No specific term has ever been given to describe such architectural heritage in international policy.Their protection regulations are often a subset of the legislation of historic buildings or historic areas.Even the Blue Plague Committee in UK, which was the earliest institution for legislative protection of these former residences, does not give a unified name for such heritage.It is usually directly called ‘XXX (the name of historic personality) House’.In China, there is a special term ‘名人故居’[19]to describe these memorial residences.
There has always been controversy around one central question: Is the former residence of an infamous person worth protecting? Most people emphasize that the former residence of a well-known personality who did positive contributions for the world should be protected.For example, according to the UK’s Blue Plaque regulations, notorious negative characters are not included in the criteria of historically important people.Some people, however, stress that the former residence of infamous important personalities should also be protected because it is the protection of historical facts, which is necessary for marking historic events and assists in education for example.One example is Adolf Hitler, his former house in Austria is preserved for its historic significance.The single sentence caved on the stone in front of the entrance of the residence warns both contemporary and future generations: For peace, freedom and democracy, never again fascism.However, in recent years, it has become a ‘pilgrimage site’ for a few neo-Nazis.In order to put an end to such activities, in 2016, the Austrian government decided to demolish Hitler’s former residence.[20]The ground will be remained for marking that dark history the world once suffered.Therefore, even if it’s necessary to preserve the former residences of negative historic people for historic reasons, the residences preservation and development methods should be very different from the positive personalities’ residences.
It is worth noting that in the rules of blue plaques scheme, only when the important people who have been dead for at least 20 years can their residences be commemorated.It is believed that for these important persons who are still alive but already have made great contributions, plaques mounted on the façade of their houses will disturb their private life and work, because these sites will easily become tourism attractions.
Therefore, throughout this book, the term ‘Historic Personality’s Residence’ is adopted, as a descriptive of the former residences of important people who have already passed away.Additionally, it includes infamous important people’s former residences.The former residence of historic personality encompasses birthplaces, retirement homes, all kinds of long-lived residences, including long-term rentals.As long as it is a house where this personality spent his or her important living period and participated in significant achievements, it has the value of preservation.These famous homes which witnessed a distinguished life and outstanding work process, reflects certain historical events, provides an authentic means of affecting and educating present and future generations.