Preserving intangible heritage resources: Examples from South Africa

Bakker, Karel A. (2003) Preserving intangible heritage resources: Examples from South Africa. In: 14th ICOMOS General Assembly and International Symposium: ‘Place, memory, meaning: preserving intangible values in monuments and sites’, 27 – 31 oct 2003, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. [Conference or Workshop Item]

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Abstract (in English)

Under new heritage legislation in South Africa the conservation of ‘place’ and inherent intangible values have been enshrined, but are not readily supported by environmental controlling bodies and developers in practice. Three case studies are used to demonstrate how intangible place values were sucessfully defended where developmental and political pressures indicated their loss. The first example explains the process of identifying a suitable site and providing urban design guidelines for the introduction of 500 low-cost housing units in a ‘mixed’ cultural property that is earmarked for nomination for World Heritage status – namely, the gold-rush town of Pilgrim’s Rest and the Blyde River Canyon - with the aim of retaining the intangible heritage resources whilst redressing historical race-based injustices and providing much-needed economic stimulus for the heritage place. In the second example the intangible values inherent to the Union Buildings in Pretoria - the seat of Government designed by Sir Herbert Baker - were defined and used as the departure point for urban design guidelines for the proposed headquarters of the Dept of Foreign Affairs planned in its proximity. In the last case study, the conservation process for an inner city regeneration project in a 100 year-old railway precinct in Pretoria at the foot of the new Freedom Park -a national legacy site commemorating African struggles for freedomsucceeded in retaining intangible heritage resources in the face of extremely compromising urban development pressures and low-cost housing needs, as well as the ravages of a rapid rail system which is soon to traverse the site.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Authors:	Authors Email Bakker, Karel A. UNSPECIFIED
Languages:	English
Keywords:	intangible heritage; conservation; case studies; South Africa
Subjects:	O.INTANGIBLE HERITAGE > 01. Generalities E.CONSERVATION AND RESTORATION > 01. Generalities H.HERITAGE TYPOLOGIES > 17. Intangible cultural heritage
ICOMOS Special Collection:	Scientific Symposium (ICOMOS General Assemblies)
ICOMOS Special Collection Volume:	2003, 14th
Depositing User:	Jose Garcia
Date Deposited:	17 Dec 2010 08:55
Last Modified:	13 Jan 2011 19:16
References:	BAKKER, K.A. & Van Der WAAL, G. 2000a. Affordable Housing project, Pilgrims Rest. Executive Summary. Pretoria: Cultmatrix CC. BAKKER, K.A. & Van Der WAAL, G. 2000b. Affordable Housing project, Pilgrims Rest. Heritage Impact Assessment. Pretoria: Cultmatrix CC. BAKKER, K.A. & DE JONG R.C. 2001. New headquarters for the Dept Foreign Affairs at the Union Buildings: Heritage Impact Assessment. Pretoria: Cultmatrix CC. BAKKER, K.A. & DE JONG, R.C. 2003. Salvokop Development Framework: Heritage Report A and B. Pretoria: Cultmatrix CC. BAKKER, K.A. 2003. Salvokop interim heritage impact assessment report for the access road to the Freedom Park national legacy site. Pretoria: Cultmatrix CC. BLOMFELD, R. 1908. The Mistress Art. London: E Arnold. FISHER, R.C. 2001. The design intentions of Baker at the Union Buildings. In BAKKER, K.A. & DE JONG R.C. 2001. New headquarters for the Dept Foreign Affairs at the Union Buildings: Heritage Impact Assessment, ADDENDUM B. Pretoria: Cultmatrix CC. GREIG, D, 1970, Herbert Baker in South Africa. Cape Town: Purnell. KEATH, M, 1992, Herbert Baker: Architecture and idealism 1892-1913. The South African years. Gibraltar: Ashanti Publishing Ltd. RADFORD, D, 1988, Baker, Lutyens and the Union Buildings. South African Journal of Art and Cultural History, 2(1), January 1988, pp 62-69. YOUNG, G. 2000. Pilgrims Rest Visual Impact Assessment. Specialist Study Report: Visual environment. Johannesburg: Newtown Landscape Architects. YOUNG, G. 2001. Union Buildings – Affected areas vegetation survey. Report by Newtown Landscape Architects. In BAKKER, K.A. & DE JONG R.C. 2001. New headquarters for the Dept Foreign Affairs at the Union Buildings: Heritage Impact Assessment, ADDENDUM C. Pretoria: Cultmatrix CC.
URI:	https://openarchive.icomos.org/id/eprint/520

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