Authentic reconstruction: authenticity, architecture and the built heritage

Notions of authenticity lie at the heart of many questions about heritage and identity in the built environment.

These questions are most pertinent when buildings have been destroyed in disaster or war, and the built fabric is being reconstructed to reinstate traditional or historic appearances in place of what was lost. 'Authentic Reconstruction' examines this idea of reconstruction, using it as a prompt to examine a range of deeper issues on heritage and the built environment.

From post-WWII reconstruction programmes through to the rebuilding of historic cultural landscapes lost in natural disasters, this collection of essays by heritage specialists provides a wide range of case-studies and discussions.

Each presents responses to crises and lessons learned, in order to extrapolate general guidelines for future actions by politicians, architects and planners in reconstructing buildings.