The approach of Preventive Conservation is based on the concept that “prevention is better than cure.” This method has been successfully introduced in heritage care over the past decades, offering significant benefits such as cost efficiency, better protection of heritage values, timely problem-solving, improved physical condition, extended lifespan of heritage, and community involvement. In contrast, a reactive approach often leads to higher costs due to delayed interventions. The WTA-PRECOM³OS symposium will focus on preventive conservation strategies, monitoring techniques, and methods for implementing these tools in an integrated system approach.
The activities surrounding the WTA-PRECOM³OS symposium will take place over three days, from April 3-5, 2019, including a meeting with Monument Watch organizations, an international WTA colloquium, and a study day featuring both Dutch and English-speaking speakers. On the study day, Preventive Conservation will be addressed from the perspectives of heritage managers, Monument Watch, study offices, architects, government officials, and researchers.
The symposium is organized by WTA-Netherlands-Flanders, the Raymond Lemaire International Centre for Conservation (RLICC), and the Department of Civil Engineering of KU Leuven, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the UNESCO Chair “Preventive Conservation, Monitoring and Maintenance of Monuments and Sites (PRECOM³OS).”
