Architectural conservation describes the process through which the material, historical, and design integrity of humanity's built heritage are prolonged through carefully planned interventions. The individual engaged in this pursuit is known as an architectural conservator. Decisions of when and how to engage in an intervention are critical to the ultimate conservation of the immovable object. Ultimately, the decision is value based: a combination of artistic, contextual, and informational values is normally considered. In some cases, a decision to not intervene may be the most appropriate choice.Historic preservation (US), heritage preservation or heritage conservation (UK), is an endeavour that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance. It tends to refer specifically to the preservation of the built environment, and not to preservation of, for example, primeval forests or wilderness.

What is heritage conservation? A brief overviewHeritage conservation doesn't mean freezing a building in time, creating a museum or tying the hands of property owners so they can't do anything with their properties. Instead, it seeks to maintain and thereby increase the value of buildings by keeping their original built form and architectural elements, favouring their restoration rather than replacement and, when restoration is impossible, recreating scale, period and character.

Heritage Conservation provides concrete benefits to property owners, to businesses and to the community as a whole:

Heritage preservation and designation increases property values, both of the restored building and surrounding properties.

Heritage preservation can be a draw to tourism and helps businesses attract customers. Communities, such as Meaford fortunate to have a significant stock of heritage buildings can build their town or citys image around those elements: Torontos Distillery District, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Merrickville are good examples. Retaining the historic integrity of a neighbourhood or downtown attracts people just for that ambiance alone and that attracts business. A small town without a heritage main street attracts no one.

Restoration keeps money within the community, by requiring fewer materials from outside and more labour-intensive work by local trades.

With the right programs in place, businesses and building owners can take advantage of government programs and incentives to maintain and restore heritage buildings.

Restoration reduces construction and demolition waste and uses less than half the energy of new construction.

Heritage preservation is an investment in our community that rewards us today and leaves an invaluable resource for future generations.Benefits of Heritage Building ConservationPreservation of heritage buildings is a vital component of urban revitalization efforts. There is an impressive variety of ways to look at the many ways that the conservation of heritage buildings helps us all.Heritage tourismis often rooted by historic buildings. These powerful, tangible connections to our past are the ways in which people today come in touch with the past. Heritage buildings are also increasingly accepted as important venues linking a new generation with an older one, and thus as places to be used foreducation and citizenship. Revitalizing old neighbourhoodsthe buildings and the landscapeensures that our quality of life is improved and thatcommunity cohesionis maintained. Thevolunteer activitythat often goes into maintaining and promoting heritage buildingswalking tours, neighbourhood activitiesis also recognized as a valuable way to keep people, especially seniors, active and involved in their community.Some of the most significant benefits from the conservation of heritage buildings are related to economic issues. The following collection of information is an introduction to this subject, and highlights some of the key issues and statistics associated with heritage building conservation.-- top --Economic BenefitsSome of the key economic benefits associated with the conservation of heritage buildings include: Businesses benefit from locating in heritage buildings and areas The growth in employment in the restoration industry in construction trades, professionals and product manufacturing Enhanced municipal tax base through restored individual buildings and areas Increased tourism Restoration is often cheaper than new construction-- top --Economic SustainabilityThe conservation of heritage buildings is often predicated on their economic sustainability, with the following important claims: Creates more local employment than does new construction Uses less energy than new construction Creates less waste then new construction Encourages the enhancement of existing neighbourhoods and infrastructure and opposes decay, urban sprawl and increased infrastructure costs-- top --LabourRestoration projects are also a boon to the labour force, being more labour intensive than new construction. Typically, labour represents 60-75% of project costs in a conservation project. For example the rehabilitation of a historic bank in Neepawa was 62% labour and 38% materials and the restoration of the Bank of Montreal at Portage and Main was over 70% labour.A study undertaken by the Government of Ontario indicated that rehabilitation was 66% more labour intensive than new construction.Several major government studies verify various preservationist groups' claims that rehabilitation is among the most labour-intensive industries: according to these reviews, the labour component of renovation proves to be 1.7 to 2.0 times that of new construction. Likewise, in a 1977 document by the U.S. Department of Interior,Conservation of the Urban Environment, it is stated that rehabilitation projects are as high as 75% labour-intensive versus 60% for new construction.In terms of the actual creation of jobs, testimony by the General Services Administration before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Buildings and Grounds indicates rehabilitation creates two to five times as many jobs as new building construction.-- top --Energy Savings BenefitsHeritage building conservation is a proven energy saver. The energy required to erect a new building is roughly equivalent to the energy required to operate it for 40 years. Demolishing an average-size house constructed in 1935 and replacing it with a new house in 1975 requires the energy equivalent to more than 1,600 gallons of gasoline.-- top --Less Waste - Environmentally FriendlyA Toronto study indicated that 16% of all landfill waste was from the construction industry and a good portion of that was due to demolition. Demolishing a typical brick house produces an average of 60-100 tons of waste. Due to the large amount of waste, the tipping fee at landfills has risen substantially in most urban centres. For example, in Toronto it rose 600% over a 7 year period.-- top --Tax Base StabilizationIn the Spring, 1992 issue ofThe Canadian Appraiser, a study of designated historic properties in London, Ontario concluded that 90% of the surveyed properties have performed better than average in the marketplace over the last thirty years. 100% of the historically designated properties surveyed did not lose money or increased in value when sold, and in many cases, the price of a heritage house was not affected by a general downturn in property values.-- top --Other BenefitsOne example of the cost-effectiveness of conservation over new construction was the rehabilitation of the historic Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Neepawa which was 22% less expensive than an equivalent new replacement building.Because the exterior building shell of a heritage building already exists, construction can take place in winter, and take advantage of more competitive pricing for contract work. Construction also can be more efficient due to the work space being warm.Rehabilitation of an existing building can have zoning benefits. For example, a site with a warehouse building that is tight to the property lines could allow 12 or more housing units whereas a new building would have to conform to current zoning laws which would allow only a duplex to be built on the same site (Winnipeg Housing and Rehabilitation Corporation experience).Winnipeg Housing and Rehabilitation Corporation experience indicates that, because the quality of materials is much higher in old buildings than in new, the occupants of their units show a greater level of respect to their surroundings, substantially reducing maintenance costs.Value of historic buildings 1. Historical Interest a.Relationship between the building and important historical incidents, periods or events b.Relationship between the building and important historical characters c. Importance of the building to Hong Kongs historical development d.Age of the building 2. Architectural Merit a.As an important example of a certain architectural style or type b.The architectural style, grid, decoration, artwork, technology and materials of the building have great value to the location concerned c. The appearance of the building enhances the beauty of the neighbourhood 3. Group Value a.Importance in a building cluster in a harmonious architectural design and style or as an integral component of an historical complex b.Importance in a building cluster showing common cultural value(s) or belonging to the same phase of historical development of Hong Kong. 4. Social Value and Local Interest a.As an important landmark which has commonly recognised symbolic or visual significance b.Has significance in terms of exhibiting cultural identity and / or in terms of extending the collective memory of the community 5. Authenticity a.If the building has undergone any alternations, the impact of the alterations on the historical significance and architectural integrity of the building b.Whether any alterations to the building have modified the cultural setting and the associated cultural landscapes. 6. Rarity a.Whether the building is rare due to its historical interest, architectural merit, group value, social value and local interest, and/or authenticity.

Heritage building means and includes any building of one or more premises or any partthereof and/or structure and/or artefact which requires conservation and / or preservation forhistorical and / or architectural and / or artisanary and /or aesthetic and/or cultural and/orenvironmental and/or ecological purpose and includes such portion of land adjoining suchbuilding or part thereof as may be required for fencing or covering or in any manner preservingthe historical and/or architectural and/or aesthetic and/or cultural value of such building.Heritage Precincts means and includes any space that requires conservation and /orpreservation for historical and / or architectural and/or aesthetic and/or cultural and/orenvironmental and/or ecological purpose. Walls or other boundaries of a particular area orplace or building or may enclose such space by an imaginary line drawn around it.Conservation means all the processes of looking after a place so as to retain its historicaland/or architectural and/or aesthetic and/or cultural significance and includes maintenance,preservation, restoration, reconstruction and adoption or a combination of more than one ofthese.Preservation means and includes maintaining the fabric of a place in its existing state andretarding deterioration.

Grading of Heritage BuildingsChapter - 6The primary objective of listing is to record extant architectural heritage and sites. But theoutcome of this process should invariably be to grade the listed heritage into a hierarchicalseries. This process must be undertaken in a rigorous and transparent manner by a multidisciplinaryteam of experts whose recommendations should be available for public scrutiny.The importance of this process cannot be underestimated because its results determinesubsequent conservation decisions. Such hierarchical categorisation facilitates the prioritisationof decisions relating to the future of architectural heritage and sites.This Charter recommends that buildings and sites be classified as Grade I, II and III indescending order of importance.Buildings and sites classified as Grade I and II should be conserved in accordance withthe provisions of official and legal manuals of practice (for example, ASIs Works Manual).Some Grade II buildings, however, and all other listed buildings and sites, i.e. Grade III, maybe conserved in accordance with principles enunciated in the INTACH Charter (Article 2.6).The decision to apply the principles enunciated in this Charter to Grade II buildings mustinvariably be based on the concurrence of the Advisory Committees of INTACH (Article 7.2.5).Article 2.6While the Western ideology of conservation advocates minimal intervention, Indiasindigenous traditions idealise the opposite. Western ideology underpins official and legalconservation practice in India and is appropriate for conserving protected monuments.However, conserving unprotected architectural heritage offers the opportunity to use indigenouspractices. This does not imply a hierarchy of either practice or site, but provides a rationale forencouraging indigenous practices and thus keeping them alive. Before undertakingconservation, therefore, it is necessary to identify where one system should be applied andwhere the other. For this purpose, it is necessary at the outset to make a comprehensiveinventory of extant heritage, both tangible and intangible, and separate it into two categories:A.i Buildings and sites protected by ASI, SDA and other government or nongovernmentagencies. Only the official and legal instruments of conservation and internationallyaccepted principles should be adopted here;A.ii Other listed buildings and sites which, though not protected by ASI, SDA andother government or non-government agencies, possessing heritage value or significanceequivalent to that of protected monuments. Here too, the official and legal instruments shouldbe adopted for their conservation;B. The remaining listed buildings and sites both modern and historic, including thoseproduced within the last hundred years. Here, the conservation strategy may adopt either theofficial and legal instruments of conservation or those rooted in indigenous building traditions.Hybrid strategies, inventively combining indigenous and official practices, can also be employedto conserve this heritage category. The decision to adopt indigenous practices should be basedon the availability of skilled and knowledgeable raj mistris. In all cases a rationale for the decision taken to adopt one or another system of conservation must be recorded.The process of listing should be constantly upgraded and the list updated in keepingwith the availability of fresh information, financial and material resources, advances intechnology and developments in the understanding of architectural heritage and itsconstituents.Article 7.2.5To further facilitate its goal of protecting architectural heritage, INTACH should establishinter-disciplinary Advisory Committees at the regional and national level. These Committeesshould act as clearing-houses for awarding grading for listed buildings and sites, conservationplans, assessment reports, scientific studies, funding proposals, legal and administrativemeasures for conserving the unprotected architectural heritage.Listed Heritage Buildings / Listed Heritage Precincts may be graded into three categories.The definition of these and basic guidelines for development permissions are as follows:Listing does not prevent change of ownership or usage. However, change of use of suchListed Heritage Building / Listed Precincts is not permitted without the prior approval of theHeritage Conservation Committee. Use should be in harmony with the said listed heritage site.Grade-I Grade-I Grade-I(A) Definition :Heritage Grade-I comprisesbuildings and precincts ofnational or historic importance,embodying excellence inarchitectural style, design,technology and material usageand/or aesthetics; they may beassociated with a great historicevent, personality, movement orinstitution. They have been andare the prime landmarks of theregion. All natural sites shall fallwithin Grade-I.Heritage Grade-II (A&B)comprises of buildings andprecincts of regional or localimportance possessing specialarchitectural or aesthetic merit,or cultural or historicalsignificance though of a lowerscale than Heritage Grade-I.They are local landmarks, whichcontribute to the image andidentity of the region. They maybe the work of master craftsmenor may be models of proportionand ornamentation or designedto suit a particular climate.Heritage Grade-III comprisesbuilding and precincts ofimportance for townscape; thatevoke architectural, aesthetic, orsociological interest through notas much as in Heritage Grade-II.These contribute to determinethe character of the locality andcan be representative of lifestyleof a particular community orregion and may also bedistinguished by setting , orspecial character of the faadeand uniformity of height, widthand scale.(B) Objective:Heritage Grade-I richly deservescareful preservation.Heritage Grade-II deservesintelligent conservationHeritage Grade-II deservesintelligent conservation (thoughon a lesser scale than Grade-IIand special protection to uniquefeatures and attributes).

(C) Scope for Changes:No interventions be permittedeither on exterior or interior of theheritage building or naturalfeatures unless it is necessary inthe interest of strengthening andprolonging the life of thebuildings/or precincts or any partor features thereof. For thispurpose, absolutely essentialand minimum changes would beallowed and they must be inconformity with the original.Grade-II(A) : Internal changesand adaptive re-use may by andlarge be allowed but subject tostrict scrutiny. Care would betaken to ensure the conservationof all special aspects for which itis included in Heritage Grade-II.Grade-II (B) : In addition to theabove, extension or additionalbuilding in the same plot orcompound could in certaincircumstances, be allowedprovided that the extension /additional building is in harmonywith (and does not detract from)the existing heritage building(s)or precincts especially in terms ofheight and faade. (D) Procedure:Development permission for thechanges would be given on theadvice of the Heritage ConservationCommittee.Development permission for thechanges would be given on theadvice of the Heritage ConservationCommittee.Development permission forchanges would be given on theadvice of the Heritage ConservationCommittee. (E) Vistas / SurroundingDevelopment :All development in areassurrounding Heritage Grade-Ishall be regulated and controlled,ensuring that it does not mar thegrandeur of, or view fromHeritage Grade-I.All development in areas surroundingHeritage Grade-II shallbe regulated and controlled, ensuringthat it does not mar thegrandeur of, or view from HeritageGrade-IIAll development in areas surroundingHeritage Grade-III shallbe regulated and controlled, ensuringthat it does not mar thegrandeur of, or view from HeritageGrade-III.