Heritage adaptation beyond the technical: conflicts and compromise between social, environmental and economic sustainability Special Issue in the International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation Heritage buildings are physical artefacts that embody the memory of the past in order to guide and inform future generations. Given the strategic role of heritage buildings in shaping national identities, there has been growing research and practical interest in the adaptation of such buildings, particularly in terms of how the adaptation of heritage buildings can contribute to the sustainability agenda. Indeed, increasing awareness of climate change and the need to renew cities means that the conservation of heritage buildings has to be considered. Yet, unique traditional designs, coupled with the use of localised materials of the past can create challenges for the adaptation of such buildings.
It is worth mentioning that the papers selected for this special issue have tended to focus on residential and cultural heritage buildings. What seems to be missing is analyses of heritage buildings of work and industrial importance. Whitman’s et al. analysis of timber-framed buildings, which highlighted an historical overview of how such architectural style was in part a response against industrialisation, points to the significance of industrial heritage. Elsewhere, Mulholland et al. (2018, 2019) also show how the adaptation of industrial heritage can generate social value and contribute to the sustainable development (or decline) of local communities. There is therefore scope for future research to examine the role adaptation of industrial heritage buildings in defining the ways societies live, work and play. To read the Editorial in full, please visit https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBPA-04-2020-112
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