Heritage for All: Rethinking the Relation of Built Heritage and Society in an Inclusive Conservation Approach

Built heritage is an integral part of contemporary historic cities and closely interwoven with people’s daily lives. Although people define, identify and designate specific architecture and urban spaces as heritage, these sites communicate both the story of their past and the approach and intentions of the present, which together can shape people’s life today and even in the future. While acknowledging that the values perceived from heritage will vary based on the knowledge, abilities, and skills of diverse observers, today’s approach in the conservation of built heritage can impact on and potentially enrich the heritage values. The meeting of heritage places and people is vital for the continued existence of built heritage as it can lead to raising awareness of heritage and its values. In order to facilitate this meeting, in line with the integrated conservation of heritage and the inclusive approach adopted in the European Cultural Heritage Strategy for the 21st century, we investigate the implementation of an inclusive approach in conservation of built heritage. This approach aims to improve built heritage’s relation with society by limiting the disabling situations which disrupt one’s ability to engage with heritage and its values. This more open and potentially active presence of built heritage in its social context can strengthen the link between heritage and society and between individuals in society. To this end, we are conducting an extensive research which uses a bottom-up approach by attending to the experience and insights of disabled people in selected heritage sites to identify the existing limitations and potentials. These can inform a more inclusive conservation practice that seeks to balance protecting values with providing more enabling situations for engagement with heritage and its values. The subsequent interventions and modifications can add an extra layer to heritage, conveying today’s social conscious approach to future generations.