Overview

The 1960s and 1970s saw a marked change in the approach to built heritage conservation. From a focus on the preservation of individual buildings, attention turned to the conservation, regeneration, and reuse of entire historic districts. A key player in this process was the Belgian art and architecture historian Raymond Lemaire (1921–1997), yet beyond those in conservation circles few people know of his work and influence or even recognize his name. In this book, Claudine Houbart traces how the change came about and the role played by Lemaire. She describes his work and influence and in so doing provides a history of urban conservation over the last four decades of the twentieth century and beyond. The first chapter summarizes Lemaire’s background from his training during the Second World War and his work as a Monuments Man immediately after the war, to his role in the drafting of the Venice Charter and his appointment as Secretary General of ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites). The next chapter describes the rehabilitation of Great Beguinage in Louvain. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the project was directed by Lemaire and is a perfect example of the restoration of an entire district. The following chapter provides case studies of his work in Brussels, demonstrating his methodology in action. The final chapter discusses the transposition of the model of the historic city to urban projects and summarizes Lemaire’s influence on heritage conservation today, particularly integrated conservation. His participation in drafting key conservation documents sponsored by the Council of Europe, UNESCO and ICOMOS, and his desire to revise the Venice Charter are discussed. The book’s conclusion reflects on what has gone before, ending aptly with Lemaire’s own words ‘the past, properly understood, is one of the references for judging the value of today and tomorrow’.

Full Product Details

Author:   Claudine Houbart
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
ISBN:  

9781032592930

ISBN 10:   1032592931
Pages:   298
Publication Date:   26 December 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available  
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Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgements List of Acronyms Introduction Chapter 1 From Archaeology to Conservation A Family Legacy Training in Theory and Practice University Education Training in the Field: the CGRP and the Ministry of Public Works Building a National and International Network The Recovery of Looted Artworks Heritage Protection in Wartime First Contacts with Italy A Personal Vision of Conservation Raymond M. Lemaire and the restauro critico The St. Lambert Chapel in Heverlee The Venice Congress (1964): A Turning Point Drafting the Venice Charter The Founding of ICOMOS Chapter II Constructing an Ideal Historic City: The Great Beguinage of Louvain (1962–1972) A Unique Context An Exceptional ‘Traditional’ Ensemble A Tailor-Made Programme A Flexible Schedule A Great Freedom of Action The Venice Charter put to the Test of the Rehabilitation of Urban Ensembles The Interiors: Conservation vs Comfort The Façades: A Radical Restoration The Additions: From Contrast to Integration The Public Space: A Picturesque Vision A Reflective Process Lessons from Gustavo Giovannoni The Historic Cities’ ‘Way of Being’ Chapter III Ideal vs Reality: Brussels (1967–1990) Contrasting Precedents: Brusselization and Urban Scenery (1940–1960) Towards a Functionalist City The ‘Sacred Blocks’: An Urban Scenery The Input of International Reflections and R.M. Lemaire The 1960s: A Gradual Awareness The Quartier des Arts: A Catalyst A Challenging Context New Methodological Tools for a New Vision Learning from Eastern European Experiences Restoring the Links between People and their Built Environment ‘Thinning Out’ and Opening the Blocks Selective Preservation ‘Architectural Design in an Old Urban Environment’ Correcting the Cityscape To Conclude Chapter IV Towards a Holistic Approach R.M. Lemaire, a ‘Complete Architect’ The Emergence of Integrated Conservation The Council of Europe’s Committee on Monuments and Sites New Doctrinal Instruments The Venice Charter: A Necessary Revision Bruges: A Laboratory for ‘Integral Planning’ From Rehabilitation to ‘Retrospective Utopia’ Towards Post-Modernism? Conclusion Appendix 1. Commission royale des Monuments et des Sites. Problèmes de doctrine Appendix 2. Charte de Venise [première version] Appendix 3. Charte internationale sur la conservation et la restauration des monuments et des sites (Charte de Venise) Appendix 4. Charte de Venise, texte révisé Index

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Author Information

Claudine Houbart, an architect and art historian, is a professor at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Liège, and heads the DIVA (Documentation, Interpretation, Valorization of Heritage) research group. She is one of the Belgian representatives on the ICOMOS Committee on Theory and Philosophy of Conservation and Restoration.

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