Paper short abstract:

Museums consists of collections of heritage, mainly objects, but also often old buildings. Buildings that are a rich source of information. What impact can the restoration of buildings have on the information we can gain from them and what can be (have been?) lost?

Paper long abstract:

Museums consists of collections of heritage, mainly objects, but also often old buildings. Buildings that are a rich source of information of its pre-museum life and of changes in attitude and museum policies regarding heritage buildings.

Modern conservation is governed by the principles of minimal intervention, the use of appropriate materials and reversible methods, and a full documentation of all work undertaken. These principles are fully adaptable to building restoration. Restoring buildings are in some areas different from the conservation of objects, but apart from the sheer size of the object, the scope of the work is the same. Simplified it starts with research and planning, continues with the decision-making and actual work, and ends with a completed project and a report.

There are many questions that should be investigated before the restoration of a building starts up, just as with objects. There is the research into the written and intangible information of the building and its use, what can we learn from this? Is there anything in this information that can have an impact on the decisions we make regarding what to do? And what about earlier restorations, should we re-do them? Have they altered the building in such a way so that information has been lost?

In this paper I aim to discuss the possible impact the restoration of buildings can have on the information we can gain from them and what can be lost.