Value as a Legal Tool for the Preservation of Monuments in Flanders and Wallonia: Between Conservation and Adaptation

Heritage value, once a tool to assess building significance, has become a key legal criterion for monument protection in Flanders and Wallonia. However, its subjective nature poses challenges to transparency and effectiveness in conservation practices. This study reveals that while heritage value guides listing processes, its ambiguity hinders practical implementation and adaptive reuse strategies. By analyzing databases of protection rulings and interviewing stakeholders, researchers found that current legislation lags behind societal needs, particularly regarding adaptive reuse. The findings underscore the need for legal frameworks to evolve with modern conservation practices to remain relevant.

Augustiniok, N., Plevoets, B., Houbart, C., & van Cleempoel, K. (2022). Value as a Legal Tool for the Preservation of Monuments in Flanders and Wallonia: Between Conservation and Adaptation. The Historic Environment: Policy & Practice, 13(4), 482–508. https://doi.org/10.1080/17567505.2022.2148963