Culture Sector

In this article, the author explains that UNESCO has been concerned by the problem of protection of underwater cultural heritage since its early days. He emphasizes the fact that apart from two very general provisions in the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, there is no international legal instrument dealing with this very international topic. There is

John Calvin Ferguson is an American missionary who lives 57 years in China. He became the only foreigner member of the “Appraisal committee of the Antiquity” in China’s first National museum. In the 1930s, Ferguson donated all his collections of Chinese art to Jinling University and now these collections have become the main part of Nanjing archaeology and art museum. Ferguson’s life in China linked up two early Chinese museums in North and South. This article traces back to history and tries to uncover the exhibition space in the early period under complicated historical background.

The former“Zhejiang Qinghe Changji jewelry shop was built in 1931 to 1937, which was once a famous jewelry shop at Taiping South Road in Nanjing. It is not only a rarely architectural remains that shows the commercial prosperity of Taiping South Road during the early 20th century, but also recorded the ravage of Nanjing by Japanese invaders. Its main façade still preserves the historical appearance: regular brownish red Taishan brick for exterior wall facing, mosaic signboards and other exquisite Art Deco styled architectural details. The case study of this building’s restoration process and a contrastive study of the existing Art Deco architectures at Nanjing are aiming to analyze the construction technology of its façade details. Trying to reveal the specific construction and restoration technology under the prevailing architectural style, and provide ideas and living examples for preserving this kind of architectural heritage.

China's modern process is a rapid and changing progress in contradiction, conflict, integration and development. Modern architectural history fully reflects the conflict and interaction between Chinese and Western construction technology and cultural cognition in the changing times. As the pioneer in China, the construction experiments of missionaries in China changes from unidirectional output to the mode of integrating Chinese architectural tradition and western construction techniques.
University of Nanking retains rich historical information in its well-preserved historical buildings. Chinese roofs were once been regarded as the complete representation of Chinese architecture by westerners due to the limited cognition. The buildings in University of Nanking imitated just the exterior style of Chinese large roofs, while the interior roof structure used western modern structures. This dissertation first discusses the paradigm of traditional Chinese architecture, and then compares it with the roof practices of University of Nanking. By study of the historical drawings and old photographs of the historical buildings in University of Nanking, combining with the work of on-site surveying and three-dimensional modeling, reveals the misreading of Chinese traditional architecture by the Western architects.
Based on the study of historical documents, this dissertation reveals the design background and construction organization of Western architects. And then analyzes the cognitive sources and design references of Chinese architecture, trying to reveal the reasons for the misunderstanding. Among them, the design mode of operation and the process of construction are especially concerned. In fact, through the introduction of new materials and techniques, Western architects have promoted the development of modern Chinese architecture in the technical level through the interaction with Chinese craftsmen. This paper reveals the problems of construction level, cognition, materials and other aspects reflected by architectural technology.
How did modern China establish a modern nation with new identity on the basis of its long history and culture? The roof design in University of Nanking shows how cultural cognition and techniques influence each other, which also has great significance to today’s architectural practices.
The whole thesis contains about 42657 words, 108 pictures and charts.

The rapid growth of urban populations is a big issue in the past decades. With the growing concern on “sustainability”, how to obtain a good balance between heritage conservation and new constructions in the city became a crucial challenge nowadays. This paper chooses Rome and Leuven as case studies and discusses the difference between their street pattern, plot pattern and building pattern. The paper declares that in the case of Rome, the “genius loci” is rooted in the continuously transformation of substrata. While in Leuven, the diversity of the landscape is its genetic codes. Both architectural artefacts and landscape forms are important components of urban morphology. Furthermore, the two different urban forms are deeply related with how citizens live in the city. The row houses in Leuven always keep the pertinent area at the back while in Rome the pertinent area behind the row houses is not obvious after the transformation. The paper highlights the socio-economy aspect and reveals the relationship between horticultural tradition and physical forms like domestic garden, “verlinting”, and perimeter block in Leuven. Urban morphology works as a tool to understand the city’s “genius loci” and help to keep the continuity when transformation happens in the city.

The construction caused by missionary activities of the Western Christianity in China became the precursor of the modern Chinese architecture movement, which are characterized by the cultural exchange between China and the West. The buildings of Christian universities in China are generally designed by the western architects and built by the local craftsmen. These buildings not only show an important process of technology import but also are products of “sinicization” based on cultural perceptions.

Nanjing University, also named Private University of Nanking in the early 20th century, was one of the most important Christian universities in China sponsored by American churches. The main building complex of Nanjing University was constructed during the 1910s to the 1920s. Before this period, the Western Christianity had no standardized practices on how to integrate traditional Chinese architectural features with western building technologies, and the selected "traditional Chinese architecture models” are divergent in different regions. However, from the design of Nanjing University onward, the practice of using northern official-style architecture as the model was almost established, which has special concern about the “Chinese curved roof” or the so called "big roof”. Based on the western perceptions of Chinese architecture and Chinese curved roof, the university buildings are imitations of the Chinese style, but followed the western technological thinking for the roof structure design. 

This paper first discusses the paradigms of roof structure of Chinese traditional architecture, then compares it with the western building patterns of roof structure. Through detailed studies on historical drawings and old photographs, as well as on-site survey and three-dimensional models of the historical buildings in Nanjing University, this paper demonstrates how the western architects misunderstood the features of Chinese architecture and had wrong control for the curve of the roof. However, there are also some “positive misunderstandings”, which led to new tectonic designs and the development of modern Chinese construction industry system.

Session of the Conference:
The purpose of this session is to trigger discussions on how traditional knowledge can build up resilience in moments of crisis, considering its transmission to future generations and sharing of experiences beyond their specific cultural contexts.
Understanding traditional knowledge as an essential resource for communities across the globe to manage and mitigate a variety of local crises, this session invites papers to explore:
. The diversity of practices for the conservation of Cultural Heritage (both tangible and intangible) in specific contexts, and how such practices deal with local crises in different ways;
. The transmission of community-based experiences to future generations locally, as well as the sharing of strategies beyond cultural boundaries globally, considering how mutual learning among communities can enable the adaptation of local traditions and sow the seeds of resilience in a current globalized scenario;
. The different stakeholders and their role of building a collaborative system of knowledge sharing, taking into account conflicts of interest between international institutions, local authorities and communities. That imposes the questions: How can a broader participatory resilience-building process flourish? Who should be prioritized in a moment of crisis?

This paper first analyzes the grim social conditions as well as the opportunities and challenges of conserving historic cities in Italy after World War II. With three exemplary cases of Venice, Bologna and Urbino, it investigates Saverio Muratori’s urban morphology theory, Pier Luigi Cervellati’s integrated conservation scheme and Giancarlo De Carlo’s modern architectural design in the historic urban landscape. The paper summarizes the significance of the post-war Italian experience of urban conservation that casts light on today’s heritage conservation on a global scale.

The advancements in technology over the last few decades have led to a proliferation of information sources, resulting in increased variety and complexity of digital data. There is a growing interest in utilizing Historic Building Information Modeling (HBIM) tools to replicate historical monuments, mainly for restoration purposes. Research often emphasizes various survey methods, the geometric accuracy of the 3D model, as well as performance assessments in the digital environment. However, there is a lack of exploration into how HBIM can be effectively employed for preventive conservation and sustainable management of built heritage. That is to say, the paradigm of prioritizing short-term solutions for conserving built heritage rather than adopting long-lasting planned conservation strategies resembles to be reflected also in digitalization initiatives.
Preventive conservation refers to the measures and actions taken to mitigate potential damage and deterioration to cultural heritage, which involves a proactive approach that aims to prevent or minimize future deterioration, rather than relying solely on reactive interventions. A key component of preventive conservation is the conservation plan, which is an operational tool that guides the implementation of effective maintenance. It encompasses elements such as time and resources management, policies, technical guidance and reports, assignments, monitoring, and assessments. These procedures highly depend on a method of documentation that can ensure the viability, efficiency, and continuity of the conservation plan. In the context of new construction, the concept of 7D Building Information Modeling (BIM) has emerged for Facility Management, which comprises the 3D model, time schedule, cost intelligence, and sustainability. Builders and project managers employ 7D BIM in the maintenance and operation of a building throughout its entire life cycle. Given that the field of HBIM is still in its early stages and currently lacks specialized tools for conservation plans, this paper aims to elucidate the potential adaptation of 7D BIM to 7D HBIM. The change of perspective towards this digital system holds promise for improving the effectiveness of conservation efforts among diverse stakeholders and ensuring the long- term preservation of cultural heritage.
This paper presents a case study of Porta Maggiore in Rome, initially constructed as a triumphal arch from the imperial period, which is a monumentalization of two aqueduct channels’ arcades. Subsequently, it was incorporated into the Aurelian Walls, serving as an important gate to the city. Over time, this defensive structure and water ducts underwent various transformations, adding complexity to the creation of a comprehensive HBIM model. Based on photogrammetric surveys and point clouds, a 3D model was constructed on the HBIM platform, representing the current condition of the monument. The architectural components were classified in a manner to enable their use as a repository of the documentation produced by planned conservation. In other words, the semantic segmentation, categorization, and parametrization of the 3D elements were defined according to the management purpose. In addition, this model also facilitates the
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Jiayao Jiang | China
Izadora Araujo Amara
identification of single elements or architectural systems selected by different properties, permitting information recording directly associated with required components (see Figure 1). Subsequently, a comprehensive conservation plan was formulated, encompassing technical sheets, guidelines, time schedules, and cost estimates. This plan was integrated into the HBIM platform with the aid of available Facility Management digital tools. The software employed ensures continuous updates of the plan by documenting every periodic inspection, maintenance procedure, or potential intervention in the database. Moreover, the digital platform allows for sharing of data and documents (drawings, documents, reports, photographs) among different actors. All the data produced by the conservation plan and the ongoing conservative activities are stored and become beneficial for future decisions, which avoids the fragmentation and discontinuity of information when conservation works involve multiple parties, that is often the case in the practical world. In this manner, the digital database serves a dual purpose: it not only stores records of specific interventions but also functions as a valuable resource for long-term sustainability, going beyond mere energy consumption.
This paper aims to explore the potential of HBIM as an innovative approach to managing built heritage and sharing information with building lifecycle operators. The significance of establishing criteria to evaluate the practical relevance of creating, processing, and storing 3D models and related data is emphasized. These criteria should not only focus on their application in 3D reconstruction or short-term restoration but also consider the long-term value of digitalizing cultural heritage as a means of implementing and improving preventive conservation measures. Furthermore, the purposeful utilization of 3D heritage data should serve as a valuable resource in anticipation of forthcoming societal changes. The adoption of 7D HBIM for planned conservation holds the potential to shift preservation practices by enabling data-driven renovation strategies, empowering conservation professionals to make informed decisions based on accurate and up-to-date information, and generating collaborative and sustainable management of cultural heritage.

Les Leçons de Rome propose un espace de réflexion et de débat pour quiconque appréhende l'Italie comme laboratoire de recherche architecturale, urbaine et paysagère. Définir l'Italie comme laboratoire suppose d'analyser les contextes de fabrication des politiques urbaines aussi bien que les expériences de projet, les théories comme les pratiques, les héritages et les mutations tout autant que les orientations et les prospectives. En quelques mots, construire un savoir et une culture, mais encore tirer des enseignements et développer des outils opératoires pour appréhender le présent et enrichir les pratiques contemporaines. Les Leçons de Rome permet chaque année de faire connaître les travaux de recherche en cours ou achevés et de poursuivre le dialogue avec la sphère ultramontaine. Cette rencontre est ouverte aux étudiants, doctorants, enseignants, chercheurs et à tous ceux qui demeurent attentifs à développer des échanges interdisciplinaires au-delà des institutions et des frontières The Lessons of Rome aim at providing a space for reflection for anyone who grasps Italy as an architectural, urban and landscape research laboratory. Defining Italy as a laboratory involves analyzing contexts of urban policies but also as design expériences, theories as well as practices, legacies, mutations and prospects. It means building knowledge and culture, but also learning and developing tools to conceive the present and enrich contemporary practices.The Lessons of Rome provide the opportunity to be kept up to date on current and upcoming researches, to share existing and generate new knowledge and dialogues with Italy. Professionals, students, phd candidates, researchers and people from various academic disciplines, schools and nationalities are welcome.

The research examines the Aurelian Wall in Rome, with a particular focus on the Porta Maggiore section - a significant gateway first monumentalized by Emperor Claudius in 52 AD and later incorporated into the Aurelian Wall in 272 AD. Historically, Porta Maggiore served as a central entrance to Rome, overseeing the convergence of eight aqueducts and functioning as a crucial node in the distribution of water within the city.
Using an urban morphology approach, this study reveals the complexity of the transformation of the city along its borders. From being a crucial point of access, the Porta Maggiore was transformed into a defensive area that was barricaded and inhabited in the Middle Ages, and then became a central traffic junction in the 20th century. Today, the former city boundary is located within the expanded city, making it an isolated symbol of the past.
The aim of the research is to demonstrate that the rich material evidence can be a source of confusion in the legibility and interpretation of the heritage, and that there is a discontinuity in the urban memory. The transformation of the built environment is a reflection of the diverse social interactions, encompassing politics, religion and secular life, in the vicinity of the city wall. The research also raises questions for the current situation: What is the right approach to the demonstration of such rich stratification and materiality? What role do these large structures play when they have already lost their function and context? The materiality of this site offers a rich multilayered history, but at the same time, it poses challenges to heritage interpretation and management.

The Venice Charter represents a cornerstone document in the realm of heritage conservation. The emphasis with the Charter on physical evidence and material heritage tied to Western traditions has increasingly been recognized by scholars as a Euro-centric paradigm and has faced criticism in recent times. In response to the challenges of adapting to greater diversity and inclusivity, international principles are beginning to shift, recognizing the need to incorporate values from other cultural traditions. This shift allowed for a broader understanding of marginalized groups and communities in the global South, reshaping key concepts in international principles. However, tensions persist between international guidelines and local traditions, as well as between authorized discourses and marginalized expressions.
There are huge gaps between the intent of international policies and the realities of local contexts. Globalization might perpetuate extreme forms of sameness and fundamentalism. As Herb Stovel (2008) questioned, is there a possibility of defining a universal principle based on the core values of conservation practice, while avoiding the fragmentation of cultural values and the denial of non-central, incongruent communities?

This essay will analyse several Asian cases with a focus on Chinese context. It will illustrate how Chinese regulations for safeguarding heritage have been influenced by the Venice Charter and how the understanding of Chinese traditions can contribute to the Charter’s response to contemporary challenges. Existed documents like the China Principles (2000), Shanghai Charter (2002), and Xi'an Declaration (2005) represent adaptations in community-centric, spiritually-aware, intangible-focused, and relative
authenticity-driven ideas. Unlike the cult of material-based authenticity, or the
uniqueness of works of art in the Western world, heritage in China places a greater emphasis on immaterial components. Function and spirit are prioritized in preference to physical objects. Conservation in China frequently leads to common practices of transformation, to renew and even to reconstruct. As the Nara Document on Authenticity (1994) has cautiously opened the way to a culture-based appreciation of conservation values and expanded the definition of “authenticity”, a deeper understanding of Chinese perceptions on heritage may lead to new inspirations for international principles.