Contemporary paradoxes of heritage. An international perspective on restoration

Abstract

Restoration today has to deal with new questions, especially those related to patrimonialisation and its conflicts. At a time when everything is heritage, it seems increasingly difficult to apply criteria of choice and selection. Too often the uncritical observation of the founding principles of the discipline, such as authorship or authenticity, lead to the production of paradoxes, as we shall see in this essay through a series of examples spanning from classical ruins to serial architectures. In the restoration project, the process of recognising values becomes fundamental when taking responsibility for defining what to save and what to sacrifice. In contemporary society, the pressing need to preserve cultural heritage obliges us to clarify theoretical aspects before these turn into site practices.