Definitions

• Built vernacular heritage includes all structures that stem from the presence of a community on the land and that reflect its cultural and social identity.



• All of these material expressions are the result of a common activity on the part of the society that creates them.



• This heritage displays a recognisable local or regional character.


• It falls within a wide range of material, social and economic parameters.



• It reflects a set of strictly functional responses to each of the requirements it satisfies.



• It involves a dynamic process in which each of the built solutions are gradually developped and moulded.



• The knowledge and customs involved are passed on by word of mouth and reflect the tradition of the community, both with regard to design and construction, and functional programmes producing them.



• This manner of creating vernacular building results in architectural forms that appear irregular but are in fact deeply ordered.

GENERAL ISSUES

• Built vernacular heritage represents a significant part of our cultural heritage since its nature is based on a number of principles which grant it relevance in man's collective memory.



• It derives directly from man and from the community that created it and lived in such a heritage. The different aspects and expres sions are directly produced by or very closely involved with the users themselves.
  
  
• Built vernacular heritage constitutes an overall imprint left by man on the land. It does not only include houses and urban centres but also utilitarian or productive architecture, enclosed infrast ructure, terraces, and any other elements that make up the human transformation of the ladscape.


• Vernacular heritage represents a substantial part of the cultural landscape. Both are facets of the same reality and thus cannot be considered in isolation.



• This heritage constitutes one of the most complete expressions of the cultural identity of a community and of its integration with the environment.



• The unique and specific nature of the architectural response by each community results in the great variety and wealth of the built heritage that exists throughout the different regions of the world.



• It must be considered, therefore, to be of the highest value in our cultural heritage and represent that part of it which is most closely linked with the human presence.
  
  
  

CURRENT PROCESSES

• In recent times, the multiplication of relations between regions and countries, the rapid development of communications, of the media and the improvement of the distribution of goods, are all factors leading to an increasingly homogeneous culture, which results in uniform cultural expression and architecture. This new cividisation which, in many areas, entails unquestionably positive achievements in the improvement of the quality of life, also rep resents, on the other hand, a danger to the diversity and wealth of indigenous and vernacular structures.
  
  
• This process is currently expressed in very different ways or degrees in different regions throughout the world:
  
  
  
  • There are regions and countries in the world whose indigenous cultures are still living although they are in increasing contact with the new urban civilisation.
  
  
  
  • In other regions, a process can be seen and which has diverse aspects, some of these are transformed while others maintain their vernacular tradition.
  
  
  
  • In other areas, these vernacular structures have been transformed and integrated into an even more urban and uniform culture, but they do retain, however, an important vernacular heritage which they have inherited from past ages.
  
  
  
  • In other countries, there is a new trend towards accepting the obvious aspects of the vernacular tradition in order to incorporate them into new building models.
  
  
  
• Any analysis of vernacular heritage, as well as any initiatives or work on it, must bear in mind the situation in each area as the needs may be different.



• What is certainly true in every case is that this process of transformation and the appearance of vernacular cultures is moving at great speed. This process has intensified and become widespread in the last third of the 20th century and it has reached such a rate that it is now jeopardising the conservation of the world's cultural diversity.

AIMS

• The principle that priority in any programme or work must take into account the highest degree of the well-being for the population is reaffirmed. In many cases, the transformations wrought by the new civilisation entail basic and in an unquestionable improvement in the standard of living for the community. However, such transformations may cause irreversible damage to cultural wealth through the vernacular heritage and the identity and the diversity it represents for society. The conservation of both values must be made compatible and make the different communities richer culturally and socially.
  
• Emphasis should be placed on promoting compatible uses and balan ced responses between the technical progress offered by modern-day civilisation and the unique and specific nature of the vernacular heritage.
  
• This integration and balance must be one of the foundations laid for long-term sustainable development. It may provide the basis for an enhanced adaptation of the new civilisation and the diversity of regions and cultural areas, making the whole world culturally richer.
  
• Built vernacular heritage brings to this new balance a number of values which must always be taken into account.
  
  
  
  • Cultural value. As a testimony of human activity, of the integration of man in the environment, of the cultural wealth and diversity of our world.
  
  
  
  • Economic value. Vernacular heritage constitutes wealth already in existence, a transformation of the landscape whose material value is high and whose disappearance may represent an unnecessary economic loss. It also forms the basis of economic activities that benefit society.
  
  
  
  • Functional value. This heritage teaches us a wide range of ways of adapting to the environment and to social requirements that are perfectly valid and relevant to the present day.
    
    
  Consequently, it is deemed necessary to set out a broad range of steps or strategies to achieve the aims.
  
  

PROPOSALS FOR THE PROTECTION OF VERNACULAR HERITAGE

In order to be able to conserve the vernacular heritage and pass it on to future generations, four lines of action are proposed.

Legal or regulatory proposals.

Identification of the vernacular heritage.

• Systematic research and identification of such heritage should be carried out. To do so, inventories should be made of all traditional architecture including both do mestic and auxiliary production units, public, productive, ecclesiastic and other structures. This work of identifi cation and inventory must take account of all these elements and their interrelationship.



• Comprehensive and detailed documentary recording of all the elements making up this heritage is essential using suitable media.
  
  

Cataloguing and protection.

• Once the vernacular heritage has been identified, any element necessary in order to fully express the testimony of the community's culture shall be classified and protec ted. They may be compatible with the rational and desira ble functions that such community may be likely to assimi late.


• Legislative framework. It is necessary to protect this heritage as cultural property under legislation which may or may not be specific but which should certainly provide a guarantee of conservation for that heritage.



• In view of the physical complexity of the vernacular heritage and its deep-rooted integration in the landscape, any protection and active revitalisation must take place within the framework of land regulations and town plan ning. There is a need here to ensure that heritage protection laws and land planning regulations harmonize.
  
  
• Land and town planning and regulations shall take into account the specific cultural landscape characteristics of each site and shall stress the treatment of vernacular settlements as groups and their integration into the landscape.
  
  
• In those places where vernacular cultures are still living, planning must conserve the positive aspects and cultural values of that community and integrate them with any necessary contributions the new urban civilisation can make.
  
  
• Land and town planning and regulations shall take into account the specific cultural landscape characteristics of each site and shall stress the treatment of vernacular settlements as groups and their integration into the landscape.
  
  
• At those sites where the original indigenous culture has been transformed, vernacular heritage shall be made compa tible with the new uses demanded by the society. The cata logued structures shall be restored following scientific restoration criteria, and always preserving authenticity while staying in use.
  
  
• Any buildings added to vernacular architectural sites should be in harmony and provide a balance with the existing heritage and with the landscape into which they are introduced, although this must also be compatible with creativity.
  
  
• In any event, the fundamental guarantee of balance and efficiency in planning is provided by civic participation in the process of drafting and debating such planning.
  
  

ECONOMIC AND FUNCTIONAL PROPOSALS

• Any vernacular heritage planning proposal must take into account its economic value as built heritage and one that may be used. Restoration and maintenance of the existing buildings and structures represent a saving resources and enhanced use of existing wealth. Conservation and revitalisation of the vernacular heritage, therefore, is in itself a source of wealth belonging to society.
  
• The residential use of urban centres and buildings making up the vernacular heritage must form the basis of a strategy to maintain and revitalise such sites. Housing policies should increasingly favour rehabilitation as opposed to the prevailing emphasis on new housing. The construction of new houses is simply a waste of society's resources when there is unoccupied residential heritage available.
  
  
• Public funds allocated to financing and promoting the housing sector must be increased for rehabilitation and renovation in both urban and rural areas, especially for the vernacular heritage.
  
  
• Cultural tourism may represent a complementary activity to residential activity in the revitalisation of the vernacular heritage. Any work in this respect must be based on a balance between the economic activity that tourism may generate and the conservation of this heritage.
  
  
• The creation of tourism circuits may be a factor in establishing regional balance to avoid tourism being concentrated in specific areas and, at the same time, provide a boost to more remote areas that are in need of revitalisation.
  
  
• Rural tourism may offer an additional contribution to the revitalisation of certain traditional settlements or individual buildings.
  
  
• Programmes promoting traditional crafts or building skills used in repairing the vernacular heritage must represent a source of job creation both in training programmes and in subsequent renovation work.
  
  

RECOVERY OF TRADITIONAL BUILDING SYSTEMS

• The maintenance and recovery of traditional building systems forms an essential part of the conservation of the vernacular heritage. These systems should be available for their use by the resident population itself. They constitute an adaptable method closely linked to construction and continuous maintenance.
  
  
• These traditional systems comprise:
  
  
  
  
  • Production, distribution and use on site of materials.
  
  
  
  • Building skills.
  
  
  
  • Physical characteristics.



• These traditional systems frequently afford more suitable and adapted solutions than modern ones, both for the renovation of vernacular heritage and even for the construction of new buildings.
  
• Both research into and knowledge of traditional systems are necessary to conserve the vernacular heritage:
  
  
  
  
  • Teaching building skills.
  
  
  
  • Promoting or subsidising the production of materials that have fallen into disuse or are in danger of disappearing.
  
  
  
  • Adjusting regulations to suit traditional solutions.
  
  

EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL APPROACH

• Public authorities must be made aware of the importance of the vernacular heritage and of the need to protect and preserve it, understanding that the value of this heritage must be considered to be equal to that of a major monument.
  
  
• Public authorities must demonstrate the community the values of its vernacular architecture and stress that it is a product of the community itself.
  
  
• They must include cultural, functional and historical values of this legacy at all levels of education.
  
  
• This heritage must be considered as a part of our future and of our cultural enrichment.
  
  
• Public participation is essential in this process. This must exist at the following levels:
  
  
  
  
  • Decision-making level: including executive, professional, resident, local and other committees.
  
  
  
  • Local level: including training of technicians, craftsmen ond other professionals in the community.
  
  
  
  • Financial programme: shared responsibilities.



• Different kinds of agents should be used to promote this heritage in a parallel strategy to the actions above.
  
  
  
  
  • Publications, documents
  
  
  
  • Media
  
  
  
  • Databases
  
  
  
  • Audiovisual media



• This work must be done by the community itself once the process of awareness-raising, appreciation and training has been completed.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION MEASURES

• International cooperation programmes should disseminate among countries the regulatory and legal systems for the the protection of this heritage. The more developped regions can contribute their experience in planning, cataloguing, or housing activity and tourism. Those regions that still conserve their traditional cultures can contribute their experience in the traditional building systems still used.



• International pilot programmes must be set up for the conser vation of vernacular culture areas. International financial bodies must provide economic support for these operations.



• Educational programmes on an international scale must be increased, both with regard to the study of the residential heritage and of building skills. The current concept of craft skills must be widened to encompass the recovery and revival of traditional buil ding systems.


• The means of disseminating this heritage on an international scale and its relevance for the cultural diversity and wealth of humanity must be sought.



• The conservation of World Heritage and the inclusion in the List of some of the most prestigious examples of the vernacular heritage should constitute an excellent means of disseminating the values of this legacy. The inclusion of outstanding examples of the vernacu lar heritage in the list should, therefore, be promoted. In this respect, the close relationship that exists between the vernacular heritage and the cultural landscapes must be underlined.



• All efforts to disseminate the vernacular heritage must aim to highlight its nature and significance, avoiding its loss and bringing about its revitalisation for the enrichment of future society. It would be unworthy of the history of man to lose this heritage which is his most striking testimony, and without which the unique monuments would be deprived of any context. Thus, it is tremendously important and necessary to conserve this heritage and pass it on to future generations.
  
  

CIAV
Jerusalem, March 28, 1996