IN-PERSON ISTANBUL HERITAGE(S)

Abstract

The ‘relational protection constraint’ represents an emerging safeguarding tool for 20th-century and contemporary architectural heritage that has not yet reached the statutory threshold of seventy years since its construction. Established within the framework of the Italian Cultural Heritage Code and aligned with broader European regulatory principles, this instrument has already been applied—albeit sporadically—by the Italian ‘Sovrintendenze’, the ministerial bodies responsible for Italian heritage protection. Despite several virtuous cases, its implementation still lacks a systematic and methodologically structured approach. Within this context, the present research—developed in collaboration with the Superintendency of Umbria and grounded on a national survey conducted by the Italian Ministry of Culture on modern heritage—investigates a selection of significant case studies. The study explores the procedural and epistemological implications of the relational constraint, emphasizing its inherently interdisciplinary nature. Unlike traditional heritage protection frameworks, which primarily focus on the material and formal attributes of architectural artifacts, the relational constraint interprets architecture as a ‘medium’ through which broader cultural, technological, and social phenomena are expressed. These include, for instance, the embodiment of historical events, pioneering patents, innovative construction techniques, or collective social movements and endeavours. In this sense, the recognition of heritage value is rooted in the impact that architecture has exerted on society, rather than solely in its physical integrity. The contribution proposes an ongoing theoretical reflection at the intersection of architectural design, anthropology, and heritage studies, framing architecture as a relational interface across disciplines. It further discusses the current regulatory references, offering a critical assessment of the tool’s potential and limitations.