Historic Houses as Museums

Irving House Case Study

Applying the Standards & Guidelines for the Conservation

of Historic Places in Canada

SESSION 2: Eric Pattison, October 30th 2010

House Museums and their Interiors

20th century drive in North America to preserve and present “important” homes.

Rise of leisure time and family touring Formation of local historic associations, “service

clubs” and community volunteerism “Young” new world history gaining recognition Original historic families fading away

Range of historic houses become museums forvariety of reasons.

Mansions - whole towns - log cabins Donated, bought or preservation covenant Public-owned sites and parks Threatened with demolition Relocation to “heritage zoos” Motivated by “centennials” of historic events Creation of “living” historic districts Tourism and economic development

Examples

Glensheen, Min.

Craigdarroch Castle, Victoria

Fort Langley, BC

House museum interiors: What is original and/or significant Intact historic interior: furniture, art and fittings Various degrees of historic integrity

More as-found historic interiors

House museum interiors Recreating/reconstructing interiors Authenticity and public expectations Exhibits and interpretation

Irving House Case Study Built in 1865 by Capt. William Irving Daughter’s family undertakes substantial interior

changes, 1887 to 1903 “Modernization” by remaining siblings 1910s

(plumbing and electricity) Acquisition by City of New Westminster as a

“house museum” in 1950 Operated by Native Sons & Daughters until 1980s Now part of New Westminster Museum &

Archives

Conservation of Irving House Interiors:Project Sequence

Phase-1 Initial assessment and project scoping Interior Heritage Conservation Plan

Phase-2 Detailed research and recommendations Historic Finishes & Features Report: A Plan for Conservation & Restoration As-found Drawings (including interior details) Accessibility Audit & Recommendations for Improvement Restoration HVAC Assessment Interim Report Fire Protection & Equivalency Report Building Envelope Interim Report

• Blower Door Test/Envelope Air Leakage Evaluation

Phase-3 Contract Documents Detailed scope of work, design drawings and specifications

for all disciplines

Phase-4 Implementation Factors affecting conservation (on going operations,

budgets, materials, trades, etc.) Procurement, site management, sequencing trades Phasing of work Public engagement/use

Phase-1

As-found conditions

Phase-2

As-Found Dwgs.

Applying the Standards & Guidelines

International policy context Athens Charter, 1931 Venice Charter, 1964

• UNESCO, historic monuments as works of art not just historical evidence

ICOMOS, 1965• custodian of the doctrine of the build heritage field

World Heritage Convention, 1972• UNESCO international treaty • cultural and natural heritage

Burra Charter, 1979 (Australia)• rise of values-based heritage conservation

Appleton Charter, 1983 (Canada)• concept of cultural resources/landscapes

New Orleans Charter, 1991 (structures & artefacts preserved together)

Nara Document, 1994 (Japan)• rise of authenticity (physical and cultural)

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitation, Restoring and Reconstruction Historic Buildings, 1995

• developed by US National Parks Service

Canadian policy context National Historic Sites and Monuments Board, 1919 Parks Canada

• administers national historic sites

Federal Heritage Building Review Office (FHBRO), 1984 Various provincial heritage working documents, Acts,

etc. 1988-1999 Commemorative Integrity Statements, 1994 (Parks

Canada) Heritage Conservation Act, 1994 (BC)

Historic Places Initiative (HPI), 2001 National system of heritage conservation

• Canadian Register of Historic Places• Statements of Significance• Standards and Guidelines, 2003• Financial support

– Commercial Heritage Properties Incentive fund (ended)– Tax incentives (?)– A Canadian National Trust (?)

Increase in public, industry and government knowledge and acceptance of heritage conservation imperative

Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada

Broad-based working group – industry, property mgm’t, heritage groups, all gov’t levels

Draws heavily on US, Secretary of the Interior’s Standards Common professional conservation practice standards and

associations of consultants Consistency required to administer national conservation

programs Also served to create a level playing field for towns, cities,

provinces and federal sites

Irving House – Statement of Significance

Irving House – Statement of Significance

Overall Irving House interior conservation is a restoration project.

Conservation approach varies for individual rooms, finishes, features, furniture and objects.

Same principles apply at different scales of intervention or treatment.

Conservation

“all actions or processes that are aimed at safeguarding the character-defining elements of a cultural resource so as to retain its heritage value and extend its physical life. This may involve “Preservation,” “Rehabilitation,” “Restoration,” or a combination of these actions or processes.”

Preservation

“the action or process of protecting, maintaining, and/or stabilizing the existing materials, form, and integrity of a historic place or of an individual component, while protecting its heritage value.”

Preservation at Irving House

Rehabilitation

“the action or process of making possible a continuing or compatible contemporary use of a historic place or an individual component, through repair, alterations, and/or additions, while protecting its heritage value.”

Rehabilitation at Irving House

Restoration

“the action or process of accurately revealing, recovering or representing the state of a historic place, or of an individual component, as it appeared at a particular period in its history, while protecting its heritage value.”

Restoration at Irving House

Photo: IHP0058

Standards

Guidelines (Interiors)

Guidelines (Interiors)

Guidelines (Interiors)

Other Considerations Health and Safety Accessibility Energy Efficiency Environmental

New Westminster, 1864 Photo: NWPL279

Irving House, c.1888 Photo: NWPL254