Soffeh

Soffeh

A Comparison of Stakeholders’ Attitudes in Architectural Heritage Restoration; the Case of Owners’ and Cultural Heritage Experts’ Opinions about Use Change of Yazd’s Historical Houses to Residence

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Zahra Rafiei 1
Alireza Razaghi 2
1 Ph.D. Candidate, Restoration and Revitalisation of Historic Buildings and Urban Fabrics, Faculty of Conservation and Restoration, Iran University of Art, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor,, Faculty of Conservation, Iran University of Art, Tehran Iran.
10.48308/soffeh.2026.236822.1360
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Cultural heritage experts and their influence play a prominent role in the heritage’s recognition and conservation, and hence the importance of their attitude. The present research, therefore, aims to compare the attitude of Yazd owners of historical houses whose properties turn into residence houses, with that of Cultural Heritage authorities.

Materials and Methods: This research is based on the grounded theory approach for qualitative attitude measurements, combined with comparative comparisons, using semi-structured queries from owners of historical houses and the Cultural Heritage organisation experts.

Results and Conclusion: The findings revolve around six issues:
1. the definition of revitalisation;
2. the goal of and expectations from revitalisation;
3. the challenges of revitalisation;
4. the expected improvements;
5. the persons responsible; and
6. the suggested participatory system for revitalisation.
Results show that there are divergences in the three issues of ‘definition’, ‘goals and expectations’ and ‘challenges’; and convergences in the other three, namely, ‘expected improvements’, ‘persons responsible’ and ‘the participatory system’. Consequently, seven suggestions are made to improve the quality of the revitalisation process and reduce the conflict between stakeholders in revitalisation:
1. educating the owners;
2. applying a support mechanisms for capital return;
3. increasing the efficiency of the cultural heritage administration;
4. improving infrastructures historical fabrics;
5. supporting the presence of natives;
6. recognising duties of firstly the government and secondly the people;
7. the participation of involved institutions under the leadership of the Cultural Heritage organisation.
Keywords
Stakeholder attitude
Revitalisation of architectural heritage
Historical houses of Yazd
House owners
Cultural heritage experts
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 07 September 2024
  • Revise Date 17 October 2024
  • Accept Date 24 April 2026