Sustainability and the Holistic Approach to the Conservation of Historic Cities

Sustainable development is one of the core agendas of our time. It is a concept that has gathered momentum over the past decade. Urban conservation is a concept that has been with us since at least the 1960s. How do these two concepts relate to each other? How can they be brought together in a common philosophy and practice? This paper aims to summarize weaknesses in current philosophy and practice in urban conservation; to set out the relationship between successful architectural conservation and wider agendas of sustainability and cultural identity; to highlight the communality of approach and practice that needs to be fostered and developed between a complex range of interrelated issues and disciplines; and to extend both the perceived relevance of architectural conservation and its level of attainment. This paper is based upon the author's work in the United Kingdom and in continental Europe, East and West.