jismart2023041: A Sustainability Framework for Assessing Urban Heritage

Abstract

The problem faced by heritage conservation for sustainability is the lack of common criteria and measures of values that is understood by all stake holders. The study aims to develop the urban heritage assessment framework to measure heritage sustainability as perceived by the stakeholders. The objectives are to determine the weightage to be assigned for the heritage values and criteria according to stakeholders’ perception. This is achieved by utilizing the Best-Worst-Method (BWM), a multicriteria expert-based importance weightage tool. A total of 7 heritage advocate experts and 3 heritage building owners participated in the BWM survey. The findings indicate the following weight priorities for Sustainable Heritage Values (HSV); Continuity of Heritage (30.244), Livability (28.450), Heritage led Regeneration (15.643), Intergeneration Equity and Durability (13.068) and Human Rights basis (12.595). Other findings include the weight of importance of the social criteria. The valorization of heritage helps to determine heritage policies and investments to sustainably use heritage as a social resource to enrich an authentic place-making and livable urban environment.