ABSTRACT
Man is a naturally conservative animal. We dislike change for change’s sake and, except for the occasional break, we crave the familiar and establish routines if none exists. Fresh fields and pastures new excite us but they also make us nervous and wary unless and until they obtain their own familiarity. To cling to one’s surroundings-to conserve-is simply a variation of this theme. It is as natural as the urge to protect ourselves and our families. But is it right? Can it be justified in a fastchanging world when the idea of progress, even if no longer accorded the halo of sanctity, is still considered by the vast majority of us as a given good? In this chapter, we shall examine why we wish to conserve buildings and exactly what conservation means.
