Abandon and reuse-The engineered space at a time of pandemics

Abstract

This paper critically explores the evaluation of Historic Centres (HC) to establish new perspectives for the management of their values and attributes. The unconventional interpretation of these HC relies on the revision of the UNESCO Operational Guidelines to achieve new approaches to the cultural diversity of these spaces. A methodological approach based on interviews and open data cross-referencing aims to integrate the social and cultural aspects of the World Heritage cities (WH) in Spain. The research analyses the eventual cultural, architectural and social stratification as elements that need updating to manage HC. Therefore, this research addresses narrative interpretations, both of inhabitants and visitors, as forms of behaviour, expressions and adaptations that result in idiosyncratic innovation and experimentation in the urban fabric. The research steams from a series of scientific contributions to the research projects Writing Urban Places, COST Action 18126, and Dynamics of placemaking, COST Action 18204, (2019-2023). Through a mixed methodology of qualitative and quantitative data analysis, the research aims to analyse the interdependencies between physical conservation, social awareness and sustainable development of some WH areas in Spain. Data is analysed by means of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to spatially comprehend the engineered space in medium-sized heritage cities.