Abstract
Community perceptions and experiences of built heritage are essential in understanding the built heritage and effect in individual and community wellbeing. Subsequently, local perceptions of built heritage directly influence the conservation and heritage-led interventions. This study investigated local perceptions of built heritage in Erbil by assessing responses of 414 participants using a questionnaire survey aiming to identify how built heritage is perceived by the various group samples, exploring local perceptions’ (in)consistencies. Significant differences were found between architects’ and non-architects’ perceptions and related wellbeing. As the groups attribute different values, the results suggest that heritage buildings do not contribute to the wellbeing of non-architects as much as to architects. A contradicting result was found between modern and heritage buildings. This study contributes to the notion of human-centrality of the built environment by assessing local perceptions of built heritage, that, when implemented in urban planning and heritage management, can contribute to the city’s socio-cultural sustainable development.
Highlights
The notion of built heritage is underlined by values which stand central to the concept of heritage [1]
The results show that both built environmental qualities and heritage value contribute to wellbeing conditioned by knowledge and education, as architects are educated on the value of built heritage
It is demonstrated that the effect of qualitative variables on heritage value is significantly higher for non-experts than for experts, with non-experts being more driven by the qualities of the built environment
Summary
The notion of built heritage is underlined by values which stand central to the concept of heritage [1]. Due to a greater emphasis on heritage-related values, perception holds a vital role within the heritage discipline [2]. This accommodates subjective determinations of heritage strongly influenced by individual and community views and preferences [3,4], which directly inform attitudes towards built heritage [5]. Wellbeing was recently coined as heritage values on a balanced conservation approach, considering the social, psychological, and physical environment [12]. This conceptual broadening in heritage studies emphasizes the need for contextual heritage research on heritage management
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
