Protection of Authenticity in the Process of Historic Sacral Site Adaptation. Contemporary Interior Decoration in Renovation Design

Abstract

The article presents the ways of adapting antique sacral objects from various regions of Europe and also one from Asia. The introduction cites the post-war and contemporary conservatory doctrine, which extensively impacted the range of conservatory interference on specific objects. The examples of adaptations are historicist shapes and interiors of buildings or integration of the historical sacral building with contemporary architecture that uses modern material solutions and technologies which clearly contrast with the authentic pieces of the object. Contemporary arrangements in conservatory design are described based on the realization of two engineer’s theses involving issues of conservation, revalorisation, and adaptation of churches in Wrocław. The first work made by Eng. Arch. Ewelina Szczepańska titled “Attic and inter-tower spaces adaptation of Wrocław Archicathedral.” included revalorisation of cathedral’s attic and spaces located above the northern nave and its adaptation into expositional functions. In the second work created by Eng. Arch. Karolina Bazan considered the topic of “The Attic adaption of Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross in Wroclaw.” In conservatory practice, the definition of authenticity and its interpretation has still got essential importance. Considering the primacy of authenticity’s value as leading in the way of revalorisation of the specific object and to keep the identity of the place. It is possible to analyse local traditions in the adaptation of antique objects. The value of authenticity in sacral objects cannot be just limited to material heritage, for which it consists of such obvious values as: form, function, construction of architectural object, material and detail, but also the value of the nonmaterial sphere, such as sacrum, symbol, memory and historical and social issued should be considered.