PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The International
News Magazine of Book Publishing and Bookselling
January 16, 2001
pwforecasts
The
idea of preserving the material past is not a new one—the Emperor
Majorian (the Jane Jacobs of 458 C.E. Rome) issued an edict to protect
old buildings—but in modern times, it has often been in sharp
conflict with the contemporary forces of commerce, war and redevelopment.
Tung, a former New York City Landmarks Preservation Commissioner,
has written an innovative historical and theoretical study of architectural
and cultural preservation efforts in 20 cities across the world.
Rather than relying on one cultural model, Tung makes his argument
by illuminating specific cases in context—how Amsterdam's "medieval
communal water boards" set the groundwork for modern preservation;
how religious warfare devastated and continues to hinder the conservation
of Jerusalem; and in China and Japan, how preservation efforts focus
on retaining "the original aesthetic" rather than the
original building. But the common theme is the importance of cultural
conservation. Tung visited each of the 20 sites himself and relies
on exhaustive archival research. He presents difficult problems
fairly—such as whether the Elgin marbles should be returned
to Greece despite Athenian pollution, the battle over air rights
in Manhattan, and whether the reconstruction of Warsaw has destroyed
the history of its destruction during the war—always attempting
to find a solution that relies on common sense, historical integrity
and balancing practical needs with preserving heritage. This is
an important contribution not only to the literature of urban studies
and city planning, but to architectural history and sociology. 75
b&w photos and 50 maps not seen by PW. (Sept.)
The
idea of preserving the material past is not a new one—the Emperor
Majorian (the Jane Jacobs of 458 C.E. Rome) issued an edict to protect
old buildings—but in modern times, it has often been in sharp
conflict with the contemporary forces of commerce, war and redevelopment.
Tung, a former New York City Landmarks Preservation Commissioner,
has written an innovative historical and theoretical study of architectural
and cultural preservation efforts in 20 cities across the world.
Rather than relying on one cultural model, Tung makes his argument
by illuminating specific cases in context—how Amsterdam's "medieval
communal water boards" set the groundwork for modern preservation;
how religious warfare devastated and continues to hinder the conservation
of Jerusalem; and in China and Japan, how preservation efforts focus
on retaining "the original aesthetic" rather than the
original building. But the common theme is the importance of cultural
conservation. Tung visited each of the 20 sites himself and relies
on exhaustive archival research. He presents difficult problems
fairly—such as whether the Elgin marbles should be returned
to Greece despite Athenian pollution, the battle over air rights
in Manhattan, and whether the reconstruction of Warsaw has destroyed
the history of its destruction during the war—always attempting
to find a solution that relies on common sense, historical integrity
and balancing practical needs with preserving heritage. This is
an important contribution not only to the literature of urban studies
and city planning, but to architectural history and sociology. 75
b&w photos and 50 maps not seen by PW. (Sept.)