This publication addresses the ever актуal question of how one should build within an existing architectural ensemble. How far must one take the existing fabric into account? The work presents very different approaches to the subject. The reader must decide for themself which argumentation they are more inclined to follow. The 22 authors of the publication range from Friedrich Achleitner to Roland Rainer; it also includes Kurt Ackermann (D), Reinhard Breit (A/D), Roger Diener (CH), Bohumil Fanta (SK), Heiner Hierzegger (A), Bill Hillier (GB), Hasso Hohmann (A), Friedmund Hueber (A), Egbert Kossak (D), Wolfgang Krejs (A), Friedrich Kurrent (A/D), Hansjörg Luser (A), Wilfried Posch (A), Michael Szyszkowitz (A/D), Heinz Tesar (A), Jürgen Tietz (CH), Klaus Vatter (A), Aleš Vodopivec (SLO), Karin Wilhelm (D), Thomas Will (D). These are almost all speakers from the ISG‑ENA congress held in Graz in 2003 on this topic, plus several additional experts.

 

The texts are organized by thematic areas. They begin with interventions in existing objects—conversions, extensions and adaptations—followed by new buildings in historic ensembles; after that comes the special topic of high‑rises in or near historic ensembles, and at the end are large‑scale changes of use and the resulting architectural changes in historic old towns. Each of the first three sections begins with a retrospective look at the history of its subject area.

 

Also practical is the reprint in the appendix of the six most important sets of rules related to dealing with historic cities. These are the charters on urban planning, ensemble protection, monument preservation, the handling of historic gardens and archaeology—each in German and English. The publication is aimed at architects, urban planners, experts in ensemble conservation, preservationists and interested lay readers.

 

Grigor Doytchinov

 

Hardcover, thread‑sewn, format 24 x 20 cm, 298 pages with some large-format 147 color photos, 23 black-and-white photos and 13 color graphics; German texts with English summaries and two English texts with German summaries; all captions and the 6 charters in the appendix are bilingual