Abstract:

Graduate education and training in conservation and architectural heritage has recently attracted special interest. The course Theory and Critical Approach on Conservation (ARH 517) is a graduate course of the newly established graduate inter-departmental and inter-collegiate programme Conservation and Restoration of Historic Buildings and Sites. This programme came about as a collaboration between three departments from two different schools (Department of Architecture, Department of Civil & Environmental and Department of History and Archaeology) of the University of Cyprus. The above-mentioned course is a compulsory course, one of three main courses of the program. Course enrollment is by students from various backgrounds (Architecture, Civil Engineering, Conservation, Archaeology etc).
The course content includes subjects in theory and practical, incorporates a critical overview of contemporary trends and theories on conservation of historic buildings and provides the general principles and methodology for their overall protection. In the framework of this course, a critical analysis of international charters and declarations on conservation, including the main theories of conservation (past and contemporary) are discussed and important examples of conservation projects are brought forth and analyzed.
Teaching is mainly carried out through lectures and discussion seminars (after reviewing relevant literature which is handed out to the students) encouraging critical thinking, as well as through visits to historic buildings that have been recently conserved. An important aspect of the course is a research-oriented project which is carried out by the students. The project requires a critical analysis of recently conserved heritage buildings that also includes new proposals for their reuse, based on prior analysis. Each year the project thematic area focuses on a specific yet different group of historic buildings according to their use or reuse, such as industrial buildings, churches, monasteries, mansions, museums, etc. In this context, students work usually in groups so as to encourage close interaction between individual students with different academic backgrounds. At the same time students acquire hands-on-training and develop critical thinking skills on the study of heritage buildings.
Through this course students are exposed to research in the field of conservation, especially as research findings are integrated into their lectures. At the same time students learn about appropriate research methodologies and the production of knowledge, mainly through their projects, thus developing a research culture. It is widely accepted today that linking research and teaching offers many benefits to the students as it enhances student learning and a deeper understanding of the subject. Designing research strategies through the projects, collecting and analyzing data and discussing and presenting research findings in the classroom, all provide vital and transferable skills. It should be noted that despite the fact that the course can be considered a research-led teaching course the implementation of the project in the course curriculum gives the course a research-based teaching character.

Keywords:

Heritage, restoration, historic buildings, reuse, learning.