METHODS, TECHNIQUES AND ORGANISATION OF THE RENEWAL OF HISTORIC TOWN COMPLEXES

Within the framework of the activities of the working group of socialist countries on the conservation of monuments of history, culture and museology the State Institute for the Protection of Monuments and Nature in Prague works out the subject of „Methods, Technique and Organisation of the Renewal of Historic Town Complexes”. The works are carried out in close cooperation with the State Institute for the Reconstruction of Historic Towns and Structures, the Research Institute of Building and Architecture in Prague, Department of Architecture in the Higher School of Engineering as well as with other institutes and specialists. T h e C o n c e p t to P r e s e r v e H i s t o r i c T o w n C om p l e x e s Basic assumptions of the strategy in the field of the preservation of historic towns are as follows: — — recognition and evaluation of historic urban complexes and the justification for the social need of their protection, — integrity of historic centres with contemporary urban units in order to guarantee a proper urban development of all complexes; historic complexes should create a permanent element of the historical heritage within the framework of new urban units, — professional renewal of historic urban structures and guarantee of their best use, — giving to historic town complexes a rank of an unique phenomenon constituting an element of both a new style of life and of natural environment. Studies on town complexes should start with their recording and evaluation. To this end, research methods leading to the identification of the complex should be specified and more effective systems of recording and evaluation must be chosen. The next stage should be an analysis of the legal system in the field of monuments protection in individual socialist countries in order to draw necessary conclusions on proposed changes or accomplishments. One should make use of the analysis of the effectiveness of operation of the existing legal norms. The concept of the protection of historic town complexes both with regard to towns and regions should pay attention to specific features of each country. These differences are the result of geographic, climatic, demographic conditions as well as the development of farming, industry, science and cultural traditions. One should however specify certain common major criteria and principles obligatory in the process of renewal. It is also important for historical complexes to become an integral part of the town structure and at the same time to preserve their specific character