Genealogy of the architectural heritage: From historical document to reusable resource.

Abstract

From the point of view of the Reutilization –understood as the reuse of a building for a different function to the that for which was built–, the change of use of buildings has been a constant in the History of Architecture, transforming the original monument building into a hybrid one as a result of its historical evolution, enriching it in many cases but distorting it in many others. Attitudes to these interventions evolved at the same time as the appreciation for the heritage. Several trends of rehabilitation emerged, which sought to ensure the permanence of the monument in time despite the change of use. Besides, conferences were promoted with the purpose of developing a discussion framework from which fundamental guidelines for the proper conservation of heritage. Some ties between both ways of thinking were established, which became an institutional and legislative framework that would cause an impact in the development of the theory and practice of monument intervention.