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JOURNAL OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
Figure 1. The reasons for the translocation of the historic
building and perspective of perceiving it.
Source: Author’s compilation
The second approach to translocation refers to the translocation
of a historic building in terms of a specific economic project
which it undoubtedly is. Translocation remains a part of the
main characteristics of a project listed in the publications on
management or the assessment of economic (investment)
projects (table 1).
Table 1. Translocation of a historic monument in the context
of project main characteristics
Main
characteristics
of the project
The characteristics referring to translocation projects
of a historic monument
Specific purpose
The fundamental purpose of translocation projects referring to
historic monuments is saving an object from damage and the
desire to preserve it for future generations.
High complexity
An object translocation requires coordinating numerous
activities at different stages (preparing, implementing,
completing) and levels (strategic, operational) of its execution
and especially combining conservation approach with the
technical part of translocation and the entire management
process.
Specified
timeframe
Specified timeframe resulting from the availability of
specialized equipment, human resources. Sometimes such
timeframe results from weather constraints (particular season)
or the condition of an object itself (danger of collapsing).
Limited, mainly
financial,
resources
(budget)
Usually executed by public institutions within the framework
of strictly defined budgets. The need to manage public
resources effectively.
Focus on benefits
The main benefits are of socio-economic nature: result from
higher tourist attractiveness of the area to which a particular
feature is being moved eliminating the conflict with planned
infrastructure, advantages of aesthetic, historical, cultural, etc.
nature.
Uniqueness,
rareness, individ-
ual character
Due to the uniqueness and rareness of historic monuments
themselves and their environment a translocation project
presents the same character (different geographic, geological,
technological, etc. conditions.)
Risk of failure
The risk of damaging the relocated object, fracturing its
structure or elements while transporting, complications
prolonging the project implementation, which could thus be
reflected in its costs.
Usually the
involvement of
people and
institutions repre-
senting diverse
specialties
The implementation of a translocation project requires both
coordination and consultations with people and institutions
representing various specialties: architects, conservation of-
ficers, technologists, engineers, specialists in project and
finance management, etc.
Source: author’s compilation based on [Janasz,
Wiśniewska,
2014, p.56; Little, Mirrlees, 1982, pp.3-6; Meredith, Mantel,
2003, pp. 8-10; Goblet, 2006, pp.34-38].
Based on the above presented background an attempt can be
made to define the concept of a translocation project in an
economic dimension. Therefore, a translocation (relocation) pro-
ject of a historic monument is approached as a one-time, unique
venture characterized by limited timeframe and budget, the
implementation of which in an effective and efficient manner is
supposed to result in preserving a particular historic monument
from damage and passing it over to future generations in a
proper shape.
A translocation project, like any other economic venture, is
characterized by phases (stages) in executing subsequent
activities intended for implementation. Referring to one of the
most popular and also the best visually and practically presented
proposals of a project lifecycle, suggested by UNIDO [Behrens,
Hawranek, 1993, pp. 9-10] representatives, the following phases
can be distinguished: preparatory (pre-investment) phase,
implementation (investment) phase, as well as operation and
completion phase. In case of translocation projects preparatory
phase remains definitely the most important stage to carry out.
Therefore, the divisions recommended by Ch. Chapman and S.
Ward [2003, p. 19] can be suggested as the development of the
previously followed approach. They distinguish four phases
within the framework of which preparatory activities cover two
stages, i.e.: the initiation and the concept creation phase and also
the planning phase. Furthermore, the authors identify the
execution (implementation) phase and the closing (exploitation)
phase.
It should be remembered that with reference to moving projects
we can come across two groups of objects, i.e. demountable and
non-demountable ones. This division, in relation to translocation
types, i.e. relocation (performed more often in case of
demountable buildings) or moving (primary referring to non-
demountable objects), shall decide about the subsequent
activities planned within the framework of a particular venture.
In case of demountable constructions the project oriented
activities will concentrate on disassembling, transport and reas-
sembling an object in its destination. With reference to a non-
demountable feature the focus is on specifying the technology
adequate for the moving or relocation process and next on
shifting the historic monument (table 2). It should also be
emphasized that from a technological and technical perspective
translocating a non-demountable feature remains a more com-
plex and more difficult to perform – the need to move the entire
object without damaging it. Table 2 presents basic project
lifecycle (management) stages (economic approach) along with
the subsequent phases of the correctly programmed and carried
out conservation process (conservation oriented perspective).
Standard activities planned for translocation projects of
demountable and non-demountable historic monuments are also
presented in relation to the above-mentioned two approaches.
Table 2. Project management phases in the context of
conservation process and translocation types of a historic
monument
Project man-
agement
phases
Phases of a
historic
monument
conservation
process
Translocation of
a demountable
object
Translocation of a
non-demountable
object
Pr
epa
ra
tor
y pha
se
Initiation
and con-
cept crea-
tion phase
of a
project
Comprehensive
knowledge of a
historic monument
The choice of an
object for translo-
cation
The choice of an
object for translo-
cation
Valuation of a
historic monument
Analysis of the
building’s technical
state and
geotechnical
conditions
Project
planning
phase
Conservation
oriented
conclusions and
guidelines
Preparatory works
(e.g. inventory and
marking particular
components of an
object, preparing
its environment,
planning its
transport route,
etc.)
Development of a
translocation object
Conservation
project (planning
all types of works
indispensable for
the complex
TRANSLOCATION PROJECT
OF HISTORIC MONUMENTS
The reasons for monument’s translocation:
when it is the only method to save the object from damage as a result of
e.g.:
•
forces of nature (e.g. tectonic movements, washout – river banks,
seas),
•
consequences of human interference in natural environment (e.g.
sliding off, mining damage – post-mining areas)
•
collision with an emerging infrastructure (e.g. highway construction,
railway line, extension of an open-pit mine, etc.),
when it is the only method to preserve the endangered (damaged) feature
for future generations, e.g. by placing it in a specially dedicated site (open-
air museum, etc.), primarily when its current location or environment does
not present any substantial historical or cultural value (the translocated
object does not lose its authenticity in a new place) and it is not
exclusively associated with its environment (a historic garden, a park,
surrounding constructions, etc.)
REMOVING
(demountable and non-
demountable constructions)
RELOCATION
(demountable and non-
demountable constructions)
CONSERVATION
PERSPECTIVE
Conservation activities
ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE
Appraisal and management
of translocation project
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