3.1 A vision on facadism as an approach to redevelopment in the Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro The previous chapter shortly introduced the term
between the historical facade and the internal form,
of facadism and the wide range of thought this
in the case of facadism, seems to present more
phenomenon evokes. This chapter elaborates
conflicts. From a Modernist approach facadism
on whether or not facadism can be seen as an
is being mentioned as being a ‘fake architecture’
appropriate approach to urban conservation and
and in addition, Robert Venturi, in his highly
redevelopment of built heritage in World Heritage
influential book Complexity and Contradiction in
cities and - more specifically - in the World Heritage
Architecture (1966), refers towards it as ‘the false
city of Querétaro, based on a personal vision
front’. Also, “where a listed building is the object
considering various theories on the concept of
of proposed demolition or alteration in order to
facadism.
provide new accommodation, a conflict will almost inevitably occur between the developer and the
After a short introduction to facadism on an
conservationist. (...) This often results in some
urban and architectural scale in general, the
form of compromise which permits alteration
following paragraphs elaborate on facadism from
and modernization of the existing building,
the townscape perspective and the architectural
provided that those elements considered worthy
perspective separately, focused on the HMZQ.
of preservation are retained as part of the overall
After this a comprehensive and personal vision,
scheme” (Highfield, 1991). In the case of World
considering divergent arguments, has been
Heritage, these ‘elements considered worthy of
formulated on facadism as an approach to urban
preservation’ are the attributes conveying the OUV
redevelopment in the HMZQ dealing with the
of a property. However, since the majority of listed
role of facadism in heritage conservation and
buildings or ensembles owe their status to the value
redevelopment.
of their exteriors in the first place, the most common compromise seems to be to retain the exterior but
On an urban scale, facadism seems to provide an
alter the internal form of the building or ensemble.
adequate solution on the grounds that “it is a valid
This can be seen as a threat to many heritage sites.
method of urban conservation which enables the retention of familiar historic streetscapes or
This going back and forth between the need for
formal set pieces of urban design” (Richards, 1994).
urban development and urban conservation gets
Streetscapes stay intact, regardless the events
the discussion going whether a historical facade
behind the concerning facades. This approach
and/or its internal form should be preserved or
immediately introduces the disregard of the fabric
whether new development needs should be
behind historic facades, possibly and even probably
answered to. In these management practices on
containing value as well as the facade cannot
architectural buildings or ensembles in World
be seen separately from the internal form of the
Heritage cities a point of view should be taken
building. On this architectural scale the relation
thoughtfully taking the preservation and/or
Facadism as an approach to redevelopment and conservation of World Heritage / Cultural Heritage and Sustainability: Historic Monuments Zone of Querétaro
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