Conservation of Architectural Heritage. New Urban Perspectives: Conceptual, Methodological, Technical and Management Advances

A special issue of Architecture (ISSN 2673-8945).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2024) | Viewed by 12360

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Habitat, Territory and Digitalization, University of Malaga, 29013 Malaga, Spain
Interests: urban and heritage rehabilitation; architectural dimension of tourism; territory and landscape; digitalisation and emerging technologies for citizenship

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Higher Technical School of Architecture, Department of Art & Architecture, University of Malaga, 29013 Malaga, Spain
Interests: urban regeneration of deprived areas; assessing heritage values and cultural policies; urban and territorial sustainability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, a heritage notion based on the social construction of heritage has been consolidated by shifting attention from the material concreteness of objects to the subject that demands them. We are also facing a process notably influenced by the speed at which changes, and social transformations are performed nowadays, especially concerning the necessary contribution of cities to sustainability and resistance in the face of climate change. Therefore, the monumental approach of the last century has given way to increasingly broader and more complex heritage considerations that are advanced through new values and meanings.

This conceptual advance has been accompanied by revising the tools and procedures used in urban and architectural heritage. Conventional techniques and methodologies of analysis, representation, diagnosis, and intervention strategies are being updated, incorporating new technologies and frameworks for research and conceptual reflection. These advances necessarily involve new methodologies that encourage the active participation of citizens, reinforcing a strong sense of belonging and community identity.

Accordingly, this Special Issue aims to address new forms of analysis, evaluation, and diagnosis of heritage sites. These urban areas are undergoing complex transformation processes derived from the new ways of living in the contemporary city, which puts them at risk. The interpretation of these processes still has excessively sectorial visions, even controversies and contradictions when it comes to dealing with the heritage dimension in managing urban phenomena. Added to this are the disciplinary and geographical tendencies and inertias associated with the diversity and complexity of urban heritage and the weight of the architectural dimension, which contribute to hindering the transmission of knowledge, debate, and compelling articulation of the work.

In this context, tourism is presented as a driving force for heritage consolidation and urban regeneration. This process has its ups and downs in vulnerable areas such as heritage sites, and the benefits of this relationship are indisputable. Still, tourism use poses serious problems when it becomes the predominant activity in environments not explicitly designed for tourism. The massive concentration of tourists and the difficulties this can entail for the proper functioning of the city, the possible risks of gentrification, or the loss of the value of authenticity are just a few examples.

The discussions in this Special Issue will focus on (but are not limited to) the following thematic areas:

  • Conceptual advances in urban and architectural heritage
  • Identification and characterisation of new heritage typologies.
  • The value of authenticity in the recovery of heritage areas.
  • The contribution of cultural heritage to sustainability and climate resilience.
  • Tourism as a driver for the recovery and consolidation of heritage sites.
  • The impact of tourism activity and gentrification processes in urban heritage areas.
  • HBIM and GIS for cultural heritage preservation.
  • Implementation of artificial intelligence and big data in heritage studies.
  • Citizen involvement in heritage and conservation strategies.
  • Innovative citizen participation and multilevel governance in heritage.
  • Collaboration, conflicts, and mediation between urban and heritage agents.

Dr. Carlos J. Rosa Jiménez
Dr. Daniel Navas Carrillo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Architecture is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • authenticity
  • citizen participation
  • cultural heritage, governance models
  • heritage sites, heritage tourism, innovative methodologies
  • new technologies
  • theoretical approaches

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (9 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

12 pages, 27532 KiB  
Article
Architectural Experimentations: New Meanings for Ancient Ruins
by Alberto Cervesato, Tommaso Antiga and Elizaveta Proca
Architecture 2024, 4(3), 639-650; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture4030033 - 20 Aug 2024
Viewed by 619
Abstract
Starting from the critical premises that underpin the debate between archeology and architecture, some evidence emerges: sometimes, the musealization of buildings, “urban carcasses” and historical ruins—which are our legacy from the past—is even more harmful than that of any other artefact, for the [...] Read more.
Starting from the critical premises that underpin the debate between archeology and architecture, some evidence emerges: sometimes, the musealization of buildings, “urban carcasses” and historical ruins—which are our legacy from the past—is even more harmful than that of any other artefact, for the purposes of their real understanding. In a country like Italy, which has archeological presences more than any other, architecture must contribute to overcoming the consolidated aporia that the Contemporary, conceived not only as a period but also and above all as its “forms and functions”, is structurally in opposition to the conservation of archeological heritage. Spatium ad Omnes, the project presented in this article, is an attempted exercise at “inhabiting archaeology”, that is, trying to re-grant inclusive usability to a historical fragment, which has lost the elements necessary for its liveability, paying attention to the reversibility of the project itself. The set of questions, doubts and steps preliminary for the design have been highlighted more than the final “figure” of the project: an essential form directly connected with the primordial principles of its constitution. Spatium ad Omnes protects and encourages visiting the complex, trying to offer new perspectives, new narratives and new connections that translate into the possibility of being—for those who visit this place—the protagonists of a unique experience made of history, memory and continuous discoveries. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 9123 KiB  
Article
A Conservation Strategy for the Sanatorio Carlos Duran Cartín in Costa Rica
by Andrea Elena Sibaja Matamoros and Andrea Garzulino
Architecture 2024, 4(2), 342-366; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture4020020 - 30 May 2024
Viewed by 554
Abstract
The Sanatorio Carlos Duran Cartín in Costa Rica is a noteworthy example of tuberculosis sanatorium architecture. Positioned within the broader context of Latin American architectural heritage conservation, the research pays specific attention to tuberculosis sanatoriums as a prevalent architectural typology from the early [...] Read more.
The Sanatorio Carlos Duran Cartín in Costa Rica is a noteworthy example of tuberculosis sanatorium architecture. Positioned within the broader context of Latin American architectural heritage conservation, the research pays specific attention to tuberculosis sanatoriums as a prevalent architectural typology from the early 1900s to the 1940s. Its historical and cultural significance is explored through contextualizing its architectural value and identifying current challenges and conservation needs. Using archival documents and photographic evidence, the study aimed to delineate tangible and intangible values associated with the complex, thus justifying the need for its preservation and safeguarding. Furthermore, the study aimed to establish guidelines and a conceptual framework for a conservation strategy designed for the Sanatorio Duran. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 9606 KiB  
Article
Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Technology in the Protection of Goods of Cultural Interest (GCIs): The Case of the Castle of Cala (Huelva, Spain)
by Gina M. Núñez-Camarena, Rafael Herrera-Limones and Álvaro López-Escamilla
Architecture 2024, 4(2), 247-266; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture4020015 - 30 Apr 2024
Viewed by 787
Abstract
Currently, the use of modern technologies, such as UAVs, allows for a detailed analysis of the protection of Sites of Cultural Interest (BICs) in Spain. Cala Castle in Huelva is selected for this study, which is one of the most important medieval fortifications [...] Read more.
Currently, the use of modern technologies, such as UAVs, allows for a detailed analysis of the protection of Sites of Cultural Interest (BICs) in Spain. Cala Castle in Huelva is selected for this study, which is one of the most important medieval fortifications in the mountainous region and was rehabilitated between 2003 and 2011. After a decade of its architectural rehabilitation, the use of this new UAV technology will allow the creation of a database of the property and its surroundings, made up of a series of 3D models and photogrammetric studies of the territory. This analysis allows us two complementary readings to the original study: on the one hand, to characterize the natural and landscape context of Cala Castle, and on the other, to identify the pre-existence of a series of historic buildings, which have historically articulated this region. The 3D models obtained provide relevant graphic information. The current state of the BIC allows this space to be considered for reactivation as a social space at the regional level. The visuals of the regional environment allow us to identify that the most recent growth has been articulated longitudinally along the N-630 highway, this infrastructure being the backbone of the nucleus. As a pilot test, the beginning of this graphic and visual database (3D) at a regional level will provide a valuable tool for the conservation and registration of built heritage, given that it seeks to incorporate other fortifications that make up Banda Gallega with the aim of defining a sustainable development strategy at county level. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 25803 KiB  
Article
Towards Transdisciplinary Heritage Assessment: An Analysis of the Use of Landscape Study Methods as a Holistic Toolbox for Cultural Site Characterisation in the Spanish Context
by Celia López-Bravo
Architecture 2024, 4(2), 197-220; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture4020013 - 28 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1173
Abstract
This research work arises from the need to design specific techniques for the characterisation of cultural sites. Assuming the increasing complexity of the protection typologies, the expansion of working scales gives thanks to technology and the pursuit of social sustainability objectives. Thus, its [...] Read more.
This research work arises from the need to design specific techniques for the characterisation of cultural sites. Assuming the increasing complexity of the protection typologies, the expansion of working scales gives thanks to technology and the pursuit of social sustainability objectives. Thus, its main objective is to search for innovative tools that other disciplines can contribute to the work of architects specialising in heritage studies. To this end, the research explores the main methodologies, maps, guides, and registers of landscape and historic landscape characterisation developed in Europe, particularly in Spain, over the last 40 years. Considering this intense and profound evolution of landscape analysis, useful strategies for the assessment of cultural sites from their conception in the 21st century arise. Nevertheless, landscape characterisation methods have been mainly developed and applied by geographers and are absent in many urban and territorial heritage studies. In response, this article proposes a new methodological approach focusing on contextual values to be used in the assessment of architectural heritage at the territorial scale. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 5615 KiB  
Article
The Contribution of Typological Studies to the Integrated Rehabilitation of Traditional Buildings: Heritage Enhancement of Urban Centres in Inner Alentejo, Portugal
by Ana C. Rosado and Miguel Reimão Costa
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 35-45; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture4010004 - 5 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1382
Abstract
The urban centres of inland Alentejo (southern Portugal) have long faced a depopulation crisis which, besides undermining the cohesion of the communities, compromises the conservation of the architectural heritage. The tendency to apply the discourses on tourism and population pressures from coastal cities [...] Read more.
The urban centres of inland Alentejo (southern Portugal) have long faced a depopulation crisis which, besides undermining the cohesion of the communities, compromises the conservation of the architectural heritage. The tendency to apply the discourses on tourism and population pressures from coastal cities to these inland territories can be detrimental to their analysis given the sheer difference in demographic dynamics. Transformations in traditional architecture—a key facet for defining these historic urban landscapes—require analysing within this social context. The imperative need to rehabilitate traditional buildings, endowing them with the living conditions communities today require, must be guided by morphological analysis, knowledge of housing history, typologies, and traditional construction techniques. This rehabilitation concept integrates into the transformation processes that traditional architecture has been undergoing for centuries, constituting adaptable and flexible structures across their organisational variants, which should be studied through a prospective approach. The article characterises the transformation of urban domestic architecture in the region, from the early modern period to the present. The results of various research projects are summarised, gathering over 500 cases. The conclusion argues that the historical process itself results in a set of themes, tools, and opportunities for these buildings’ adaptation to current needs. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 3240 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Touristification Processes in Historic Town Centers: The City of Seville
by Germán Herruzo-Domínguez, José-Manuel Aladro-Prieto and Julia Rey-Pérez
Architecture 2024, 4(1), 24-34; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture4010003 - 31 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1365
Abstract
Encouraged by the administration, the gen9otrification process has been useful in economic terms for the reactivation of the socio-cultural fabrics of historic urban spaces in decline. What was initially considered an advantage has led to the touristification of historic centers, and in turn [...] Read more.
Encouraged by the administration, the gen9otrification process has been useful in economic terms for the reactivation of the socio-cultural fabrics of historic urban spaces in decline. What was initially considered an advantage has led to the touristification of historic centers, and in turn to the alteration of their original use. In these settings, the demographic void caused by increasingly shunning local identity has combined with pressure from excessive tourism and the obsolescence of heritage protection bodies in charge of conservation. Given the crisis affecting the definitions of the current system, this study aims to review the environmental agents of heritage value in relation to the processes of touristification and gentrification. Data obtained from different methodologies are analyzed using a multidisciplinary database, a model which enables the analysis of the relevant information from the different interacting fields. This case study focuses on the historic town center of Seville, specifically between 2015 and 2020. Elements are defined as indicators for these processes and the analysis of this case study will comprise the main results of this research. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 2697 KiB  
Article
The Theory of Value and the Understanding of Authenticity: Keys to Intervening in Heritage Spaces: Results in the Case of San Telmo Palace (Seville 17th–21st Century, Spain)
by José-Luis Gómez-Villa, Marta García-Casasola and Eduardo Mosquera-Adell
Architecture 2023, 3(4), 681-691; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture3040037 - 13 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1371
Abstract
The cultural theory of heritage assets that was consolidated throughout the 20th century, and is still in force today, lies in the modulation of the concept of authenticity. It is a nomadic, controversial concept that has adapted to the spirit of the times. [...] Read more.
The cultural theory of heritage assets that was consolidated throughout the 20th century, and is still in force today, lies in the modulation of the concept of authenticity. It is a nomadic, controversial concept that has adapted to the spirit of the times. This review of the concept, drawing on international reference texts and charters in the field of heritage, allows us to specify a working process that facilitates its consideration in characterisation processes. To do so, case studies of significant cultural assets in terms of scale and complexity will be presented as resources. Through the implementation of the Theory of Value, the keys will be provided: criteria and methodology for intervening in heritage. This journey will be reflected more slowly in the study of the Palace of San Telmo (Seville, 17th–21st century). This is a building with a controversial material history, in which a series of attributions of value have been transmitted that correlate both with the theory of the conservation of cultural assets and with social appreciation and the criteria. This is the way to materially undertake a reflection on the authenticity of this heritage. This study provides the keys to intervening, conserving the values identified, and recognising authenticity as a reality that is constructed through the process and through the passage of time. A methodology that allows us to consider the capacity to continue and replace heritage as a project strategy in which what is yet to come can take place. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 5693 KiB  
Article
Collaborative Mapping as a Tool for Citizen Participation: A Case of Cultural Heritage Management in Rural Areas
by Blanca Del Espino Hidalgo and Virginia Rodríguez Díaz
Architecture 2023, 3(4), 658-670; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture3040035 - 24 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1384
Abstract
The role of citizens in the construction of knowledge is undergoing a clear transformation from a passive position, as mere observers and/or receivers, to an increasingly participatory role. This issue, which is directly related to governance policies as well as to the ICT [...] Read more.
The role of citizens in the construction of knowledge is undergoing a clear transformation from a passive position, as mere observers and/or receivers, to an increasingly participatory role. This issue, which is directly related to governance policies as well as to the ICT revolution, can be seen in the field of cultural heritage and particularly architectural heritage management. The present paper aims to generate methodologies to involve citizens as active agents who must be involved in a real way in decision making concerning the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage. The results present the creation of a rural heritage interactive cartographic viewer as a collaborative mapping tool. The conclusions drawn position the citizens of rural, dispersed, or vulnerable areas as informers and builders of knowledge about the cultural and architectural heritage of their environment in terms of citizen science. At the same time, it strengthens the development of innovation strategies in the intervention, management, and communication of the existing dispersed heritage in rural areas. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 7506 KiB  
Concept Paper
A Conceptual Framework for Integrating Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) into the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)
by Junshan Liu, Danielle Willkens and Russell Gentry
Architecture 2023, 3(3), 505-527; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture3030028 - 7 Sep 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2114
Abstract
The preservation of historic structures is a complex and evolving field that requires a delicate balance between traditional methods and modern technology. This paper presents a conceptual framework for integrating terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) into the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), bridging the [...] Read more.
The preservation of historic structures is a complex and evolving field that requires a delicate balance between traditional methods and modern technology. This paper presents a conceptual framework for integrating terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) into the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), bridging the gap between the past and the future. By examining the historical context of the HABS and the emerging potential of TLS, the paper explores the feasibility, effectiveness, and methodological considerations for incorporating this advanced technology into the standard heritage building documentation practice. The research is structured into four main chapters, each addressing a critical aspect of the integration process, from the proposal of the study to the development of guidelines for TLS data acquisition, processing, and management. The paper also delves into the selection of projects for case studies, the application of the framework, and a critical evaluation of its effectiveness. As a conceptual paper, it lays the foundation for a Ph.D. dissertation, offering a comprehensive roadmap for future research and practical implementation. The insights and guidelines provided in this paper aim to enhance the accuracy, efficiency, and richness of heritage documentation, contributing to the broader field of heritage preservation and underscoring the importance of embracing technological advancements while honoring historical integrity. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop