- Reminders on the actors and reference texts in the built heritage sector in Europe
1.1 The European Union
The first significant texts concerning the cultural sector of Europe date from the end of the 1970s, 20 years after the creation of the EEC, and almost exclusively address culture in the aspect of free trade, harmonization of taxation and legislation.
With the establishment of the Treaty on European Union (more commonly known as the Treaty of Maastricht) signed on February 7, 1992 and still in force today, theEuropebecomes theEuropean Union; it is then that real common policies are put in place, particularly in the field of culture, through article 128 which is entirely dedicated to it.
These policies are, however, no less limited: Article 6 of the Treaty explains that “the Union has competence to carry out actions to support, coordinate or supplement the action of the Member States” in certain particular areas and particularly in that of culture. In other words, this is one of thesupport skillsof the European Union which, consequently, can only intervene in this area to support the actions of EU countries. E. Furthermore, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity1, the European Union can intervene in the cultural sector only if the objectives cannot be achieved in this area by the Member States.
This is the reason why the vast majority of texts relating to culture, and in particular to heritage, simply give the point of view of the European institutions on this subject and are therefore not necessarily applicable by the Member States: this is “resolutions”, “conclusions”, “opinions” or “recommendations”
Competence in the development of public policies in the heritage sector is therefore above all a national competence. This can result in strong national policies, and, depending on the country, in more or less expanded autonomy for the regions (and/or other territorial levels of the country). 27 Member States with already established traditions in this sector, which have developed their own methods of administering specific cultural policies, and for which cultural policy priorities can be very different.
Therefore, harmonization respecting cultural diversity2 practices relating to the cultural sector, and therefore that of heritage and built heritage projects, is a challenge!
The European Union is committed to developing actions in the field of culture, and particularly with regard to heritage. Also, even if the role of the European Commission is limited to providing a methodological framework for the Member States which does not allow it to concretely conduct a common policy on specific subjects, it nevertheless promotes meeting and the networking of different cultural actors.
These are for example:
- THE European Heritage Days, which allow each year to open numerous cultural places which are not always accessible (European Heritage Days | European Heritage Days)
- The European Heritage Prize, which rewards each year remarkable initiatives in the field of heritage (European Heritage Awards | Culture and Creativity (europa.eu)
1.2 International institutions prescribers in terms of heritage conservation-restoration:
- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) has the mission of“encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage throughout the world, considered to be of exceptional value to humanity.”
- The International Center for the Study of the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (Iccrom) is an intergovernmental organization serving its Member States to promote the conservation of all forms of cultural heritage in all regions of the world. It carries out missions oftraining, information, research, cooperationand ofadvocacyin matters of conservation.
- The International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos), main international non-governmental organization specializing in the conservation of world monuments and sites.
These institutions go beyond the European framework and strive to define and institutionalize the main principles of conservation-restoration since the end of the Second World War thanks to the establishment of texts which are today a reference for the discipline: the International Charter on the conservation and restoration of monuments and sites adopted by Icomos in 1965 (Venice Charter), or the so-called “Copenhagen” text, “The conservator-restorer: a definition of the profession”, adopted by the 'Icom in 1986.
1.3 Council of Europe
The Council of Europe, an intergovernmental organization for the defense of human rights, is at the origin of several conventions in the field of cultural heritage, the signatory countries of which undertake to support conservation and restoration as much as possible: the European Convention for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (Valletta, 1992) [European Convention for the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (Revised) (Valletta, 1992) – Culture and Cultural Heritage (coe.int)] or the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (Granada, 1985) [Convention for the Safeguarding of the Architectural Heritage of Europe (Granada, 1985) – Culture and Cultural Heritage (coe.int)]
1.4 European Committee for Standardization
For its part, the European Committee for Standardization has been developing standards for the field of heritage conservation and restoration since 2004 through the European Technical Committee “CEN/TC 346 – Conservation of Cultural Heritage»
1.5 Organizations representing professionals in the sector
- The European Confederation of Conservator-Restorer Organizations (ECCO) was created in 1991 by 14 European organizations of conservators-restorers.Currently representing nearly 6,000 professionals in 23 countries and 26 member organizations, including an international organization (IADA), ECCO embodies the field of preservation of cultural, movable and immovable heritage.
- The European Network of Conservation-Restoration Training Institutions (Again) is a network of higher education establishments working in the field of conservation and restoration. ENCoRE was founded in 1997 with the main objective of promoting research and education in the field of cultural heritage. Currently, ENCoRE has 41 full members and 1 member
associated with the main conservation-restoration study programs in Europe. - The organization of the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage proposed each year by Europa Nostra: this is a non-governmental organization created in 1963 which works for the protection of tangible cultural heritage.
2 Charters to supervise the restoration of historic monuments
In the second half of the 20th centuryecentury, the confused status of the restoration of historic monuments was normalized by a series of international Charters which resulted in the definition and regulation of restoration work as we currently understand them.
2.1 The Charter of Athens laid the foundations for restoration in 1931.
The first is the Athens Charter for the Restoration of Historical Monuments adopted during the first International Congress of Architects and Technicians of Historic Monuments in 1931 (not to be confused with the Athens Charter of 1933, the outcome of the IVeInternational Congress of Modern Architecture held under the aegis of Le Corbusier).
This Charter affirms the interest of all phases of a building's life and recommends“respect the historical and artistic work of the past, without proscribing the style of any era”. It encourages an occupation of monuments that respects their historical or artistic character, thus ensuring the continuity of their life. It insists, on the one hand, on the role of education in respecting monuments“deeply convinced that the best guarantee of conservation of monuments and works of art comes from the respect and attachment of the people themselves”and, on the other hand, on the usefulness of international documentation. Finally, the Athens Charter highlights the importance of close collaboration between archaeologists and architects. Some points still pose a problem, such as the fact that this Charter authorizes the use of reinforced concrete.
2.2 The Venice Charter, in 1964, completes and refines that of Athens
In 1964, the 2nd International Congress of Architects and Technicians of Historical Monuments met in Venice with the aim of“ re-examine the principles of the Athens Charter in order to deepen them and broaden their scope in a new document ». It extends the notion of historical monument to“urban or rural site which bears witness to a particular civilization, a significant evolution or a historical event”and insists on both the historical and artistic value of a monument.
As far as conservation is concerned, the Venice Charter echoes that of Athens by emphasizing the importance of keeping monuments in working order, without this affecting the order or decoration of the buildings, as well as the importance of a protected setting on the scale of the monument.
As for restoration strictly speaking, the 1964 Charter states that it“aims to preserve and reveal the aesthetic and historical values of the monument and is based on respect for the ancient substance and authentic documents”. Consequently, it rejects uncertain reconstructions as far as possible. If these are essential, the Charter insists on the need for these reconstructions to bear the mark of our time in order to leave no room for any ambiguity. Like the Athens Charter, it considers that“the valid contributions of all periods to the construction of a monument must be respected, unity of style not being a goal to be achieved during a restoration”. Any item intended to replace a missing part must“integrate harmoniously into the whole, while distinguishing itself from the original parts”. Finally, the novelty of this Charter is to include an article on excavations.
2.3 The Charter currently in application: that of Krakow in 2000
The latest, the one in force today, is the Krakow Charter of 2000. This Charter takes up, sometimes expanding on them, a certain number of points from the two previous ones. However, it has the merit of providing an important conceptual framework, particularly with the definition of the “restoration project”. This one“must be based on a range of appropriate technical options and be prepared by a cognitive process of gathering information and understanding the building or site”, inducing interdisciplinarity. Finally, the restoration project must be based on principles that the Charter defines as that of minimum intervention, that of authenticity, integrity, and identity.
The Krakow Charter qualifies the position of previous charters regarding modern materials and techniques:“any new material, any new technology must be rigorously tested, compared and mastered before application” and must then be subject to ongoing monitoring. It also presents the novelty of broadening the scope of heritage restoration to towns and villages which must be perceived in their territorial environment, the landscape being part of the cultural heritage because»in many societies, landscapes have a historical relationship with the territory and the influences of the city”.
Finally, presentation to the public is encouraged with, in particular,“the use of modern technologies, data banks, information systems and virtual presentation techniques. »
2.4 The vernacular built heritage charter
The Vernacular Built Heritage Charter was written by the 12th General Assembly of ICOMOS, in Mexico, in October 1999.This charter presents what vernacular construction is, as well as recommendations for its conservation and renovation. She testifies to the tremendous extension of the notion of heritage, which, regarding buildings, has long been confined to historical monuments. Elements of everyday life and ordinary life are today perceived and treated as elements of heritage. This heritage of buildings, objects, landscapes and spaces is undoubtedly consistent with the logic of sustainable development which aims as much to make achievements last as to articulate the present of society with its past and its future in a perspective of transmission and economy of means.
The interest of this charter, in addition to the definition it gives of vernacular heritage and the recommendations it provides for its conservation, lies in the fact that, without ever referring to it, it is, by its very object, part of the prospects for sustainable development, at the very time when experimental eco-districts were beginning to develop in certain European cities.
So, about of vernacular built heritage, the charter precise :
- that it is a construction method shared by the community,
- that the construction has a local character responding to the constraints and resources of the environment,
- that his style is consistent,
- that it is based on expertise and effective techniques transmitted informally,
- that this built heritage is part of a network of cultural meaning which is itself a heritage,
- finally that the designs, techniques and know-how which led to the erection of this building are themselves heritage elements which must be safeguarded and transmitted.
2.5 The Davos declaration: thinking about the built heritage of tomorrow
Without being solely focused on existing heritage, the Davos declaration (2018) is similar to an attempt to safeguard the very notion of heritage. Because heritage is what is considered to have a sufficiently important common value to be transmitted to subsequent generations, European Ministers of Culture are alarmed by a design/application of buildings which forgets to preserve aesthetics and harmony. overview of new constructions (and their integration into existing ones) and propose to consider habitable space and landscapes as a good that cannot be sacrificed with impunity solely to economic logic or to a reduced vision of living spaces solely for the hosting function. Davos Declaration and Davos Process for Building Culture
European culture ministers adopted the Davos Declaration in 2018, at the initiative of Switzerland. European states commit to establishing the conditions necessary for a quality building culture at the political and strategic level. On this basis, in 2023 they adopted the Davos Memorandum for Building Culture and established the Davos Alliance for Building Culture. Within the Davos Alliance for Building Culture, political and economic circles and civil society join forces for better planning of cities, villages and landscapes.
A self-assessment guide for building quality was produced as part of the “Davos Process», which includes 8 criteria:
- Good governance
- Functionality: the culture of quality building (CBQ) meets human needs in terms of health, comfort, safety and accessibility.
- Environment: the CBQ preserves the environment
- Economy: CBQ adds economic added value
- Diversity: CBQ connects people together
- Context: CBQ drives spatial coherence
- Spirit of place: CBQ strengthens the Spirit of place, promotes people's emotional response to the place and allows them to establish a positive relationship with it
- Beauty: a place imbued with CBQ is beautiful.
Here we find what, for today's European governments, seems to be collectively worthy of value, which, overall, constitutes heritage.
To remember :
- European legislation in the field of culture and heritage is mostly non-binding for Member States.
- The notion of heritage has expanded to include the dimensions of social, landscape, aesthetic and historical contribution, and now serves as a key concept for policies for the deployment of new constructions.
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