Managing Built Heritage: The Role of Cultural Significance

Citation

Waheed, Z. (2008), "Managing Built Heritage: The Role of Cultural Significance", Facilities, Vol. 26 No. 11/12, pp. 484-484. https://doi.org/10.1108/02632770810895741

This crisply presented 200‐page volume covers not only conservation, but also the active management of built heritage. It uses what it described as a value‐based‐management (also referred to as “significance‐based management”) of the historic environment: delivering more than would be expected from reading the back cover. Akin to the well‐established management by objectives (MBO) concept in business management, the authors' concept of “significance‐based management” works through the identification of what is culturally significant in a particular heritage setting, the identification of what this “value” embodies, and the active management process to protect and enhance this inherent value.

Coming from two authors, one representing a significant voice from academia, the other bringing cultural heritage consultancy experience, this book combines the applied as well as the theoretical principles. The examples and real‐life applications used at each stage make it more applied and less theoretical, although theory is comprehensively covered without overwhelming the reader.

The title accurately describes the scope of the book – the management of the built heritage. The sub‐title is significant because this is what sets this book apart from other historic building conservation literature: the application of “cultural significance”. Intended for the specialist in heritage conservation as well as the generalist, the book satisfies the needs of both types of reader. The authors effortlessly explain and illustrate the practicality of using a heritage site's “value” or “significance”.

The chapter I particularly liked was Chapter 6: “Sustainability and the built cultural heritage”, which acknowledged that the conservation community was still inward looking. In this chapter, the authors bring up the sustainability agenda and accept that the conservation community needs to address a wider debate of how conservation values might be traded off for other socio‐economic benefits given the current environmental issues.

Set out in a clear print, with good use of colour, visual illustrations and abundant real‐life examples and cases (clearly set out in highlighted boxes), this volume would definitely make a great supplementary, or even core text, for students of built heritage conservation. While the specialists would appreciate the new evaluation approach presented by the authors, I believe the book would be a useful read for all built environment professionals. The evaluation approach is applicable to all contemporary structures and this book is certainly worth consideration for facilities management professionals.