ENCI - FUTURE CHANCE FOR MAASTRICHT'S INDUSTRIAL ...

I. THE VALUATION AND PRESERVATION of industrial heritage –
an evolution of concepts
Retrospectively regarding the different ways of thoughts, practices and involved population groups,
a chronology of value formation emerges, out of which theories, practices and visions have
developed. The following chapter is to outline the beginnings and developments of the idea of
industrial buildings and socio-cultural testimonies as part of society’s cultural heritage worthy of
preservation. A time span from the years after the Second World War until the late 1990s will be
covered, due to the still rare availability of reflecting literature of the last decade. However, the
years from 2000 until 2010, with a focus on the German Ruhr Region and the Dutch city
Maastricht, will be discussed extensively in the following chapter and thus should not constitute a
deficit here.
This overview of an evolution of concepts alone is an interesting and highly relevant topic
when it comes to the analysis and understanding of our Western society, having been
tremendously coined by the phenomena of industrialization, and at present, finding itself at the far
rim of this significant period. However, the main aim of this chapter is to provide and introduction to
and the needed underlying background for the issues discussed in the following chapters,
proceeding on a philosophical level in intercourse with explanatory political and social excursions.
I.1. Value creation and association in industrial heritage preservation
“Value is the measure of how strongly something is desired for its physical or moral
beauty, usefulness, rarity etc. esp. expressed in terms of money, effort, etc. one is willing
to expend in acquiring, retaining possession of, or preserving it” (Webster’s dictionary of
the English language [my italics])
“Industrial heritage consists of the remains of industrial culture which are of historical,
technological, social, architectural or scientific value. These remains consist of buildings
and machinery, [...], as well as places used for social activities related to industry such as
housing, religious worship or education”.
(TICCIH 5 , advisor to ICOMOS 6 in 2003[my italics])
5 The world organisation for industrial heritage, promoting preservation, conservation, investigation, documentation,
research and interpretation of our industrial heritage (TICCIH website, refer to:
http://www.mnactec.cat/ticcih/organisation.htm)
6 The International Council on Monuments and Sites is a network of experts based on the principles enshrined in the
1964 International Charter on the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites (the Venice Charter)
(ICOMOS website, refer to: http://www.international.icomos.org/about.htm)
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