Heritage for Inclusive Sustainable Transformation - HEI-TRANSFORM

The global field of conservation of immovable cultural heritage (ICH) is undergoing intensive transformation and integration, in order to contribute more effectively to a sustainable future. The transdisciplinary project HEI-TRANSFORM aims to establish the potential for multidimensional contributions from cultural heritage to the green transformation and sustainable future of Slovenia. Our starting point is the understanding of heritage as development capital, which will be defined in the context of the four dimensions of sustainability: cultural, social, economic and environmental. We focus on ICH, including its movable and intangible components, within a spatial context. The research project highlights the need for structural changes within the heritage sector, and identifies these as a long-term objective. The project carries out fundamental research, which is the key basis for future heritage transformation decision-making, in line with current knowledge and the sustainable heritage paradigm. In doing so, it enables conditions to be created for the direct implementation and mainstreaming of ICH as the capital of an inclusive sustainable future in local environments. These are the places where sustainability can be most directly implemented and contribute to global goals. To this end, the project is developing the Cultural Heritage 4.0 (CH 4.0) model for the reactivation of disused and underused ICH through inclusive adaptive re-use. The reactivation of derelict buildings and sites is a cornerstone of the wider revitalisation of space and society, bringing with it material benefits and contributing to quality of life. The pandemic experience has shown the importance of socio-cultural cohesion and the ineffectiveness of approaches in this area. We urgently require research that focuses on protecting and enhancing the quality of our living environment. ICH is a fundamental part of this – both as a tangible and non-tangible framework. In addition, the preservation of the built environment directly supports the circular economy and the resilience of society; it represents the core of cultural tourism and potential spaces for cultural and creative industries, all of which directly and indirectly contribute a wide range of new jobs. This is all addressed by the HEI-TRANSFORM project, which is developed on the basis of the Conservation 3.0 - adaptive re-use, which defines cultural heritage as a process of change that stimulates investment, creates jobs and contributes to the growth of the local economy as summarised by Gustafsson (2019). The focus of the research is on typologically different derelict ICH areas and buildings in small local centres which generally have poorer development prospects. This is where the new approach can make a significant direct contribution to green transformation, new jobs and a higher quality of life for the whole community. To create the CH 4.0 model, we set up systems of RevitLab experimental laboratories in four local communities; two in urban areas (a historic core and an industrial area) and two in rural areas (an archaeological area and a castle complex). The HEI-TRANSFORM project adapts and upgrades Conservation 3.0 concept with a system for quantifying all values, even those that are generally perceived as non-quantifiable, but have a significant impact on increasing the quality of life for everyone involved. CH 4.0 will be designed to confront all stakeholders and, through a process of coordination, to develop integrated solutions acceptable to most as well as to demonstrate the level of sustainability in a comparative way. To do this, we use a MCDA methodology as it will enable participatory decision-making and the protection of heritage values in different settings. Together with the fundamental research, CH 4.0 will form the basis for a gradual transformation of the sector and thus a more effective integration of ICH in sustainable transformation.