Quality in the Conservation of Architectural Heritage: Methodological Issues for Developing Sustainable Practices

The goal of architectural heritage conservation has never been questioned since the very concept of heritage arose. This objective has evolved during the last century, on the one side enlarging the object of conservation (from the single building to the historical landscape) on the other including intangible forms of heritage. Furthermore, on the one hand, the objective of conservation has gradually acquired a dynamic dimension (since its achievement extends over time, since punctual results are not sufficient); on the other, it is now considered fully integrated with the contemporary world (in the multiple and intertwined dimensions of the social, cultural, economic and environmental aspects). Observing the evolution of the objective of conservation of architectural heritage, it can be observed that the focus initially shifted quickly from “why” to conserve to “what” to conserve, and then moved more slowly to “how” to conserve. This last step is still maturing today, both theoretically and operationally, helping to emphasize the importance of quality orientation, pivotal in any technological process, also in the field of built heritage. Therefore, the noun conservation today is no longer sufficient and needs qualifying adjectives (such as sustainable; reliable; inclusive), which largely depend on the kinds of conservation practices. That is why a conscious approach to the process-based vision of conservation (in which experts and users interact and in which clearly defined objectives can guarantee reliable results) is increasingly important. The contribution explores the meanings that a sticky word as “quality” can assume in the conservation of the architectural heritage, aiming to lay the foundations for a comparison between the many good practices already available, in a way that can be useful for spreading and increasing them.