IN-PERSON ISTANBUL HERITAGE(S)

Abstract

The concept of heritage, as it relates to architecture and urban developments, is much broader than the concept of a historic monument (‘cultural good’) , although the two terms are often used synonymously. Heritage is relationship-based and depends on our attitude toward and acceptance of the cultural goods that have been inherited. This issue is explored by the research discipline known as heritology. It is worth quoting here the words of Professor Gregory Ashworth, one of the leading researchers in this discipline: ‘Heritage literally assumes both a legatee and an inheritance; …the latter only being definable in terms of the former.’ Thus, our attitude toward objects of inheritance determines whether they become our heritage or are rejected. Furthermore, the assessment of the value of items understood as heritage may differ significantly from their objective values (historical, artistic, architectural). The purpose of this article is to present the relationships between the concepts of ‘monument’ understood as ‘cultural good’, and ‘heritage’, as well as the factors that define them from a theoretical perspective. The results of the author’s own research project will also be presented, in which the author attempted to explore the convergence of the meanings of the concepts of ‘cultural goods’ and ‘heritage’ in relation to architecture and urban layouts, using the example of the borderlands of Upper Silesia in southwestern Poland. The turbulent history of this region, as well as recent political changes (the second half of the 20th century), have had drastic consequences for the evaluation and acceptance of the region’s architectural heritage. The research methodology applied in the project and the final conclusions highlight the universal dimension of the problem and can be applied to many regions of Europe.