Role of Surveying During Reconditioning of Monuments

Ernő Foerk’s most well-known work in architectural circles is certainly the volume published in the reprint edition, which collects the material of the building surveys conducted by the students of the Hungarian Royal Public Higher Architectural Industrial School between 1912-1942. The introduction to each volume shows that he considered to document the buildings as the main task of the surveys - besides their role in education - and thus to serve the Hungarian culture. Architectural surveying is still one of the most important starting points for monument reconditioning. Ideally, the process of monument reconditioning consists of the following steps: Scientific Research - Pre-planning Technical Studies – Compilation of a Planning Program and Planning - Professional Authority Control (getting of building permission) – Building Construction Work and (Fine Art) Restoration - Maintenance. This paper presents the essential role of surveying in this process.