Restoration is defined as the act or process of accurately depicting the form, features, and character of a property as it appeared at a particular period of time by means of the removal of features from other periods in its history and reconstruction of missing features from the restoration period. The limited and sensitive upgrading of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and other code-required work to make properties functional is appropriate within a restoration project [NPS].

Restoration Is Undertaken to Depict a Property at a Particular Period of Time in Its History, While Removing Evidence of Other Periods

Photo Documentation

Reconstruction is defined as the act or process of depicting, by means of new construction, the form, features, and detailing of a non-surviving site, landscape, building, structure, or object for the purpose of replicating it appearance at a specific period of time and in its historic location [NPS].

Reconstruction Re-creates Vanished or Non-Surviving Portions of a Property for Interpretive Purposes

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation

Standard 1 A property will be used as it was historically or be given a new use that requires minimal change to its distinctive materials, features, spaces, and spatial relationships.

What Principle(s) does this Standard address?

Standard 1 A property will be used as it was historically or be given a new use that requires minimal change to its distinctive materials, features, spaces, and spatial relationships (Principles of Compatibility & Minimal Intervention).

Minimize Changes to Character Defining Spaces and Features through Compatible Use

Some Uses No Longer Exist

Some Buildings are More Difficult to Reuse

How Much is Too Much Change?

Some Buildings are More Difficult to Reuse

Significant Spaces

Cut to Fit Historic Not Vice Versa

Standard 2 The historic character of a property will be retained and preserved. The removal of distinctive materials or alteration of features, spaces, and spatial relationships that characterize a property will be avoided.

What Principle(s) does this Standard address?

Standard 2 The historic character of a property will be retained and preserved. The removal of distinctive materials or alteration of features, spaces, and spatial relationships that characterize a property will be avoided (Principle of Authenticity & Integrity).

Preserve Historic Character

Preserve Historic Character Replacing third floor windows with windows of the wrong size and style and putting first floor air conditioner through the wall violates Standard 2

Duct Sensibility?

DeBrum House, Likiep, RMI

Faded or Neon

Standard 3 Each property will be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or elements from other historic properties, will not be undertaken.

What Principle(s) does this Standard address?

Standard 3 Each property will be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or elements from other historic properties, will not be undertaken (Principle of Authenticity & Integrity and Research & Documentation).

Avoid False Historic Appearance Created by Adding Conjectural Features, Borrowed Elements, or Changes Based on Personal Taste.

Standard 4 Changes to a property that have acquired historic significance in their own right will be retained and preserve.

What Principle(s) does this Standard address?

Standard 4 Changes to a property that have acquired historic significance in their own right will be retained and preserved (Principles of Research & Documentation and Authenticity & Integrity).

Preserve Significant Changes that Have Acquired Significance in Their Own Right

Store and/or Building Remuddlings

Standard 5 Distinctive materials, features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property will be preserved.

What Principle(s) does this Standard address?

Standard 5 Distinctive materials, features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property will be preserved (Principle of Authenticity & Integrity and Research & Documentation).

Distinctive Features

Preserve Distinctive Features, Finishes, and Construction Techniques

Millwork and Stairs

Exposed Brick Walls

Dropped Ceilings

Hall Corridors

Preserve Historic Character?

Physical Evidence  