Western and Eastern Building Conservation Philosophies: Perspectives on Permanence and Impermanence

Forster, Alan Mark; Thomson, Derek; Richards, Kendall; Pilcher, Nick; Vettese, Sam

Abstract

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. Also, 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.

Citation

Forster, A. M., Thomson, D., Richards, K., Pilcher, N., & Vettese, S. (2019). Western and Eastern Building Conservation Philosophies: Perspectives on Permanence and Impermanence. International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 13(6), 870-885. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2018.1490827

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 15, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Aug 13, 2018
• Publication Date: 2019
• Deposit Date: Jun 21, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 14, 2019
• Journal: International Journal of Architectural Heritage
• Print ISSN: 1558-3058
• Electronic ISSN: 1558-3066
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 870-885
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15583058.2018.1490827
• Keywords: Building philosophies; Western and Eastern; Permanence and Impermanence
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1231791
• Contract Date: Jun 21, 2018