THE USE OF BUILDING SURVEY FOR MAINTENANCE OF BUILDING IN NIGERIA

THE USE OF BUILDING SURVEY FOR MAINTENANCE OF BUILDING IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

A historic building report provides documentary graphic and physical information about a structures history and existing condition. Broadly recognized as an effective part of preservation planning, a historic structures report also addressed management or owner goals for the use and re-use of the structure.

It provides a thoughtfully considered argument for selecting the most appropriate approach to treatment, prior to the commencement of work, and outlines a scope of recommended work. The building survey repot serves as an important guide for the changes made top a historic structure during a project repair rehabilitation or restoration and can also provide information for maintenance procedures. Finally, it records the findings or research and investigation as well as the processes of physical work for future researches.

 The introduction to the first historic structure report in this country, Charles E. Peterson of the National part service wrote in 1935 any architect who undertakes the responsibility of working over a fine old building should feel obligated to prepare a detailed report of his findings for the information of those who will come to study it in future years’ since then, thousands of historic structure report (HSRS) have been prepared to help guide work on historic properties. The first historic structure report prepared in the United States is the moor House. The site of the surrender Yorktown, was written by charles E Peterson of the National Park Service in the early 1930s. In the decades since the Moore House report was completed, preservation specialists commissioned by owners and managers of historic properties have prepared thousands of reports of the type. Similar studies have also been used for many years as planning tools in France, Canada, Australia and other countries as well as in the United States. Although historic structure reports may differ in format, depending upon the client, the producer of the report. The significance of the structure, treatment requirements and budgetary and time restrictions, the essential historic perseveration goal is the same. “Just as an art conservator would not intervene in the life of an artistic, artifact before obtaining a thorough knowledge of it’s history, significance and composition, so those proceed only from a basis of knowledge. Too often in the past the cultural integrity of countries buildings has been compromised by approaches to restorations grounded on personal whim, willful romanticism, and expedient notions of repair.

The preparation of historic building report is the first step in adopting a disciplined approach to the care of a historic building “(From the introduction of the University of  Virginia, Pavilion 1, Historic structure Report, Mesick Cohen Waite Hall Architects, 1988). In response to the many inquiries received on the subject, this preservation. Brief will explain their value to the preservation of significant historic properties, outline how reports and commissioned and prepared and recommend an organizational format the National Park Service acknowledge the variations that exist in historic structure  reports and in how these reports of the properties for which they have been commissioned. Thus, this brief is written primarily for owners and building surveyor of historic structure, as well as architects. It also responds to the requests of builders and owners to help define the scope of historic building report study.