Conservation of Cultural Identity Through the Care of Monuments: Guidelines for the Lednice-Valtice Monument Zone
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University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Theses (Historic Preservation) Graduate Program in Historic Preservation 1997 Conservation of Cultural Identity Through the Care of Monuments: Guidelines for the Lednice-Valtice Monument Zone Veronica E. Aplenc University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses Part of the Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons Aplenc, Veronica E., "Conservation of Cultural Identity Through the Care of Monuments: Guidelines for the Lednice-Valtice Monument Zone" (1997). Theses (Historic Preservation). 410. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/410 Copyright note: Penn School of Design permits distribution and display of this student work by University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Suggested Citation: Aplenc, Veronica E. (1997). Conservation of Cultural Identity Through the Care of Monuments: Guidelines for the Lednice-Valtice Monument Zone. (Masters Thesis). University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/410 For more information, please contact [email protected]. Conservation of Cultural Identity Through the Care of Monuments: Guidelines for the Lednice-Valtice Monument Zone Disciplines Historic Preservation and Conservation Comments Copyright note: Penn School of Design permits distribution and display of this student work by University of Pennsylvania Libraries. Suggested Citation: Aplenc, Veronica E. (1997). Conservation of Cultural Identity Through the Care of Monuments: Guidelines for the Lednice-Valtice Monument Zone. (Masters Thesis). University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. This thesis or dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/410 li^iii!!i^;|i^¥¥:. ?ii;*- uNivERsmy PENNSYIVANIA. UBKAR1E5 CONSERVATION OF CULTURAL IDENTITY THROUGH THE CARE OF MONUMENTS: GUIDELINES FOR THE LEDNICE-VALTICE MONUMENT ZONE Veronica E. Aplcnc A THESIS in Historic Preservation Presented to the Faculties of the University of Pennsylvania in Partial FuUillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE 1997 ^C^ ReadcW^ David G. De Long, Professor of AfCtTiTeciure Regina Bendix, Associate Professor of Folklore GradiKffe Groap Chairman FranloC. Maltro. Associate Professor of Architecture !h^\r /|\L 'V K^AZ UNiVtHblTY OF PENNSYLVANIA LIBRARIES predragi Vidki. v zahvalo to dearest Vidka. in thanks u Acknowledgments ACKNOWLEDGMENTS In this thesis I have had the enjoyable opportunity to explore two topics of great interest to me, these being attitudes culturally specific to a Slavic Central European country and the driving philosophy behind preservation. This opportunity grew out of a summer conservation internship, associated with John Carr's post-graduate conservation internship at the site, that was organized by the World Monuments Fund and the University ot Pennsylvania and funded by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. Funds for a research site visit during the year were graciously made available to me by the Historic Preservation Department of the University of Pennsylvania and the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. I would also like to express my thanks to my mother. Dr. Veronika Cankar. for her generosity that has greatly facilitated my graduate studies. At the University of Pennsylvania, my sincerest thanks are due to my advisor. Professor David De Long, for his interest in my topic and extremely thoughtful commentary and guidance. I would also like to thank my reader. Dr. Regina Bendix of the Folklore Department for her insightful suggestions. I am very grateful to Alaa El-Habashi, PhD candidate in Architecture, Richard Berman, PhD candidate in City Planning and Francesco Siravo of the Historic Preservation Department for interesting discussions and helpful comments. In addition. I would like to thank Professor Frank Matero, who graciously made it possible for me to decline a conservation laboratory teaching assistantship at a late date to switch to the non-conservation camp for this thesis. In the Czech Republic, I am grateful to Dr. Jaromi'r Micka. Director of the Institute for the Care of Monuments at Brno, for his assistance and fascinating commentary. I would also like to thank Ivana Holaskova, Director of Lednice Castle. Dr. Josef Chytil, of the Pdlava Biosphere 111 Acknowledgments Reservation, Dr. Hana Librova, Professor of Sociology, Jiff Low, independent architect and planner, Pavla Luzova, Director of Valtice Castle, Antonin Michaiek, Head of the Cultural Department at the Bfeclav District Office, Radomir Nepras, independent restoration architect, and Otakar Prazak, of the Bureau of the Environment at the Bfeclav District Office, for the invaluable information they provided me. I am also grateful to Tereza Lvovd for her help with housing. Finally, my greatest thanks are due to my friends at my department and within my family, especially Andrej. Lejla, Marta, Richard and Vidka, for their support and enduring senses of humor. IV Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication p. 11 Acknowledgments p. iii Table of Contents p. V List of Figures p. vii English Summary p. ix Czech Summary - Cesky resume p. X Chapter I Introduction to Cultural Identity At Site A p. 1 Why Preserve? p. 2 Aesthetic Criterion p. 4 Historical Association Criterion p. 6 Dilemma of Commoditlcation p. 8 Site Identity Through Associated Beliefs and Practices p. 11 Chapter II The Lednice-Valtice Monument Zone: Administration and Major Monuments p. 13 History of the Estate p. 15 Declarations Regarding Lednice-Valtice p. 18 Czech Preservation Legislation p. 20 Current Architectural Composition of the Major Monuments of the Estate p. 26 Chapter III Aspects of Czech National Cultural Identity as Embodied at Lednice-Valtice p. 67 Table of Contents Philosophy of Treatment p. 68 Architectural Rehabilitation and Architectural Conservation p. 69 Philosophy of Intervention p. 73 Practices of Intervention p. 81 Practices at Lednice-Valtice p. 93 Philosophy of Continuing Use p. 94 Outdoor Recreational Use p. 95 Outdoor Recreational Use at Lednice-Valtice p. 98 Philosophy of Introduction of New Use p. 102 Uses Introduced Into Monuments: Touring of History p. 105 Touring of History at Lednice-Valtice p. 108 Uses Introduced into Monuments: Office, Leisure and Festive Facilities p. 110 Office. Leisure and Festive Facilities at Lednice-Valtice p. 1 12 Chapter IV Guidelines for the Preservation of the Cultural Identity of the Lednice-Valtice Monument Zone p. 116 Administration of Monument Zone p. lis Interventions into Historic Fabric p. 123 Uses of Buildings p. 124 Outdoor Recreation p. 126 Bibliography p. 130 Index p. 141 VI : List of Figures LIST OF FIGURES Fig. 1 Map locating the Lednicc- Vallicc Monument Zone within Europe. p. 13 Fig. 2: Map locating the Lcdnicc-Vaitice Monument Zone within the Czech Republic p. 14 Fig. 3: Table of monuments and landscape features p. 27 Fig. 4: Map of monuments in Lednice-Valtice Monument Zone p. 28 Fig. 5: Valtice Castle, main entrance p. 29 Fig. 6: Valtice Castle, south facade, and garden p. 32 Fig. 7: Valtice Castle, court of honor and south wing housing Hotel Hubertus facility p. 34 Fig. 8: Lednice Castle, neo-Gothic wing. Jiff Wingelmiiller and Jan Heidrich. 1 846- 1 858 p. 36 Fig. 9: Lednice Castle, stables designed by Fischer von Erlach, 1688-1690. p. 38 Fig. 10: Lednice Castle, the Glasshouse, Devisgnes, 1851. p. 39 Fig. 1 1 : Lednice Castle, the stair in the library p. 40 Fig. 12: Side entrance to Lednice Castle, Baroque stables by Fischer von Erlach. The store "Dekora" is on the far left. p. 42 Fig. 13: Lednice Castle park, as portrayed in brochure carrying this title, p. 43 Fig. 14: Bezrucova Avenue today. p. 45 Fig. 15: The pond in the Lednice Castle park. Note what appears to be a mannequin deer on the island to the right. p. 46 Fig. 1 6: Obelisk. 1 798, Josef Hardtmuth. Note plowed field extending to left in picture p. 48 Fig. 1 7: The Minaret, 1 797- 1 804. Josef Hardtmuth p. 49 VII List of Figures Fig. 18: Fig. 19: Fig 20: Fig. 21: Fig. 22: Fig. 23: Fie. 24: Fig. English Summary ENGLISH SUMMARY This thesis examines the philosophy behind Czech historic preservation, as it has been applied in the Lednice-Valtice Monument Zone, and argues that the beliefs and practices associated with this philosophy form a significant layer of Czech cultural identity that should be conserved in the Monument Zone. Chapter One outlines the difficulties associated with the standard criteria for preservation, these being aesthetic values or historic association, and explains the decision to support the preservation of an intangible. Chapter Two describes the history, administration and current architectural composition of the Lednice-Valtice Monument Zone. In addition, Czech preservation legislation is reviewed. Chapter Three demonstrates that Czech preservation is based on the well thought out belief that monuments should be presented as aesthetic wholes and integrated into contemporary life through new uses. The analysis examines outdoor recreation, the touring of history, and office, leisure and festive facilities as appropriate uses. The chapter also includes a discussion of Czech preservation terminology and the practice of the field. Chapter Four proposes guidelines for the conservation of this layer of identity at the Monument Zone through the formulation of an overall concept plan that focuses on conserving beliefs and practices on both the local and national level, as embodied at the site. IX C/cch Summary CZECH