Information Flow Settings in Building Rehabilitation

Abstract

ABSTRACT:Apart from the usual field technical survey information for establishing the building configurations and fabric conditions, information flow for a rehabilitation project begins earlier with the need for authenticating the building as a significant heritage item and ends subsequently with validating the rehabilitation of the building. These three genres of the information are recognized under three information settings. This study investigates the first, the setting associated with authenticating the significance of the building. The discussion is structured around the process of evaluating building significance for the purpose of listing the building on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and, accordingly, recognizes the NRHP framework for nominating properties to the Register. With due consideration to the concomitant information and documentation along the nomination process, and with the "historic context" as a core significance assessment strategy, the study aims at: a) explaining the configuration of the historic context; b) clarifying the role of the building itself in developing the historic context; and, c) identifying the attributes of information flow. The study arrived at the following conclusions. Investigating "the information associated with authenticating the significance of the building," the focus of this study, as an information setting of a spectrum of three helps define the global information flow in building rehabilitation. Steeped in research, the historic context configuration and development steps regulate the information flow of this setting. The knowledge and dexterity of the researcher in configuring and developing the historic context enhances the clarity and characteristics of information flow.

A Methodology to Regulate Transformation of a City’s Appearance Due to Energy Efficiency Building Renovations: A Case Study: Errenteria (Spain)

“…The authorship, drafting and execution dates and other features of the project should be duly verified by bibliographic and archival research; -Typological homogeneity: although the concept of architectural typology has been defined and interpreted diversely over the course of history [34][35][36], we could understand it as being the set of architectural, compositional, construction-related and functional features of a building complex that result in a homogeneous image and enable its respective recognition as a landscape clearly identified in the memory of the urban fabric; -Chromatic homogeneity: color is a vital component of the urban landscape, as it offers unique visual experiences and a perception of the surroundings that affects citizens' emotions. The growing chromatic homogeneity of new façade skins depending on the fashions of the moment and the lack of integration with the color of the existing urban landscape are disfiguring the image of the city [37][38][39]; -Alteration degree: the interventions undertaken over the course of time have distorted to a greater or lesser extent the original configuration and image of the complex, hence conditioning the greater or lesser impact of future actions; -Recognized quality: the urban and architectural quality and singularity of the complex, consolidated in time and recognized in specialty publications and various media or obtained by other analysis methods [40]. Many building estates and complexes with high urban and architectural value built between the 1940s and the 1980s are still not included in heritage protection catalogues and run a high risk of being totally deconfigured by current and future interventions; -Authorship relevance: the recognized relevance of the designer or designers of the building complex should also be considered; -Location of the complex: the location of the neighborhood or building complex in the municipality's urban fabric can minimize or maximize the impact of any possible intervention; -Number of buildings: the built volume of the complex is another factor to consider due to its multiplying effect.…”