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Sustainability in Conservation of Cultural Heritage: An Open Challenge

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 24832

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Dr. Barbara Sacchi

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Guest Editor

Institute of Heritage Science-CNR, Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy
Interests: stone decay; stone conservation; conservation treatments; diagnostics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The word “sustainability” usually evokes concepts such as environment or economy. Nevertheless, the conservation of cultural heritage can also be included among the topics for which sustainability is fundamental, since its task is to ensure the maintenance of artistic, historical and cultural patrimony for as long as possible.

The multidisciplinary nature of the research on materials concerning cultural heritage and the complexity of the problems to be faced make it difficult to draw up simple guidelines in this field. However, the continuous progress of science allows us to concentrate resources on the development of products, methods and tools that are not harmful to materials, human health or the environment. At the same time, preventive conservation (i.e., the set of actions and measures aimed at avoiding or minimizing future deterioration or losses) provides us with another means of sustainable conservation. Indeed, constant monitoring of the condition of an asset can avoid subsequent interventions that may be costly in terms of money, time and invasiveness.

Therefore, this Special Issue aims to focus on the challenges we face every day to make the science for cultural heritage sustainable. We welcome papers focused on recent developments on sustainable and green approaches to conservation and preventive conservation, and in particular on:

Toxicity reduction of widespread “old” products for heritage conservation;
Eco-sustainable and compatible materials as new conservation products;
Compatible solutions for the removal of residues of old interventions in heritage conservation;
Smart solutions for biocleaning in heritage conservation;
Non-invasive / micro-invasive techniques and methods for diagnostic in heritage conservation;
Smart methodologies for green interventions in heritage conservation;
Optimization of conservation plans for sustainability;
Monitoring of environmental conditions and prevention of degradation for a minimum intervention;
Standardization for sustainable development.

Dr. Barbara Sacchi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

green conservation
ecological sustainability
eco-friendly materials
biocleaning
preventive conservation
standardization

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 3347 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainability of Traditional, Historical Roofs in the Mediterranean: A Rediscovered Opportunity for a Carbon Neutral Future

by JoAnn Cassar, Charles Galdies and Elizabeth Muscat Azzopardi

Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 12723; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712723 - 23 Aug 2023

Viewed by 998

Abstract

As the world grapples with the effects of climate change, there is an urgent need for sustainable solutions to help reduce carbon emissions. Historic urban centres can indicate one possible way forward, and this is because of the way traditional buildings (in this paper centring on the Mediterranean) are built. Their materials and technologies are usually well chosen and adapted to hot climates, while the layout of historic centres, often with quite narrow, winding streets, provide shading and frequently also appropriate direction of cooling winds, especially in marine locations. These often result in these urban cores being cooler than more modern city centres. Traditional roofs, in particular, have over the centuries proved to be reliable and sustainable (when given appropriate maintenance), with layers of porous materials providing inbuilt breathable (evaporative) properties. These lead to a degree of passive cooling and ultimately to less energy consumption (less use of air conditioning for example), thus creating a smaller carbon footprint for each building, and hence also for the urban centre when a number of these buildings are present. This paper is based on a three-year pilot study, where an innovative methodology using a combination of remote data (obtained from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and satellite) with in situ measurements, allows for the remote identification of traditional and modified roofs, as well helping understand the thermal behaviour of such roofs, with this study concentrating on historic centres in the Island of Malta, in the Mediterranean. Ultimately aimed at promoting preservation of these traditional roofs, this study provides data to help address, at least in part, current climatic concerns, whilst also potentially providing some adaptation strategies to address climate change (in particular increased ambient temperatures). Our studies on the behaviour of traditional deffun mortar roofs have shown that they are effective in protecting the internal environment from the external one. This can lead to a reduction in carbon emissions and help create a more carbon-neutral future over an entire historic centre. Therefore, in the long term, with the right management policies in place, traditional roofs on traditional buildings can provide an excellent and cost-effective way of moving towards carbon neutrality in historic urban centres. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Conservation of Cultural Heritage: An Open Challenge)

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19 pages, 2826 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Towards a Reasoned Glossary of Green Conservation: A Semantic Review of Green-Oriented Terms in the Field of Cultural Heritage

by Davide Del Curto and Anna Turrina

Sustainability 2023, 15(16), 12104; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151612104 - 8 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1350

Abstract

The concept of green conservation has become a popular expression in parallel to the inflated development of innovative green practices and products for cultural heritage. However, the absence of a consistent definition of emerging green concepts does not prevent the dilution of the terms in scientific research and commercial propaganda. On this basis, this article discusses the several meanings of the concept of green conservation and its related terms toward a viable and comprehensive definition. The semantic analysis relies on the identification of different sources to evaluate the coherence of the meanings in usage in scientific and non-scientific domains. Search terms—such as “bio”, “eco”, and “green”—were collected and classified into lemmas of emerging constructs. Lastly, two glossaries resulting from the two main sources provide a comparative analysis to evaluate the degree of intersection and divergence among equal terms. The research drew from over 100 studies and five international databases to generate a hierarchical classification among 220 constructs and to identify six definitions of green conservation. This paper contributes to greater clarity and encourages a semantic discussion toward a common vision for a green conservation perspective for future research and informed preservation practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Conservation of Cultural Heritage: An Open Challenge)

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40 pages, 26385 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heritage and Environment: Greenery as a Climate Change Mitigation Factor in Selected UNESCO Sites in Krakow

by Agata Zachariasz, Dorota Jopek and Laura Kochel

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 12041; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151512041 - 6 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1838

Abstract

The quantity and condition of urban greenery directly affect the quality of life of residents and space users. This quality is linked to measures that reduce the negative impact of climate change. It was assumed that urban greenery should not only be protected but also should have its stock increased, which is not easy in a historical, compact structure under statutory conservation. This paper discusses the issue of green areas in the strict city centre of Krakow, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. The study area includes two medieval towns that had their town charters issued in the 13th and 14th centuries, which together formed a central town and a satellite town. Kazimierz and Stradom were subjected to a detailed investigation. A review of the literature and other sources made it possible to identify changes in the structure of green spaces in terms of chronology and quantity. Changes in the area, accessibility and the legal provisions arising from the various forms of statutory conservation and their consequences were analysed. Multi-criteria analyses of the historical urban structure and the types, forms and potential for introducing greenery into the historical area were also performed. The intention was to strengthen green infrastructure, which is a key element in climate change mitigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Conservation of Cultural Heritage: An Open Challenge)

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27 pages, 11760 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Protection of the Spatial Structure and Artistic Value of the Architectural Heritage Xizi Pagoda in Hunan Province of China

by Yiwen He, Xuemin Zhang, Xinlei Chen, Dong Fu, Bei Zhang and Xubin Xie

Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 8352; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15108352 - 21 May 2023

Viewed by 1330

Abstract

Xizi Pagoda, or the pagoda for cherishing writing paper, is part of China’s architectural heritage in culture, education, and rites. It symbolizes respect for books and ceremonies, aspirations for virtue and ideals, and hope for literati cultivation. This paper is the first comprehensive study based on the spatial structure and artistic value of the pagoda as rural stone architecture. It analyzes the shape, components, and decoration of typical Xizi Pagodas in Hunan Province, and studies the stress structure with finite element simulation software. This study delves into the science of the shape, structure and space, and the cultural and aesthetic connotations, and proposes protection and renovation methods. In conclusion, the architecture is decided by the cylindrical shape of the paper burning structure and aesthetics; it is also influenced by Hunan culture, which cherishes literature and ceremonies and values candor and optimism. The pagoda is a national art form with a unique role in enlightenment and education. Therefore, the protection and utilization of the pagoda can be approached from its spatial structure, artistic value, and cultural inheritance to facilitate the sustainable development of architectural heritage, environment, and culture, so as to build Xizi Pagoda into a new national brand. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Conservation of Cultural Heritage: An Open Challenge)

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27 pages, 5860 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determination of Conservation–Reuse Parameters for Industrial Heritage Sustainability and a Decision-Making Model Proposal

by Şebnem Ertaş Beşir and Meryem Elif Çelebi Karakök

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6796; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086796 - 18 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1516

Abstract

This study aims to determine the necessary parameters to ensure sustainable conservation in the adaptive reuse of industrial heritage and create a decision-making model. This study included the selection of the sample industrial heritage, determining the necessary parameters, percentage frequency analysis (PFA) of the industrial heritages in relation to the parameters, interpreting the percentage frequency results by comparing them, and developing the decision-making model. The decisions of the architectural heritage conservation organizations ICOMOS, TICCIH, and UNESCO were used to determine the conservation parameters. The reuse parameters were determined based on sustainability principles, since the adaptive reuse of historical buildings is also the subject of sustainability. The obtained parameters were converted to percentage values after being made numerically significant by two different percentage frequency analyses: conservation and reuse. Each sample used in the model was considered successful in various sources, rewarded, and praised in the literature and media. If we accept 50% as an average value, there are only four industrial heritages which are over 50% for the conservation percentage frequency analysis, but there are nine industrial heritages which are over 50% for the reuse percentage frequency analysis. On the other hand, it is written in the article that the aim is to catch 100%. Therefore, maybe it can be said that we cannot only conserve, but also fail to use. The model developed in this study will serve as a guide in establishing the conservation –use balance of project decisions as well as in objectively evaluating current practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Conservation of Cultural Heritage: An Open Challenge)

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14 pages, 4246 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Environmental Footprint of Scientific Research: Proposals and Actions to Increase Sustainability and Traceability

by Margherita Palmieri, Bruno Lasserre, Davide Marino, Luca Quaranta, Maxence Raffi and Giancarlo Ranalli

Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5616; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15075616 - 23 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1671

Abstract

In their work, scientists are responsible for stating a purpose, defining experimental conditions, producing data, describing and analyzing these data by statistical means, arguing by comparison with the literature, and drawing conclusions. When a manuscript is submitted for publication, no assessment of the direct and indirect environmental impacts of producing the work is reported. In this context, the aim of our study is to suggest schematic methods to assess, reduce, and mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated by three different papers (two scientific articles and a conference proceeding) previously published by the same authors. The results reported here show proposals and actions to contribute to the reduction of environmental impacts: a preliminary assessment of the inputs and outputs was initially converted into CO₂ equivalents (CO₂ eq.) and, subsequently, into partial mitigation action through the allocation of the planting of additional plants. Furthermore, real traceability and an opportunity to verify the close connection between initial works (papers and conference book) causing the environmental impact and new green life are suggested. Finally, we propose a new label (S-Paper to T-Plant) for eco-friendly guidelines. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Conservation of Cultural Heritage: An Open Challenge)

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19 pages, 1114 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Community Participation in the Importance of Living Heritage Conservation and Its Relationships with the Community-Based Education Model towards Creating a Sustainable Community in Melaka UNESCO World Heritage Site

by Noor Azramalina Abdul Aziz, Noor Fazamimah Mohd Ariffin, Nor Atiah Ismail and Anuar Alias

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 1935; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15031935 - 19 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6437

Abstract

Living heritage runs the risk of being lost forever, or frozen as a practice of the past, if not promoted in the community. The preservation of this history, its transmission to following generations, and its ability to transform and adapt to any circumstance, are all made possible by strengthening living heritage. Investigating the function of living heritage in advancing education for sustainable development has been deemed a crucial goal by quality education as Sustainable Development Goal number 4 (SDG 4). The aim of this article is to gather information on living heritage conservation toward creating a sustainability community by using the community-based education model on the communities’ attitudes, cultural knowledge, and awareness of the importance of living heritage, and their participation level towards living heritage conservation in Melaka UNESCO World Heritage Site. This study uses the quantitative method of online questionnaire survey technique to collect data. There are 392 respondents from the multicultural community of Melaka World Heritage Site, who randomly responded. Based on the mean comparison in gender, age level, and race, there is a positive significant relationship between the importance of living heritage and the local community’s participation level. The increasing of the participation level to ACTIVE would lead to a higher altitude, cultural knowledge, and awareness of the importance of living heritage in the local community. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Conservation of Cultural Heritage: An Open Challenge)

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16 pages, 8235 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Methodology for the Study of the Vulnerability of Historic Buildings: The Reconstruction of the Transformation Phases of the Church of the Abbey-Castle of Santo Stefano in Monopoli in Puglia (Italy)

by Angela Diceglie

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1702; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021702 - 16 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1324

Abstract

The study presented here concerns an analysis of the structural vulnerability of the arm of the church of the Castello di Santo Stefano Abbey in Monopoli in Puglia (Italy). The ancient monument is located on a small “Peninsula” between two ancient natural harbors, 3 km from Monopoli and 5 km from the archaeological site of Egnazia. Studies on the abbey-castle, have revealed different construction and deconstruction phases relating to historical periods of the Roman age, late antique age, medieval age, modern and contemporary age. The castle is typically attributable to a closed courtyard with four arms. The last one, close to the wall on the port of Tramontana, was added at a contemporary time. The arm of the church is characterized by the crypt with opus reticulatum walls from the two surviving bays of the former Benedictine church, from the residential palace of the 18th century, and from the residential extensions of the 20th century. The north-east and north-west arms, born in the 16th century as defensive earth-filled walls with respective bulwarks (north-east pentagonal and north-west at the tip of a spear), were redeveloped between the 17th and 18th centuries into residential buildings with panoramic loggias and overlooking new ditches enclosed by high walled defenses. The study was conducted with non-invasive methods such as: thermographic surveys; archaeological survey; stratigraphic survey of the walls; stratigraphic survey of plants; photogrammetric survey; 3D returns; Morpho-typological survey of the building material making it possible to acquire data on degradation, on the historicization of instability, on the phases of “growth” of the 18th century and of stylistic “reconstructions” of the 19th century. The data acquired, compared with each other, documented: the deterioration and instability of the foundation wall structures (the crypt) and that of the elevated structures: surviving spans of the church and residential building. Alveolization of the building material, deformations, variations in the geometric shape, lack of resistance of the foundation walls due to the typological and qualitative characteristics of the material (opus reticulatum in soft tuff) with high porosity and problems of the church roof system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Conservation of Cultural Heritage: An Open Challenge)

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14 pages, 3989 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Invasive SWIR Monitoring of White Marble Surface of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence, Italy)

by Silvia Vettori, Davide Romoli, Teresa Salvatici, Valentina Rimondi, Elena Pecchioni, Sandro Moretti, Marco Benvenuti, Pilario Costagliola, Rachele Manganelli Del Fà, Michele Coppola, Beatrice Agostini and Francesco Di Benedetto

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1421; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021421 - 11 Jan 2023

Viewed by 1520

Abstract

The monitoring of stone alteration represents a key factor in the knowledge and prediction of the status of conservation of building stones in the urban framework. A continuous monitoring requires a non-destructive analytical approach and, possibly, a simple, low-cost and effective tool to study the decay processes. Previous studies demonstrated the capability of the SWIR hyperspectral technique to gain information on the degree of sulfation of carbonate stone surfaces. In this study we aim at setting up a protocol to investigate on-site the sulfation degree of the white marble cladding surfaces of the worldwide-famous Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Florence (Italy). The proposed protocol couples information by SWIR hyperspectral and colorimetric techniques. We have proved that, in selected areas investigated at a distance of nine years, the colour and the mineralogical changes (i.e., sulfation) are significantly greater than the relative uncertainties of the two methods. Moreover, the proposed protocol results rapid, repeatable and fully not invasive. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Conservation of Cultural Heritage: An Open Challenge)

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17 pages, 4874 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ship Graffiti in Horologion of Andronikos Kyrristos, Greece: A Comparative Study and New Evidence

by Evangelia Panou, Agathi Anthoula Kaminari, Georgios Tsairis and Athina Georgia Alexopoulou

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 13791; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142113791 - 24 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1498

Abstract

The paper contributes new information about the Horologion of Andronikos Kyrristos of the Roman Agora of Athens, Greece and its continuous presence in Athens from antiquity until now. The monument is of cultural, historical and astronomical importance. It has undergone conservation work and non-destructive documentation which contribute to its sustainability. The spectral imaging technique, which allows the acquisition of high-resolution images, was applied on the stone surfaces of the monument. The acquisition of images in the visible and infrared regions, combined with the digital tracing reproduction of the graffiti and image processing, is used for the first time in this particularly interesting case study of the aforementioned monument, of which a complete description is provided. New evidence with a clearer recording of the vessels already mentioned in the literature, as well as the detection of new historical data and graffiti, is discussed in comparison with the results of previous studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Conservation of Cultural Heritage: An Open Challenge)

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17 pages, 5673 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rare Romanian Ethnographic Textiles—Reverse Engineering of Fabrics for Fashion Trends

by ElSayed A. Elnashar, Liliana Indrie, Dorina Camelia Ilieş, Zlatin Zlatev, Grigore Vasile Herman, Cristina Secan and Jan A. Wendt

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6859; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116859 - 3 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2630

Abstract

(1) Investigating, collecting data with specific character, as well as registering and investigating data concerning ornaments and colors, patterns as expressive possibilities of designs of Romanian folk textile are important activities to do. The first goal of the research undertaken was to collect, preserve, and protect knowledge about old patterns and weaving techniques in selected regions of Romania, and the second to use old patterns for the modern needs of folk handicraft weaving and the clothing industry. (2) In the undertaken research, material was obtained from antique textiles, clothes, and paintings on canvas, from selected objects in the Maramureș region and Bihor region. The selection was made by the ReliefF method. The specimens of specification throw weight by the geometry method was used to characterize the types of weaving techniques. Principal component analysis methods were used to reduce the amount of data of the vector of textural features. (3) The research on selected Romanian textiles allowed for the construction of a model of texture features that describes them. The results include the specimens’ measurements, analysis of fabric structures, yarn specification, and the reconstruction of the fabrics. Based on the obtained results, a simulation of fashion trends was performed. (4) The analysis of individual components increased the knowledge of weaving techniques in the studied regions and may be an inspiration for contemporary design in local and regional handicrafts as well as in the clothing industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainability in Conservation of Cultural Heritage: An Open Challenge)

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