Architecture

The early design courses engage and hone students’ visual, spatial, and communicative skills so that first-year design students begin to understand composition, abstraction, hierarchy, development of process, and representation through experimental, process-driven exercises. Exhibitions have traditionally presented the students’ final work; however, virtual exhibitions allow one to push past the physical studio and present student work as a sustained pedagogical experience. A case study was presented of the development and curation of a speculative gallery-style virtual exhibition for process work by first-year students undertaking Basic Design and a Design Communication course. Rather than falling into the pitfall of functioning as a “digital stand-in for the gallery” approaches were considered where virtual curation becomes an educative space for being literate in the visual, mindful learning, and observer witnessing peer students enculturating themselves into identity. Using a practice-based reflective approach, to examine curatorial decisions (visual sequencing, categorisation, representation, and navigational design), exploring how exhibition design frames beginner work and communicates thinking and process rather than simply “polished” outcomes. It is argued that virtual exhibition, by allowing for prolonged engagement with works, scaling access, and encouraging a visual dialogue among peers, may extend the foundation of design learning. The study contributes to discourse on design pedagogy, digital curation, and the shifting educational place of exhibitions in foundation-level design education. Full article

The construction sector and the built environment generate a significant environmental impact. However, university interior furniture has received limited attention within building sustainability strategies compared to other architectural components. This study aims to develop, mechanically analyze, and environmentally evaluate a sustainable furniture prototype for the renovation of common spaces at Universidad Vasco de Quiroga (UVAQ), integrating design tools, multicriteria analysis, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). A sequential mixed-method approach was implemented, including spatial diagnosis, parametric design of rammed-earth furniture, structural analysis through Finite Element Analysis (FEA) under static loads of 5000 N, and a comparative LCA (wood, rammed earth, and brick). Mechanical simulations validated the feasibility of the asymmetric curved design, achieving a safety factor of 1.70, with a maximum von Mises stress of 2.939 × 10⁵ N/m², and submillimetric deformations, ensuring resistance under intensive use conditions. The LCA revealed that although wood presents the lowest absolute carbon emissions, rammed earth significantly optimizes energy efficiency compared to brick (2100 MJ vs. 5900 MJ). The proposed rammed-earth furniture with a polished clay finish represents a disruptive innovation that promotes environmental sustainability and mechanical robustness. This solution encourages a circular economy based on local resources and mitigates long-term environmental impact due to its extended durability compared to conventional institutional furniture proposals. Full article

This research addresses the reception and variations in the Modern Movement in the French Caribbean, focusing on the urban transformation of Fort-de-France, Martinique, between 1927 and 1986. Through a critical methodology based on decentralized perspectives and “situated gazes,” this study challenges traditional historiographical narratives that often subordinate tropical architecture to mere simplified derivatives of European metropolises. Utilizing the development and implementation of the ARMOMA platform (Architecture du Mouvement Moderne en Martinique)—a specialized digital archive and cartographic database—this work documents, spatially visualizes, and analyzes the region’s modern heritage. Methodologically, it examines a specific sample of 77 state-owned buildings divided into three key typologies—educational (34), institutional (30), and sanitary (13)—extracted from a wider urban universe of 332 modern works, evaluating their spatial relations with 171 residential architectures. Rather than constituting simple transpositions of metropolitan models, these infrastructures reveal processes of climatic, material, and cultural adaptation that contributed to the emergence of a specific form of Caribbean tropical modernism. The findings show how this localized practice reinterpreted Western rationalism through hybrid construction techniques, passive environmental strategies, and local building knowledge. In conclusion, the study highlights that, while architecture commonly serves as an instrument of institutional representation, in Martinique this role acquired particular relevance following the 1946 Departmentalisation. Within this framework, the French state promoted a range of public architectural typologies in Fort-de-France that materialized the expansion of welfare policies and administrative modernization. These developments accompanied the consolidation of the Welfare State in Martinique and continued until the implementation of the Decentralization Laws of 1982–1983. Full article

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) strongly influences occupant well-being and teaching conditions in educational buildings. This study proposes the Predicted Probability of Dissatisfaction Index (${\mathrm{PPD}}_{\mathrm{ieq}.\mathrm{prof}}$), a probabilistic ordinal learning framework based on the Consistent Rank Logits (CORAL) architecture to estimate university professors’ dissatisfaction while preserving the ordinal structure of subjective perception. The framework integrates operative temperature, ${\mathrm{CO}}_2$ concentration, illuminance, and sound pressure level through the CORAL architecture. A dataset comprising 77 synchronized environmental and subjective observations collected during regular teaching activities was evaluated using a Nested Stratified Group Cross-Validation benchmark. The proposed framework achieved an Accuracy of $0.670\pm 0.122$, Balanced Accuracy of $0.715\pm 0.164$, Macro-F1 score of $0.618\pm 0.166$, and a Quadratic Weighted Cohen’s Kappa of $0.604\pm 0.176$. Benchmark comparisons with conventional statistical and machine learning models demonstrated competitive predictive performance while preserving ordinal consistency. The representative CORAL architecture selected during the benchmark was subsequently retrained using the complete dataset for model interpretability analyses. Predictor contribution analysis identified ${\mathrm{CO}}_2$ concentration as the most influential environmental variable (48.2%), followed by operative temperature (24.8%), sound pressure level (14.7%), and illuminance (12.4%). Complementary One-Factor-at-a-Time (OFAT) response analysis and exploratory latent-space visualization further enhanced the interpretation of environmental dissatisfaction, demonstrating the potential of the proposed framework as an interpretable virtual sensing approach for supporting IEQ assessment in educational buildings. Full article

Courtyards and biophilic design have each been associated with improved environmental performance, occupant well-being, and architectural quality. However, their integration has received limited scholarly attention, and no comprehensive assessment framework currently exists to evaluate their combined contribution to sustainable architecture. This study addresses this gap by proposing a conceptual assessment framework based on the Integrated Value Model for Sustainability Assessment (MIVES). The framework draws on the literature from courtyard architecture, biophilic design, environmental psychology, and multi-criteria decision analysis. It adopts a hierarchical structure comprising requirements, criteria, and indicators related to environmental sustainability, biophilic quality, human well-being, and functional resilience. The framework also incorporates preliminary weighting strategies and value-function concepts to support the integration of diverse performance dimensions within a unified assessment structure. Rather than providing a validated assessment tool, the proposed framework establishes a conceptual foundation for future empirical calibration and testing while supporting more holistic evaluation of courtyard–biophilic integration across diverse climatic and cultural contexts. Full article

Restorative environments have been widely associated with stress reduction, psychological recovery, and improved well-being; however, evidence regarding cognitive performance remains methodologically fragmented, particularly across sensory modalities and neurophysiological assessment approaches. This systematic review examined the relationship between restorative environments and cognitive performance, with specific attention to sensory modality, cognitive domain, and the neuroscientific and physiological methods used to assess these effects. The review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020. Peer-reviewed studies published in English from 2000 onward were identified through PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and PsycINFO, with the final search conducted on 31 March 2026. Eligible studies involved healthy human participants exposed to restorative environmental conditions in built, natural, or simulated settings and included at least one objective measure of cognitive performance together with at least one central nervous system or autonomic nervous system measure. Due to substantial methodological heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively. Of the 517 records identified, 26 studies met the inclusion criteria: visual (n = 13), auditory (n = 1), thermal (n = 8), olfactory (n = 1), and multisensory (n = 3). Across the 26 included studies, study-level effect directions were predominantly mixed, comprising 13 mixed, 6 positive, 4 neutral, and 3 negative classifications. Visual studies showed the clearest recurring favorable pattern, particularly for attention-related performance and selected working-memory outcomes. Thermal effects were condition-dependent, whereas evidence for auditory, olfactory, and multisensory modalities remained limited and mixed. Overall, the strength and consistency of the findings varied substantially according to sensory modality, exposure design, and assessment method. The evidence base was uneven across sensory modalities and showed considerable heterogeneity in intervention design, exposure characteristics, cognitive tasks, and neurophysiological outcomes. These findings provide a structured, modality-specific map of how restorative environments have been linked with cognitive performance while highlighting the need for more methodologically consistent research, particularly on underexplored non-visual, tactile, and multisensory pathways. Full article

Cultural heritage management today faces the challenge of addressing increasingly complex realities. In this context, international organisations focus on identifying heritage attributes that consider not only physical and artistic values, but also symbolic, social and environmental dimensions, a task that has been implemented in recent years and in which significant progress has been made. The aim of this research is to develop a detailed protocol for identifying heritage attributes, using the Alcázar of Seville, a World Heritage Site, as an example. Based on a consolidated methodology, the aim is to outline the work process by identifying the sequence of tasks from the collection, selection and distribution of information to the formation of the transdisciplinary team, the analysis process and the selection of attributes. The result shows a sequenced process in which a wide range of material is reviewed in depth from various disciplines, allowing the identification of attributes beyond cultural significance. This methodological update involves increasing the size of the transdisciplinary team and taking a more social approach to the management of this heritage. The proposal takes the form of a useful working tool for heritage professionals and public administrations responsible for managing world heritage properties. Full article

The anthropogenic transformation of modern European cities over the past centuries has been characterized by a gradual transition from a natural defensive landscape to a dense modern urban structure. This study aims to reconstruct the historical urban landscape of Sumy (Ukraine) by integrating archival cartographic materials into a digital three-dimensional model to support heritage preservation and post-war urban planning. The proposed methodology combines retrospective source analysis, comparative cartographic assessment, and GIS-based georeferencing. These approaches are used to evaluate the accuracy, scale, and reliability of historical maps. The study analyzed 18 archival maps of the city of Sumy covering the period from the 1670s to 2025. A comparative assessment enabled the selection of 4 representative cartographic sources for reconstructing the historical urban landscape. A GIS-based methodology for georeferencing archival maps was developed and validated in QGIS v.3.44.11. It used the Google Hybrid basemap in the WGS 84/Pseudo-Mercator coordinate reference system (CRS) with identifier EPSG:3857. The methodology employed a first-order affine transformation, a cubic resampling kernel (4 × 4), and 15 stable ground control points (GCPs). This ensured spatial compatibility between historical cartographic materials, contemporary geospatial datasets, and topographic-geodetic reference frameworks. The proposed approach achieved an RMS georeferencing error of 2–9 m, depending on the historical period, the accuracy, and the scale of the original cartographic sources. Furthermore, the methodology enabled the identification of three classes of anthropogenic landscape transformation (minimal, moderate, and critical). As a result, it provided a comprehensive spatio-temporal representation of the historical evolution of the urban landscape. The resulting 3D model provides a reliable geospatial framework for documenting the historical morphology of Sumy and supports future interdisciplinary studies in heritage conservation, urban planning, and post-war reconstruction. The proposed methodology can also be applied to other historical cities where archival cartographic materials constitute the primary source for reconstructing long-term landscape evolution. Full article

Rapid urbanization, automobile dependence, and declining public-space quality have increased interest in how street-level environments influence pedestrian activity and urban vitality. Although prior research has focused on macro-scale urban form and individual walking behavior, fewer studies have examined population-level pedestrian activity and micro-scale streetscape characteristics, particularly in socioeconomically segregated Latin American cities. This study explores the relationship between pedestrian activity and street-level built environment characteristics in middle-income neighborhoods of Santiago. The analysis included 514 street segments across seven neighborhoods using a modified Pedestrian Environment Data Scan (PEDS) audit instrument assessing destinations, street functionality, safety, aesthetics, and urban design qualities. Pedestrian activity was measured through repeated pedestrian counts conducted during two observation periods in 2025. Street segments were categorized into low, medium, and high activity levels, and multinomial logistic regression models were applied. Results showed that several micro-scale streetscape characteristics were significantly associated with pedestrian activity. Tree presence, sidewalk width, landmark visibility, and street-name visibility were consistently linked to higher pedestrian activity across both periods. Building height, enclosure, benches, segment monitoring, and on-street parking were also significant in at least one model. These findings highlight the importance of micro-scale urban design in promoting walkable and socially vibrant urban environments. Overall, greener, more legible, and pedestrian-oriented streets were consistently associated with higher levels of pedestrian activity. Full article

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being integrated into the architectural profession via processes such as generating images based on design parameters; providing support to help create written descriptions of designs; assisting in the visualisation of buildings before they are built; allowing for greater use of parameters in construction; providing documentation to help complete projects in record time; and assisting in making design decisions. The success of integrating AI into practice depends not only on the use of tools but also on firms’ maturity in integrating AI into their workflows, employees’ capabilities, project teams’ operational efficiency, the impact of investment decisions, and the overall governance of the profession. This research evaluates the maturity of AI integration in architectural practice in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. To do so, it develops and operationalises the AI Integration Maturity Index (AIMI), an eight-component formative composite index scored 0–37 and organised into five maturity bands (Non-adopter, Exploratory, Occasional, Integrated, and Advanced Strategic). The index comprises adoption, usage, diversity of tools, breadth of workflows, project penetration, staff involvement, training/capacity building, and governance/strategic focus. The AIMI is treated as a literature-derived formative diagnostic tool rather than a universal weighting standard, and was developed through a structured literature synthesis, expert pilot review, and internal-structure validation. Accordingly, its component logic and internal statistics are reported as a transparency and coherence check rather than as reflective reliability claims: Cronbach’s alpha (0.922) is presented descriptively to show component co-movement given the formative specification, while inter-coder reliability (kappa = 0.96) supports the qualitative benchmark coding. The study employs a mixed-methods descriptive comparative methodology consisting of a structured survey instrument administered to 100 architectural firms operating in the local market and structured asynchronous text-based interviews with 10 international architectural firms, comparing the resulting profiles with selected, generally accepted benchmarks and with a sample of leading firms engaged in architectural practice worldwide. On average, total AIMI scores in the local sample were 18.14 out of 37, indicating that local firms are broadly adopting and using AI (82% currently use AI on a regular or occasional basis). By contrast, the international sample yielded a mean AIMI score of 28.60, indicating that local firms exhibit a significantly lower level of maturity than the international benchmark, with the largest gaps in staff involvement, project penetration, and overall engagement with AI use. The paper concludes that the primary challenge facing architectural firms in the Kurdistan Region is no longer basic awareness or technological infrastructure, but rather the transition from broad and superficial AI adoption to a systematic, structured, project-based, and well-governed integration of AI within the architectural profession. Full article

In contemporary scientific disciplines, there is an increasing interest in adopting artificial intelligence (AI) as a cornerstone of data-driven intelligence (DDI). While DDI has not yet been fully integrated into architectural design, AI has already begun to exert a notable influence on design practices. Current discourse on architectural design in the digital age provides critical insights into the evolving role of the architect. The transformation extends beyond the adoption of new tools and techniques, reconfiguring the organisation of architectural knowledge, decision-making and authorship. The paper’s methodology is structured around two primary conceptual threads, analysed through a comparative lens. It employs the “digital chain” (first thread) model as a conceptual framework to integrate DDI and to compare it with emerging AI-based approaches. Aligned with the thematic focus of the recent eCAADe 2024 and 2025 conferences (second thread), the study identifies key shifts within contemporary architectural practice. The findings from the analysed sample suggest a transition from structured, rule-based workflows to more adaptive, AI-supported design. This shift is associated with a reconfiguration of the architect’s role within hybrid human–AI environments, remaining responsible for defining the core design. The aim of the study is to develop a framework for interpreting the potential integration of AI into architectural design, emphasising the role of the architect in guiding computational processes and maintaining architectural intent. It provides a structured perspective on the relationship between DDI and AI, supporting a critical reassessment of the architect’s position within emerging digital paradigms and contemporary architectural culture. Full article

We compare six purposively selected term pairs using an English-language web corpus composed mainly of encyclopedic sources: engawa/veranda, tsuboniwa/impluvium, shōji/fusuma, tokonoma/chigaidana, ma/mu, and wabi/sabi. The pairs form three groups: cross-cultural comparisons, related Japanese architectural elements, and conceptual or aesthetic pairings. The study applies an audited corpus-based Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) analysis. Each pair is tested across predefined seed-based fields under FULL corpus conditions and CLEAN conditions that remove glossary-like and explicitly definitional sentences. In the tested corpus, the pairs do not behave as simple equivalents or oppositions. In cross-cultural comparisons, engawa is more strongly associated with indoor–outdoor boundary vocabulary, while narrowly specified boundary and transitional probes also favor engawa; veranda is more strongly linked to circulation and sheltered outdoor use. Tsuboniwa leans toward meanings of miniature gardens, whereas impluvium is strongly associated with water, basins, and Roman domestic systems. Within Japanese architectural vocabulary, fusuma dominates partition-related fields, whereas tokonoma and chigaidana remain mostly weak or non-separating. Among abstract terms, ma and mu show an asymmetric bidirectional pattern, with correction-supported separation more consistent for ma-directed than for mu-directed fields. Wabi and sabi show high contextual similarity in the selected English-language corpus, with correction-supported separation only for impermanence and melancholy. The field comparisons identify where the paired terms differ, where no difference was detected, and where one term was more strongly associated with several fields. The findings concern contextual usage in this corpus rather than definitive architectural, historical, or philosophical meanings of the terms. Full article

The dynamic nature of daylight and occupant position can cause issues such as overheating and visual discomfort that must be monitored during real-time use. Dynamic adaptive facades have emerged as a promising solution for educational buildings to prevent daylight glare and enhance daylight performance for students’ comfort. Based on recent progress in the construction and development of renewable energy technologies, adaptive facades can act as collectors of electrical energy in the form of photovoltaic cells to provide the required energy, in addition to improving internal performance. This research seeks to maximize the performance of a professional adaptive facade called Pioneer Adaptive Dynamic Facade (PADF) by searching for solutions based on the kinetics and type of adaptability of the facade and considering the position of the occupants. The solution of adaptability and type of mobility has been developed based on the extraction of the PADF control strategies. In this study, three strategies based on the season, the occupant’s position, and manual control are used to control the PADF. The methodology of this research is designed to compare the PADF in strict competition with regular shades such as simple horizontal louvers. The results show that the strategies for adaptive control of the PADF, in addition to improving the comfort conditions, reducing the cooling load, and providing sufficient daylight for the space, provide the maximum amount of solar radiation for the production of electricity. Full article

This study investigates the degradation of indoor environmental performance in a colonial-era school building under current tropical climate conditions and its implications for occupant comfort and cognitive function. A field study involving 30 students over 18 days was conducted, integrating environmental measurements, subjective responses, and cognitive tests (attention and working memory). Results indicate that indoor air temperature, relative humidity, and illuminance exceeded recommended standards, resulting in elevated PMV (≈1.5) and PPD (>50%), reflecting thermally uncomfortable conditions. Statistical analysis revealed significant negative relationships between thermal stress indicators (PMV and HSSI) and cognitive performance (r up to −0.94). In contrast, lighting showed no significant effect, likely due to the measured illuminance at the representative measurement point. These findings suggest that passive design strategies in colonial buildings are no longer sufficient under current climatic conditions and may compromise learning performance. The study highlights the need for adaptive design interventions to maintain indoor environmental quality in tropical educational buildings. Full article

As tangible witnesses and cultural carriers of the evolution of Chinese civilization, earthen heritage sites embody outstanding historical, cultural, and scientific value. However, due to the heterogeneity among sites and their long-term exposure to complex environmental and anthropogenic pressures, their conservation faces numerous challenges. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the deterioration mechanisms of earthen heritage sites in China induced by environmental and anthropogenic factors, with particular emphasis on the effects of individual factors, such as salt-induced erosion, wetting–drying cycles, wind erosion, microbial activity, freeze–thaw cycles, and human activities, as well as the coupled actions of multiple factors. It further summarizes recent progress in protective technologies developed in response to these mechanisms, as well as integrated conservation strategies for coping with coupled deterioration effects. In recent years, the intrinsic linkage mechanisms between external environmental conditions and the engineering performance of earthen heritage sites have become a research focus. This review aims to deepen the understanding of environmental degradation processes in earthen heritage sites and to provide theoretical and technical support for the scientific formulation of targeted preventive conservation, repair, and strengthening measures. Full article

Fragmented urban growth in Latin American intermediate cities has increasingly displaced low-income populations to peripheral areas, creating spatial mismatches between residential areas and educational opportunities provided by public higher education institutions. These patterns reflect inequalities that constrain educational accessibility and limit urban resilience. To examine these dynamics, this study applies a geospatial framework to develop an Educational Spatial Injustice Index (ESII) that quantifies disparities in Chihuahua, Mexico. Mobility metrics derived from Google Maps API are combined with census microdata, to analyze 108 high-demand census tracts (AGEBs) linked with seven public higher education institutions. The ESII is constructed through a multi-criteria weighting scheme based on travel time, monetary cost and network distance. Results show a clear north–south pattern, with higher ESII values concentrated in southern peripheries (0.85/1.0), where mean daily travel time reaches 3.45 h. Statistical analysis shows that the Social Lag Index (IRS; ρ = 0.729) has the strongest association with the Global ESII. Furthermore, spatial regression modeling reveals that while operational transit connectivity (bus routes) is a significant mitigating factor (p < 0.001), the mere physical presence of infrastructure (bus stops) is not. These findings suggest that spatial injustice in educational accessibility is more deeply rooted in structural urban growth patterns and socio-spatial inequalities than in simple infrastructure provision. The results support targeted planning strategies to improve accessibility and strengthen urban resilience in intermediate cities. Full article

The paper addresses the intersection between modern built heritage preservation and Climate-Aided Design (CADe) processes in fragile coastal Mediterranean contexts. The study focuses on the city of Beirut in Lebanon, part of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East (EMME) region and considered a climate change hotspot facing extreme challenges. Rapid urbanization and socio-political instability, especially during the twentieth century, have undermined the city’s ability to mitigate and adapt to future climate change scenarios. Moreover, Beirut’s modern built heritage faces a constant threat of demolition due to the absence of protective legislation, compounded by aggressive real-estate development ambitions. The hypothesis is that the integration of climatic data and regenerative design with modern cultural heritage classification frameworks can aid the preservation process, drive a more adaptive and inclusive approach to urban regeneration, and inform legislative integration of climate adaptation in conservation frameworks. To test this hypothesis, a multi-scalar case-study-based methodology is adopted using a combination of digital tools to assess and analyze the current and future impacts of climate change on two main case studies. First, the St. George Hotel & Bay, one of the first reinforced concrete recreational buildings in the city, was built during the French Mandate (1920–1946) and is vulnerable to sea-level rise, flooding, and demolition. Second, the Beirut City Center “The Egg”, a Brutalist structure built during Beirut’s modernist “golden era”, which is prone to structural deterioration and demolition. The main objective is to highlight 20th-century built heritage as part of Beirut’s spatial narrative worthy of conservation and rehabilitation by analyzing their capability to adapt to, mitigate, or benefit from future environmental risk. Ultimately, the study explores their potential to catalyze climate-resilient urban regeneration practices in the city. Results show that the integration of current and future forecast environmental analyses informed early preservation and intervention decision-making stages to position 20th-century modern built heritage as an asset to climate action in addition to being a socio-cultural and economic asset. Full article

This qualitative case study examines the feasibility of introducing transformative resilience in the informal settlement of Mohammad Amin Camp in Amman, Jordan. A participatory design approach was adopted, combining community workshops, focus-group discussions, semi-structured interviews, and spatial mapping to explain the urban challenges faced by people living in the camp. Themes associated with data collection were the need for social spaces, better waste management, and greater mobility. The findings suggest that community-defined resilience priorities extend beyond physical infrastructure improvements to include social interaction, accessibility, environmental quality, and local ownership, highlighting the value of participatory design in identifying context-specific resilience needs. Guided by the Enabling–Enacting–Envisioning framework, this study translated community knowledge into actionable urban design strategies, illustrating how participatory design can foster transformative resilience through integrated environmental, social, and governance interventions. Key interventions include the creation of green spaces, improved pedestrian pathways, community gathering spaces, and integrated waste management and fire safety measures. The proposed interventions address immediate urban challenges while strengthening long-term resilience through enhanced social cohesion, environmental adaptability, and community capacity. This study illustrates that participatory, small-scale spatial interventions can inform grounded and context-specific urban regeneration, offering practical insights for planners and policymakers working in informal settlement contexts. Full article

The devastation of cultural heritage after the Second World War led to the establishment of international organisations committed to its protection, such as UNESCO. The near-total destruction of Aachen’s historic city centre led to profound changes, including reconstruction and the incorporation of contemporary architecture, which established a new heritage identity. Against the backdrop of the reconstruction and reaffirmation of European identity, Aachen Cathedral was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1978. Since then, the concept of heritage has evolved to encompass a broader and more inclusive understanding. In 2013, it incorporated a buffer zone to protect the cathedral’s surroundings. In this scenario, the question arises: how is the coexistance between the historical and the contemporary within a UNESCO heritage context? The main objective is to analyse the coexistance between the heritage of historic and contemporary buildings within the buffer zone of Aachen Cathedral. We base the methodology on a comparative study of the catalogue files of 405 protected buildings, taking into account variables such as the year of protection, date of construction, possible reconstructions and current uses. Preliminary results suggest that only 4% were protected after 2013, or that 55% of the buildings have been rebuilt. The results improve our understanding of the management and evolution of historic urban complexes in the context of UNESCO. It can be concluded that the concept of heritage goes beyond mere historical or universal significance, encompassing aspects such as identity and continuity, as well as the integration of contemporary interventions into the historical fabric. Full article