37º IAHS World Congress on Housing: - Universidad de Cantabria

XXXVII <strong>IAHS</strong><strong>World</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> on HousingOctober 26 – 29, 2010, Santander, SpainCODE: 226REHABILITATION AND RETROFIT: SUSTAINABLEFUTURES IN ROMANIA’S SAXON VILLAGESHughes, T. and Hughes, A.School of Architecture, Design and the Built EnvironmentNottingham Trent University, UKe-mail: tom.hughes@ntu.ac.ukKey words: conservation, retrofit, refurbishment, rehabilitation, sustainability, traditionAbstractThis paper examines the rehabilitation of houses in Romania’s Saxon Villages. Established inthe 12th and 13th centuries, a distinctive pattern of settlement and house types developed. Thefuture of the villages came under threat following the mass emigration of the Saxonpopulation in the early 1990s, and a number of heritage conservation bodies are now active inthe area.Two main groups have carried rehabilitation of the houses: Conservation organizations andprivate house owners (including returning Saxons). The former have focused on revivingtraditional materials and techniques (lime render, timber windows), improving the habitabilityof the buildings but with a focus on retaining the external appearance. The latter have soughtto upgrade the levels of comfort and reduce maintenance using modern materials andcomponents (UPVC windows, cement based render), changing the building appearance in theprocess.A longitudinal study of a single Saxon Village (Laslea), using interviews and a photographicsurvey to identify building rehabilitation work that has occurred in the period 2003-2009,identified both a rapid pace of rehabilitation and a strong preference for modern materials andmethods. A comparative study was carried out in villages where conservation organizationsare more active, however it was confirmed that private individuals who had a choice arecarrying out little conservation-minded rehabilitation work.The construction and materials of the houses is examined in order to identify appliedstrategies for their rehabilitation. These strategies are linked to the disparate sustainablefutures envisaged for the villages by different groups. In conclusion a challenge is laid downto link the discussion of appropriate technical solutions with an open dialogue on creating arealistic, sustainable future for the villages.37º <strong>IAHS</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> On Housing Science 125