Reconstruction in historic preservation aims to do what?

Reconstruction in historic preservation is focused on using new construction methods and materials to recreate lost historical forms, allowing present and future generations to understand and appreciate what once existed. This practice is essential when original elements of a site or building have been lost due to decay, disaster, or other circumstances. By accurately depicting these historical forms, reconstruction contributes to the representation of cultural heritage and history, ensuring that the significance of the site is conveyed meaningfully.

The idea is to create an interpretation that reflects the original design and craftsmanship, even if the original materials cannot be used. This approach acknowledges the importance of keeping the historic narrative alive while making tangible connections to the past.

While reprocessing existing materials and preserving all existing features are vital concepts in historic preservation, they pertain more to the conservation and restoration practices rather than reconstruction. Similarly, removing features would contradict the goals of reconstruction, which seeks to bring back what has been lost rather than eliminate more of the historic context. Therefore, using new construction to depict lost historical forms stands out as the primary goal of reconstruction in the field of historic preservation.