Comparison of unofficial recognition and conservation approaches to informal architectural heritage: cases from Hong Kong, China and Iwate Prefecture, Japan
“Informal heritage” refers to spaces in cities that have certain heritage value but cannot be officially recognized as urban or architectural heritage sites. The author has observed the recognition and conservation of informal building heritage driven by architectural scholars (professionals) or com...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2021.1941988 |
| _version_ | 1817982674168446976 |
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| author | Fei Chen |
| author_facet | Fei Chen |
| author_sort | Fei Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | “Informal heritage” refers to spaces in cities that have certain heritage value but cannot be officially recognized as urban or architectural heritage sites. The author has observed the recognition and conservation of informal building heritage driven by architectural scholars (professionals) or communities in some Asian cities; this phenomenon provides a suitable perspective from which to observe the connection between Asian conservation, citizen participation, and urbanism. Western heritage research recently emphasizes the empowerment of communities to manage heritage conservation; however, what is the meaningful community participation in the old building’s conservation if adding the professional perspective, especially in the diversified Asian urban context, remains unclear. This study involved participatory observation, interviews, and the analysis of relevant literature for comparison of the recognition and conservation approaches of two typical “informal heritage” cases in Hong Kong (China) and Iwate Prefecture (Japan). This paper discusses the interaction modes among historians, related professionals, and communities and the “heritage process” in these two urban contexts. Additionally, an argument is made that these two cases are consistent with a Western heritage conservation theory, which encourages community empowerment; however, in the Asian urban context, a higher degree of community participation does not necessarily indicate more meaningful participation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:23:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9c2365008fc64c89a92ba2045cd562d8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1347-2852 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T23:23:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-9c2365008fc64c89a92ba2045cd562d82022-12-22T02:25:08ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering1347-28522022-07-012141364138010.1080/13467581.2021.19419881941988Comparison of unofficial recognition and conservation approaches to informal architectural heritage: cases from Hong Kong, China and Iwate Prefecture, JapanFei Chen0The Chinese University of Hong Kong“Informal heritage” refers to spaces in cities that have certain heritage value but cannot be officially recognized as urban or architectural heritage sites. The author has observed the recognition and conservation of informal building heritage driven by architectural scholars (professionals) or communities in some Asian cities; this phenomenon provides a suitable perspective from which to observe the connection between Asian conservation, citizen participation, and urbanism. Western heritage research recently emphasizes the empowerment of communities to manage heritage conservation; however, what is the meaningful community participation in the old building’s conservation if adding the professional perspective, especially in the diversified Asian urban context, remains unclear. This study involved participatory observation, interviews, and the analysis of relevant literature for comparison of the recognition and conservation approaches of two typical “informal heritage” cases in Hong Kong (China) and Iwate Prefecture (Japan). This paper discusses the interaction modes among historians, related professionals, and communities and the “heritage process” in these two urban contexts. Additionally, an argument is made that these two cases are consistent with a Western heritage conservation theory, which encourages community empowerment; however, in the Asian urban context, a higher degree of community participation does not necessarily indicate more meaningful participation.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2021.1941988informal heritageunofficial recognition and conservationcommunity participationwestern authorized heritage discourse |
| spellingShingle | Fei Chen Comparison of unofficial recognition and conservation approaches to informal architectural heritage: cases from Hong Kong, China and Iwate Prefecture, Japan Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering informal heritage unofficial recognition and conservation community participation western authorized heritage discourse |
| title | Comparison of unofficial recognition and conservation approaches to informal architectural heritage: cases from Hong Kong, China and Iwate Prefecture, Japan |
| title_full | Comparison of unofficial recognition and conservation approaches to informal architectural heritage: cases from Hong Kong, China and Iwate Prefecture, Japan |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of unofficial recognition and conservation approaches to informal architectural heritage: cases from Hong Kong, China and Iwate Prefecture, Japan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of unofficial recognition and conservation approaches to informal architectural heritage: cases from Hong Kong, China and Iwate Prefecture, Japan |
| title_short | Comparison of unofficial recognition and conservation approaches to informal architectural heritage: cases from Hong Kong, China and Iwate Prefecture, Japan |
| title_sort | comparison of unofficial recognition and conservation approaches to informal architectural heritage cases from hong kong china and iwate prefecture japan |
| topic | informal heritage unofficial recognition and conservation community participation western authorized heritage discourse |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13467581.2021.1941988 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT feichen comparisonofunofficialrecognitionandconservationapproachestoinformalarchitecturalheritagecasesfromhongkongchinaandiwateprefecturejapan |