UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

This unit introduces three international concepts in conservation: cultural landscapes, historic towns, and urban conservation areas. It investigates the processes of identification, assessment, and management of cultural significance in a range of places from world to local level. Cultural landscape is an emerging concept in conservation. In Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, the term 'cultural landscape' embraces 'diverse demonstrations of the interaction between humankind and its natural environment …illustrative of the evolution of human society and settlement over time (UNESCO 2008).' Following on from the Hoi An Protocols for Best Conservation Practice in Asia, the assessment of cultural landscapes increasingly involves engaging with living cultural traditions, and recognises the value of existing and traditional stakeholders and land users in managing significance (UNESCO 2009). The concepts of historic towns and urban conservation areas have a longer history and focus on places with historic, social and townscape values that contribute to a strong sense of place and cultural identity. Through a range of case studies from the World Heritage List to the local Western Australian context, students examine the ways such places have been assessed, recorded and protected, and the levels of conservation planning that have been applied to them.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 2	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) understand the evolution of the key international concepts in conservation—cultural landscapes, historic towns and urban precincts; (2) develop research and investigation skills, and an understanding of the role of different disciplines involved in conservation; and (3) apply their knowledge to the critical review of existing reports, and to the development of appropriate conservation policies for particular places.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) case study reports; (2) group field work exercises; and (3) major assignment. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Dr Ingrid van Bremen

Unit rules

Incompatibility

ARCT5505 Conservation in Cultural Landscapes, Historic Towns and Urban Precincts

Advisable prior study

ARCT5583 Introduction to Architectural Conservation (formerly ARCT5583 Heritage and Conservation)

Contact hours

Introductory lecture: 1 x 2 hours
lectures/field work exercises/seminars: 3 hours per week

Texts

Bandarin, F. and Van Oers, R. The Historic Urban Landscape: Managing Heritage in an Urban Century: Wiley 2012

Cullen, G. The Concise Townscape: Architectural Press 1971

Taylor, K. and Lennon, J. Eds Managing Cultural Landscapes: Routledge 2012

UNESCO Papers (available from https://whc.unesco.org/)
Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention: 2008
World Heritage Papers 26 World Heritage Cultural Landscapes, A Handbook for Conservation and Management 2009  
World Heritage Papers 27 Managing Historic Cities: 2010
Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL): 2011

ICOMOS Papers (available from https://www.icomos.org/en/)
International charter for the Conservation of Monuments and Sites (The Venice Charter): 1964
Historic Gardens (The Florence Charter): 1981  
Charter for the Conservation of Historic Towns and Urban Area, (Washington Charter): 1987
Nara Document on Authenticity: 1994
Oxford Declaration on Landscape: 2000 (pdf https://rogercrofts.net/)
Hoi An Protocols for Best Conservation Practice in Asia: 2009
Valletta Principles for Safeguarding and Management of Historic Cities, Towns & Urban Areas: 2011
The Australia ICOMOS Burra Charter: 2013 (https://australia.icomos.org/)

Recommended
reading

Mumford, L. The City in History: Penguin 1961

Preservation and Change, Historic Towns: Ministry of Housing & Local Government UK 1967

Esher, L.B. York—A study in Conservation: HMSO 1968

UNESCO The Conservation of Cities: Croom Helm 1975

Gosling, D. Gordon Cullen—Visions of Urban Design: Academy Editions 1996

Larkham, P.J. Conservation and the City: Routledge 1996

Webb, M. The City Square: Thames and Hudson 1990

Periodicals (a list and copies of key articles from the following periodicals are provided):
ICOMOS Newsletters reporting UNESCO recommendations and updates on charters
Historic Environment: ICOMOS Australia
Garden History Journal: Australian Garden History Society

Relevant reports on case study subjects are provided in lectures.