List people,

After all this discussion I'm still not sure whether the original post
was about reconstruction of a whole new building on top of the footings
or just making the footprint more legible.

In reference to Paul C's comment on castle reconstruction, I'd also
suggest a look at  the Japanese experience, where the vast majority of
castles were destroyed to prevent regional power bases developing.  Post
WWII the castles have become a focus for national and regional cultural
identity and many have been reconstructed, with the full spectrum of
approaches from purely external veneer of authenticity to meticulous
reproduction of original building techniques.  Because of their
placement in massive defensive earthworks and wet ditches they need to
be reconstructed on their original footprint.  All would presumably have
needed massive modification to meet earthquake codes.

The Nara Centre for Archaeological Research, which is focussed on the
emperor's palace complex outside the city of Nara, has been testing a
range of methods for the visual interpretation of building footprints in
situ.  These include covered and open air excavations, earthen mounds,
column and wall bases, topiary [building form depended a lot on column
arrangement so tall thin trees at column points give a very good
representation of height, mass and relative scale].  All great stuff.

I'm sure there are abundant web referecnes to all this.

Denis

Denis Gojak
Heritage Asset Manager
Planning NSW

PO Box 404
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>>> [log in to unmask] 18/06/2002 06:32:57 am >>>
The Jersey Heritage Trust have a website discussing the proposed
restoration of parts of Mont Orgueil castle. Restoration is not normally
very popular in the UK. This site has a really useful collection of
documents about the debates surrounding the project and about other
schemes e.g. the the horrible restoration (desecration would be a better
description) of Falaise castle keep by the French government. Should be
useful to anyone teaching historic restoration

 http://www.montorgueil.org/pages/project.html

paul courtney
Leicester
UK
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Ron May
  To: [log in to unmask]
  Sent: Monday, June 17, 2002 8:38 PM
  Subject: Re: reconstructing historic structures


  Lucy Wayne's example of the Seminole fort reconstructed near the
ruins of the real fort reminded me of a controversial site in Old Town
San Diego. The State Parks and Recreation Department funded
reconstruction of a mid-19th century house American (1860s) based on
photographs and triangulation from maps and other photographs.
Archaeological testing revealed not only the foundations of the McCoy
House, but also a Mexican Period (1822-1846) foundation of a small adobe
house. Descendants of one of the Mexican families raised a ruckus
because they wanted the older house reconstructed too, or at least they
did not want the remains impacted by reconstruction of the later house.
A legal battle raged into the courts, but the suit focused on alleged
inadequacies in the 30-year old General Plan and the Court ruled in
favor of the State. Ultimately, the State preserved the Mexican
foundations under the newer house. The new building, however, was built
to modern code and n

  Ron May
  Legacy 106, Inc.