Urban Heritage and Sustainability in the Age of Globalisation

Book excerpt: This book offers a deep exploration of architectural and urban heritage, using interdisciplinary and intercultural approaches to assess how historical, social, economic and political factors have impacted heritage development and its sustainability. It sheds light on the stakes of heritage conservation, management and maintenance in today’s globalised world. Through detailed studies of historic cities, the book explores both the tangible aspects of their built heritage (urban fabric, housing design, construction methods and materials for thermal comfort) and the intangible components of local communities (including identities, cultures, religions, values and ways of life) in diverse case studies in Egypt, France, India, Iran, Jordan, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia. By addressing not only urban and architectural heritage but also socio-cultural, environmental and political issues—including economic challenges and climatic concerns—this book is an essential resource for scholars and researchers across fields, including architecture, civil engineering, urban planning, sociology and philosophical anthropology.