IDENTIFYING KEY PROBLEMS REGARDING THE CONSERVATION OF DESIGNED LANDSCAPES: LANDSCAPES OF THE RECENT PAST JAN H.M. HAENRAETS A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY October 2009 Leicester School of Architecture Faculty of Art and Design De Montfort University Abstract ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to improve the understanding of the present situation and the key problems regarding the conservation of designed landscapes of the recent past. Another aim was to investigate roles and initiatives undertaken by key stakeholders and recommend key areas for measures and action to enhance the conservation and protection of designed landscapes of the recent past. The emphasis of the research was on the United Kingdom but relevant findings and actions from an international context were included. A qualitative method was applied using the between-method triangulation research methodology, which combined two methods of investigation, namely data triangulation and theory triangulation. Theory triangulation allowed for an investigation of the wider context or ‘the general’ and a comparison of findings from published sources and records, including an examination of the existing inventories and the roles and initiatives of key stakeholders. The data triangulation used a case study survey, with questionnaires and interviews, to enable the collection and analysis of data from different categories of stakeholders from a site-specific perspective or ‘the particular’ context. The case study survey investigated eleven case study sites using questionnaires and interviews. A total of 146 respondents were contacted and 103 completed responses were received. The results revealed that several recommendations for actions to improve the conservation and protection of heritage of the recent past exist, and that general conservation principles and methodologies exist for the conservation of designed landscapes, but that a lack of recognition and awareness for the significance of designed landscapes of the recent past results in poor implementation of such principles, and the continuing destruction and disfigurement of significant sites. The findings of the study led in the conclusions to the preparation of recommendations for measures and actions by stakeholders, to improve the protection and conservation of landscapes of the recent past. Acknowledgements ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank the De Montfort University for having facilitated this opportunity through their research bursary and travel grants. My sincere thanks and gratitude to my supervisors at De Montfort University. Their support, encouragements and experience has been crucial throughout this project. Dr Judith Roberts, Dr Jan Birksted and the late Professor Dennis Radford took me through the initial stages of the research and Dr Obas John Ebohon has been most helpful in the final stages of the work. I would also like to thank Dr Ahmad H Taki as second supervisor at De Montfort University, and Dr Jan Woudstra at the University of Sheffield for his support as external supervisor. I would like to thank the numerous people at the various organisations, companies and institutions for their assistance and contributions. I wish to thank especially DOCOMOMO and their Scottish National Group, the DOCOMOMO International Specialist Committee on Urbanism and Landscape, ICOMOS United Kingdom, English Heritage, the Little Sparta Trust, the Gibberd Garden Trust and the United States National Park Service. Thank you to the National Trust for Scotland, in particular the Gardens and Designed Landscapes Team and the Trust’s Gardens and Designed Landscapes Advisory Panel. My gratitude to Peter Goodchild at GARLAND, Charlie Pepper and Margie Coffin Brown at the Olmsted Centre for Landscape Preservation of the National Park Service, Allen Paterson, Alistair Aitkin, Jacquie Milham, Ben Lyte, Veronica Barrington, and Kristina Taylor for their support, encouragements and feedback. I particularly am grateful to everyone at the gardens, parks and landscapes that were visited and studied for the research. Day after day everyone is looking after these places with tremendous dedication and commitment. Your sites inspired this study and the many conversations informed much of the research. Thank you for all your help. I am greatly indebted to everyone who participated in the case study surveys and took the time to complete a questionnaire or be interviewed. These surveys were crucial for the research. My gratitude to all friends and colleagues who have had so much patience along the way, and were always there to sit through another conversation 3 Acknowledgements about the thesis, or were ready to drag me away from the research when desperately needed. Last but not least, this research would not have been possibly without the support, encouragement and patience of my parents and family. Thank you to everyone for your continuous support, for sharing your knowledge and experience, and for steering the research into the right direction. 4 Contents CONTENTS ABSTRACT 2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 3 CONTENTS 5 LIST OF FIGURES 12 LIST OF TABLES 17 CHAPTER ONE - INTRODUCTION 19 1.1 Research problem statement 19 1.2 Research proposition 23 1.3 Research objectives 23 1.4 Organisation of the thesis 23 CHAPTER TWO - THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND LITERATURE REVIEW 27 2.1 Introduction 27 2.2 A gradual change of attitude to the recent past 27 2.3 Initial initiatives on landscapes of the recent past from 1995 33 2.4 Emphasis on material and technological challenges of buildings of the recent past 36 2.5 International initiatives on landscapes of the recent past from 2000 38 2.6 Increased focus on landscapes of the recent past in the United Kingdom from 2000 40 2.7 The momentum stagnates 43 2.8 Conclusions 44 CHAPTER THREE - CONSERVATION AND DESIGNED LANDSCAPES OF THE RECENT PAST 46 3.1 Introduction 46 3.2 Defining designed landscapes 46 3.2.1 Landscape characteristics 47 3.2.2 Setting and surroundings 48 5 Contents 3.3 Cultural landscapes 48 3.4 Defining the recent past 50 3.5 Traditional and novel landscape types and styles 51 3.6 Main categories of designed landscapes of the recent past 52 3.7 Defining conservation 61 3.7.1 International charters and principles and the conservation of designed landscapes 62 3.7.2 The conservation process 63 3.8 Categories of main stakeholders involved in the conservation of designed landscapes of the recent past 66 3.9 Key roles of stakeholder categories 71 3.9.1 Government authorities and agencies 71 3.9.2 Charitable trusts and voluntary organisations 72 3.9.3 Enterprises and consultants 72 3.9.4 Private and public repositories 73 3.9.5 Training and educational institutions 73 3.9.6 Day to day management 73 3.9.7 Wider public and visitors 74 3.10 Conclusions 74 CHAPTER FOUR - METHODOLOGY 75 4.1 Introduction 75 4.2 Chosen Methodology: A qualitative methodology 75 4.3 Appropriate research method: Case study method 76 4.4 Methods of Data Collection 79 4.4.1 Triangulation 79 4.4.2 Questionnaires 80 4.4.3 Interviews 81 4.5 Survey questions 82 4.6 Survey themes 84 4.7 Approval Ethics Committee 84 4.8 Data analysis method 85 4.9 Selection of case study sites 86 4.10 Selection of respondents 89 4.10.1 Targeted respondents groups for the case study sites 89 6 Contents 4.10.2 Age groups 90 4.10.3 Targeted number of surveys 90 4.11 Total number of responses 91 4.12 Number of respondents for each case study site 92 4.13 Total number of items mentioned in the responses 93 4.14 Responses by main themes 94 4.15 Responses by categories of issues 95 4.16 Experiences during field work 97 4.17 Conclusions 99 CHAPTER FIVE - THE CONTINUING DESTRUCTION AND DISFIGUREMENT OF SIGNIFICANT SITES 101 5.1 Introduction 101 5.2 Physical neglect and poor maintenance of sites 102 5.3 Inappropriate disfigurements of sites 105 5.4 Destruction of sites 108 5.5 Conclusions 116 CHAPTER SIX - THE CURRENT STATUS OF REGISTERS AND INVENTORIES 117 6.1 Introduction 117 6.2 The Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England 120 6.2.1 The establishment of a thirty year rolling rule 121 6.2.2 Post-1945 sites on the Register of Parks and Gardens of Historic Interest 122 6.2.3 Thematic research to underpin the Register 124 6.2.4 Heritage Protection Review 125 6.3 The Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland 127 6.4 The National Register of Historic Places, United States 130 6.5 DOCOMOMO Registers 131 6.5.1 DOCOMOMO National and Regional Registers 132 6.5.2 DOCOMOMO International Selection 133 6.5.3 DOCOMOMO and the UNESCO World Heritage List 134 6.5.4 DOCOMOMO Scottish National Group Urban Register pilot project 134 6.5.5 DOCOMOMO at Risk Lists 135 7 Contents 6.6 The UNESCO World Heritage List 136 6.6.1 The preparation of lists of sites for selection purposes for the World Heritage List 137 6.6.2 UNESCO formalises its actions 140 6.7 The ICOMOS Heritage at Risk Reports 145 6.8 Parks and Gardens UK Database 147 6.9 World Monuments Fund: Lists of endangered sites 148 6.10 Lists of endangered sites of the recent past 150 6.11 Key findings 153 6.12 Conclusions 160 CHAPTER SEVEN - ANALYSIS OF ROLES AND INITIATIVES BY KEY STAKEHOLDERS 161 7.1 Introduction 161 7.2 Key Initiatives by stakeholders acting at an international level 162 7.2.1 An overview of key stakeholders acting at international level 162 7.2.2 Initial initiatives by international organisations and authorities 165 7.2.3 Initiatives by international organisations and authorities