Model for the maintenance-focussed heritage building conservationCruz, Arturo; Coffey, Vaughan; H.T. Chan, Tommy; Perovic, Miljenka
2022 Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
doi: 10.1108/jchmsd-09-2020-0127
This paper presents and illustrates the model of a maintenance-focussed conservation plan developed in the thesis. It proposes a framework which puts more emphasis on maintenance in conservation than reconstruction, restorations, repairs or even a “do-nothing” approach.Design/methodology/approachThe research was conducted in an Australian context, where many major buildings are categorised as being “modern heritage”. However, the main problem with modern heritage is that although it has become more celebrated within the architectural historical sector, maintenance is still only in the background of most facility management (FM) operations, and its critical importance has yet to become accepted as a potential solution to greatly facilitate the proper preservation of the nation's architectural legacy. Challenges and barriers to this approach were evaluated, whilst opportunities were identified to improve a failing current situation that has resulted in the loss of many existing heritage structures. The paper makes a strong case in order to highlight the necessity of embedding a maintenance approach in preserving the historical fabric of buildings in the heritage conservation sector.FindingsThis research examines the key strategies for a maintenance-focussed conservation system.Originality/valueThe paper tackles experiences and issues in Australia about a lack of focus on maintenance as a conservation intervention.
Improvement of the cultural heritage perception potential model by the usage of eye-tracking technologyDoğan, Huriye Armağan
2022 Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
doi: 10.1108/jchmsd-12-2020-0174
The aim of this paper is to develop and present the methodology of the model which can predict the perception and assessment of cultural heritage by the point of view of the non-experts through analysing the façades of buildings for adaptive re-use and sustainable development strategy.Design/methodology/approachThis paper focuses on the improvement and validation of the original cultural heritage perception potential model (CHPP) by adding new indicators which can be used as a part of the model. The method adopted includes the explanation of the older (original) model and its limitations. The assessment process follows the Integrated Cultural Heritage Management Approach to identify the new indicators which can be implemented on understanding the cultural heritage from the user/observer perspective, furthermore, for the sustainability of the environment.FindingsThe results demonstrate that the perception of the society regarding the perception of the built heritage can be affected by various indicators. When the indicators are well identified, it is possible to predict the potential of the buildings to be perceived as cultural heritage or not. The knowledge which is gained by the proposed model can assist the sustainability and continuity of both heritage objects and the environment by helping the adaptive re-use process and strategies.Originality/valueNo similar prior studies on the perception of cultural heritage as an approach to adaptive re-use strategies have been carried out. Furthermore, the usage of eye-tracking technology in the field of cultural heritage is rare. Therefore, it is hoped that the experiments performed in this study and the model which is created can lead and guide further research.
The adaptive reuse potential of underused heritage gaols in Australia: a case study of Richmond Gaol, TasmaniaShehata, Waled; Langston, Craig; Sarvimäki, Marja; Novak Camozzi, Ranka
2022 Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
doi: 10.1108/jchmsd-09-2020-0142
Many heritage-listed gaols in Australia have become obsolete in terms of their original function and were decommissioned decades ago. As a default management practice, decommissioned gaols are usually transformed into museums which are mostly empty and underused without considering other viable alternatives. This research challenges this mainstream thinking and demonstrates that among the entire stock of heritage-listed gaols in Australia, even the least ranked gaol in terms of its potential for reuse can be turned into a thriving and vibrant new function.Design/methodology/approachHypothetically, if the least ranked Australian heritage-listed gaol in terms of its potential for reuse is in fact “reusable”, then the remaining heritage gaols have more chance of being successfully reused to accommodate a vibrant new function. To be able to test this hypothesis, first, the Adaptive Reuse Potential (ARP) model is applied to rank Australia's decommissioned heritage gaols which are spatially and structurally sound to accommodate new uses. Second, an architectural design concept was designed to adaptively reuse the lowest scored gaol (Richmond Gaol) to a boutique hotel. The conceptual design proposal was then assessed by three local heritage architecture firms to validate its applicability and viability.FindingsThe research showed that Richmond Gaol can be reused successfully to at least one function, and accordingly, the whole stock of heritage gaols can be expected to also be reused to more sustainable purposes. The research identifies several considerations for the reuse of heritage gaols in Australia: the careful intervention to their significant fabric; maintaining sufficient evidence of the gaol's original components, the importance of the new use being compatible to the gaol's morphology to ensure minimum alterations or demolitions in the significant fabric of the site; and evaluating the new use and its components to achieve financial viability.Research limitations/implicationsDue to the continuing closure of Tasmania's state borders amid the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the researchers were not able to travel to Tasmania to conduct a site visit and to run the in-depth interviews with the architects in person. Most of the data of the current status of the site, its current layout, museum elements, historical data and photos were provided by Heritage Authorities in Tasmania and the Tasmanian State Library and Archive Service. Supplementary information and photos were acquired in March 2020 from visitors of the gaol who uploaded their trip images to Google maps or to their travel blogs. Topographical data of the site was gathered from Topographic Base-map of Land Information System Richmond Tasmania (2020). Due to travel restrictions, in-depth interviews with the local architects were done virtually, or over the phone in one case.Practical implicationsChallenges discussed in this research encourage creating nationally designed support programs to better vitalise and help preserve Australia's carceral heritage.Originality/valueThis research utilises architectural design in an empirical research paradigm.
Adaptive mechanisms in a continuing landscape: assessing biocultural diversity as a form of resiliencePalazzo, Elisa; Bardsley, Douglas K.
2022 Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
doi: 10.1108/jchmsd-09-2020-0139
This paper investigates the adaptive capacity expressed by an agricultural region in response to changing conditions as a mean to address the future of cultural landscapes in a time of extreme uncertainty. Through the conceptual framework of biocultural diversity, the work assesses regimes shifts and persistence as a dialectic between natural and anthropogenic components of the landscape.Design/methodology/approachSpecifically, the mechanisms of progressive landscape adaptation are explored by using an integrated method to align manifestations of biological and cultural diversity. Through a multidimensional approach applied to spatial analysis, the study determines a relationship between the footprint of past and modern landscape regimes and contemporary rural management practices in McLaren Vale, South Australia.FindingsThe biological and cultural diversity patterns along riparian corridors, or “biocultural corridors” are indicators of past and current adaptive capacity, which are able to convey novel trajectories of sustainable management in the landscape system.Originality/valueUnderstanding the positive feedback loops between nature and human interactions as represented by their interrelationships in the landscape can inform planning decisions for sustainable agricultural development and enable effective regional long-term trajectories of resilience.
Enhancing fieldwork learning experiences for the architectural conservation curriculumTheodossopoulos, Dimitris; Calderon, Edwar
2022 Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
doi: 10.1108/jchmsd-05-2020-0078
Fieldwork in architectural conservation education is a proven practice to develop skills in documenting current conditions and start methodological engagements with a site's architectural and historical values. It is a vehicle to generate intensive learning experiences in comprehensive degrees or short courses. Review of the practice within conservation education is not extensive and the purpose of this paper is to reflect on enhancing pedagogy further.Design/methodology/approachThis reflection was triggered by a major case study, a workshop to generate UG teaching capacity for an Architecture school in Colombia. This led to mapping the fieldwork spectrum, reviewing the authors' experiences (PG courses and external workshops) and activities planned in other MSc programmes. Fieldwork is often seen as skills training, so enhancement is explored through the affiliate geography and architecture UG curricula.FindingsThe Colombia workshop provoked strong engagement among students and tutors, and their commitment to make heritage meaningful to their projects is a measure of this pedagogy's success. Fieldwork around a site's essence, beyond skills development can induce conservation students into critical enquiries by motivating them to develop personalised contexts and enhance engagement with the unexpected through inversion of linear learning processes. Setting up site exercises early on PG programmes can encourage curiosity in exploring historic environments and contextualise surveying methods.Research limitations/implicationsStudent reaction to these ideas has still to be tested by designing new activities. The educational methods of this implementation need deeper analysis, beyond the paper's scope.Originality/valueThe paper maps the academic value of fieldwork in conservation education, investigating enhancement and cross-fertilisation from architecture and geography.
Urbanization in Saudi Arabia and sustainability challenges of cities and heritage sites: heuristical insightsAlqahtany, Ali; Aravindakshan, Sreejith
2022 Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
doi: 10.1108/jchmsd-07-2020-0108
The purpose of this paper is to explore the trajectories of the urbanization process in Saudi Arabia in its regional context from the unification of the country by King Abdul Aziz Al Saud in 1932 to the present time, and the urbanization impact on the status and management of cultural heritage in the Kingdom.Design/methodology/approachOur study design integrated a well-articulated theoretical frame of sustainability to gain a heuristical understanding of urbanization in Saudi Arabia, and its link to cultural heritage. The methodological approach was mixed in nature involving (1) literature search and review, (2) analysis of public documents and databases, (3) analysis of photographs and (4) expert interviews.FindingsOne of the most obvious findings reached in this study is that there is considerable trade-off between heritage site conservation, population and economic demand for increased urbanization. Hence, with increasing urbanization pressures, the value of the heritage site may be rethought based on Saudi Arabia's economic and cultural conservation perspectives.Research limitations/implicationsSince our data are mostly of textual narrative in origin, precise predictions were difficult or impossible for many reasons such as non-linearity, and non-equilibrium dynamics, context and scale dependence as well as the historical exigency of urbanization. However, the same theoretical framework can be applied to appropriate longitudinal/ time series data for predictive analyses, which can be taken up as a future research agenda.Originality/valueThis paper analyzes the urbanization process and sustainability challenges of cultural heritage sites employing a mixed methodological approach, embedded in a holistic theoretical framework of sustainability.
Engineering in heritage conservationCruz, Arturo; Coffey, Vaughan; Chan, Tommy H.T.; Perovic, Miljenka
2022 Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
doi: 10.1108/jchmsd-09-2020-0129
This paper aims to set out the role of engineers in heritage conservation and investigates and evaluates the proposed available tools, technology and innovations that are currently available in the civil engineering sector that can be applied in heritage conservation.Design/methodology/approachAs society has become more aware of the grandeur of heritage spaces and structures, there is increasing pressure to preserve historic buildings. But, it is the economic cost of maintaining this important heritage legacy that has become the prime consideration of every state in Australia. Dedicated intelligent monitoring systems supplementing the traditional building inspections will enable the involved and interested stakeholders to carry out not only timely reactive response, but also to plan the maintenance of such buildings in a more vigilant and systematic manner. This will, in future, help to prevent further degradation of heritage buildings, which is very costly, often difficult and sometimes impossible to address if neglected. Savings in time and resources can be achieved, but only if a building's pathological monitoring and inspection results are on hand for use to guide major decisions to be made on how to best prevent further decay, or to save an important historical structure or building fabric.FindingsThe emergence of technological tools will enable the realization of a maintenance-focused conservation model. However, aside from the cost, these tools are still experimental in nature. These technologies are yet to be applied within the conservation industry with hopes of creating an easier and economically effective systematic method of heritage conservation.Originality/valueThe paper discusses the emerging tools and technologies in easing the monitoring aspect of a maintenance-focused conservation model.
Grading of architectural heritage using AHP and TOPSIS methods: a case of Odishan Temple, IndiaMishra, Partha Sarathi; Muhuri, Soumi
2022 Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
doi: 10.1108/jchmsd-07-2020-0096
Ranking and grading of architectural heritage (AH) are common for the conservation process. Decision-makers are often intuitively made decisions for the selection of the AH. However, on many occasions, these decisions are not transparent and sometimes focused only on a few aspects of the AH.Design/methodology/approachA transparent and robust methodology must be adopted to select and manage AH for the present and future generations. Selecting the list of parameters that are affecting the AH, and assessing their significance can strengthen the holistic assessment. From the literature, parameters and dimensions are identified for the evaluation of AH and its application for Odishan temple architecture (OTA). For minimizing biasedness associated with assessment, the research considered the opinion of experts, researchers and various stakeholders. For objective decision-making, the Delphi, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solutions (TOPSIS) methods were adopted.FindingsLater, by observing the dimension-wise ranks and comparing the obtained grading of OTA with the existing state of protection, it was found that some temples, though having higher values with distinct dimension, lack significantly in other dimensions. However, for unbiased evaluation, all the possible dimensions should be considered. This methodology will also be useful for other decision-making processes concerning the same.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is limited to the OTA. However, this methodology can be adopted by changing the definitions of the parameters according to the contextual needs.Practical implicationsThis methodology may be helpful for the further policy-making process for the conservation and management of such AH.Originality/valueTo date, OTA is not graded through such a methodology. Also, limited studies are found in similar line worldwide.
Tracking sustainable development goals – a case study of PakistanJaveed, Anam; Khan, Muhammad Yar; Rehman, Mobashar; Khurshid, Asif
2022 Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
doi: 10.1108/jchmsd-04-2020-0052
The aim of this study is to gather and analyse the information regarding the level of awareness and commitment of the public as well as the organizations of Pakistan pertaining to sustainable development goals (SDGs).Design/methodology/approachA sample of 500 respondents in total including employs and general public is selected for their opinion regarding SDGs. The data was collected by personal administration of questionnaires in organizations and general public. The data has been collected from federal and provincial capitals of Pakistan. The data has been analysed using Smart PLS and the hypothesized relationships have been tested using regression analysis.FindingsThe level of awareness as well as level of commitment towards the fulfilment of SDGs varies across the cities of Pakistan according to the business volume and their affiliation with the United Nations.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has been conducted in Pakistan only however a cross-country implementation of the framework and comparison would have yielded more in-depth facts.Practical implicationsThis study provides the policy makers with the ground-level data regarding the awareness and commitment of Pakistani organizations and public towards SDG fulfilment. A glance towards the attitudes of the people towards the subject could also be seen through this study. It could be further utilized and referred by other researchers for comparison with their own studies regarding SDGs.Originality/valueThis a comprehensive study conducted at federal and provincial level of Pakistan which has yielded ground realities towards the implementation of SDGs. The results could be used for policy making and planning at national level.
“Tree against hunger”: potential of enset-based culinary tourism for sustainable development in rural EthiopiaWoyesa, Tamagn Urgo; Kumar, Satinder
2022 Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development
doi: 10.1108/jchmsd-07-2020-0102
This is a conceptual study to analyze the potential of enset-based culinary tourism for sustainable rural development and to obtain a place as a niche tourism market in South-Western Ethiopia. It assumed enset agro-biodiversity as the effect of ages of environment, genetic resources and cultural interaction as a distinctive regional image.Design/methodology/approachThis an exploratory paper based on an in-depth interview, field observation and content analysis of documents. By means of in-depth interviews, the researchers managed to gather extended information from community elders and experts in culture and tourism offices selected based on a snowball technique. Besides, it has gone through systematic reviews of about 180 empirical and conceptual articles, books and conference papers with a critical reading of the content, identification of categories, examination and interpretation of ideas, to supplement the in-depth-interview. The thematic analysis applied to identify various ideas, concepts, categories and relationships to produce themes presented under discussion and results.FindingsThe study found enset-based culinary tourism not only improve the local economy and regional image, but also it would enhance conservation of traditional farming system, biodiversity, food heritages, genetic varieties and livestock. It also identified 18 enset food varieties compatible with the principle of balanced diets. Finally, the study advised rural development planners to consider enset-based culinary tourism so that it would revive lost food traditions and consumption patterns, enhance the regional heritage and destination branding.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is a conceptual study that lacked empirical investigation concerning the livelihood impact, gender implication and actual tourist data. Therefore, future research needs to focus on the aforementioned limitations.Practical implicationsThis study addressed SW Ethiopia, which is the primary center of Ensete ventricosum, and argued that enset-based culinary tourism would help to build regional image and obtain a place as a niche rural tourism destination. It would also contribute to the conservation of food heritages, environmentally sustainable farming system, soil conservation, crop diversities and livestock population in addition to producing tourist experience. Moreover, it would encourage the revival of traditional consumption, reinvent lost food traditions and identities.Social implicationsIt was hoped that rural tourism would eventually improve the livelihood and enhance the capability of resilience. It is also expected to maintain the traditional social-economic structure based on the enset farm while fostering cultural development.Originality/valueTo the knowledge of the researchers there is no previous work on enset based-culinary tourism in Ethiopia and probably there is no published culinary tourism paper elsewhere.