The Evaluation Of Historic Buildings

"This book is designed for architects and engineers who need to evaluate existing buildings for a new use or for continuing a current use. It details each step of the evaluation process using an easy-to-follow and easy-to-implement approach that greatly reduces the possibility of unexpected costs and setbacks. Moreover, the book covers every part of the building itself, from interior and exterior structures to systems and materials." "Illustrations throughout the book will help you visualize and perform key procedures. In addition, the authors examine building evaluation issues for structures of different scales, such as medium and small commercial structures and residential buildings." "Most important, the authors help you assess the financial viability of a proposed adaptive reuse or preservation project, helping you and potential investors decide whether the proposed project offers a desired return on investment."--Jacket.

This dissertation, "Heritage Conservation and Environmental Sustainability: Revisiting the Evaluation Criteria for Heritage Buildings" by Linda, Shetabi, was obtained from The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) and is being sold pursuant to Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License. The content of this dissertation has not been altered in any way. We have altered the formatting in order to facilitate the ease of printing and reading of the dissertation. All rights not granted by the above license are retained by the author. Abstract: The aim of this paper is to propose "environmental sustainability" as an independent criterion in the evaluation of built heritage, to serve as a quantifiable indicator towards the goal of "sustainable development" in the urban context. According to the 2013 Hangzhou Declaration, a key basis for achieving urban sustainable development is by protecting a city's cultural heritage assets. However, since the introduction of "sustainable development" in the 1987 Brundtland Report, built-heritage conservation has not factored into environmental protection policies. Making this connection is the premise of this paper. Urban historic buildings are often centrally located and built using durable, local materials, reflecting local climate and site conditions. Their embodied energy can be calculated and compared with the environmental cost of new construction, including the impact of construction waste. Clearly, it is reasonable to assume that the adaptive reuse and improved energy performance of historic buildings can play a critical role in environmental sustainability. Developers, architects and urban planners, use tools such as LEED, BREEAM, Green Star, HK-BEAM to collect, analyze and assess the environmental sustainability of building projects with the goal to reduce impact and achieve sustainable development. Heritage conservationists have long argued that conserving heritage buildings can play an integral role in sustainable urban development. By merging the tools and approaches of these various sectors, it is possible to come up with a system that can evaluate heritage buildings and quantify their impact in the global sustainability agenda. The aim of this paper is to propose a framework to quantify the environmental sustainability of cultural heritage sites as a means to show their contribution to "Sustainable Development" plans. Subjects: Historic buildings - Conservation and restoration - China - Hong Kong

In their growing awareness of the need to keep alive Canada's heritage, individuals, community groups, and small historical societies have long felt the need for a basic guide to the preservation of buildings, particularly buildings which, though they may not warrant provincial or federal protection, are nevertheless important to the history and values of their communities. Using the knowledge gained from many years of experience in various government departments and her familiarity with several successful building conversation projects, Ann Falkner has written this practical handbook for those concerned about preserving heritage structures. She covers clearly and in detail the various problems to be faced and actions to be taken, and analyses the assistance available through legislation at all three levels of government. Without Our Past? deals with inventories and how they are conducted, and, through a series of concrete examples, with the evaluation and selection of worthwhile buildings. It explains acquisition procedures for all types of properties, municipal powers under provincial planning acts, and control through specific zoning. It offers suggestions on how to re-use an outdated structure and how to create a compatible environment around a building, and it points out the value of publicity and local interest in gaining general support and cooperation. In a separate chapter expenses and finances are covered, including fund raising and the increasing monetary benefits of conservation.

This dissertation, "Heritage Conservation and Environmental Sustainability: Revisiting the Evaluation Criteria for Heritage Buildings" by Linda, Shetabi, was obtained from The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) and is being sold pursuant to Creative Commons: Attribution 3.0 Hong Kong License. The content of this dissertation has not been altered in any way. We have altered the formatting in order to facilitate the ease of printing and reading of the dissertation. All rights not granted by the above license are retained by the author. Abstract: The aim of this paper is to propose "environmental sustainability" as an independent criterion in the evaluation of built heritage, to serve as a quantifiable indicator towards the goal of "sustainable development" in the urban context. According to the 2013 Hangzhou Declaration, a key basis for achieving urban sustainable development is by protecting a city's cultural heritage assets. However, since the introduction of "sustainable development" in the 1987 Brundtland Report, built-heritage conservation has not factored into environmental protection policies. Making this connection is the premise of this paper. Urban historic buildings are often centrally located and built using durable, local materials, reflecting local climate and site conditions. Their embodied energy can be calculated and compared with the environmental cost of new construction, including the impact of construction waste. Clearly, it is reasonable to assume that the adaptive reuse and improved energy performance of historic buildings can play a critical role in environmental sustainability. Developers, architects and urban planners, use tools such as LEED, BREEAM, Green Star, HK-BEAM to collect, analyze and assess the environmental sustainability of building projects with the goal to reduce impact and achieve sustainable development. Heritage conservationists have long argued that conserving heritage buildings can play an integral role in sustainable urban development. By merging the tools and approaches of these various sectors, it is possible to come up with a system that can evaluate heritage buildings and quantify their impact in the global sustainability agenda. The aim of this paper is to propose a framework to quantify the environmental sustainability of cultural heritage sites as a means to show their contribution to "Sustainable Development" plans. Subjects: Historic buildings - Conservation and restoration - China - Hong Kong

The preservation of heritage architecture is a cultural objective rigorously pursued by communities and nations wishing to promote their history, civilisation and aesthetic achievements. Structures built in the remote past by traditional methods have suffered the consequences of extreme loading events, such as earthquakes, over long time periods. Retrofitting is an approach based on recent technological developments and scientific knowledge, whereby modern construction methods and materials are applied to the repair and strengthening of historical structures. This book aims to inform on current retrofitting techniques, their application to various types of historical architecture and their effectiveness to fulfil their purpose.Retrofitted structural forms covered in the book vary widely from age old places of worship, such as churches, mosques and temples, as well as castles and palaces to more modern, distinguished private residences or public buildings, some of them designed by well known architects. Their methods of construction range from traditional, such as stone or brick masonry to more recent textile block systems and even reinforced concrete frameworks. Reference is made to detailed visual inspections of damaged structure providing valuable insight into possible causes of failure; such inspections are usually combined with material characterisation which is an essential input to numerical modelling for assessing the behaviour of the structure before and after retrofitting. The book describes strengthening techniques for masonry walls including re-pointing, injection grouting and the use of steel ties. The use of reinforced concrete is proposed in the form of cast-in-place walls, jackets or tie-beams; that of carbon fibre reinforced laminates for strengthening walls and slabs. Innovative use of materials, such as shape memory alloys, self-compacting concrete or thin lead layers is also suggested. Particular attention is given to methods for moderating the consequences of destructive earthquakes. Seismic energy absorbing devices and base isolation systems are two effective means of providing protection against future seismic events although their application is often met with many technical challenges in practice.Retrofitting of Heritage Structures Against Earthquakes will be of interest to members of academic institutions, government or private cultural preservation establishments and specialist consultant engineers.The book contains very practical, technical advice on many issues; this would be of considerable interest to construction companies specialising in repairs and maintenance of historical structures.

Explains the purpose of historic structure reports, describes their value to the preservation of significant historic properties, outlines how reports are commissioned and prepared, and recommends an organizational format for such reports.