Landscape Architecture and Art, Volume 2, Number 2Case Study: The Authenticity and
Integrity Assessment of the Eleja and
Remte Manor Parks
Kristīne Dreija, Latvia University of Agriculture
Abstract. The analytically comparative approach of authenticity and integrity qualities has been applied in the
case study of the Eleja and Remte manor parks aimed at raising awareness of the value of the cultural heritage on
a local scale, using the historical evidence of the manor houses as the unifying element – the analogy of the
property rights and architecturally artistic manifestations.
The case study example included data acquisition, processing and analysis, as well as the methods of the field
case study, which included the evaluation of the current situation in nature, photo reportages and records in
accordance with the proposed study principles and criteria. The field study took place by personally surveying the
specific territories in the period from 2010 to 2012. On the basis of data acquisition, processing and analysis
scientific theoretical provisions and international normative decisions in the assessment approaches of historical
research and authenticity and integrity were used. With the help of the proposed approach in the case study
example the principles of evaluation and awareness raising of the cultural heritage of the historic gardens and
parks were analysed, which are essential for the sustainable development of the rural environment.
The study results of the historical evidence of the Eleja and Remte manor parks are divided into
7 development stages during the period from the 19th century to the 21st century. During this period, both manor
parks experienced both the architecturally artistic quality boom, and decline in the impact of the political, social
and economic factors. On the other hand, the authenticity degree of the Eleja and Remte manor parks is from
minimum to maximum in almost all proposed positions, which can be explained by so far disorganized and
unsystematic planning and work implementation activities not only on a local, but also on national scale.
To ensure further preservation of the identified authenticity and integrity levels at an optimum level, conservation
of architectonically artistic elements and structures and elaboration of the management plan is necessary.
Key words: authenticity, integrity, historic garden and park, assessment.
Introduction
The quality of the historic gardens and parks,
especially in the last few years, has been discussed
through the understanding of terms „authenticity‟ and
„integrity‟ in the research literature. The terms
„authenticity‟ and „integrity‟ were established in
accordance with the guidelines developed by the
UNESCO World Heritage Centre in 2005 [ 28 ].
The term „authenticity‟ was not an exclusive criterion,
not even the keyword in the beginning of the history
preservation movement [ 19 , 1 ]. However, nowadays,
especially in the last years, among researchers it
becomes an increasingly more significant criterion and
a measurement for any cultural and historical
landscape and for the conservation techniques and
value awareness of the existing elements
and structure [ 20 , 21 – 36 ; 6 , 319 – 356 ; 9 , 1 – 16 ].
From a more general viewpoint, the term
„authenticity” includes ethics, emotional feelings,
chances to keep and to take initiative in future, as well
as creative aspects, including both education and
aesthetics. It is one of the key words for the
communication to action-oriented planning and
management processes, linking the past with the
future. The better authenticity understanding and its
various dimensions, the more possible it is to act more
diversely in the context of conservation, landscape and
society. Authenticity is closely linked with the aspects
of history, correctness, perceptual clarity, dynamics,
time flow, creativity, scale, object, or idea based
strategies [ 6 ]. Authenticity assessments are complex
[ 9 , 1 – 16 ], and there is no united criteria system.
Besides, it depends on the tangibility conception of
authenticity that most directly relates to the historic
gardens and parks. The Nara Document on
Authenticity that was signed in 1994 defines the
authenticity forms in the context of the world's and
cultural heritage biodiversity [ 21 ], which must be used
as the base for the historical and cultural landscape
policy.
However, the term „integrity‟ was applied earlier
than the term „authenticity‟ and its meaning is more
related to the ability to maintain the physical and
mental integrity over time [ 20 , 23 ]. Integrity is defined
as the measure for natural and/or cultural heritage
wholeness and integrity [ 28 , 22 ]. Integrity appears
equivalent to the popularity of authenticity discussions
in the scientific research community, but in most cases
in the analytic approaches of the different
and equivalent meanings of both terms [ 20 , 21 – 36 ;
9 , 1 – 16 ]. The authenticity and integrity assessment of
the historic gardens and parks is essential from two
aspects: (1) in the context of conservation,
management and development and (2) in the context