An Integrated Methodology for the Conservation of Traditional Craftsmanship in Historic Buildings

Abstract

The aim of conservation is to sustain both the physical and intangible aspects of historical buildings and to transfer them to the future. Conservation needs to consider the intangible aspects of historic buildings as well as their physical and visible characteristics. It is as important to conserve and document traditional craftsmanship, the know-how, techniques and skills of the builders, as it is to preserve traditional architecture. Traditional craftsmanship is one of the domains of intangible cultural heritage to be safeguarded as defined in the UNESCO 2003 Convention. In the field of architecture, traditional craftsmanship is especially embodied in construction techniques and architectural ornamentation in historic buildings. As with the physical and architectural features of historic buildings, the means of safeguarding of their intangible aspects needs to be transmitted to the next generation. Historically, the transmission process used to be through the master-apprentice relationship. Nowadays, together with the loss of traditional building methods and drastic changes in building technology, the knowledge and skills of local builders and the related cultural expressions have been virtually forgotten by the present generation. This study therefore proposes an integrated conservation methodology to re-constitute master-apprentice relationships for the sustainability of traditional craftsmanship, considering both the intangible and tangible aspects. Such a methodology includes both the documentation of physical structures and of the related cultural expressions, the practising and transferring of the knowledge of building methods and the skills and techniques of builders to a new generation. This methodology is illustrated by means of a workshop which was organised in the Fine Arts Faculty in Selçuk University for one week in May 2013 which focused on the intergenerational transmission of the skills of ‘living human treasures’ of traditional architecture.