From heritage to environment. Sustainability and resilience in building conservation

This paper presents some update to the contemporary conservation of built heritage and discusses the possible contribution of some heterodox items. The idea of built heritage as a common good is discussed along with the activity for its protection and is compared with the defence of other “weak subjects” against the globalised economic interest. The green movement and the protection of the natural environment have led conservation towards the paradigm of sustainable development and, more recently, to the concept of resilience. Some controversial outcomes of this contamination are here presented and discussed. The authors try to assess as these two “heterodoxies” may help to renew the theoretical core of conservation, particularly within the challenges which the climate change scenario poses to contemporary society.