Towards a socio-culturally sustainable definition of authenticity: re-thinking the spirit of place

Niskasaari, Kari (2008) Towards a socio-culturally sustainable definition of authenticity: re-thinking the spirit of place. In: 16th ICOMOS General Assembly and International Symposium: ‘Finding the spirit of place – between the tangible and the intangible’, 29 sept – 4 oct 2008, Québec, Canada. [Conference or Workshop Item]

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Abstract (in English)

In protecting the building heritage, the preservable value of a site is usually defined by an expert. I am participating as a Finnish expert in a multicultural project started in 1998, in which the definition of authenticity is being considered in a new way, more immaterially, as an interactive socio-cultural action that concentrates on creating a local identity. The project is focused on a historical Livvik Karelian settlement in Russia, the authentically preserved wooden village of Kinnermäki. In the doctoral dissertation I am preparing for defining authenticity in the preservation of traditional timber architecture, the work being done in Kinnermäki serves as the main practical example. In international preservation of the building heritage, the definition of authenticity has evolved from emphasizing genuineness and originality towards appreciating the layers of history and taking cultural diversity into consideration. Defining a preservable value is still mainly considered to be the job of experts, but social pressure to undo this authority is growing, especially in multicultural situations. In protecting the building heritage, the definition of authenticity is undergoing a process of change towards communication and socio-culturally sustainable activity.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Authors:	Authors Email Niskasaari, Kari UNSPECIFIED
Languages:	English
Keywords:	authenticity; wooden architecture; timber-framed architecture; conservation; cultural diversity; intangible heritage; spirit of place
Subjects:	E. CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION > 04. Groups of buildings E. CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION > 09. Social and economic aspects of conservation O. INTANGIBLE HERITAGE > 01. Generalities C. ARCHITECTURE > 04. Building materials
Name of monument, town, site, museum:	Livvik Karelian, Russian Federation
ICOMOS Special Collection:	Scientific Symposium (ICOMOS General Assemblies)
ICOMOS Special Collection Volume:	2008, 16th
Depositing User:	Jose Garcia
Date Deposited:	28 Aug 2010 10:09
Last Modified:	20 Mar 2024 12:09
References:	Bahtin, Mihail. 1981. Discourse in the Novel. In the book The Dialogic Imagination. Four Essays by M.M. Bakhtin. Ed. Michale Holquist. Austin: University of Texas Press, 259–422. Hall, Stuart. 1992. The Questions of Cultural Identity. In the book Modernity and Its Futures. Ed. Hall, Stuart et al. Cambridge: Polity Press. Herneoja, Aulikki. 2007. Kinerma Live-Exhibition. Design and Realization. In the book Wooden Architecture in Karelia. A collaboration programme for the preservation of the traditional Karelian timber architecture. Ed. Stefano Bertoccija Sandro Parrinello. Firenze: Edifir-Edizioni, 112–117. Jokilehto, Jukka. 1994. Questions about ‘authenticity’. In the book Conference on Authenticity in Relation to the World Heritage Convention. Preparatory workshop. Ed. Larsen, Einar and Marstein, Nils. Riksantikvaren. Norway: Tapir Publishers. Jokilehto, Jukka. 1999. A History of Architectural Conservation. Bath: BH, ICCROM. Larsen, Einar (ed.). 1995. Nara Conference on Authenticity. Trondheim: UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Agency of Cultural Affairs Japon. ICCROM, ICOMOS, Trondheim, xxi–xxiii. Linell, Per. 1998. Approaching dialogue. Talk, interaction and contexts in dialogical perspectives. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. Niskasaari, Kari. 2004. Authenticity and Change. Renovation of old Karelian wooden villages. Case Kinnermäki. In the conference publication 8th World Conference on Timber Engineering. Theme 5, Wood as Building Material. RIL, VTT. Lahti: Wood Focus. Niskasaari, Kari. 2007. The Project on Protecting and Developing Kinerma and Other Villages of Livvik Karelians. In the conference publication Wooden Architecture in Karelia. A collaboration programme for the preservation of the traditional Karelian timber architecture. Ed. Stefano Bertocci and Sandro Parrinello. Firenze: Edifir-Edizioni. Niskasaari, Kari. 2007. Sosio-kulttuurisesti kestava autenttisuus ja puurakennusperinnon suojelu. Kokemuksia karjalaisen kylan kunnostuksesta. In the book Patinoituu ja paranee – Moderni puukaupunki -tutkijakoulu 2003–2006. Ed. Jari Heikkila and Jouni Koiso-Kanttila. Acta Universitatis Ouluensis C Technica 264. Oulu: Oulu University Press, 44–62. Orfinski, V.P., Guljajev V. F., Grishina, I. E., Kazannikova, N. A., Morzhuhuna, I. Ju., Netshaeva, T. A., Titova, O. Ju., Tshernjakova, I. A., Amozova, L. N. 1991. Kinnermäen, Korsan, Mangan, Rubtsheilan ja Sarkilahden kylien rakennushistoriallinen tutkimus 1991. Stovel, Herb. 1995. Considerations in Framing the Authenticity Question for Conservation. In the book Conference on Authenticity in Relation to the World Heritage Convention. Preparatory workshop. Ed. Larsen, Einar and Marstein, Nils. Riksantikvaren. Norway: Tapir Publishers, 393–398
URI:	https://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/2

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