Relics of War: Damaged Structures and Their Replacement or Management in Modern Landscapes

Abstract

All wars, large and small scale, have had impacts on the built environments enmeshed in the conflict. This is almost always an adverse reaction, often involving destruction, but can also include the construction of defensive or other features. Damaged sites can be redeveloped relatively quickly, though some can persist for decades and some evidence of damage may be deliberately retained for a range of reasons. Damaged structures may remain for decades or centuries, especially if built on a large scale, and, if surviving, may undergo re-evaluation and retention as heritage features. This paper explores the fate of a range of relict features from the Second World War, surviving into modern urban and rural landscapes through inaction or deliberate action. Using a wide range of examples particularly from the UK but also drawing on others from elsewhere in Europe, we explore the impact of conflict on such relics; their nature and scale, processes of decision-making affecting their treatment over the last seven decades, and their landscape impact. The physical legacy of this war still affects many communities. Changing values so long after the conflict, and the decay of unmaintained structures, gives an urgency to reviewing the future of surviving relics.

Ways of Recycling Construction Waste During the Post-War Reconstruction of Ruined Cities

“…Різні підходи до розв'язання цих проблем, питання перероблення, зберігання, знешкодження та утилізації були розглянуті такими фахівцями як Lori Ferriss, Larkham, Nasonova T.V., Troian V., Sandeep Nasier та ін. [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Але сьогодні в Україні, яка знаходиться в стані війни, а на її суверенній території тривають активні бойові дії, наслідком чого є руйнування міської інфраструктури та забудови, найбільш актуальними стають дослідження, що повʼязані з проблематикою наявності великих обсягів будівельних відходів, перспективними технологічними процесами переробки, зберігання, знешкодження та утилізації таких відходів, а особливо можливість подальшого їхнього використання, що розглядаються в наукових роботах [7,8].…”

Recycling of construction waste as an innovative direction of the program of post‐war reconstruction of destroyed cities

“…Various approaches to solving these problems, issues of processing, storage and disposal were considered by specialists such as Lori Ferriss, Larkham, Nasonova T.V., Troian V., Sandeep Nasier, etc. [1][2][3][4][5][6]. But today in Ukraine, which is in the state of war, and on its sovereign territory active hostilities continue, resulting in the destruction of urban infrastructure and buildings, the studies related to the large amounts of demolition waste, promising technological processes, storage, disposal and utilization of such wastes, and especially the possibility of their further use are the most relevant, which are considered in scientific research works [7][8][9][10].…”

Contemporary Effects of Post-war Urban Reconstruction in the German-Polish Border Region as Lessons for Ukrainian Reconstruction Processes

“…Immediately after the war, the destroyed town centres began to be deconstructed and plans were made for a rapid reconstruction that would meet the dramatic shortage of housing for the incoming population (in the Polish part of Pomerania there was a complete replacement of the population). Reconstruction required rapid action, hence preserving 'heritage values' was not a top priority (Larkham and Adams, 2022). A number of strategies were adopted on how to rebuild and how to approach the urban and historic heritage of urban settings:…”