Author(s)

M. Philokyprou & E. Petropoulou

Abstract

The international conventions and charters for conservation give general guidance for the rehabilitation of heritage buildings, but at the same time different philosophical approaches and strategies are involved. These approaches are related to the hierarchy of values for historic buildings as well as their new structural and functional requirements. Τhis paper analyses the current trends in rehabilitation in Cyprus demonstrating different approaches, with an emphasis on the revival of ancient monasteries. Through the presentation of the conservation of two cases: the restoration of Panayia tou Sinti Monastery in Paphos and the revival of Ayios Nicolaos Monastery in Orounda, the positive and negative consequences of the different philosophies and strategies followed will be demonstrated. With the involvement of the authors, the monastery of Panayia tou Sinti was restored in the form of ruins, became an open-air museum and was awarded with a Europa Nostra prize. On the other hand, the monastery of Ayios Nicolaos has undergone a comprehensive maintenance and new extensions were designed by the authors and were erected using appropriate materials and forms for the enhancement of the new structures in the existing environment. Through these examples, different approaches for restoring historic buildings – \“museum” conservation, final form of ruins, matters of authenticity, dynamic maintenance, compatibility of materials – are discussed. This paper analyses the procedures for investigating and assessing the values of historic buildings within the philosophical framework of international principles for rehabilitation prior to the adoption of the strategy to be followed. Keywords: rehabilitation, ruins, monastery, reconstruction, reuse, authenticity, aesthetical values, abandonment, critical approach.

Keywords

rehabilitation, ruins, monastery, reconstruction, reuse, authenticity, aesthetical values, abandonment, critical approach