Historic Preservation Architecture Firms: Their Role in Sustaining History

Many people are attached to their childhood homes for different reasons. A house, whether a childhood one or a current one, is more than just brick and mortar. You deposit memories in every room and even the porch or yard. You find people going back to see old homes or even buying them because of the attachment. And when one is pulled down or destroyed, there is always someone wishing it could be different.

It should not come as a surprise that the preservation of historic buildings is actually a thriving sector. If you can have such an attachment to your old home, how much more it is for a building that is considered a natural treasure. It is not only for the beauty and sometimes timeless design; it is much more about preserving the rich history usually attached to them. Check out this article that explains more about historic preservation and why it is important.

Historic Preservation: What It Means

It is the protection and preservation of land, structures, and buildings that carry a rich history reflecting parts of the national or local economic, cultural, archeological, social, and architectural background of a place. Most of these preservative efforts are associated and focused on buildings, but it is much more than that. It could be anything that is part of the history of an area, not just the old buildings. 

Preservation of these buildings, lands, sites or items is a complex job. Apart from having the required skills to protect and preserve, historic preservation architecture firms and bodies must also sift through them all to know what needs to be called historic. In addition, they must follow all stipulated regulations locally, statewide, and nationally. It is a multi-faceted job and only specialized and licensed firms can carry it out.

Difference Between Preservation and Conservation

It is crucial not to use preservations and conservation as synonyms when it comes to historic work. Typically, the words mean the same thing. They represent the same jobs and people tend to use them in an interchangeable manner, replacing one for another without losing their meaning. In some countries, there is no difference when these words come up within the same context. However, they do not mean the same thing in the U.S.

The primary difference between both in this context is what they represent. Conservation can come under preservation because the latter has broader coverage than the former. People or firms that specialize in the field of preservation can cover different fields, from architecture, landscape architecture, museums, and engineering to historic archeology, advocacy, heritage tourism, conservation, and construction. The list is long and broad.

On the other hand, conservation tends to cover cultural or natural property. Those with specialties in this field are grouped in two: conservators and conservationists. Conservators have the job of working on cultural property while conservationists have the job of working on natural or environmental property. 

Both fields are vast and different, but you often find them working together. Click here https://www.nps.gov/ to read more about the categories of people who work in historic preservation.

Steps in a Preservation Project

The following are important steps in a historic preservation project:

Assessment. There are two parts in this step: physical and architectural assessment. As a professional, it is obvious why a building, site, structure, or item should be preserved. But is it also obvious to the community? You must also determine the structure’s condition; what needs to be fixed or replaced.

Usage. A vacant house or property will run down quicker than one that is not in use. Therefore, the building must have a purpose that brings in enough to keep the entire building running. Even if it is currently in use, the firm in charge of preserving it must decide if it is enough to cater to the building’s maintenance in the long run.

Action. It is crucial to create a document detailing the steps you intend to take in preserving the building. If you need outside funding, the document will play a vital role in convincing funders to shell out their money. Therefore, be as detailed and thorough as possible.

The next step is to secure the funds you need and begin work on the property. You will need the right people for the job if you do not already have them. That is where preservation architecture firms come into play.

Maintenance. The final step is maintenance. After all the detailed work, maintaining the property is crucial. You will need trained personnel to keep a keen eye on it to ensure it does not fall to ruin.

Conclusion

The role of historic preservation architecture firms in sustaining history is vital. You will find several of such firms around the country and if you have a need for them, go online and find one that meets your desires.