Climate change and heritage
Heritage is not physical objects or traditions in themselves, but what a community believes should represent its past. This is bound to change. Even now, in some South American countries and elsewhere, there is an ongoing reassessment of which past they believe is appropriate for national identity.
There will be societal responses to both climate change and heritage. It is not just the change in climate itself that will affect heritage but how societies react to any pressure to modify or redefine it. There are various possible scenarios, from the extreme to the likely. We should not underestimate the extreme.
Climate change could become such a moral imperative that we would no longer wish to identify with any past connected to energy profligacy. Despite age, ubiquity and a recognition that it was a reflection of its time, all association could be censured. This would be similar to attitudes to past slavery, which has all these characteristics. Anything associated with activities, such as coal mining or oil extraction, and anything funded by these activities, would no longer be considered worthy as heritage. The impact would be enormous.
An opposite outcome, also based on severe climatic outcomes, is that social disruption and global disaster might turn communities in on themselves. Anything which reinforces identity and provides a memory of more favourable times would be held in special regard. The value of heritage would be enhanced, and new or more recent aspects of the past could become heritage. This is more likely, and would be an acceleration and extension of the current condition, where globalisation has reinforced interest in locality and tradition.
A further outcome more in line with projections is a demographic move from areas degraded or with rising sea levels, to areas more amenable to settlement. This is already happening. Places affected by desertion will either be abandoned or will have to adapt. If they have a heritage value and are to survive for occupation, viable economic conditions will have to be created and consideration given to the consolidation of the population into buildings to be preserved. One consequence would be a reconsideration of how to adapt the surviving heritage.
There are current discussions on whether to and how to improve the resistance to energy loss in occupied heritage. External insulation, solar panels and double or triple glazing have all been suggested, but their impact on the appearance of historic buildings can significantly alter their heritage value. There are two potential responses to this.
The first is a more evolutionary, rather than preservationist view of heritage. Many buildings have been preserved at an arbitrary moment in their history, arresting a process of change that would have continued had there been no legal action to arrest it. The problem has been unsympathetic modern materials, the novelty culture of mainstream architecture and the Unesco Venice Charter principles, whereby additions have to be obvious and clearly ‘modern’. A greater tolerance of sympathetic change, whereby the character of the building is maintained, would provide opportunities for increasing energy performance without destroying or compromising the memory-value of the original heritage.
The second potential response is to recognise the energy saving already locked in existing structures. Centuries of continued use represent a significant energy saving in relation to even a modest history of replacement. Currently, energy saving is measured in terms of savings in active energy input due to greater efficiency in energy loss. Nowhere in these calculations is there an agreed measure for the major significance of longevity and nowhere, even among those who recognise the value of future longevity, is there any credit for retrospective energy saving.
While retrospective energy saving or an energy credit may be difficult to countenance with the concept of future action to moderate climate change, the principle that ‘the greenest building is the one already built’ is gaining in support. This principle will inevitably affect built heritage. We will most likely have to take a more critical and flexible view of adaptation and modification – and hence the integrity of heritage – and provide an appropriate and sympathetic architectural approach to more radical adaptation.
This article originally appeared in the Institute of Historic Building Conservation’s (IHBC’s) Context 171, published in March 2022. It was written by Robert Adam, a classical and traditional architect, urban designer, author and educator with the Robert Adam Architectural Consultancy.
--Institute of Historic Building Conservation
Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Conservation.
- Heritage conservation and the sustainability of cities.
- Heritage.
- IHBC articles.
- Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
- Planning for sustainable historic places.
- Reconciling conservation and sustainable development.
- Retrofit.
- Sustainability and Conservation of the Historic Built Environment - an IHBC Position Statement.
- Sustainability.
- Urban Heritage, Development and Sustainability.
- World Heritage and Sustainable Development: new directions in world heritage development.
IHBC NewsBlog
HEF’s Heritage Sector Resilience Plan launched
The Heritage Sector Resilience Plan, developed by the Historic Environment Forum (HEF) with the support of Historic England, has been launched.
Common Commitment to all Ireland’s heritage – North South Agreement on Vernacular Heritage
An ‘All-Island’ commitment to Ireland’s vernacular heritage has been established with the signing of the North South Agreement on Vernacular Heritage, supporting traditional buildings etc.
Bristol Harbourside landmark Canons House gets GII listing
Canons House, a landmark building on Bristol Harbourside, has been awarded Grade II (GII) listed status having been built as a regional headquarters for Lloyds Bank between 1988 and 1991 (Arup)
BRE/BEIS project to modernise home energy rating scheme
The Building Research Establishment (BRE) has announced a new project with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to improve and modernise the home energy rating scheme used to measure the energy and environmental performance of UK homes.
Interdisciplinary IHBC accreditation recognised by CSCS for PQP Cards
Sector lead the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has recognised the IHBC’s professional accreditation and support (CPD etc.) in awarding its PQP (Professionally Qualified Person) cards.
IHBC Heritage Marketplace provides learning-led virtual engagement
The IHBC’s 2022 Aberdeen School Heritage MarketPlace (4.30-7.30PM, 15 June) is designed to extend the scope of a traditional IHBC School exhibition floor.
Unearthing the history of Gloucester’s 'the Fleece' Hotel starts
Work to repair a fire-hit medieval hotel in Gloucester is underway as crews have started work to strip back some of the modern trappings and reveal the historic framework.
Booking Open for IHBC Annual School: Aberdeen, 16-18 June 2022
Options for in-person and virtual delegates to explore ‘heritage on the edge’ across up to 4 days of IHBC engagement & learning.
European Heritage Heads Forum statement on Ukraine
The Secretariat to the European Heritage Heads Forum has has coordinated its declaration of solidarity and support for Ukraine’s cultural heritage institutions.
Welcome to #IHBC25 – 25 years since we turned professional
2022 will see the IHBC mark a quarter of a century since our incorporation as a professional body supporting and accrediting built and historic environment conservation specialists. We’re kick-starting it by inviting your ideas on how to mark this special year!