VIRTUAL: Prague Heritages

Abstract

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Urban heritage conservation aims to prioritise architectural heritage and ensure continuity through the fulfilment of the developmental needs of the people. A stakeholder is any person or institution actively involved in the works or whose interests may be affected by a project’s results (Freeman, 1984). Stakeholders in urban conservation projects are associated primarily with the public and private sectors and rarely involve the users in their conservation framework. The long-term sustainability of a conservation project can be ensured only with the understanding and daily care of the public and the local community. Since heritage-sensitive urban areas are prone to developmental pressure and conservation plans are solely focused on maintaining the area’s historic character, the community needs to be involved in this process as they are a part of the setting. This paper aims to develop a methodology that seeks to address community aspirations in heritage-sensitive urban areas in order to develop sustainable solutions for conserving heritage. The methodology is developed from a case-specific site but can be incorporated into any situation. The study revolved around analysing the context of an existing conservation project and identifying the factors that determine the outcome of an urban heritage conservation project. The factors are then evaluated at the community level to consider the factors influencing the community’s satisfaction. The methodology also addresses the value the people associate with the historic site to help identify whether the stakeholder being considered can contribute to the planning process or hinder the process. This study can further help in developing a framework through community involvement by addressing the community’s needs and developing plans for conservation areas.