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Preserving heritage structures, which include, but are not limited to, houses,
mills, churches, bridges and commercial buildings, protects a part of our history. Not only can
they give us an idea of how people lived and worked,
a glimpse
at the construction methods allow us to appreciate the craftsmanship
of old. Another often-overlooked benefit is environmental — by
leaving a structure standing, we keep its building materials
out of a landfill.
When it comes to conserving heritage structures, the general
agreement is the less intervention, the better. The goal is
to keep as much of the original craftsmanship and material as
possible, as these constitute the structure's historic character.
According to the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation
of Heritage Places in Canada, published by Parks Canada,
the three broad approaches to conservation are preservation,
rehabilitation, and restoration. It's quite possible that all
three will be used in the same project.
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| A building at the Fortress of Louisbourg, a reconstructed 18th-century fortified French town located on Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. |
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