The objective of the study was to gain new insight into archival building documentation in the United States since 1933 focusing on Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) as a case study. It sought to help explain how individuals with different levels of involvement with the HABS program, and throughout its entire history, understood the development, current operational context, and future direction of HABS. Seven general philosophical and practical issues were explored: 1) how HABS documentation standards were understood and applied, 2) the relative values of the process and products of documentation, 3) the understanding and application of the objective and subjective natures of the documentation process, 4) whether the mission of the program had changed with changes in the operation of the program since its inception, 5) the role of technology in the process of HABS documentation and how it shapes the end products, 6) defining broader historical epochs with the goal of adding to existing understandings of the history of the program, and 7) the causes and effects of HABS drawing style changes over time.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-94).

Thesis (M.L.A.)--University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2009. / Open access. Includes bibliographical references (p. 96-102).

This thesis is part of work completed for a National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) grant awarded in May 2012 to Texas Parks and Wildlife partnering with University of Texas, Austin (UT) Office of Sponsored Project and UT alumna Casey Gallagher. The purpose of the grant was to provide Bastrop State Park (BSP), following the 2011 Bastrop Complex Wildfire, with information on assessing fire-damaged park structures and guidance on preparing structures for future wildfires. The following chapters cover the historical background of the park and its structures, a brief account of the fire event, physical analysis of burned park structures, and a two part discussion on preparedness. The first preparedness chapter speaks generally on integration of cultural resource professionals in emergency planning and recovery at state, national and international levels, while the second discusses new options for fire prevention at BSP including defensible space, fire retardants, and alternative materials. / text

Hacienda San José de Cerro Gordo is a working hacienda 30 miles outside of Mexico City. The hacienda encompasses a large rancho (farming) area, mostly covered by prickly pear cacti and the central, gated compound, which includes the exquisite, 19th century casco (the main house of the hacienda), historic wall structures, and modern worker housing. The casco was built in the late 19th century (exact dates unknown). The hacienda is situated in an agrarian desert landscape, between the foothills of Cerro Gordo to the north and the pyramids of Teotihuacán in the distance to the south. The grand house has been completely uninhabited for forty years, the lack of maintenance leading to its dilapidation with each passing year. This Master's Report is in the format of a "feasibility study" which outlines the current conditions of the hacienda, explores the challenges it faces, options for its revitalization, and ultimately, to act as a resource for similar projects. The following research question is addressed: what are the best options for the stabilization and revitalization for Hacienda San José de Cerro Gordo, who are the actual and possible players in plan of action, what are the options for funding and what is the most feasible program for the hacienda? / text

How can interpretation be used to promote the sustainable conservation of a historic site? What is meant by sustainable conservation of historic sites is examined and its three aspects: the social, financial, and environmental defined. On the basis of a critical literature review, objectives for an interpretation plan that promotes the sustainability of a historic site are stated. Through case studies, current interpretive practices are examined and evaluated as to their potential for meeting these objectives. Sites chosen for study were identified by heritage professionals as ‘best practices.’ Case studies include Valley Forge National Park, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; Burton Cotton Gin Museum, Burton, Texas; Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; President Lincoln’s Cottage, Washington D.C.; and the National Steel & Iron Heritage Museum, Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Based on the results of case study research, a best practices methodology is developed for writing an interpretation plan with sustainability among its central goals and practical examples of the unique ways in which each site addresses the different aspects of sustainability are given. The methodology developed is tested by outlining an interpretation plan for the Zedler Mill in Luling, Texas that promotes sustainability. This mill was a driving economic force in this small South Central Texas town for a period of nearly ninety years from 1874 to 1964. As with any historic site, conservation of the mill site today and into the future depends upon community support. My findings demonstrate how interpretation programs can provide the community (society) with social and economic benefits that can sustain that support. / text

In few cities will one find a landscape so scarred with the physical remains of its contentious recent past as Berlin. The capital city boasts recognizable and well-known relics from not only the Third Reich, but also from its time as communist East and capitalist West Berlin. Inconspicuously sitting in two of Berlin’s largest public parks though are two hills not as easily identifiable as other historic sites. Hidden beneath the grassy hills, the massive concrete remains of 1940s flak towers have slowly made their way into the historical consciousness of Berliners. In examining the evolution of the Nazi-built towers in the consciousness of Berliners, this thesis attempts to gain a better understanding of the city’s confrontation with the toxic relics in their landscape left from the Third Reich through a less-recognizable and less-contentious structure. / text

At archaeological sites around the world, architectural interventions utilizing distinctly modern materials and designs have provided solutions for protection from environmental impacts, control of visitors’ access to ruins and presentation of historic remains to the public. In various contexts, reliance on the modern has resulted in educational opportunities and emotional experiences for visitors that would not have been possible using traditional modes of reconstruction. The incorporation of in situ archaeological remains into a modern building often enhances the phenomenological potential of the ruins while sacrificing positivist presentations of them. Many European countries have seen different examples of creative applications of modern architecture for the presentation of excavated sites. My thesis focuses on several European prototypes of the modern architecture–archaeological remains hybrid type, surveying how contrast in materials and stylistic breaks between new and old enhance visitor’s experiences. The prevalence and promise of modern architectural design at archaeological sites calls for the clear identification of the emerging type in order to promote it as a bona fide option for meeting preservation challenges. The classification requires the intervention rely on distinctly modern materials and construction methods, offer a stark contrast between new and old fabric, enhance the archaeology and foster understanding of the remains. The prototype studies point to the following benefits of enveloping ruins in a modern structure: nontraditional materials often lead to less literal, more open-ended presentations that promote discovery, transparency and spanning potential provide a broad range of possibilities for protection and interpretation, a dialogue between past and present allows for creative expressions about temporal relationships, and the appearance of decay enhances the phenomenological impact of the site. / text

“Can the understanding of the patterns of urban development around a temple complex in India, using Christopher Alexander’s methodology, help better preserve these temple communities and their related temple architecture?” India, a country largely governed by a spiritual culture, draws sustenance and strength largely from religious buildings, thus leading to an emergence of many towns around these religious buildings and events associated with them. The temple acts as the nucleus and the body of life and township shoots from it with the cultural, religious and commercial needs acting as its driving force. Certain groups of people having similar experiential, ideological and sociological backgrounds tend to form a chorus in their pattern generation. The patterns refer to the patterns of relationship between the events that occur in the temple with the various spaces that they occur in. It also refers to the recurring relationships and influences of the temple on the temple town including both the urban development and community which shoot around the temple. The reverse recurring events also forms its own set of patterns. These patterns are seen both in the physical development of streets, shops etc around and in the intangible aspects of the culture, festivals and beliefs of people living in that town. Thus pattern language in this thesis refers to the life, culture and architecture generated by the recurring interactions and interdependencies of the temple communities as a whole. Thus this thesis concludes that the thorough understanding of these interdependencies and interconnections between the structure, its town and community helps preserve the temple architecture as well the town and its intangible culture more effectively. This approach to preservation makes the outcome more holistic and sustainable. This thesis, through its case studies of an existing successful temple town in Puri, India and an ongoing project of the Bindusagar lake, understands this interdependency and develops patterns to be applied in the context of a deteriorated temple village of Kapileswar. They are studied both as sacred places and urban growths where communities thrive. This thesis will focus its final chapters on the application of the studied patterns and its outcome in the form of a preservation model for the Kapileswar temple and temple village based in Orissa, India. However the model in its fundamental framework attempts to suggest that it can be applied on any other setting, location and architecture. This proposed model summarizes the above findings and tries to draw concepts for the preservation process of the Kapileswar temple village based on a pattern approach. The above case studies and their comparative analysis very clearly indicate the various similarities and dissimilarities between their respective settings and approaches. The proposed model for the holistic preservation model of the Kapileswar temple village draws its similarities from the culture, rituals, festivals, commercial endeavors, networks and location of the Puri Jagannatha Temple and the Bindusagar project and its differences from their management structure, devotee following, history, legends and economics. The model includes the proposed management structure and execution structure of the preservation process of the Kapileswar temple based on the above study that will help in the sustainable growth and maintenance of the temple village as a whole. The nucleus of this model is the temple. The model identifies the various elements that when incorporated in the co-operative society management structure and the space allocation diagram form the necessary patterns that ultimately make up for the pattern approach to preservation. The model also includes various charts and diagrams that prioritize and compartmentalize the many small and big items, events and spaces as a part of the above patterns. Hence the proposed model creates a flow of steps that will help preserve the Kapileswar temple and village based on a holistic pattern approach. / text

In the past decade, the government has been planning to further develop Lei Yue Mun into a more popular tourist spot. Works had been carried out to beautify the public areas such as erecting signage and re-paving the streets and open spaces. However, emphasis has been put mainly on the image of “Seafood Paradise”. In 2003, new plan was announced by the Tourism Commission for discussion by the public. This proposal involves construction of new public landing facility, observation deck, new street paving and lighting, etc. But it seems that these proposals do not take into account the potential heritage resources of the area. In fact, a substantial extent of the physical characters of this village can still be found even under such rapid urban development. It is partly due to the inaccessibility of the area and discontinuity with the larger urban core of Kowloon. In view of this, it is necessary to have a proper documentation of the historical development of Lei Yue Mun and to identify the values. Only through this historically grounded approach in introducing conservation principles and guidelines, that future development of the area can be made more successful in retaining its historical merits of the area. The dissertation will examine the identified heritage resources in Lei Yue Mun and explores the current challenges and opportunities. / published_or_final_version / Conservation / Master / Master of Science in Conservation