Architecture in question : heritage and memory (Part A)

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

This course forms part of a group of teaching units on the physical and cultural condition of an architectural project in the context of a pre-existing building.

By the end of this course, students will be able to

• make use of other disciplines : seek out other concepts and methods, exchange and nurture thinking on architecture.
• test an artistic approach : apply a voluntary act to an uncertain beginning by bringing together elements which are a priori diffuse and heterogeneous to form a proposal which can be understood by others.
• implement a technical dimension : integrate and develop technical and academic knowledge on building to use them as a driver in efficient and sustainable architectural design.
• form a body of architectural knowledge : find references which, by analogy, open the way for other interpretations of the context.

Issues in Architecture: Heritage & Memory is also designed to prepare for the specialised Master¿s degree in restoration and heritage as well as the multidisciplinary approaches that graduates will meet in the professional world.

More specifically, the knowledge that students will gain from Module A: Preliminary Study and State of Property Report brings together the following skills :

Identification of heritage : By the end of this course, students will be able to

• recognise characteristic elements of architecture, whether whole or fragmentary, describe them with appropriate vocabulary, complete them in graphic form where necessary and to site them in time.
• establish the proportion of traditional building as opposed to innovation in architecture.

Methodology of a restoration project: By the end of this course, students will be able to

• structure the approach to the historic building by linking the survey, the chart of pathologies and the chart of  potential.
• within the framework of a multi-disciplinary approach, assess and review the expert opinions and the results of prior studies.
• organise the documents of the restoration project: description of the work, measurements, estimates, tendering report, reports of site meetings, final report designed for publication.
• understand the context of stakeholders in a restoration project: Project Managers, Regions, Towns and Villages, Historic Monuments Commissions, Coordination Committees.
• take the necessary administrative steps for the restoration of protected historic buildings, in the areas of the Brussels Capital and the Walloon Region.
• take the necessary steps  for awarding contracts for services and work.

Stability of structures and pathologies: By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• identify and understand the most common pathologies and problems which can affect old structures.
• carefully review how to find out the causes of these problems and the choice of investigation methods.
• make use of the necessary skills to choose the methods for repair.