6.4.1 Tangible Culture Sustainability
Preservation of the building’s elements and their surroundings are the foundation for the cultural sustainable development of historic personalities’ residences.Although for historical architecture, it is natural that the tangible element will erode over time until it peels off, is deformed, and finally condensed into an old photograph.Active preservation methods make it possible for these treasures and their associated culture to last into the future.From building form, layout, structure, materials, decoration, construction techniques, interior furnishings, outdoor courtyards, and spatial relationships between the residence and the neighborhood are all elements of tangible heritage, which need be maintained and restored with respect to cultural sustainable strategy.
According to UNESCO cultural heritage protection documents, authenticity and integrity are the fundamental principles for the protection of tangible cultural heritage, which demonstrates the requirements for cultural sustainability.On the one hand, valuable sites should meet the test of authenticity.The form, materials, function, traditions, techniques, and setting of heritage sites and so forth all can be the tangible information sources test if the heritage possesses authentic value.On the other hand, valuable sites should meet the integrity principle, which means that heritage sites should contain “all elements necessary to express its outstanding universal value”.[26]Therefore, wholeness and integrity with sufficient size is essential for demonstrate the heritage value.
6.4.1.1 Preventive Conservation
Preventive conservation is no doubt an effective way of ensuring the authenticity and integrity of former residence of historic personalities.through monitoring, analyzing, and evaluating preventive techniques, preventive conservation methods can prevent problems and potential disasters in advance, and allowing for the ongoing protection of historic residences from natural and human risks as much as possible.
The concept of preventive conservation was first put forward in 1930, discussing scientific methods for artistic works preservation in Rome.Cesare Brandi in his book Theory of Restoration defined preventive conservation activities as the unified action of all efforts aimed at eliminating hazards and ensuring the implementation of protective measures.[27]The content of preventive conservation in this period is mainly based on the monitoring and control of the environmental temperature, humidity, light, pest and climate of museum collections.Since the 1980s, the role of preventive conservation has been recognized in the architectural heritage field.In 1987, The Washington Charter mentioned preventive measures for natural disasters and environmental pollution, advocating pre-disaster prevention rather than post disaster restoration.In 2007 and 2008, the Forums on Preventive Conservation of Architectural Heritage were held in Belgium.In 2009, the policies of preventive protection, monitoring and daily maintenance of the architectural heritage were set up inside UNESCO.In the same year, the International Conference held in Switzerland explored monitoring technology and risk evaluation.With further development, the preventive measures were not only limited to environmental monitoring and control, but also to considered factors such as organization, planning, public, security defense and risk assessment management.In 2011, the international conference on preventive conservation of architectural heritage held in China, discussed monitoring, maintenance, public participation, management models, hazard risk evaluation, disaster prevention measures.The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2015-2030 proposed reducing existing disaster risks through the implementation of integrated and inclusive economic, structural, legal, social, health, cultural, educational, environmental, technological, political and institutional measures.
Facing numerous nature and man-made disaster risks, the application of preventive conservation method, therefore, is essential for maintain historic residences of Jinan.First and foremost, tangible elements monitoring and control is vital.The related activities for historic personalities’ residences involve exterior surrounding maintenance, regular structural inspection and reinforcement, interior maintenance, material preservation, facade cleaning, water-proof and moistureproof measures, seismic analysis, insulation and energy conservation and so forth.Meanwhile, it is necessary to propose the detail precautionary approaches according to the present situation, to promote the management method, and to stimulate public protection awareness of these residences, proactively preventing potential risks from causing irreparable damage.
6.4.1.2 Cultural Sustainable Preservation after the Damage
Inevitably, natural disasters, poor urban planning and negative social phenomenon often change or destroy the historical environment of these residences, which not only causes an unbalance to the ecosystem, but also destroys their original cultural atmosphere.Once these residences are damaged, how is it possible to sustain their culture? Can the site be restored back to its original state? Should the disaster-stricken process be a part of the culture given to the memorial? Or should it be reinvented, through being transformed into a new form? Is it possible to combine the new reality with the functional changes that took place? The principle of the restoration planning selection depends on whether the heritage culture is sustainable or not.In another word, maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the heritage in the process of post-disaster rehabilitation is the key principle in the process for selecting a restoration plan.
In fact, due to the lack of risk prevention awareness and preventive conservation methods of historic personalities’ residences, no matter what level and what condition of these residences in Jinan, there will be different degrees of natural erosion and man-made damage.Different from ordinary architectural heritage, the essence of historic personalities’ residences is to commemorate well-known individuals.The original condition of the structure, interior, environment are the basis of commemoration and the foundation of cultural sustainability.
Although trying to repair the building while keeping to the original state according to primary sources of information is the main method for the post-disaster restoration, it is worth emphasizing that “the reconstruction is only acceptable if it is carried out on the basis of complete and detailed documentation on the original and to no extent on conjecture.”[28]Additionally, if natural and man-made disasters are closely related to the life course and culture of this personality, then the traces of disaster should be maintained, which demonstrates the authentic historical fact.The methods utilized in the restoration of restoring historic personalities’ residence are embodied in several aspects, including the residential layout, architectural structure, material, interior, and surroundings.
■ Residential Layout Sustainability
The cultural sustainability of historic personalities’ residences can be reflected in the authenticity and integrity of their layout.Therefore, the maintenance of layout, including the spatial relationship among buildings, courtyards, and surroundings is essential during restoration process.Damaged layouts, whether due to natural or man-made reasons, should be restored according to authentic historical information.But if it is destroyed by an event which is considered to be part of the culture of the residence, the historical traces of its destruction should also be remained to document the history of the residence.Through preserving destruction, the site is aiding in our awareness and ability to gain knowledge concerning the period of history the personality experienced.(https://www.daowen.com)
For example, the original residence of Chen Mian is pretty large.However, due to historical changes, it was divided into smaller pieces through the imposition of new structures without regard to the original layout, form and function.In this case, structures and other factors unrelated to the original historic personalities’ culture should be removed.This would allow for an overall restoration according to the authentic historical information available.The historic buildings with a style consistent with these residences can be retained, but they need to be utilized with functions based on the historic person’s culture.
■ Architectural Structure Sustainability
Sustaining the cultural traits within historic personalities’ residences can be reflected in the authenticity and integrity of the architectural structures.The original building structures must be preserved according to the original appearance of the historic personalities’ residences when the notable individuals lived there.The structures should not be changed intentionally for any reason.If the structures are damaged due to a sudden disaster or building quality problems, it can be resorted to the original format through utilization of the original techniques, but “Reconstruction is acceptable only on the basis of complete and detailed documentation and to no extent on conjecture.”[29]
■ Material Sustainability
The authenticity and integrity of the materials used in these historic residences are important to correctly sustain these historic residences and related culture.In the realm of preservation practice, for many reasons, authentic materials are often replaced by new materials.However, improper use of new materials destroys the authenticity of the buildings and weakens the sense of history, affecting the sites integrity.Actually, “the physical fabric of the property and / or its significant features should be in good condition, and the impact of deterioration processes controlled.”[30]Materials should be cleaned regularly to remove contamination and reveal the original texture, unless the patina, stains or breakages possess historical significance.For example, if the war is in the course of the personality’s life, the traces of damage to the residence should be preserved.During the restoration process, the original materials and techniques should be used as strictly as possible, making allowances for the unavailability of some materials only.If there are difficulties in the restoration process, it can be replaced with organically easy-to-remove materials, waiting for original material availability for later replacement if possible.If a stronger material is needed to overhaul the building structure, the substituted repair material should be hidden within or behind the original material as much as possible, without disturbing the original appearance.
■ Interior Sustainability
The cultural sustainability of historic personalities’ residences can also be reflected in the original interior layout, decoration and furnishings.If the interior of the residence has been changed, it should be restored carefully based on the principle of authenticity and integrity.This is accomplished by collecting relevant historical information, evaluating their authenticity, and restoring the interior in strict accordance with authentic information.The interior layout, the decoration style, the furniture, even small objects or material detail can demonstrate the life, work, feature of a historical person, which should not be subjectively conjectured and changed.Furthermore, the interior furnishings should not be disturbed by the addition of some temporary exhibition auxiliary facilities.For example, introducing scenes and historical allusions by plaques will interfere with the overall atmosphere of the place.In this case, modern technology should be used to convey necessary information means that don’t disturb the integrity of the interior atmosphere.For example, reading exhibition flyers, wearing explanatory equipment, Augmented Reality equipment, rather than additions that may block the view and alter perceptions.
■ Surrounding Sustainability
It was as early as 1975 that the Council of Europe Charter of the Architectural Heritage pointed out historic surroundings are also a key element for keeping the sustainability of the monument: “For many years, only major monuments were protected and restored and then without reference to their surroundings.More recently it was realized that, if the surroundings are impaired, even those monuments can lose much of their character.” Therefore, heritage sites should possess “adequate size to ensure the complete representation of the features and processes which convey the property’s significance.”[31]The original environmental elements, which are essential for maintaining the value of the heritage should be carefully preserved.However, in Jinan, because of a high population density and heavy traffic, the development scale of new urban areas is increasingly expanding, leading to the destruction of a large-scale historical environment.Without the original surroundings, the buildings will lose their ability for long-term survivability.
No doubt, the authenticity and integrity of surrounding plays a significant role for the cultural sustainability of historic personalities’ residences.This complies with the UNESCO Integrity directive: “Biophysical processes and landform features should be relatively intact.”[32]Environmental elements associated with the sites culture, including geographical characteristics, waters, vegetation, rocks, traditional folk customs, roads and specific means of transportation, language that affected their life and work, are essential factors forming a distinct and personal culture.These environmental elements should not be changed for any reason.In addition, the new construction and objects such as city infrastructure, facilities, buildings, landscapes and other features in the area of the cultural circle of historic persons’ residences should be designed according to the historic personality’s culture, and present the historical and cultural characteristics of the community.
In short, historic personalities’ former residences and related originals should maintain their authenticity and integrity, and those new environmental elements that have been added due to the needs of modern life should be designed to reflect historic person’s culture, thereby integrating this heritage sites and culture into the new era.