Publications
The Measured Opening: Enclosure, Permeability, and Urban Quietness
Minimal, strategically placed openings in perimeter walls can create controlled permeability in enclosed urban spaces without eroding their spatial identity. This approach, tested on Flemish Béguinages, demonstrates how 'fitting'—a design paradigm emphasizing subtraction and limitation—enables the requalification of abandoned intra muros areas into collective quiet zones. The study shifts focus from buildings to enclosed open spaces, leveraging their introverted nature to foster urban pauses in dense environments. Applied to the former convent of Santa Maria della Ripa in Forlì, this method offers a model for rebalancing enclosure and accessibility while preserving symbolic qualities.
How Significant Are Buffer Zones for Tourism at Urban UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Buffer zones at urban UNESCO World Heritage Sites, while mandated in applications, are often poorly defined and implemented, leading to suboptimal outcomes for heritage conservation and tourism management. This study reveals that the lack of clear guidelines and policy coherence hampers their potential benefits, particularly in mitigating over-tourism. Researchers analyzed three Belgian sites using text analysis of policy documents and interviews with governance experts, finding significant complexity and fragmentation in buffer zone implementation. The findings underscore the need for UNESCO to streamline buffer zone significance and bridge gaps between conservation and tourism agendas to prevent stakeholder conflicts.
The Evolution of Urban Heritage Conservation and the Role of Raymond Lemaire
A paradigm shift in urban heritage conservation, from individual building preservation to the holistic regeneration of historic districts, emerged during the 1960s and 1970s. This transformation was significantly influenced by Raymond Lemaire, a Belgian art and architecture historian, whose work remains underrecognized outside conservation circles. The book traces his pivotal role, from his post-World War II training as a Monuments Man to his leadership in drafting the Venice Charter and his tenure as ICOMOS Secretary General. It highlights his methodology through case studies, including the rehabilitation of the Great Beguinage in Louvainand its application in Brussels. Lemaire's emphasis on integrated conservation, shaped by his involvement with key international bodies, continues to impact contemporary heritage practices. The work concludes with a reflection on his enduring vision: 'the past, properly understood, is one of the references for judging the value of today and tomorrow.'
You are here:
World Heritage Explorer > World Heritage Research > World Heritage Sites > Flemish Béguinages