The value of Post-Industrial heritage: Exploring alternative preservation strategies in Poblenou

Guirnaldos Diaz, Melina 2024. The value of Post-Industrial heritage: Exploring alternative preservation strategies in Poblenou. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

The increasing recognition of the social dimension of heritage in the late 1970s led to a more democratic and theoretically extended understanding of this concept and the range of values it encompasses. However, this shift resulted in a crisis in terms of the modes of conservation practices and policies, opening the gates for capital forces to manipulate urban legacies and the citizens' right to it. This PhD aims to find principles for better addressing the issue of value in the context of postindustrial heritage preservation within the city. My arguments stem from the premise that all values are not fixed, nor intrinsic to the materiality of historic buildings and urban fabrics, but rather in constant flux. In this regard, this investigation considers three key, though intertwined, aspects of heritage identification and value. Firstly, it examines how values are constructed in a continuously unfolding present. Secondly, it looks at their social construction. Thirdly, it explores how heritage values are political and contested. It also embraces the idea that heritage accommodates a diversity of lived experiences that shape these values. Building on debates in the field of critical heritage studies and employing mixed research methods, this investigation delves into the processes of valuing associated with the significance of post-industrial heritage. Furthermore, it seeks to understand their architectural and urban implications. The research focuses on Poblenou, the most industrialised area of Spain during the 19th and 20th centuries, and a paradigmatic example of new ways of understanding the value of postindustrial heritage by different community groups. By focusing on valuing practices and their spatial implications, this thesis diverges from studies that primarily focus on mapping recognised forms of heritage by various stakeholders (see, for example, Avrami, 2019; Bandarin, 2016). The conclusions of this investigation highlight issues related to tangibility, politics and social action, and cultural practices from a multi-scalar approach.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Architecture
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	21 June 2024
Last Modified:	21 Jun 2024 11:50
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/170034

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