When appraising heritage buildings, one should seek out and ascertain the following list of attributes:

• Condition
• Intactness
• Structural integrity
• Distinguish original fabric from later additions
• Assess quantum of modifications
• Identify zones of significance
• Provenance – the original date of construction/ manufacture
• Manufactured elements vs. hand-crafted items
• Uniqueness (aspects thereof)
• Regional influences
• Availability of materials at the time the subject building was built
  

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Once this has been done, decisions about modifying the building fabric can be made – but not before.

In next week’s blog, we will ask “What is Significance?” The following types of cultural built heritage significance will be discussed;

• Historic
• Associational
• Aesthetic
• Technical
• Social
• Spiritual
• Rarity
• Representativeness

Paul Rappoport – Heritage 21 – 24 April 2015