Sustainable Cities and Modern Built Heritage: The Value of Art Deco in Brisbane

It is incumbent for city planners seeking to achieve sustainable cities that they utilise their modern built heritage resources. The built environment contributes significantly to the carbon footprint of a city. Buildings account for 50% of raw materials used and produce waste from demolition and new construction. It is often more sustainable to re-use and repurpose existing buildings than to build anew. Protected heritage buildings are often re-used and repurposed; however, the future of heritage buildings that are not valued is dubious, precarious and, it can be said, even perilous. Modern built heritage (MBH) is defined by UNESCO as a built heritage from the ‘modern’ era 1920–1970. MBH is currently in focus in the heritage preservation literature as it is considered at risk of demolition due to rapid urbanisation, weak legal protection, and low awareness of its value among the public. MBH is available in many cities as the heritage of tomorrow. However, to assume this standing requires identification and an understanding of its value. This paper explores the value of Art Deco as a form of modern built heritage through in-depth interviews with stakeholders in Brisbane. An argument is made for the further conservation of MBH by linking value with sustainable city goals.