A good deal of essential problems with which are faced
the Polish scientific and cultural circles dealing with
protection of historical monuments have been listed
within the present article. The main emphasis, however,
was laid upon und in detail discussed were the following
questions: the advancing endangerments to settling
environments as a consequence of new conditions of
the „standardized production” of new housing estates;
the definition of the term „historical monument” or
„cultural heritage” ; the unfavourable results of'verifying
the cultural property through its classification; the
approach of representatives of various scientific disciplines
to cultural property; the problems of a corporate considering
of groupings of historic buildings and, finally - the
problems of staffing as well as those of organization.
A particular emphasis was laid by the author upon
importance of problems related to protection of settling
environment by stressing the fact that the Polish experts
have at their disposal a number of well developod methods
basing on the corporate investigations carried
out by specialists from many scientific areas. The introduction
of such investigations into a wide practice
should prove highly helpful while establishing the outlines
that in their turn would constitute an essential
element in preparing of the general and detailed plans
and at working out of housing programmes.
The author hopes that it will namely be the historians
and conservators who will choose the spatial settings
deserving to be safeguarded and at the same time demanding
the determining of nature and extent of the necessary
or permissible rehabilitation and modernization.
While advancing the above requirements he puts the
question about our readiness to carry out the aforo-
-mentioned tasks and expresses his doubts and objections.
Among these objections quite essential, in the
author’s view, role is being played by terminology.
The term „zabytek” (a historical monument in Polish)
while in use in other languages suggests a sizeable object
of monumental character whereas in Polish it is composed
of two parts, namely a prefix „za”, pointing to something
coming from the past and „byt” , eonstituing an arch
definition. In the above connection the term „zabytek”
(a monument, historical monument) is strongly emphasising
the ancientness of an object which in the author’s
view confines its comprehension range.
The author refers to the Polish Law on the Protection
of Cultural Property of 1962 wdiere the term „historical
monument” is being used as one alternating with „cultural
property” . From the above fact two features are
resulting, unfavorable for the protection of cultural
property, namoly interpretation stating that as the
„monuments” are to be considered only the cultural
property subjected to legal protection and, furthermore,
the identify of terms „monument” and an object whose
main quality is its age.
According to the author a lot of confusion and harms
have been caused by classifying verification of cultural
property or cultural heritage consisting of architectural
objects or historic buildings which has led to demolition
of objects classified to lower categories or even those
in higher categories.
The register of historic buildings is covering only sporadic
buildings dating from the 19th and 20th centuries
that under the eyes of community only quite recently
are acquiring the qualities of cultural property under
protection.
A strong criticism was expressed by the author with
respect to touring maps containing classifications of
the separate historical monuments an a general statement
made by him that in the community’s consciousness
more and more firm becomes the view about the apparent
worthlessness of what is forming the basic tissue of
historical settings.
The Law mentioned above lists eleven groups of objects
or their groupings that may form the subject of protection.
It must be added, however, that each of these
groups forms a basic for the separate area of knowledge.
The above division results into different methods of
investigation and, furthermore, is connected with various
institutions, professional associations, displays, etc.
It has been stated by the author that the prevailing
majority of groups to wrhom is classified the cultural
property in this country is to be found within the groupings
and enclosed systems and so, for instance, a single
grouping may be composed of cultural property representing
the above 11 classes; thus the separate elements
of that grouping will be diasipated in registrations which
the situation does not favour a corporate protection.
In the course of his further considerations the author
characterizes the approach the experts from the various
fields of science may have to a given object and he
states that the most „corporate” in its nature approach
is shown by graduates from the Institute of Connoisseur -
ship and Conservation, Nicolaus Copernicus University,
Toruń. It is required by the author that the aesthetical
values of cultural property be not indentified with
assessments made on conventional basis of investigations
carried out by art historians and architects and that the classifying verifications be made on the basis
of a full and objective overall distinction.
As an essential problem is considered by the author
that of settlement groupings of high rank arising from
richness of historical and social traditions and both
spatial systems and forms. As particularly unsatisfactory
are to be considered conditions of the traditional rustic
buildings. It is suggested by the author that in each
ethnographic region at least one grouping of rustici
buildings should be selected with a reservation accompanying
it. With regard to the historic urban centres
in the years 1969—1970 the criteria for estimating of
historic buildings have changed; thus, for instance,
to such buildings are now being counted those with
architectural forms that developed during the 19th and
early 20th century but as deserving consideration should
also be handled the town plans, the outskirts or the
workers’ housing quarters and the like, dating back to
those times.
It is proposed by the author to stop the publication
of registers or catalogues of historic buildings and to
focus on systematic investigations supplying the background
for the renewed, but this time carefully planned
and wide registering action.
The problems of staffing have also been dealt with by
the author who pointed to quantitative insufficiencies
of the appropriately trained personnel able to undertake
the tasks associated with protection and preservation
of cultural property. While speaking about such personnel
he has in mind a number of suitably specialized experts
e.g. twon planners, architects or civil engineers who
with the problems from the ange of cultu al property
protection would be made acquainted in the course
of their academic training. However, that their activities
could prove affective it is indispensable to establish
a suitable organizational system of their work with no
place for an excessively extended administration, but
quite opposite — with the conservation services supported
by a suitable scientific and research as well as technical
background. In this connection it is suggested by the
author to establish the Voivodship Centres of Cultural
Property Protection subordinated to Voivodship Conservators
and responsible for carrying out the tasks associated
with preparing of documentation and other research
activities.
While summarizing his considerations the author presented
the directions of the necessary research activities,
organizational and legal measures, these form the field
of training and finally those in publishing range that
all taken together could lead to changes in protection
of cultural property in Poland.
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