editorial construction · 2006-05-21 · elo - european landowners’ organization december 2004 -...

All of the European Union's member states areexperiencing major tension on their housingmarkets. Capital cities are particularly affected by

this phenomenon as well as major conurbations whichhave the most job opportunities and good infrastructure.The higher cost of housing and office space is sometimescaused simply by anticipated growth, such as in the new member states, with all the financial risks that thissituation may cause in the medium term.As the towns become more attractive, people aredeserting the countryside. Rural land makes up 90% of the territory of the Union of 25 but only produces 25%of its wealth. This causes both a social and economicimbalance. As part of ELO's general work on therevitalisation of rural areas, this article proposes someideas regarding the place of rural housing in European society.

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E L O - E u r o p e a n L a n d o w n e r s ’ O r g a n i z a t i o n

December 2004 - Janua ry 2005

M O N T H LY■

E Nnr 73

The role of Europe's rich historical heritageis obvious to everyone. It reflects Europe'sidentity in its diversity and deep roots in

the history of nations and regions. Some ofthe buildings are open to the public, othersare used to stage cultural events, but all are

fragile and under threat. If they are tosurvive they must adjust to the vicissitudesof the modern world and find their place

in the third millennium.

With enlargement a considerable additionhas been made to Europe's heritage, butone which has suffered from 50 years ofneglect and ill-treatment. Only the Czech

Republic has returned some of its historicalheritage to the former owners, who arenow acting as partners in the restoration

and rehabilitation process.

The Council of Europe has shown interestin historical heritage issues, and so the

European Commission should do likewise,if only because of the considerable spin-offs for tourism. Over 50% of tourism in

Europe is generated by its culturalheritage.

The European cultural programmes attachlittle importance to our historical heritage.However, recently the Commission offered

co-funding to the 'Building Care'programme, which is an excellent tool for

sustainable heritage managementdeveloped by the Danish historical

monument association. It will be promotedin Europe as part of a partnership betweenELO and the European Union of Historical

Homes Associations (UEHHA).

The Union should also support ourhistorical heritage by providing tax breaks,and more particularly in the area of VAT by

allowing the member states to apply areduced rate for renovation work becauseit is so labour-intensive. This mechanismcould be advantageously extended tohistorical monuments without putting

pressure on state budgets.

Thierry de l'ESCAILLE

Construction in rural areas:

European opportunities

Editorial

ELO 73_engels 10-01-2005 16:31 Pagina 1

What do Europe's rural zoneshave to offer? First they are of cour-se known for their huge variety andbeauty - you only have to count thenumber of 'green' tourists everyyear. They can also offer develop-ment sites at extremely competitiverates in a healthy environment.

Of course these advantageshave to be set against less accessto services, in particular communi-cations, which can be harmful tolocal development. The choice tobase yourself in the countrysidemeans distance from shoppingcentres, hospitals and administrati-ve services. But as compensationfor being geographically removedfrom urban hubs, town and countryplanning schemes are by definitionmeant to propose incentives forintroducing technology without theneed for expensive financial invest-ment (e.g. satellite links for themedia and the exchange of compu-ter data).

Restoring and developing ruralhousing can help revitalise thecountryside, but such schemesmust comply with sustainable crite-ria. Projects are only beneficial ifthey improve the lives of thoseliving and working in the countrysi-de and help ease the pressure on a

saturated housing market.Developing rural housing keepbusinesses and people where theyare and places quality buildings onthe market.

Marketing high quality housingApart from the space available

in rural and peri-urban zones, thecountryside can offer quality buil-dings of historical and culturalvalue. It is up to the local and natio-nal authorities to promote the reuseof existing buildings by reassigningthem. This practice has severaladvantages apart from preservingan area's character.

Restoration work will employlocal labour and subcontractors. Asit is labour intensive it gets a redu-ced VAT rate in some member sta-tes (5.5% in France). The EuropeanCouncil is still debating the possibi-lity of extending this reduction torenovation work throughout the EU,a good thing since it would providea boost to this activity in generaland especially in the countryside.Reusing old buildings that are partof the landscape also supportssmall community projects whichpreserve the area's natural heri-tage. Apart from renovation sche-mes, new housing units in ruralareas must also meet sustainable

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C O N T E N T S

Construction in ruralareas: Europeanopportunities 1

The unique know-how of a Polish companyrestoring historical and cultural buildings: the case of KleeburgCastle 4

The building CareProgramme 7

A new form of insurancefor private propertyincluding furniture andworks of art, parks and gardens. 8

Twenty years of theHHA/Christie's Garden of the Year Award 9

UNPI 2004 conference at Toulouse 10

Joachim CARVALLO and 'La DemeureHistorique' 12

Diary Dates 12

CountrySideis a publication of ELO inEnglish, French, German,

Italian and Spanish.

Publisher :Thierry de l’ESCAILLE

Chief editor :Ronan GIRARD

Rue de Trèves, 67B - 1040 Bruxelles

Tel. : 00 32 (0)2 234 30 00Fax : 00 32 (0)2 234 30 09

[email protected]

Internet Site :www.elo.org

5 Euros

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development standards. The idea isto preserve the area's characterwhile giving the occupant all thecomforts of modern technology.

The developer and final purcha-ser will appreciate having gone forquality both in terms of location andin the building materials. The extramoney involved will be compensa-ted for by greater comfort and morereliable facilities.

Increasing supply on astretched market

Building and renovating housing,offices and even shop space in ruralareas puts new products on a highlystretched market. Spiralling pricesare to a large extent caused by shortsupply. However, prices seem tohave reached a ceiling now (in parti-cular in Paris and London) becausehouseholds cannot afford to go intoquite so much debt. The solvencylimits having thus been reached, it isunlikely they will be pushed any fur-ther without a significant return ofeconomic growth.

Making new real estate availablewill therefore segment the market byintroducing an alternative. It will alsoprevent absurd price hikes by satis-fying some of the demand.

If office and shop space is alsomade available alongside housing, itwill help maintain and diversify therural economy. An example isKleeburg castle in Germany (pg 4-6)which is simultaneously a home, acompany head office, a cultural cen-

tre and a shop.

The geographical location of thistype of building calls for the use oftraditional or at least local materials.These projects can ease our planet'secological problems by carbonsequestration and the use of rene-wable materials such as wood.

A policy in search of an identity

Although initiatives have beensubmitted, there is still no consistentEU programme of incentives. In itsdraft regulation on rural develop-ment the EU proposes tools for themember states. The draft's 'sectionthree' provisions refer to rural deve-lopment itself and could be used todiversify farm or forestry activities.Of course the member states willhave to consider what action to takebecause, to quote Corrado PIRZIO-BIROLI, head of CommissionerFISCHLER's cabinet, this is a 'toolbox' that every state can use. Somecountries are deciding to end coun-cil housing in rural areas (e.g. theUK) and it is therefore urgent for theprivate sector to come up with alter-natives. Incentives could be fiscaland financial, by adjusting tax onincome from property and makingloans more accessible. It shouldnever be forgotten that profitability inthe countryside is often lower thanmoney from investments in urbanareas.

Perks of this sort could alsoinclude accessibility of land anddevelopment permits. In some

countries the law does not make iteasy to convert farm buildings tohousing, shops and businesses.More flexibility is needed to enablerural businesses to make better useof their heritage. Rigid planning rulesand regulations lead to the deterio-ration of the quality of landscapesand habitats, and more generally ofthe rural socio-economic fabric,since they stand in the way of chan-ge. Fortunately many Europeanregions allow for adaptability.

Generally speaking the issue ofreal estate in the countryside begsthe question of rehabilitating theseareas, in order to provide incentivesfor people to continue to work there,boosting the rural economy andcreating a balance between townand country. Liberal policies onaccess to building projects are nee-ded, while maintaining control overimplementation criteria, in order topreserve the rich fabric of the coun-tryside and ensure it stays in onepiece.

■ Thierry de l’ESCAILLE

■ Marie-Alice BUDNIOK

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Coordination: François de RADIGUÈStel: +352 021 190 345

© von KORFF


Consequently the countryside islosing its livelihood and lifeblood,since those left do less and less tomaintain the land.

Renovating monuments, enhan-cing a landscape or setting up busi-nesses in a rural area are all ways ofresponding to the challenges of thissocio-geographical impoverishment.Farming alone can no longer ensurethe necessary maintenance of these

areas, and is no longer a net creator ofjobs. The CAP tends to guide farmsmore towards multi-functionality andtourism in particular. But despite theinherent difficulties of becoming esta-blished in the countryside, certainentrepreneurs are sticking their necksout to make a contribution to its pro-sperity. To prepare these areas for thearrival of their business they have touse specialist construction and reno-vation companies.

In the Cologne area 'Countryside'met Mr. Michael Baron von KORFF,who bought and restored KleeburgCastle with the intention of turning itinto the head office of his exclusivemail order company for high qualityshirts and blouses.

The completion of this project isthe result of the wild dream of a lan-downer and the professionalism of aPolish company specializing in inter-ior and exterior restoration of cast-les, palaces, historical houses - infact any historical building - withMrs. Marie-Theres Baroness vonLÜNINCK acting as go-between.The new owner of a castle in a verypoor state of repair and the cons-truction company got together withthe local authority to rehabilitate thesite and arrange its eventual rebirth,thanks to Baron von KORFF's com-pany - and the Baron von KORFFhimself - taking up residence.

This example illustrates that it ispossible to create a new identity andpurpose for the countryside.Kleeburg is a good illustration of aEuropean policy which is intended topromote the multi-functionality ofproperty and the protection of ourrural heritage.

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The unique know-how of a Polish company restoring historical and cultural buildings: the case of Kleeburg Castle

At the dawn of the 21st century the European Union is at the heart of a profound socio-geographicaltransformation. Cities are growing, remote areas of the countryside are being abandoned, peri-urban zones are losing people involved in managing the land to commuters who want both the

peace and quiet of the countryside and the infrastructure that towns have to offer.

Kleeburg Castle - Rhineland - Germany.


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5Kleeburg after renovation in 2003 and 2004.

Kleeburg before renovation in 1997.


As a new landowner in 1997,Baron von KORFF wanted to returnKleeburg to its original appearance.The buildings had been considerablyaltered over the centuries and datefrom the 14th century with some lateradditions. The outbuildings compo-sed of three sections in a U shapeface the castle, built in the medievalstyle, surrounded by a moat.

Both the appearance and the stateof the buildings had suffered fromcenturies of neglect.

The above-mentioned companyhad experience in this type of restora-tion and above all had the ability tocoordinate different master craftsmencapable of completing such a projectin only five years (1997-2002). It plan-ned the restoration not only of thebuildings but also the furniture, orna-ments and several other on-site featu-res.

Represented by Mr Jaroslaw OKR-ZEJA, the managing director inGermany, this construction and resto-ration company based in Poland wasactually set up in 1988 to meet thechallenges faced by owners of excep-tional buildings.

Its shareholders also own twopalaces converted into hotels by theirown workmen. They therefore knowhow to tackle the project from thepoint of view of both the foreman andthe client.

The company started restoringKleeburg in 1997 and in particularrepaired the roofing, made it damp-proof, rebuilt the façade etc. Con-verting the interior also made it possi-ble for a modern company to move inwith its office space, technical areasand show rooms. Every decision was

taken according to the owner's wis-hes but also according to the availa-ble technology and cost.

After this process ended - whichonly took five years - Baron vonKORFF's company moved into theoutbuildings and the owner and hisfamily took over the castle. Ever since,it has continued to expand financiallyfrom its new base. It provides a reno-vated and pleasant working environ-ment for the workers in a region wherethe quality of life is as good as it gets.Moreover the restored castle gives thebusiness an extra feather in its cap.This innovative project has thereforealso contributed to this rural area'slivelihood.

The success of the project alsobenefited the Polish renovation com-pany, which has been working inGermany for over 10 years providingGerman landlords with its expertise.Its work on historical buildings invol-ves in particular restoring privatehomes and converting houses intotop-of- the range rented accommoda-tion.

■ Ronan GIRARD

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Monsieur Jaroslaw OKRZEJA Baron Michael von KORFFBaroness Marie-Theres von LÜNINCK

Baroness Marie-Theres von LÜNINCK

After her studies in Bonn, Baroness von LÜNINCK led several internationalindustrial projects before she founded an advertising business in Munich in1993. After four years she got involved with managing and maintaining alarge estate with historical buildings in the Rhineland. Over the past six yearsBaroness MT von LÜNINCK has formed a strong partnership with a Polishbuilding company specializing in the restoration of historical and culturalbuildings.

To know more about these projects and the restoration work please inquireat [email protected] .


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UEHHA works closely with ELO inthe promotion of the private owners'interest throughout Europe, identi-fying common problems and develo-ping effective solutions.

One of the main problems that theUEHHA's members have to deal withis the deterioration of their properties.Preserve and maintain the houses andparks in good condition, is not an easytask, and in many cases the costs ofrestoration are so high that the ownerscannot face the problem as well asthey would like to. Therefore, UEHHAin collaboration with the DanishHistoric Houses Association (BYFO)and the Danish Heritage Counsel(BYGNINGSKULTUTELT RAD), is wor-king on the implementation of a projectcalled "Building Care Programme".

ELO and some National HistoricHouses Associations, members ofUEHHA, like the Italian "AssociazioneDimore Storiche Italiane", or theEnglish "Historic Houses Association",are the co-organisers of the project.Moreover, the Directorate- General forEducation and Culture of the EuropeanCommission, within the FrameworkProgramme "Culture 2000", will alsosupport the project with a grant fromthe Community budget.

The Building Care Programme(BCP) has been already developed inDenmark by the Danish HistoricHouses Association (BYFO). OnDanish estates, BCP has proved to bea concept professionally and satisfac-tory taking care of not only listed buil-dings and buildings worth preserva-

tion, but also of buildings more com-mon in character. BCP, which is tailormade for owners of historic houses, isa useful tool when negotiating withthe public authorities or whenapplying for grants

The BCP is based on an impartialbuilding inspection carried out byexperienced advisers, like architectsand curators. The building inspectiongives the house owner a generallyview of the conditions of his property,technically and economically as wellas aesthetically. The Programme iscomposed by four main modules,each of them organised in the samemanner and with uniform principles inorder to ensure a systematic inspec-tion. The method and the criteria forevaluation are regular, meaning thatthe BCP provides a solid base ofinformation for each building connec-ted to the arrangement.

The four modules are: basic regis-tration, overall assessment, estima-tion of costs and budget planning andfinally management and maintenanceplan.Each module can identically be sup-plemented with four subjects: external(roof and facades); free space (base-ment, staircase and loft room); interior(individual apartments and specialdecoration) and fixed installations(heating, plumbing, ventilation etc).The owner is free to choose any of thefour subjects in combination with themodules.

The building Care Programme

The Union of European Historic Houses Associations (UEHHA) is an association dedicatedto the conservation and promotion of Europe's greatest private architectural and artisticheritage. UEHHA is an umbrella organisation serving co-operating national associations of

privately-owned historic houses, parks, gardens and their contents.

Danish Historical Houses Association - Copenhagen.


The result of the building inspec-tion is a printed Building Care Report.

Under the supervision of BYFO,which is liable for the quality of themanual, the architects and curatorsare trained to use and to diffuse theBCP practices in Europe. The idea isto create a multiplying effect from theinitial project.

UEHHA has previous experience incooperation with ELO and otherEuropean and National organisationsto set these kinds of programmes. In1998, UEHHA worked together withELO and the Dutch Association,"Stichting Particuliere HistorischeBuitenplaatsen", in the implementa-tion of the "Fines Gardens Project", topromote restoration and long sustai-nable management of historical gar-dens by adapting practices elabora-ted and applied in the Netherlands formore than 10 years.

UEHHA, ELO and the rest of co-organisers expect that this newProgramme would be very successfuland would help the private owners inthe maintenance and preservation ofhouses with historic or architecturalimportance. This heritage forms anessential part of the European Culturalheritage, we have to conserve it forthe present and the future genera-tions.

■ Leticia HERNANDO

European Historic HousesAssociation

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EUROPEAN HISTORICHOUSES

Why an 'exceptional risk'policy?

At least two factors - the stormsthat hit Europe in 1999-2003 andaggravated professional burglaries- have made insurers less willing tocover significant historical monu-ments, works of art, parks and gar-dens.

Traditional comprehensive insu-rance policies for homes havebeen shown not to offer sufficientguarantees when something se-rious happens, in particular for los-ses or total write-offs.

The UEHHA (Union of EuropeanHistoric Houses Associations)asked their insurers to create an'Exceptional risk - total loss' policywhich goes beyond first-level risks,

based on the excess cover princi-ple usually only applicable toindustrial risks.

This new deal, which has beenlaunched throughout Europe, maybe taken out as a complement to apre-existing traditional compre-hensive insurance policy or sepa-rately, with no-claims clauses to beagreed when the contract issigned.

It offers cover mainly for 3 risksconstituting the major causes ofcatastrophes affecting Europe'sprivate heritage - fire, theft andstorms.On request, an extension to theguarantees may be obtained, suchas water damage, accidental brea-kages or even civil liability.

What's new about it?

The policy has been designedfor historic buildings in particularsince it does not just cover themain residence with or without itscontents but also the outbuildingsand any other building on the pro-perty, plus the parks and gardensincluding the plants.

Pooling risks throughout Euro-pe should lead to a considerablereduction in insurance premiums.

■ Ghislain d'URSEL,UEHHA Chairman

■ Diana des MOUTIS,Gras Savoye

A new form of insurance for private property including furniture and works of art, parks and gardens.


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He suggested that, if Christie'scould support an event of some sortthat focused attention on gardens asthe setting for our great houses, itwould benefit house owners byincreasing much-needed visitor num-bers.

Out of this was born a plan for anew annual award for HHA members'gardens, which was taken up withenthusiasm by Michael SAUNDERS-WATSON, then President, and TerryEMPSON, Director General, as well asby Jo FLOYD, Chairman of Christie's.As nothing like it had existed before,we first needed to consider how the

winner should be chosen. The idea ofa specialist panel of experts was dis-cussed and rejected. The panel wouldhave to travel huge distances to visitall HHA members' gardens during thecourse of the spring, summer andautumn and, inevitably, it would notnecessarily see all gardens at the timetheir owners might like ('It's such apity that you weren't here last weekwhen the roses were looking theirbest').

We opted instead for a simple bal-lot of members and friends who wouldcast their votes as they visited gar-dens. This scheme had the virtue of

administrative simplicity and it wasmore likely that it would select a win-ner that reflected the wider taste ofthe public, on whom the success ofthe scheme would ultimately depend.Ballot papers, distributed to HHAmembers and friends, would be retur-ned in the autumn and the gardenwith the most votes would be the win-ner. The award itself, a simple but ele-gantly engraved slate plaque, wouldbe presented the following spring,accompanied by local and nationalpublicity.

It was very fortunate that the firstwinner was such a perfect example ofthe English garden. Heale House, onthe banks of the River Avon nearSalisbury, was originally designed byHarold Peto in the early 1900's and,for its owners, Major David and LadyAnne RASCH, the garden, with itsJapanese tea house, was a passion.Heale attracted huge publicity andvisitor numbers the following yearincreased substantially, a benefit thatwas to be shared by all subsequentwinners. Winning gardens over theyears since 1984 have demonstratedthe richness and variety of privately-owned gardens, accessible to thepublic: sizeable woodland gardenslike Hodnet and Exbury, the topiary ofLevens and Athelhampton, the majes-tic herbaceous borders of Newby andArley, as well as smaller, but no lessimpressive gardens, like RosemaryVerey's celebrated creation at Barnsley.

The secret of the enduring suc-cess of the HHA/Christie's Garden ofthe year Award has been the closeinvolvement of the owners themselvesin the care and development of thegardens. These gardens are often a

Twenty years of the Historic Houses Association/Christie's Garden of the Year Award.

To give credit where it is due, the HHA/Christie's Garden of the Year Award was the brainchild ofCharles Clive-Ponsonby-Fane, Chairman of the HHA Gardens Committee in the early 1980's.During the course of a bucolic evening in Somerset twenty years ago, he remarked to me that

gardens were increasingly the key to attracting repeat visitors to country houses.


reflection of the taste of successivegenerations of the same family andthere could be few better examplesthan this year's winner, KiftsgateCourt, where Anne CHAMBERS isthe third generation to have caredfor that beautiful garden and where,in 2000, the striking new water gar-den was added.

After twenty years, the HHA/Christie's Garden of the Year Awardhas deservedly become an establis-hed event in the gardening year. Ithas without doubt fulfilled its objec-tive in drawing attention to thewealth and variety of private gar-dens open to the public, which has

resulted in greatly increased num-bers of visitors. On the record of thepast winners, we can look forwardeagerly to visiting the new gardensthat are selected in the comingyears.

■ Anthony BROWNE

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I am not an intellectual and donot speak in academic terms. Ispeak from practical experience. Iam involved in residential propertyin several countries and for today inFrance (Aix en Provence) and asmall village in Ireland, some 3hours from Dublin and one hourfrom Cork and Waterford. It is apleasant spot on the banks of the2nd largest river in Ireland, the sal-mon river Blackwater.

As a family owned agriculturalenterprise we have residential proper-

UNPI 2004conference at Toulouse

Flavour of the answers to questions

The European Groupingof Real EstateFederations (GEFI)

helped organise the 94thCongress of the NationalUnion of Real Estate (UNPI)which took place in Toulouse,France on 15 October withthe title, 'The right to property in Europe'.

GEFI participated in thisassembly fully through itschairman JacquesDEVERGNE and his deputyThierry de l'ESCAILLE. Therewere also representatives ofother countries in the Union,in particular Charles KEANE,an Irish landowner.'Countryside' has includedsome excerpts from hisspeech.

Anthony BROWNE was aDirector of Christie's London

from 1978 to 1996 and isnow a consultant to

Christie's International. Heis Chairman of the British

Art Market Federation.


ty to let, a historic house to manageand are building some 15 houses tosell. Prices have risen dramaticallysince the middle 90's by as much as3 times in some cases. Our new hou-ses are selling at Euros 156,000 for a95 m2, 2 storey, 3 bed, twin bath, withparking but without garage, with aback garden, in a village. Councilcharges amount to Euros 4,500 perhouse and with a land cost of Euros20,000 (low for Ireland) we will be lefthopefully with a taxable profit ofsome Euros 20,000 per house beforeinterest charges. On the other handwe would rent a 2 bedroom renova-ted stone built house in the samerural village at Euros 100 per weekunfurnished.

Yet all is not well in the Irish mar-ket - there are low interest rates, netimmigration, a move of young peo-ple out of the family home, taxincentives to investors to buy hou-ses for rent and tax incentives toowner occupiers both as first timebuyers and in certain designatedareas. The result - too many housesto rent and not enough demand.Maybe too many houses built.75,000 new houses in 2003 for apopulation of 4 million. The conse-quence - owners are chasing te-nants and prices risk falling or te-nants becoming choosy.

Costs have risen enormously.Council charges are set to double,the planning process has becometime consuming, lengthy and diffi-cult, the specifications are morestringent and the authorisationsrequired pervasive. Health and safe-ty has added to costs - for exampleyou need special training (or an

independent firm) to erect even thesimplest of scaffolding.

Now the comparison withFrance- Prices - up to you to evaluate -

Dublin nearly as expensive asLondon.

- Costs - I would think much thesame

- Wealth Tax - none- Capital Gains Tax - none on the

principal private residence, 20%on investment property, indexedlinked till the end of 2002 (i.e. nolonger)

- Rates - none- Residential tax - none - Income Tax - quite high for indi-

viduals - top rate of 42% - Stamp duty on purchase - varies

from zero for a first time buyerpaying less thanEuros 190,500 to 9% for proper-ty over Euros 630,000 with anadditional 1/1.5% for the solici-tor (no notary).

- Agent's commission - negotiablebut 2% would be the norm.

- Mortgage interest - deductiblefor individuals.

Rented property - Return - 4% on the market value

before costs would be the aimdropping perhaps to 3% now.

- Notification on a 4 page form foreach property every four years toa central office in Dublin.

- Annual council tax of Euros 50per house

- Security of tenure - under thenew 2004 Act the tenant is secu-re for 4 years but he can beasked to leave in certain condi-tions, such as the house is for

sale, renovation, needed forfamily use and of course if hefails to pay or respect the termsof his tenancy including nuisan-ce to neighbours, overcrowdingetc..

- Disputes referred to arbitrationby a Tribunal rather than throughthe courts with all the risks of alazy judge.

- Bad payers; in principle in thesmall rural environment in whichwe live we are able to find outsufficiently about our tenants notto be concerned by non pay-ment of rent

- No capital allowances on struc-tural improvements. Capital allo-wances on items such as plum-bing and electricity. Repairs allo-wable.

Advice- Campaign to roll back excessive

regulation and costs and reduceprices if Europe is ever to beco-me competitive.

I hope this gives you a reasona-ble overview of our attractive green,wet, cool-summer, warm-winterisland.

■ Charles KEANE

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Today it numbers three thousandbuildings and is represented on thecommittee responsible for listinghistorical monuments. Since its

creation it has convinced variousgovernments to adopt many lawsand decrees to help owners to pre-serve their historical residences. Asa Spanish doctor from a remotevillage in Extremadura he arrived inFrance in 1893 to do research intophysiology, but how did he come tolaunch his crusade to save Frenchhistorical buildings?

To unravel the enigma the booktries to reveal the main through hislife, from his birth to his first achie-vements - a collection of Spanishworks of art and the restoration ofVillandry castle and grounds.

It goes on to describe the settingup of 'La Demeure Historique' and

its activities during the lifetime ofJoachim CARVALLO, highlightingthe pioneering nature of the man'swork. He was a true visionary with anearly understanding of the challengeinvolved in safeguarding our privatearchitectural historical heritage.

Alix de GUITAUT-VIENNE gra-duated in history of art. After wor-king as a restorer of ancient pain-tings and setting up a floral decora-tion business, she turned to investi-gating the life and work of the greatdefenders of our heritage. 'JoachimCarvallo and L’oeuvre de La DemeureHistorique' is her first book.

Published by Media V S.A / Le Cercle du Patrimoine, Geneva

Joachim CARVALLO and 'L’oeuvre de La Demeure Historique'

In 1924 Joachim CARVALLO, owner of Villandry Castle in Touraine, created 'la Demeure Historique,' the first guild of owners of castles and old French houses, and which is now celebrating its eightieth anniversary.

Diary Dates 200413-14 January 2005New York, United-StatesClimate Change Risks andOpportunities, Learning from the LeadersThis conference will bring theleaders of the corporate, financial,and legal sectors together withsome of the world's foremostexperts on climate change policy to discussthe legal and practical implicationsof climate change for U.S.businesses, and some pragmaticsteps that companies can take to develop strategies for dealingwith climate change.

19 January 2005Paris, FranceDiscussions of the Athena Street: "Farm products: which

regulation for which market?"SAF (Society of Farmers of France)Rue d'Athènes, 875009 Paris

24-26 January 2005Tucson, ArizonaConference on Air Quality, GlobalClimate Change, & RenewableEnergy. [email protected],http://www.euec.com/

24-27 January 2005New Orleans, LouisianaThird International Conference onRemediation of Contaminated [email protected], http://www.battelle.org/environment/er/conferences/sedimentscon/

default.stm26-28 January 2005Amsterdam, The NetherlandsClub of Amsterdam: Summit for the Future, Visions andStrategies for 2020.The Summit for the Future 2005 is a European conferencethat brings together experts,thought leaders, policy makersand knowledge workers.http://www.clubofamsterdam.com

15-17 September 2005Avignon, FranceGeneral Assembly of the Friends of the Countryside with visits of wine-growingproperties, of the salines of Aigues-Mortes and of the Popes City in

Syngenta International AGBrussels Office

Avenue Louise, 240B - 1050 Brussels

Tel : +32.2.642 2727Fax : +32.2.642 2720

Avignon.6-9 July 2006 (erratum)Helsinki and his regionGeneral Assembly of the Friendsof the Countryside including thevisit of insular properties off thefinland's capital.


editorial construction · 2006-05-21 · elo - european landowners’ organization december 2004 -...

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