13) Survival depends on responsiveness to change. Dynamic planning is essential for living organisms. A Heritage Precinct is a living organism, not a fossil. Existing planning processes tend to look backwards rather than forwards and generally are not responsive to change. Environment Court decisions, which are concerned with winners and losers rather than dynamic design resolution, reinforce the status quo. Risk-averse Councils reflect our risk-averse society. In contrast Heritage Precincts stand out from other urban design because they dared to be different.
14) Heritage Precincts are a game in progress. Every action needs to be seen as a move in a game. A skilful player knows the game is different from the rules. We admire brilliant unexpected moves, not the ones which merely meet our expectations. Every action in a Heritage Precinct needs to be both brilliant and unexpected. In a sustainable world built-environment moves would be less, but always astonishing. In the same way a chess master thinks for a long time to fully consider the implications but then makes a bold decisive contribution to the game. Muddling through is not an option.
15) Heritage Precincts need to avoid reductionism. Fundamentalist thinking is the curse of our time. Life is a million shades of grey. Any Heritage Precinct decisions need to be infinitely complex. It is wrong to assume that getting the big decisions right will make it possible for the detail to sort itself out. Life is lived out at the small scale. Complexity of detail reflects the reality of history. Standardised kerb and channelling is to be avoided. Standardised footpaths are to be avoided. Standardised light fittings are to be avoided. Every built-environment move needs to enhance the uniqueness of Kohukohu.
16) Sanitising Heritage Precincts is to be avoided. Sanitising history is to be avoided. The cut and thrust of history is tough and edgy. We live in a time when everything is sanitised and bland institutionalised structures take it upon themselves to achieve this. Perfect, lifeless mediocrity. The “pretty”, the “nice” and the “beautiful” should be avoided. Life is none of these things.
17) Heritage Precincts should never be finished just as no building should ever be finished. The idea of the completed “object” belongs within a materialistic consumer society. In the broad sweep of history this idea of buying and selling the built-environment is a new idea. Putting a value on objects makes rating possible and that in turn sustains a power structure which mitigates against architectural democracy. Our great building traditions have always celebrated the unfinished building.
18) Heritage Precincts should celebrate imperfection. For the Japanese Wabi-sabi is the art of seeing perfection through imperfection. Most cultures enshrine a similar concept. Ideally every move made in Kohukohu would be made in the spirit of seeing perfection through imperfection.
19) Imperfection leaves the path open to discovery. A wise person knows how much they do not know. Every built-environment move needs to open up possibilities rather than close off options.
Heritage Precincts need to celebrate the imperfection of life.