Reviews
Article Type: News and reviews From: Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development, Volume 2, Issue 1
Edited by Loes Veldpaus and Molly Turner
Books
Sustainable Development as a Civilisation Revolution, Prof. Lucjan Pawłowski
Summary by Loes Veldpaus
This book expands the discussion on sustainable development by including ethical, technical/technological, legal and political aspects. Technical means are not enough to solve environmental problems. Pawłowski therefore also discusses economic or environmental aspects, the degree to which they overlap,and emphasizes the importance of social and moral considerations. Due to the tremendous scope of changes, Pawłowski argues that it is reasonable to expect this new integrated vision for sustainable development to achieve the status of a revolution comparable to those known from the past: the agricultural, scientific and industrial revolutions. The concept of sustainable development conflicts with traditional development based upon economic growth. This is an attempt to formulate a programme that integrates aspects that used to be considered aside.
Conservation Perspectives: Historic Cities, The Getty Conservation Newsletter 26.2
Summary by Loes Veldpaus
This edition of Conservation Perspectives provides a framework for understanding threats facing historic urban places and offers ideas and solutions for sustaining their existence and vitality. It contains articles on topics such as the evolution of thinking with respect to the management of historic urban areas; examples on sustainable preservation of urban heritage;integration of the conservation of historic cities into urban planning and starchitecturein the historic city. In the dialogue section, the former mayor of Budapest, Gábor Demszky, Virginia Polytechnic Institute professor Paul Knox, and conservation architect and Deakin University professor Elizabeth Vines engage in a discussion about how to balance continuity and change in historic cities.
Source: www.getty.edu
Tourism and Archaeological Heritage Management at Petra: Driver to Development or Destruction? Dr Douglas C. Comer
Summary by Loes Veldpaus
This eBook is a first of a new (to be established) series called SpringerBriefs in Archaeological Heritage Management published by Springer in conjunction with the International Scientific Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management (ICAHM). Heritage management is addressed as a dynamic interface between practice, scientific research and the public sphere and it is taking a broad view on the concepts of archaeology, heritage, and management. This particular publication deals specifically with management problems of the World Heritage site Petra (Jordan), however it also puts it in a larger perspective,as the threats are not that uncommon: an exploding increase of tourism and a lack of knowledge on the tangible and intangible attributes that convey value. Subsequent books will examine factors and their respective causes threatening the sites Machu Picchu (Peru) Pompeii (Italy) and Angkor (Cambodia).
Source: www.springer.com/series/10187
Past events
Heritage in the 21st Century City: Managing Growth, Obsolescence, and Change,
8 June 2011, Los Angles, USA. Organizer: The Getty Conservation Institute
Summary by Molly Turner
This panel discussion addressed how rapid urban growth and globalization are having a major impact on the historic urban environment. Panellists discussed,what is the impact of these forces on urban heritage and what role does conservation play in sustaining vibrant urban centers? Is heritage preservation a potential driver for development that offers new economic possibilities, or is conservation hindering efforts to managing rapid growth, modernization, and achieving higher standards of living? The panelists included Gábor Demszky,the Lord Mayor of Budapest (1990-2010); Paul Knox, distinguished professor and a senior fellow for international advancement at Virginia Tech’s School of Public and International Affairs; moderator Susan Macdonald, head of field projects at the Getty Conservation Institute; and Elizabeth Vines, conservation architect and an adjunct professor at the Cultural Heritage Centre for Asia and the Pacific, at Deakin University, in Melbourne.
I Know Where I’m Going: Online Conference on Remote Access to World Heritage Sites, 23-24 November 2011, Edinburgh, UK. Organizers: United Kingdom National Commission for UNESCO and partners
Summary by Loes Veldpaus
Countries and cities everywhere are challenged to protect and preserve their heritage while maximising their economic value. This two-day international conference focussed on the potential for new technologies to create high-quality, remote-access visitor experiences for (World) heritage sites. The digital age presents new opportunities to create unique access experiences for visitors who would never be able to physically visit a site, due to issues of access and/or sustainability. Therefore, the World Heritage Site, St Kilda, was the focus of a live digital exhibition throughout the Conference. Add to that a live video stream, a live chat and a Twitter hash tag, enabled the conference to be available to far more than the attendants.
The Heritage of the City – Europe’s Future, New Opportunities through Integrated Urban Development, 8-9 December 2011, Berlin, Germany. Organizer: Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development,Germany
Summary by Loes Veldpaus
The German Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development hosted the International Congress in Berlin. The conference focussed on the increasingly recognised and exploited integration of urban development and heritage management. The task to preserve and renew the historic heritage isn’t easy and requires integrated considerations and approaches.
European and national players as well as already existing networks were invited to participate in a mutual exchange of views to discuss ideas,approaches and utilization options within the framework of preserving and developing the historic heritage of the European city of the future.
Abstracts of the lectures are available (German/English) at: www.kongress-erbe-der-stadt.de/
Tools and web sites
Sustainable Cities Collective
Sustainable Cities Collective is an editorially independent, moderated community. It looks to aggregate content and provide resources for all who work in or are interested in urban planning, sustainable development and urban economics, including issues such as transportation, building practices,community planning and development, education, water, health and infrastructure. The goal is to create a community where people can get involved and learn about the advances in how cities are becoming smarter and greener in the twenty-first century.
DigiBIC catalogue of tools
DigiBIC catalogue of tools is a project that wants to help the deployment of research initiatives in ICT-based cultural and memory preservation services,from across Europe. By partnering research leaders, the project is creating a network specialised in assisting start up companies and SMEs to exploit new technologies and market opportunities originating in research environments. The DigiBIC technology catalogue contains tools ready for use through companies developed through applied research projects supported by the European Commission(FP6/FP7) in the field of Digital Libraries and Content.
Source: www.digibic.eu
URBACT projects
New final results of URBACT projects are online. Project partners have been working for three years looking for joint, effective and sustainable solutions to major urban challenges. These projects bring to light solutions that have proven effective and providing valuable support for policy makers and practitioners involved in tackling these challenges. Each project provides access to its final publications and recommendations. There is also an “URBACT Results” brochure available.
Source: http://urbact.eu
