Since its founding in 1948, KIK-IRPA has been devoted to expert research and meticulous treatment of a wide range of heritage objects, including paintings, sculptures in wood and stone, tapestries, precious metals, glass, and architectural heritage. The building in Brussels that has housed KIK-IRPA since 1962 was the first in the world specifically created to support an interdisciplinary approach to art conservation. Restorers, chemists, engineers, imaging specialists, photographers, and art historians work together, carefully analysing artworks to determine the most appropriate conservation methods and the degree of intervention required, always with respect for historical authenticity.