FabSwingers.com forum: Preservation v Restoration

By *winging Sally Sean OP Couple
over a year ago

Warks / Northants Border

Saw a very similar question to this on another website. It seemed to get people thinking, so I thought I would ask it here .

A couple are renovating an old house they've bought. Because of the age, they must preserve/conserve what they can. They replace some of the old windows with new ones, but are not permitted to replace others because those windows are repairable.

So when applied to an object which is being returned to its intended use, where does preservation or conversation end, and renovation or restoration start?

Side note: Castle Ruins are a good example for this. The ruins would only be preserved, because it's unlikely a castle would be rebuilt in order to be used as a castle.

This is simply a bit of fun for discussion, so don't take it too seriously...

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By *adtaffladMan
over a year ago

Rhyl

My Rule of thumb is if you return it to how it was first built its a restoration and if you keep it as it appears ant some point in time it's a renovation

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By *oggoneMan
over a year ago

Derry

Bloody hell, not my first idea of a fun topic. First thought is it depends, are we talking about a building or piece of furniture or something like a car or bicycle?

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By *winging Sally Sean OP Couple
over a year ago

Warks / Northants Border

"Bloody hell, not my first idea of a fun topic. First thought is it depends, are we talking about a building or piece of furniture or something like a car or bicycle?"

Lol, it can apply to whatever you like. The concept will be the same.

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By *oggoneMan
over a year ago

Derry

"Bloody hell, not my first idea of a fun topic. First thought is it depends, are we talking about a building or piece of furniture or something like a car or bicycle?

Lol, it can apply to whatever you like. The concept will be the same. "

I'm not sure the concept is the same though. If you're talking buildings then the law dictates what you can or can't do. An painting or piece of old furniture might be restored with an eye to the financial value.

Whereas if someone is restoring an old engine or car, the scope is greater.

Are you familiar with the japanese take on repair and restoration. some reading here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kintsugi

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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago

Dubai & Nottingham

Side note: Castle Ruins are a good example for this. The ruins would only be preserved, because it's unlikely a castle would be rebuilt in order to be used as a castle.

Have you seen Riber castle? Last time I was there it stil looks like a castle from Matlock but once you drive up & climb over the security fence (for sex of course!) you see something very different , modern flats being constructed inside.

So you preserve / conserve what’s deemed significantly important - the view the perimeter in this case. Then you replace, renovate and retro-fit where it makes business sense

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By *ndycoinsMan
over a year ago

Whaley Bridge,Nr Buxton,

A lot of it is subjective.The planning authority can be contradictory,inconsistent even ridiculous.A friend was told she could not replace the 1950's asbestos sheets with stone slates on the stone cart shed of a 1709 barn "because they are original".She ignored them.Nothing more was said.Not an unusual occurrence.The problem is the planners/conservation bodies have powers and can impose conditions,if they don't do that on every project they don't think they've done their job properly.The irony is they are the biggest obstacles to these jobs being done,and the biggest reason people are put off.

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