Principles of Future-Proofing

Research on future-proofing the built environment

  • The Principles of Future-Proofing
    • Principle 1: Prevent decay
    • Principle 2: Stimulate flexibility and adaptability
    • Principle 3: Extend service life
    • Principle 4: Fortify!
    • Principle 5: Increase redundancy
    • Principle 6: Reduce obsolescence
    • Principle 7: Plan Ahead
    • Principle 8: Diversify
    • Principle 9: Be local and healthy
    • Principle 10: Consider life cycle benefits
    • Principle 11: Take advantage of cultural heritage policy documents
    • Principle 12: Promote understanding
  • What is Future-Proofing?
    • Future-Proofing: A literature review
    • Future-Proofing: In electronics
    • Future-Proofing: In utilities systems
    • Future-Proofing: In industrial design
    • Future-Proofing: In sustainable design
    • Future-Proofing: And obsolescence
    • Future-Proofing: In building design
    • Future-Proofing: And resiliency
    • Future-Proofing: And climate change
    • Future-Proofing: In historic preservation philosophy
    • Future-Proofing: In heritage conservation philosophy
  • Case Studies & Research
    • Future-Proofing: Seeking Resilience in The Built Environment
    • Future-Proofing & Panarchy
    • Case Study: The Walrus Heads at the Arctic Building
    • The 10 Principles of Future-Proofing and the Arctic Building – AIA Seattle Presentation
    • Future-Proofing and the Arctic Building – Short Presentation
    • Future-Proofing, Charters, and Standards – Integrating the Principles into Practice
    • Future-Proofing Principle #8 – Life Cycle Analysis
    • Future-Proofing Principle #9 – Local Traditional Materials
    • Future-Proofing – An Initial Literature Review
  • About
    • The Author of the Principles
    • Contact
    • Bibliography of Sources
  • Blog

Future-Proofing, Charters, and Standards – Integrating the Principles into Practice

This research examines the ways in which the Principles of Future-Proofing could be incorporated into current historic preservation and heritage conservation practice.  By analyzing the systems of conservation within the United States and internationally (via the World Heritage Council), the potential forms of integration become clearer.

Internationally, dozens of Charters, Standards, and Declarations have been adopted to guide conservation of heritage assets.  These charters, etc., are developed to focus on specific topics or regions around the world and all may be applied to a particular asset.  In this system, the adoption of the Principles of Future-Proofing as a new Standard is proposed.

Within the US system, the Secretary’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties is found to be stagnant and inflexible.  Thousands of jurisdictions across the United States adopted the Standards for Rehabilitation directly into legislation or their Rules and Regulations.  The Standards for Restoration, Reconstruction, and Preservation are rarely adopted, let alone newer standards for cultural landscapes, urban areas, etc.  Thus, there is no legal basis for consideration of these other Standards.  The political implications of changing the system to include them is staggering.  Here, the Principles of Future-Proofing are proposed as a simple paragraph that might be incorporated into the Rules and Regulations of each preservation commission.

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