Civic geographies of architectural enthusiasm

In this short intervention, we introduce the display and walking tour that formed our contribution to the ‘civic geographies’ exhibition and session at the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) Annual Conference in July 2012. We then move on to explore the notion of ‘civic geographies’ in relation to the architectural enthusiasm, specifically a strong emotional attachment to buildings, exhibited by members of The Twentieth Century Society. In doing so, we suggest that a more critical account of the role of enthusiasm in the civic realm is required for two important reasons: first, because such groups can be understood to be doing geography beyond the academy in the civic realm; and second, because enthusiast knowledges and practices are active in the (re)constitution of civic landscapes of various kinds. Enthusiasts participate in caring for buildings, preserving heritage, making community spaces, as well as creating and curating local histories. An understanding of who is participating in making these civic geographies, why, how, and with what consequences, is therefore crucial.

Biofouling of crypts of historical and architectural interest at la Plata Cemetery (Argentina)

Cemeteries are part of the cultural heritage of urban communities, containing funerary crypts and monuments of historical and architectural interest. Efforts aimed at the conservation of these structures must target not only the abiotic stresses that cause their destruction, such as light and humidity, but also biofouling by biotic agents. The purpose of this study was to assess the development of biofouling of several historically and architecturally valuable crypts at La Plata Cemetery (Argentina). Samples obtained from the biofilms, lichens, and fungal colonies that had developed on the marble surfaces and cement mortar of these crypts were analyzed by conventional microbiological techniques and by scanning electron microscopy. The lichens were identified as Caloplaca austrocitrina, Lecanora albescens, Xanthoparmelia farinosa and Xanthoria candelaria, the fungi as Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp., Candida sp. and Rhodotorula sp., and the bacteria as Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas sp. The mechanisms by which these microorganisms cause the aesthetic and biochemical deterioration of the crypts are discussed.

The historical heritage of domestic architecture is a reliable model for a satisfactory design. The case of the Mediterranean region

The purpose of this paper is to expose the importance of observing cultural systems present in a territory as a reference for the design of urban infrastructures in the new cities and regions of rapid development. If we accept the idea that architecture is an instrument or cultural system developed by man to act as an intermediary to the environment, it is necessary to understand the elemental interaction between man and his environment to meet a satisfactory design. To illustrate this purpose, we present the case of the Eurasian Mediterranean region, where the architectural culture acts as a cultural system of adaptation to the environment and it is formed by an ancient process of selection. From simple observation of architectural types, construction systems and environmental mechanisms treasured in mediterranean historical heritage we can extract crucial information about this elemental interaction. Mediterranean architectural culture has environmental mechanisms responding to the needs of basics habitability, ethnics and passive conditioning. These mechanisms can be basis of an innovative design without compromising the diversity and lifestyles of human groups in the region. The main fundament of our investigation is the determination of the historical heritage of domestic architecture as holder of the formation process of these mechanisms. The result allows us to affirm that the successful introduction of new urban infrastructures in an area need a reliable reference and it must be a cultural system that entailing in essence the environmental conditioning of human existence. The urban infrastructures must be sustainable, understood and accepted by the inhabitants. The last condition is more important when the urban infrastructures are implemented in areas that are developing rapidly or when there is no architectural culture.

Promotion of intangible heritage as a tool to strengthen revitalisation of historic centres: the case of de Monumenta Programme in the City of Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul State) Brazil

The preservation of tangible cultural heritage does not guarantee effective revitalisation of urban historic areas as a whole. The legacy of our history consists not only of paintings, sculptures, architectural monuments and public spaces, but also the safeguarding of immaterial aspects of social life, such as oral traditions, rituals, practices, knowledge and craft skills. From 1999 to 2013, 26 Brazilian cities benefited from the Monumenta Programme - a national cultural policy that involved institutions, the private sector and the local community. The purpose of the programme was to stimulate economic growth and increase cultural and social development of the historic centres. Moreover, it sought to increase the number of residents in the benefited areas as defined in its agenda (IDB, 1999; MinC & Programa Monumenta, 2006). Using the Historic Centre of Porto Alegre as a case study, this paper examines how this cultural programme enables demographic change through the promotion of intangible cultural heritage, e.g. by supporting educational projects. The demographic flow was analysed using the microdata of the Populations Censuses (years 2000 and 2010) available from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The results showed an increase in low-income residents the areas that participated in the programme. This increase may have been motivated by a set of cultural-educational projects under the auspices of the Monumenta Programme. The retraining of artisans of Alfândega Square, the training of low-income youth for restoration work and the implementation of the "Black Route Museum in Porto Alegre" (Bicca, 2010) are just some examples of what was done to improve the local community's economy, to encourage social cohesion and to enhance the awareness of cultural diversity as a positive and essential value in society.

The Conservation of our Built Heritage, in Particular Statues in Aberdeen, Evaluated Through a Social and Historical Context and Their Impact, Through the Use of 3D Scanning

Cultural heritage sites all over the world are at risk due to aggressive urban expansion, development, wars and general obsolescence. Not all objects are recorded in detail although they may have social and historical significance. For example more emphasis is placed on the recording of castles and palaces than on crofters’ cottages or tenement blocks, although their history can be just as rich. This paper will investigate the historic fabric of Aberdeen through the use of digital scanning, supported by a range of media including old photographs and paintings. Dissemination of social heritage through visualisations will be explored and how this can aid the understanding of space within the city or specific area. Focus will be given to the major statues/monuments within the context of the city centre, exploring their importance in their environment. In addition studying why many have been re-located away from their original site, the reasons why, and how we have perhaps lost some of the social and historical importance of why that monument was first located there. It will be argued that Digital Media could be utilised for much more than re-creation and re-presentation of physical entities. Digital scanning, in association with visualisation tools, is used to capture the essence of both the cultural heritage and the society that created or used the sites in association with visualisation tools and in some way re-enacting the original importance placed upon the monument in its original location, through adoption of BIM Heritage.

Juma al-Majid Center for Culture and Heritage Competition, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 1993 (unbuilt project)

[Schematic Design Drawing of East Elevation and] East-West Section. Black ink, colored ink and pencil drawing with marker coloring on two blue-line prints, 8 1/4 x 38 & 15 x 41 1/4 inches [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]

Juma al-Majid Center for Culture and Heritage Competition, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 1993 (unbuilt project)

[Schematic Design Drawing of] East Elevation. Black and colored ink and pencil drawing with marker coloring on two blue-line prints, 9 1/4 x 38 & 9 1/2 x 41 1/2 inches [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]

Juma al-Majid Center for Culture and Heritage Competition, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 1993 (unbuilt project)

[Conceptual Sketch], untitled. Brown ink sketch on tracing paper, 18x28 iinches [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]

Juma al-Majid Center for Culture and Heritage Competition, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 1993 (unbuilt project)

[Conceptual Sketch], untitled. Ink sketch with marker coloring on tracing paper, 18 x 37 1/2 inches [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]

Juma al-Majid Center for Culture and Heritage Competition, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 1993 (unbuilt project)

[Conceptual Sketch], untitled. Blue pencil sketch on tracing paper, 18 x 37 1/2 inches [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]

Juma al-Majid Center for Culture and Heritage Competition, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 1993 (unbuilt project)

[Conceptual Sketch], untitled. Ink and blue, orange and green pencil sketch on tracing paper, 18x37 inches [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]

Juma al-Majid Center for Culture and Heritage Competition, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 1993 (unbuilt project)

[Conceptual Sketches], untitled. Ink sketches on tracing paper, 12x24 inches [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]

Juma al-Majid Center for Culture and Heritage Competition, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 1993 (unbuilt project)

[Conceptual Sketches], untitled. Ink sketches on tracing paper, 18x22 inches [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]

Juma al-Majid Center for Culture and Heritage Competition, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 1993 (unbuilt project)

[Conceptual Sketch], untitled. Ink sketch with marker coloring on tracing paper, 18x38 inches [from photographic copy by Lance Burgharrdt]