Preservation: A Key From The Past For A Door To The Future

Abstract

The concerns of preservationist's to protect the built environment from demolition, are heightened in the midst of modern day pressures to develop,.A dilemma arises when deciding which buildings deserve to be historically designated. The efforts of this thesis identify the implications of such an issue. In this realm, problems of conserving the urban landscape are addressed, using three residential structures in Hamilton as the basis for argument. An evaluation of historical, architectural, political and economic merits are put forth to distinguish the attributes of one building as compared to another. When a structure succeeds in all of these factors, conflict may arise when deciding the level of continuity each residential unit maintains. Antiquity is not the only facet considered in support of preservation. A prolonged use for the respective building must exist. Securing our heritage is of grave concern. Without its recognition, reminders of the past will remain obsolete as so too will an era of irreplaceable architectural gems.