Preserving urban objects of historicaland architectural heritage

• Main Author: Bal'zannikova Ekaterina Mikhailovna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow State University of Civil Engineering (MGSU) 2014-01-01
• Series: Vestnik MGSU
• Subjects: urban environment; architectural objects; architectural heritage; historical value; preservation of objects
• Online Access: http://vestnikmgsu.ru/files/archive/issues/2014/1/ru/2.pdf

Large cities of central Russia were built under the influence of the factors that played an important role in protecting their population; natural resources and opportunities for trading were also essential. The industrial development and construction of large industrial facilities were significant for the formation of urban environment. As a result architectural monuments of great historical value that have a significant influence on the formation of the modern city image were preserved.Nowadays, a great number of buildings of historical and architectural heritage turned out to be in poor condition. Funding and its efficient use are rational means of saving the most valuable objects of historical and cultural heritage. In order to do this it is necessary to solve the problems of developing complex and effective measures for preserving these objectsThe existing method of preserving urban objects does not focus on urban architectural objects of historical and architectural value. It does not cover the study of urban development features in architectural and town-planning environment surrounding this object, it does not determine the historical and architectural value of the object and it does not identify the relationship of the object and the surrounding objects as well as architectural frame of the total area. That is why the existing method cannot be considered an appropriate system for preserving the objects of historical and architectural heritage.In order to avoid the disadvantages mentioned above and to increase tourist interest to the architecturally valuable buildings in urban areas, the author has proposed a complex approach to improve the method of reconstructing urban objects of great historical and architectural significance.The existing method of preserving historical objects includes the preparatory period of studying the degree of historical and architectural heritage wear and decay, developing the techniques for strengthening structural elements, delivering building materials, preparing the construction site and the basic period when condemned structures are demolished, new design elements are formed and assembled, interior finishing work is performed and the object facade is restored. In contrast to it, our method includes additional periods and a performance list. In particular, it is proposed to carry out a research period prior to the preparatory period, and after the basic period there should be the ending period.Thus, during the research period it is necessary to study urban development features in architectural and town-planning environment, to identify the historical and architectural value of the object, to estimate its ramshackle state and whether it is habitable, to determine the relationship of the object with the architectural and aesthetic image of surrounding objects and to develop a conservation program; and during the ending period it is proposed to assess the historical and architectural significance of the reconstructed object in relation to the aesthetic and architectural image of the surrounding area. The proposed complex method will increase the attractiveness of a historical and architectural heritage object and its surrounding area for tourists and, consequently, raise the cultural level of the visitors. Furthermore, the method will ensure the construction of recreation zones, their more frequent usage and visiting surrounding objects of social infrastructure, because more opportunities for cultural and aesthetic pastime will be offered. The method will also provide a more reasonable and effective use of available funding due to the careful analysis and proper choice of the methods to preserve objects of historical and architectural heritage.