Mind the diversity: defining intervention concepts of built heritage in international doctrinal documents

International doctrinal documents on built heritage, such as those from UNESCO and ICOMOS, often define 'conservation' as an umbrella term encompassing other interventions, while 'preservation' is treated as a distinct concept aimed at maintaining the integrity of heritage sites. However, the study reveals that terms like 'repair,' 'restoration,' and 'reconstruction' are inconsistently defined, leading to divergent interpretations. Additionally, the expanding notion of 'use' in built heritage has introduced complexities, with terms like 'adaptation,' 'adaptive reuse,' and 'rehabilitation' being used interchangeably, blurring their definitions. This research systematically analyzes nine key doctrinal documents to clarify these intervention concepts, their relationships, and trends, advancing understanding in this field.

Lin, M., Roders, A. P., Nevzgodin, I., & de Jonge, W. (2024). Mind the diversity: defining intervention concepts of built heritage in international doctrinal documents. Built Heritage, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43238-024-00139-y