PRR Project

Summary

The researcher will steer and develop the activities of the Chair Heritage, Cities, and Landscapes—Sustainable Management, Conservation, Planning, and Design. Entrusted by UNESCO to University of Porto-FAUP-CEAU in December 2019, the Chair is dedicated to the management and conservation of cultural heritage and planning and design initiatives. Its objective is to foster high-quality, contemporary interventions within heritage resources.The Chair also facilitates the management and prospective nomination of World Heritage sites in Portugal and abroad. The initiative fosters global north-south cooperation, extending to nations influenced by Portuguese heritage across Africa, Asia, and South America. The Chair serves as a dynamic and open platform, encouraging the formation of cooperative networks, including partnerships with NGOs, academic institutions, public and private organizations, and the UNESCO/Unitwin Chairs network.TASKS— Conduct interdisciplinary research, partnering with various stakeholders—research institutions, administrative bodies, and funding agencies. Research focuses on the management and conservation of cultural heritage and the planning and design processes.— Disseminate research findings to foster informed discussions, share best practices, and facilitate the transfer of knowledge in policy-making and conservation strategies at World Heritage Sites by participating in conferences and publishing research.— Support the development of new nominations for World Heritage Sites in Portugal, focusing on fostering global north-south cooperation and working with countries that share a heritage of Portuguese influence across Africa, Asia, and South America.— Coordinate educational and training programs at graduate and postgraduate levels, focusing on sustainable management, assessment, planning, conservation, and design of heritage, cities, and landscapes, extending to related disciplines.— Develop innovative educational and training models that empower various participants—students, heritage managers, municipal technicians, and local communities—promoting participatory practices in heritage conservation.— Promote the implementation of the 2011 UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscapes, collaborating with UNESCO and other Chairs on relevant programs and activities.PROFILE— Education in Architecture and a specialization in Architectural Heritage;— Coordination of international research projects;— Prominent track record of peer-reviewed scientific publications;— History of organizing international scientific conferences and platforms for knowledge transfer;— Experience in teaching and supervising master’s and doctoral dissertations;— Membership in international organizations dedicated to the conservation of built heritage.CONTEXTFAUP is renowned for its ingrained tradition of integrating History as a fundamental component of architectural education. This has historically facilitated a significant dialogue on methods to conserve and enhance Portuguese architectural heritage. This focus evolved into a refined framework of knowledge, encapsulating preservation, material innovation, heritage management, and historical research. While other scientific disciplines have progressed towards highly specialized competencies, architectural research in Cultural Heritage has become a bridge and facilitator within the interdisciplinary network.Heritage’s significance in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has been underscored by scholars: Huadong Guo in “Progress toward the sustainable development of world cultural heritage sites facing land-cover changes” (2023) and Ana Pereira Roders in “Cultural heritage attractors: does spatial configuration matter?” (2023). Their work surveys the state of the art who emphasizes the prominent role of heritage as a cornerstone of social construction.Recognizing CEAU-FAUP’s pivotal role within the Portuguese architectural landscape, UNESCO appointed it as a consortium coordinator. This preeminence can be attributed to the worthy contributions of a distinguished researcher. Her work, underpinned by the institution’s rich legacy and facilitated through a temporary contract funded by FCT via competitive calls, has led to notable societal impacts in heritage preservation. An example of her influence is the intervention at Álvaro Siza’s Leça Swimming Pools. Her guidance transformed a routine maintenance project into an influential case study. The project garnered attention from numerous international experts, setting a precedent for future heritage interventions by establishing a new standard of practice.Her vast experience and collaborative engagements with peers and faculty has swayed FAUP-CEAU to further this research, utilizing the Chair of Heritage, Cities, and Landscapes as a tool to enhance the synergy between socially impactful architectural practices, the research environment, and the educational ethos of the institution.