The presentation of research in and under existing buildings

AbstractRarely do buildings remain unchanged over long periods. Damage due to the ravages of time, destruction by human violence or natural catastrophes force repairs. In pre-industrial centuries attempts were made to incorporate existing walls into repairs and additions. Since the finished building should give a uniform impression, however, traces of remodelling were rarely visible, usually hidden under a new ‘skin’. Researching and repairing such remodelled buildings often lead to the discovery of earlier remains. Should these new discoveries be kept visible in order to document and to demonstrate the historical process? Reconstruction of pre-existing buildings is less problematic if the later, existing structures are removed, but it is necessary to deal with the lack of simultaneity – one must add to the structures remaining, resulting in mostly hypothetical reconstructions. This problem is illustrated mainly by examples from Ratisbon and Prague. Excavations lead to similar questions – seldom are remai...