There are currently four primary conservation treatments used in architectural conservation: preservation, rehabilitation, restoration, and reconstruction. Preservation focuses on maintenance and repair of existing historic materials while retaining the original form. Rehabilitation allows for alterations or additions to a historic property to meet continuing uses while retaining historic character. Restoration aims to depict a particular period by restoring a building to its original pure form, removing traces of other periods. Reconstruction recreates vanished or non-surviving portions of a building through interpretive recreation using new materials.

1. Architectural
Conservation
Current Conservation Treatments

2. What am I talking about?
Architectural conservation deals with issues in
prolonging the life & integrity of architectural
character such as form and style, and/or its
constituent materials.

3. How many
current treatments are there
in the architectural
conservation
movement?
What?
‘Current treatments’
here is referring to the
many architectural
approaches used in
today's context

4. Four! Empat! Cuatro!
primary conservation treatments
Note
There are actually 6
means of conservation
treatments, the two not
mentioned are Adaptive
Reuse & Facadism. This
presentation will shed
light on 4 primary
treatments instead.

5. Preservation
Rehabilitation
Restoration
Reconstruction
Note
There are actually 6
means of conservation
treatments, the two not
mentioned are Adaptive
Reuse & Facadism. This
presentation will shed
light on 4 primary
treatments instead.

6. 1. Preservation
The term, ‘Preservation’ in the Architectural
Conservation context refers to :
➔ Maintenance & Repair
Existing historic materials
➔ Retention of Form
As the property has evolved over time

7. Sultan Abdul Samad
Building
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
(Opposite Dataran Merdeka)
1897

8. What's the situation?
The government has been focusing on
newer developments, like the River of
Life, neglecting efforts in preserving
historical buildings.
Did you know?
The land for this building
was initially the
settlement of Yap Ah
Loy and was used as a
vegetable garden.

9. Contributions?
Protective measures were not taken
during River of Life project - Algae
Sense of place is slowly fades as
development takes place due to poor
urban planning - Identity
Only NGOs and voluntary specialists
actively aid in the architectural
conservation movement. - Awareness
Did you know?
Sultan Abdul Samad is
more that 120-years old.

10. Old Boma Dar Es Salaam
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
1866

11. What’s so special?
Traditional East African Coastal
Architecture
Zanzibari-Style Carved Wooden Door
called Omani doors
The thick walls are of coral rubble set
in lime mortar and plastered white
Floors are coral blocks laid on cut
rafters and coral stone walls.
Tip
Talk about the coral as a
material in this building.
Why?

12. Challenges
Nearly demolished in 1970s to give
way to a multi-storey hotel
Saved by a high-court injunction
obtained by the citizens concern on
preserving the most important historic
monument in the city
What is it today?
Boma now houses the
Dar Es Salaam Centre
for Architectural
Heritage (DARCH), a
tourist information
centre and a permanent
exhibition on
Architectural evolution
of Dar Es Salaam

13. 2. Rehabilitation
The term, ‘Rehabilitation’ in the Architectural
Conservation context refers to :
➔ Alter or Add
A historic property to meet continuing
or changing users
➔ Retain Historic Character
The identity is not forgotten as
adaption proceeds.

14. Notre-Dame Cathedral
Basilica of Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
1880

15. What’s the story here?
Community and Religious services for
French colonialists
Has 2 bell towers reaching 58 metres
All building materials were imported
from France.
Did you know?
A new church could
have been built over this
cathedral basilica, but
the people wanted to
retain its original
function and built like in
the 19th century

16. Why is there a need?
After 140 years, the church has
weathered and some parts have been
vandalised or damaged naturally
Did you know?
The French architect
who attended to this
Cathedral Basilica knew
how to build this
building as it is a copy of
the Cathedral Basilica in
France.

17. Efforts
27,000 roof tiles were purchased from
France
Bricks were purchased from Germany
for the walls
Did you know?
Despite the contractor
not using coated
concrete, the bricks
have retained their
bright red colour until
today

18. Efforts
The bell tower still retains its 19th
century character, adapting to the
modern luxury - Electricity
The bells were fixed and was set to
ring at the correct time - Automated
Stained glass was purchased from
France
Did you know?
The fundings for this
rehabilitation project
came from the citizens
around.

19. 3. Restoration
The term, ‘Restoration’ in the Architectural
Conservation context refers to :
➔ Depiction of a Particular Period
Restore in it purest/original form
➔ Removing Evidence/Traces
Traces of other periods are removed to
restore the building to its rightful period
of existence.

20. Architectural conservation movement
doesn’t necessarily require a big building.
It’s about the values
that reside in the
action in wanting to
preserve
Quote
Little drops of water
make a mighty ocean
- Terry Hogan

21. Penang Clan Jetty
Penang, Malaysia
Late 1800s

22. What’s the story?
One of the last bastions of the Chinese
waterfront settlements in Penang
Started off as docking for loading and
unloading catered to the settlements
Tourism has given some jettys a light
in a dark tunnel
Each jetty is named after a Chinese
clan
Did you know?
There used to be 7 jettys
in the vicinity. One of
them was set ablaze
some time back
resulting in damage of
the nearby jettys

23. What are we doing?
The state government of Penang has
made attempts to restore the jetty by
replacing planks and maintaining the
main pathways on the Clan Jetties
Did you know?
The Clan Jetty is
registered as part of
Georgetown's UNESCO
Heritage Site.

24. Théâtre de Port Louis
Port Louis, Mauritius
1822

25. What’s it all about?
Listed in the National Heritage list as
being a very significant colonial and
historic building
This architecture theater was built in
the beginning of the British
colonization
Managed by the municipality, it is a
five-tier building famous for its
architecture and performance such as
local drama, jazz and classical music
Did you know?
This teather only
presented shows and
plays in French until
their independence in
1968

26. The Methodology
The main design objective was not to
transform but to preserve the original
structure while implementing original
construction methods and techniques
The technical aspects for the proper
functioning of a theater was
integrated with the design
Did you know?
The materials and
finishes used in the
initial design were kept
as the renovation
proceeded.

27. 4. Reconstruction
The term, ‘Reconstruction’ in the Architectural
Conservation context refers to :
➔ Recreation
Re-creates vanished or non-surviving
portions
➔ Interpretive
Aesthetically interpreted with new
materials

28. Malacca Sultanate
Palace
Melaka, Malaysia
Late 1986

29. What’s the story?
After the death of Hang Jebat, in the
hands of Hang Tuah at the palace,
Sultan Mansor Shah issued the palace
to be burnt down, fearing that it may
have been cursed
The second palace built was called the
Mahligas and it too was set ablaze due
to a fire on the roof during dry season
Did you know?
1511, the Portuguese
attacked Malacca and
destroyed the 3rd
palace built.

30. What so special?
The palace is rebuilt as a replica that
hosts a cultural museum about
Malacca’s history
No nails were used in the construction
Built based on the previous 3 palaces
of Sultan Mansor Shah with the help of
the Malay historical records and local
artist
No reference to actual scale and
proper building drawings
Did you know?
Mahligas Palace was 8
times bigger than the
current palace that’s 7-
storeys

31. Ninen-zaka Street
Kyoto, Japan
1975

32. Story Time
The pavement was originally built as
the approach to the Kiyomizudera
Temple in Kyoto
Did you know?
As a tourist spot, the city
limits the building
materials, height and
usage in strict
regulations.

33. Story Time
The area was reconstructed in 1975
and now the stone pavements line up
with the shops, guest houses, cafes and
etc. along the street
Did you know?
Along the street, you’ll
notice many examples
of renovation in the
effort of conservation
with various functions;
souvenir shops, cafes,
guesthouses, galleries
and etc.

34. Story Time
Everything in the area is designed
carefully as significant reform isn't
allowed
Even the Starbucks is designed with
the conserved facade and interior,
creating a very unique space with a
one-of a kind experience
Fun fact
This is the world's first
Tatami-style Starbucks

35. Story Time
The area was reconstructed in 1975
and now the stone pavements line up
with the shops, guest houses, cafes and
etc. along the street
Did you know?
As a tourist spot, the city
limits the building
materials, height and
usage in strict
regulations.

36. Why is conservation
important?
Represent reflections on the importance of a
significant point in time
It provides character, history and a strong sense
of origin for the people
Cultural heritage tourism is what the world
needs today. - Understanding
Did you know?
Malaysia started its
conservation movement
30-40 years ago. Though
slowly, the seed has
already been planted
and people are slowly
adapting, creating more
good examples of
conservation.

37. Conservation in Reality
High Traffic
(Users) results in
the creation of
good flow of
Revenue
Recognition
results in the
creation of a
Magnet
Magnets results in
the creation of
draw in Traffic
(Users)

38. Architectural
conservation
is a very powerful
tool if used
strategically.
Note
Malaysia has started the
conservation movement
30-40 years ago. Though
slowly, the seed has
already been planted.

39. Thank you!