Facadism in the center of Brussels, leaving the façade of a building intact while demolishing and rebuilding its innards.

Facadist "reconstruction" of a 1890s 7-storey apartment building. Malaya Nikitskaya Street, Moscow.

Preservation of a 19th century façade, Noordereiland, Rotterdam.

Facadism, façadism or facadomy is the practice of renovating old buildings leaving the facade of a building intact while demolishing and rebuilding its innards. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2560 × 1920 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2560 × 1920 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (640 × 853 pixel, file size: 118 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Facadism Metadata This file contains additional... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (640 × 853 pixel, file size: 118 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Facadism Metadata This file contains additional... Position of Moscow in Europe Coordinates: Country District Subdivision Russia Central Federal District Federal City Government  - Mayor Yuriy Luzhkov Area  - City 1,081 km²  (417. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 900 pixel, file size: 276 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Facadism Metadata This file contains additional... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 900 pixel, file size: 276 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Facadism Metadata This file contains additional... Buildings are combinatorial structures on which groups act; the theory of buildings was introduced by Jacques Tits and expounded in Kenneth S. Browns excellent monograph Buildings. ... West facade of the Notre-Dame de Strasbourg Cathedral A facade (or façade) (Pronounced fa-sa-de) is generally the exterior of a building — especially the front, but also sometimes the sides and rear. ...

This is often seen as a compromise between property developers who need to develop properties for modern uses and standards and preservationists who wish to preserve buildings of historical interest. It can be regarded as as compromise between Historic Preservation and Demolition. The practice is derided by preservationists however because it is seen as destructive, where a building is essentially destroyed save for its most superficial details. Despite being highly controversial and denounced by preservationists as vandalism, facadism appears when desire for preservation overwhelms demand for new development. A real estate developer (American English) or property developer (British English) makes improvements of some kind to real property, thereby increasing its value. ... A preservationist generally refers to one who wishes to preserve a historic structure from demolition or degradation. ... Historic preservation, heritage management, or heritage conservation is the theory and practice of creatively maintaining the historic built environment and controlling the landscape component of which it is an integral part. ... Demolition of the Old Myer Building, Perth, Western Australia. ...

The practice of facadism conflicts with ICOMOS international charters. The Venice Charter, article 7, states that: A monument is inseparable from the history to which it bears witness and from the setting in which it occurs. The moving of all or part of a monument cannot be allowed except where the safeguarding of that monument demands it or where it is justified by national or international interest of paramount importance. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) was founded in 1965 as a result of the Venice Charter of 1964 and offers advice to UNESCO on World Heritage Sites. ... The Venice Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites is a treaty that gives an international framework for the preservation and restoration of ancient buildings. ...

See also

• Historic Preservation
• Venice Charter
• Demolition
• Brusselization

Historic preservation, heritage management, or heritage conservation is the theory and practice of creatively maintaining the historic built environment and controlling the landscape component of which it is an integral part. ... The Venice Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites is a treaty that gives an international framework for the preservation and restoration of ancient buildings. ... Demolition of the Old Myer Building, Perth, Western Australia. ... Art Nouveau style building Maison du Peuple of Brussels, which was demolished in 1965. ...

References

• Goldberger, Paul. "'FACADISM' ON THE RISE: PRESERVATION OR ILLUSION?", The New York Times, 1985-07-15. Retrieved on 2006-09-21. 
• King, John. "Insulting historic preservation", San Francisco Chronicle, 2005-02-22. Retrieved on 2006-09-21. 
• King, John. "Classics preserved -- or are they?", San Francisco Chronicle, 2006-09-20. Retrieved on 2006-09-21. 
• Heffern, Sarah. "When History Is Only Skin Deep", Preservation Online, 2002-08-16. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.