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Alan M. Forster
Alan M.
Forster
Derek Thomson
Derek
Thomson
Kendall Richards
Kendall
Richards
Nick Pilcher
Nick
Pilcher
Samantha Vettese
Samantha
Vettese
Western and Eastern building conservation philosophies: perspectives on permanence and impermanence
Loughborough University
2018
Building philosophies
Western and Eastern
Permanence and Impermanence
Conservative repair
Restoration
Fabric intervention
Built Environment and Design not elsewhere classified
2018-08-20 10:32:42
Journal contribution
https://repository.lboro.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/Western_and_Eastern_building_conservation_philosophies_perspectives_on_permanence_and_impermanence/9459479
In this conceptual paper, we illuminate Western building conservation philosophy practice with insights into Eastern conservation philosophy and associated aesthetic understanding. We frame dialogue recognising individual and societal perspectives on treatments to buildings that attempt to attain ‘permanence’ or ‘impermanence’ in form, fabric, and artefact. Although not expressly sharing origins, Eastern and Western conservation philosophies practically yield commensurate or quasi approaches in intervention. These similarities
have not been notably articulated before, and reveal meaningful insights for decision heuristics and guidance fundamental for repair scheme design and intervention. Western, pattern-based views relating to philosophical reasons around the impossibility of perfection, or ‘correctness’ in physical building form resonate with Eastern views supported by Kiku Kiwari. Moreover, universality in acceptance of Western Patina and Eastern Wabi-Sabi, and Eastern Kintsugi and Western legible fabric repair convey overt signals of philosophies beyond technical
performance. Moreover, we find Western bias towards ‘tangibility’, and greater appreciation of ‘intangibility’ in Eastern approaches that are culturally enriching and go beyond mere retention of fabric and architectural form, linking building memory with territory. We suggest potential cross-fertilisation of thinking to create an environment of greater cultural understanding of the motives, thoughts and practices in East and West.