From static preservation to living heritage: Managing intangible cultural heritage in historic urban contexts
Urban heritage conservation has traditionally placed much emphasis on tangible architecture, and the role of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in cultural continuity has been largely overlooked. This study examines the shift from preservation-centered approaches to living-heritage perspectives in historic urban environments through a comparative study of four cities: Bukhara (Uzbekistan), Gjirokastër (Albania), Malacca (Malaysia), and Pingyao (China). The inclusion of the Chinese case enhances the study’s relevance to current debates on urban heritage governance. The study used a comparative mixed-method research design comprising semi-structured interviews (n = 60), policy analysis (n = 48 documents), and geographic information system-based spatial mapping. The analysis used two composite indices: the Heritage Vitality Index and the Urban Development Pressure Index, both of which were systematically constructed using well-defined indicators, normalization procedures, and verification processes to enhance analytical transparency. The results indicate that urban development pressure is not the sole predictor of heritage vitality. Instead, heritage vitality is determined by administrative structures, spatial planning, and community involvement. Cities with participatory or coordinated governance, such as Gjirokastër and Pingyao, show higher ICH vitality under moderate development pressure. By contrast, tourism-driven environments, as observed in Malacca, may intensify commercialization and cultural distortion. The study contributes to the urban heritage theory by conceptualizing ICH as a governance-mediated and spatially embedded process. It also offers feasible recommendations to policymakers, emphasizing that cultural practices must be integrated into planning systems rather than treated as secondary outcomes. Future research on the subject of living heritage in rapidly urbanizing cities must focus on longitudinal changes and larger comparative models aimed at enhancing the level of comprehension.
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