The first year offers a general introduction to the field of conservation and restoration of monuments and sites. It is primarily devoted to theoretical courses, seminars, and project work. This year is spent in Leuven at university. The programme is divided into six thematic modules:
- Module 1: Conservation of architectural heritage: history, theory and practice.
Co-ordinators: Luc Verpoest and Thomas Coomans
Theme: Courses presented under this heading aim to provide answers to the basic questions of heritage conservation: what do we understand by 'heritage' in current practice, what are the origins and development of this concept, what are the basic theories, what methods can be used for historical analysis or practical intervention? The courses are richly illustrated by practical case studies taken from the professional experience of the teaching staff. - Module 2: Conservation of urban sites and landscapes: theory, history and practice.
Co-ordinator: Paul Lievevrouw
Theme: Courses on the rehabilitation of the urban and rural heritage start from the critical analysis of the problems posed by the distortions appearing between the urban and rural fabric bequeathed by history and contemporary socio-economic and cultural developments. The courses are based on European recommendations as regards to the policy of 'integrated conservation' and attempt to make objective and practical assessments on the basis of experiments carried out over the past thirty years and the results, both positive and negative, of recent urban and rural spatial formations. They propose a process of re-evaluating and updating urban and rural heritage in orde to better adapt the structures and forms to the aspirations and real needs of society in the long term. - Module 3: Analysing and registration techniques.
Co-ordinator: Mario Santana
Theme: One of the first steps when dealing with the conservation of historical buildings and towns is the recoridng of the actual state of the building and the town from every aspect. What are its real forms, how are those forms interrelated, how is this information connected with special locations within the building and the town? Some of the techniques taught under this heading are mainly concerned with registration, documentation, representation and the methods of using survey drawings to represent different stages of the research. Other address the special requirements of the theoretical reconstitution of buildings (anastylosis). - Module 4: Building materials and conservation techniques.
Co-ordinator: Koen Van Balen
Theme: Courses presented under this heading offer basic knowledge about ancient building techniques, building materials and the mechanisms leading to the deterioration of building materials and structures. Conservation and restoration techniques are intended to stop these deterioration processes. It is essential that the students achieve a good basic knowledge on conservation methods and techniques, for their application ensures the future of the monument. Special attention is given to humidity deterioration and its remedial treatments, as this is a major factor in deterioration phenomena. - Module 5: Conservation Policies
Co-ordinator: Anne Marie Draye
Theme: The protection and conservation of important historical monuments demand integration within the legal system of a country or region. International conventions also play an important role in heritage preservation. Both legal and economical, as well as sociological constraints of the concept of protection, conservation and restoration of the cultural heritage, are studied within the framework of these courses. - Module 6: Integrated Project Work
Co-ordinator: Barbara Van der Wee
The project work, and its related exercises and seminars, are intended as a means of putting into practice acquired knowledge and theoretical insights, thereby analysing and solving a specific problem of conservation on the basis of the adequate methodology. parallel to the theoretical courses throughout the academic year, the students work on projects involving either the conservation of archietectural heritage or the rehabilitation of an urban or rural site, aiming at an intense interaction with the matters taught in the various lectures.
With a view to learning to apply in practice the methodology of the integrated and interdisciplinary approach, the project work is undertaken in small groups, consisting of students of different origins and professional education. In this matter intercultural exchange and a broadening of the viewpoint from which the subject is approached are promoted.
The preparation of the conservation project involves a wide range of preliminary activities. Therefore within the time schedule of the academic year, many hours are reserved for esearch and personal work (in libraries, archives and on site), for discussions within the work group, and for the preparation of the documents illustrating the practical work (surveys, plans, photos, etc.). Student guidance is undertaken by the members of the teaching staff, by guest professors and by specialists, chosen according to the subject selected.
Twice a year, before the Christmas holidays and before the Easter holidays, intermediate presentations are organised to discuss and evaluate the progress of the project. At the end of the academic year, the project work, presented by the students in groups, is discussed and evaluated during a final session involving a committee of invited professors, specialists and the teaching staff. - Trips and visits to construction sites, workshops and institutions.
By visiting different rehabilitated rural and urban sites, restored monuments or construction sites of historic buildings in restoration, as well as archaeological excavations, students have the opportunity to discuss various conservation topics taught during the theoretical courses and treated during the practical work. A report presented in the 2nd year elaborates one of these discussion topics.
The study trips and visits are included in the tuition fees.
Destinations may vary each year.
During the last years, trips have been organised to :
le "Grand Hornu & Villers-La-Ville" (Belgium);
the "St. Jacob" church and Beguinage Leuven (Belgium);
Maastricht (The Netherlands) and Normandy (France), 1 week workshop for Integrated Project Work IPW2;
1 day visit of project Sites for IPW3 (Belgium);
Monumentenwacht & cathedral Antwerp (Belgium);
2 weeks study trip to Petra (Jordan);
KIK IRPA and "Paleis voor Schone Kunsten" in Brussels (Belgium);
"Namur" (Belgium');
"Alden Biesen" (Belgium);
Stockholm (Sweden), 2 weeks studytrip/workshop Modern Movement;
"Ieper" (Belgium)
You can find an overview of the courses on onderwijsaanbod.kuleuven.be
