Already the XXVII year of the Bardkontakt conference is dedicated to the theme of preserving and exploiting the architectural heritage: the issue of burgher houses facades renewal in historic cores. This topic seems for the first sight as partial surface theme. In fact, the topic is very broad, but particularly complex. The façades, as part of the building envelope, have always perform two major

functions:

- They were the representative demonstration of the owner / user

-  By means of a specific technique / technological arrangement they protected the perimeter structures against attacks of weather effects

While the visual aspect of the facades can perceive every visitor of the public space, the technical circumstances are only obvious to professionals. Even façade disturbances are seen by laymen only as aesthetic problem, not as a weakening of the utility or operational qualities of a building. Well, these are exactly technical factors of facades construction (and their base walls), which make the facade resistant and thus the durability of its visual impact.

During history, the facades were not fixed. From time to time there were changes on facades-they were repaired, modernized, or even completely transformed. It was due to catastrophic events (fire, war ...), or as a part of an innovation intention:  the appearance of the facade reacted not only to a change of aesthetic opinion, but it also expressed a change of function, ownership, or attributes of new service. Whether it was the purpose of adaptation or investment (development), the facade design always responded to the current contemporary trends. Along with installing a new aesthetic appearance were applied up-to-date technical innovations, exchanged weaker or fault details. So facades became a rich source of authentic information.

At present, facade restoration is an extremely topical subject: not so much for the change

of stylistic visual as because of a pragmatic pressure to save energy and maximizing utility assessment of  building fund. Doctrine of energy demand reduction does not only concern new buildings, but it also applies to the historic building fund, the monument including. The trend of maximizing the assessment of buildings - the accompanying factor of urban development -causes that the commercial functions  penetrate also into the originally non-public, auxiliary premises of the cellars, the under-roofs, the farms, the inner courtyards...

The results are adaptation interventions to achieve user comfort, the emergence of new communication (approaching or escaping safe) routes, multiplying of identification elements. All these are also reflected on the facades. In the case of a monument-protected fund it is often accompanied by conflict of interest. Their handling, harmonization or regulation is not easy: they require understandable principles, comprehensive approach and system solutions. The restoration of facades is not "face lifting".

 

Conference topics:

• Research and identification of facades values, their presentation and interpretation,   

   conditions of monument restoration (including: sign and symbolic meanings of facades,

   colouring of facades and art decoration)

• Principles of restoration of modern facades, functionalism and post-war construction

   in historic cities

• Critical points of facades, technical conditions for successful facade restoration.

• Facade maintenance, restoration - periodicity, technology, specific requirements

  (safety, graffiti, shielding technology, unloaded structures, others ...)

• Restoration of facades and reduction of energy intensity

• Representation and advertising in the context of the facade, facade lighting

• The courtyard facades of revitalized homes - the unity of the whole or the space for 

   innovation?

   Harmonization / regulation (?) manifestations of multiple owners

• Transfer of experience - presentation of good examples of renovation national       

   cultural monument and realty in historic cores, other experience, incentives,

   suggestions for solution

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The aim of the conference is to provide a forum for interdisciplinary discussion: exchange of opinions, polemic and dissemination of experience among participants dealing with restoration /facades maintenance processes

 

To the discussion are invited Members of the Slovak Chamber of Architects, the Slovak Chamber of Civil Engineers, Slovak Chamber of Restorers, employees of the Monuments Board of Slovak Republic, Association of Towns and Municipalities of Slovakia, representatives / deputies of municipalities, experts from academic environment and community of artists, homeowners in historical cores, staff of building offices and home fund management organizations, investors, designers, representatives of citizens' initiatives and all interested in this topic.