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: 602INNOVATION VS. MIMICRY IS THE INTEGRATION OFNEW ARCHITECTURE IN HISTORICAL AREAS POSSIBLE?José María Páez Mañá, ArchitectCouncil of Culture, Tourism and SportGovernment of CantabriaE-mail: sanchez_mlui@gobcantabria.esKey words: Mimicry, CTE, building regulations, Heritage.AbstractIn this paper, the author raises the issue to <strong>Congress</strong> of the problems that exist in makinginterventions aimed at the restoration of historic buildings and monuments. On the one hand,he argues that any project, from the very beginning of the restoration process, must be basedupon the concept of maintaining use compatibility, while not producing architecture thatbecomes banal and meaningless. However, to achieve this, a contradiction exists, as a projectmust satisfy two contradictory sets of regulations: Firstly, regulations for the protection ofhistoric buildings and monuments, which always favor maintaining the original buildingwork. And secondly, Building Regulations applicable throughout Spain through theimplementation of the CTE Technical Code which will, without doubt, require a substantialalteration of the property.In other words, if the solution comes in the way to maintain the original building like amuseum’s piece the refurbishment should haven’t touch the structures, inside and outconfiguration, and all significants details that represent the historic development of themonument throughout its differents periods. Of course introducing the necessary repairs andreinforcements conducting to guarantee that building remain stable.But, it we pretend to introduce a new use, or the same it doesn’t matter, in orther to give backthe life into the monument (inherent condition to have the true arquitecture) then you must tocarry out one hundred of different Regulations not only about coefficients of the SecurityCodes but about Protection against Five, Emergency Exits, Health and Habitabilityconditions, Protection against noise. Disables access, etc., etc., etc. The necessaryrefurbishment will be so aggressive that perhaps nothing rest from the ancient monument.As a result, architects are faced with finding a seemingly impossible solution, or the authorityresponsible for the work must simply accept CTE non-compliance in order to meet theprotection criteria.37º <strong>IAHS</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> On Housing Science 234