I wonder why we are so concerned with preserving our past but seem incapable of preserving our future ?
Why is it that in considering a proposal for a new building or for adaptation of an existing building, the bias will be towards preserving the old often at the expense of adaptation that may include sustainability features that in time will help preserve the planet?
This is not just limited to the ridiculous bun-fights over rainwater tanks and solar collectors in so-called 'heritage overlays'. Why do we keep entire suburbs of poorly constructed and designed housing stock which does not relate to the environment?
Why are we so keen on continuing past mistakes and imposing energy, water and land use liabilities on future generations?
Why are the edifices imposed on this land and which represent an invasion of the land more important than the land itself?
If you cannot effectively drive a car by using the rear-view mirror, why do we construct our human habitats by looking backwards?
Which point in time should we set in aspic? What's wrong with imagining a future? In the same way that there will be no economy on a dead planet, what is the value of preserving a heritage that imperils the future? Who will be left to admire the glorious past?
Why is it that in considering a proposal for a new building or for adaptation of an existing building, the bias will be towards preserving the old often at the expense of adaptation that may include sustainability features that in time will help preserve the planet?
This is not just limited to the ridiculous bun-fights over rainwater tanks and solar collectors in so-called 'heritage overlays'. Why do we keep entire suburbs of poorly constructed and designed housing stock which does not relate to the environment?
Why are we so keen on continuing past mistakes and imposing energy, water and land use liabilities on future generations?
Why are the edifices imposed on this land and which represent an invasion of the land more important than the land itself?
If you cannot effectively drive a car by using the rear-view mirror, why do we construct our human habitats by looking backwards?
Which point in time should we set in aspic? What's wrong with imagining a future? In the same way that there will be no economy on a dead planet, what is the value of preserving a heritage that imperils the future? Who will be left to admire the glorious past?
You raise some very good points, I mean, let's take a painting for example. The restorers are careful in preserving at best, the original (interpret 'original' as you will) aesthetic and integrity of the artwork. At the same time, they are 'upgrading' these paintings by using the latest tools and technologies, preserving them for the future.
ReplyDeleteThat wasn't as articulated as I'd like it to be, but hopefully it made some sense. You mentioned the practice of preserving the old at the expense of adaptation for the better - does this happen very often? I think sometimes we are way too obssessed with the past, we are much more concerned about the past than we are the future.
Zi.