Title

Author(s)

Larissa Mörschbächer

Affiliation

University of São Paulo

DOI

https://doi.org/10.65686/ZQEY6191

Keywords

Cultural Heritage, Twentieth-Century Buildings, Authenticity

PP

686-692

How to Cite

Mörschbächer, Larissa. “Venice Charter (1964) and Madrid-New Delhi Document (2017) Some Conceptual Developments on Authenticity.” In Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptive Reuse. Volume 1, edited by Andrea Crudeli, Francesca Molle, and Emanuele Carrai, 686–692. Firenze: STH Press, 2026.

Abstract

This paper proposes a reflection on the concept of authenticity in the field of cultural heritage preservation, based on an analysis of the Venice Charter (1964) and the Madrid-New Delhi Document (2017). By comparing two texts of distinct natures and contexts, the paper seeks to understand how this principle is conceived and what implications it has for international conservation guidelines. The Venice Charter, a foundational document of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), establishes a notion of authenticity closely tied to the materiality of the historic monument as it has been transformed over time. The Madrid-New Delhi Document, developed by the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Twentieth Century Heritage, proposes a broader understanding of the concept, reflecting the intense debate on the subject since the 1960s. To outline this discussion, the text first presents an analytical overview of both documents, then explores key issues related to authenticity. The analysis highlights conceptual and methodological developments that shape the contemporary debate on intervention criteria. This aspect is particularly relevant in light of the challenges associated with the adaptive reuse of twentieth-century buildings. By examining the tensions and transformations around the notion of authenticity, the paper contributes to a critical approach to international instruments that guide conservation practices in the twenty-first century. This study is part of the author’s ongoing PhD research, supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Brazil (Grant No. 2024/11145-4).

Edited by
Andrea Crudeli
Francesca Molle
Emanuele Carrai

Publisher
STH Press, Firenze

ISBN Paperback – 9791281661141
ISBN Ebook – 9791281661158
DOI – https://doi.org/10.65686/SISY7263

Year
2026

Proceedings of
International Conference on Adaptive Reuse
hosted by The University of Pisa, Italy
15-19 September 2025, at the Gispoteca di Arte Antica dell’Università di Pisa.