Waardestelling in de Nederlandse monumentenzorg 1981-2009

The special value that is attributed to historic buildings and structures is the foundation of built heritage conservation and preservation. National guidelines and international charters state that the cultural-historical values attributed to a monument must be leading in drawing up and assessing preservation plans for a monument. To indicate...

Historic Concrete: From Concrete Repair to Concrete Conservation

Concrete like materials were already applied during the Roman Empire. After the decline of the Roman Empire, a wide scale application of concrete only reappeared in the 19th century. Here lies also the origin of modern (reinforced) concrete. Since then, both concrete application and composition have significantly changed. Today, concrete from...

Insights in using home energy management systems

In an ongoing process, three diverse Home energy management systems (HEMS) have been implemented in the households in the Netherlands. Through a series of questionnaires, interviews, focus groups and usability tests, a wide range of knowledge in being gathered. Because of this broad approach, the insights that are gained are not only limited to...

Smart and usable home energy management systems

This paper reviews research into Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS). These are intermediary products that can visualize, manage, and/or monitor the energy use of other products or whole households. HEMS have lately received increasing attention for their possible role in conserving energy within households. However, an analysis of the problem...

Replacement of natural stone in conservation of historic buildings, Evaluation of replacement of natural stone at the church of Our Lady in Breda

In this paper the decision process and the choice for specific types of natural stone for conservation purposes are investigated. Two successive 20th century conservation campaigns at the church of Our Lady in Breda are analyzed. It was specifically investigated in how far the architects involved took aspects of compatibility and durability of...

Assessment of the state of conservation of a Middle Neolithic flint mine in Maastricht limestone

Upper Cretaceous Maastricht limestone ("mergel") outcrops in the provinces of Dutch and Belgian Limburg. The Upper Cretaceous in the Netherlands consists of the geological Maastricht Formation and the upper part of the Gulpen Formation. Limestones from the Maastricht Formation represent one of the few native Dutch natural stones used for...

Converted Industrial Buildings: Where Past and Present Live in Formal Unity

This thesis deals with design guidelines, as defined in the field of architectural conservation, by focusing on the problem of the conversion of industrial buildings. It is generally agreed that the best way to secure the future life of industrial heritage is through their adaptive reuse. The former function of ‘production’ for these buildings...

Social quality in the conservation process of living heritage sites

The "UNESCO World Heritage Convention" was ratificated on November 16, 1972. Since then, both public and private sectors around the world have attached growing importance to the safeguarding and conservation of selected cultural and natural "objects", focusing on physical characteristics. World Heritage sites receive major publicity and as a...