This companion investigates the philosophical and theoretical foundations determining the conditions of possibility and the limits that make the conservation readaptation and transformation of past buildings legitimate operations. As increasing ecological and economic challenges question opportunities for new construction the process of restoring transforming and readapting buildings for new or continued use is becoming an essential part of architectural practice. At the same time the role of building conservation is changing from mere material preservation to being part of a broader strategy for social regeneration eco-awareness and inclusive urban planning. Chapters of this volume explore the complex set of considerations that inform decisions to merely preserve accurately restore or variously reuse a building. They also look at the broader philosophical concerns such as ethical and aesthetic values combined with ideas of heritage history and collective identity. Case studies on reconstruction after war gentrification the restoration of ancient edifices reconstruction following the effects of climate change and the use of technology solutions among many others make this a timely and urgent volume. Adopting a broad transcultural perspective with contributions from five continents the volume combines theoretical approaches with more practical case study-based investigations and will be of great interest to upper-level students and academics working in the fields of architecture conservation urban design aesthetics and heritage management. | The Routledge Companion to the Philosophy of Architectural Reconstruction