Water System Approach and Natural–Cultural Capital in World Heritage Under Climate Stress: The Royal Alcázar in Seville and the Alhambra in Granada, Spain

A critical assessment of water systems reveals their pivotal role as natural-cultural capital in two iconic Spanish World Heritage Sites—the Royal Alcázar in Seville and the Alhambra in Granada—highlighting their vulnerability to climate stress. The study, leveraging historical cartography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), maps landscape conditions and evaluates water-related attributes within existing protection frameworks. It proposes a narrative approach to water as both a natural and cultural asset, linking it to the sites' principal climate-related risks and benefits. This research underscores the urgent need for updated valuation criteria that integrate social and environmental sustainability, contributing significantly to the global discourse on biocultural heritage conservation under challenging climatic conditions.

López-Bravo, C., del Espino Hidalgo, B., Sovani, A., & Galiulo, V. (2026). Water System Approach and Natural–Cultural Capital in World Heritage Under Climate Stress: The Royal Alcázar in Seville and the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. Architecture, 6(1), 29. https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture6010029