De-Listed
The project questions what is considered heritage in systems for its preservation, such as the List of Buildings, and introduces a more flexible approach to the existing policy.
Looking at the Dolbadarn Castle in Llanberis, North Wales, I observed that its remains have more value as a ruin than rebuilt, as the castle's physical fabric is an artefact of intangible history. Then, I compared the Llanberis High Street to the collection of objects, defined as my personal artefacts: similar to my collection, the public space of the street gains intangible value as a collection of artefacts of the local community.
The proposal includes de-listing all domestic Listed Buildings in the town and creating a record for the High Street - the first record of the suggested 'Grade III' of Listed Buildings. Grade III allows protection for urban or architectural elements: it requires a detailed survey of the site to identify a clear limit of the protected part. Celebrating the High Street, its record includes only the fronts of the buildings facing the street and, potentially, the commercial ground floors as an extension of the exterior public space inside.
Questioning what happens when the street becomes a ruin brings me back to the castle: the facades have more value as a ruin than rebuilt. When the connection between the preserved artefact and its original purpose is gone, the material fabric of its shell and the openings in it are what remains to be experienced by generations of people.
The project is made as a Second Year Project at the AA School BA Architecture
