The seventh edition of the International Conference on “Conservation of Architectural Heritage: Sustainability (CAH)” was held in collaboration with the University of Portsmouth, UK, and took place physically and virtually from the 12th to the 14th of September, in an effort to include attendees from all corners of the world.

The conference served as a primary forum for discussion on the topic of architectural heritage and its relations to sustainability, links to the environment, conservation efforts and techniques, management methodologies, novel innovations and technologies, and more.

The conference aimed to stress the importance of the relationship between heritage and sustainability and to emphasise the unprecedented recognition of the notion of culture as part of performing the Sustainable Development Goals. Culture and more specifically Cultural Heritage can play a crucial role in the development of our built and unbuilt environments, especially through SDG 11. This goal, which asks to make the cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, intends to strengthen the efforts to protect and safeguard the cultural and natural legacy of our cities and the world (target 11.4). Therefore, conservation of tangible and intangible heritage is paramount in making our world more sustainable.

The conference comprehensively covers the topic of heritage conservation & maintenance against degradational factors. Some of the main topics that were discussed include:

1. The Concept of Heritage Sites, their Conservation and Sustainable Adaptation

2. Heritage Studies, Management, and Promotion

3. The Importance and Prominence of Architectural Heritage and its links with Sustainability

4. Archeology Management and Sustainable Restoration

5. Citizens’ Involvement and Their Roles in Conserving Their History

6. Concepts, Methods, and Technology Used in Sustainable Heritage Asset Conservation

7. Post-Crisis Heritage Conservation and Management

8. Case Studies and Best Practices for the Long-Term and Sustainable Preservation of Heritage Sites

Day 1:

Welcoming Session:

The Opening Ceremony started with online registration and welcoming speeches from the Conference Chairs, Dr Tarek Teba, Dr Antonino Di Raimo, and IEREK’s founder, Dr. Mourad Amer.

Short welcoming speeches were given by the conference chairs Dr Tarek Teba, Reader in Architectural Heritage at School of Architecture, the University of Portsmouth, UK, Dr Antonino Di Raimo, Reader in Architecture at School of Architecture, the University of Portsmouth, UK, as well as George Burrows, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries, the University of Portsmouth, UK, Prof. Donatella Rita Fiorino, Associate Professor at the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architecture Engineering, University of Cagliari, Italy, and Ms Clara Arokiasamy OBE, President of ICOMOS-UK and Chair and Founder of ICOMOS-UK’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee.

Following the speeches, a brief presentation was given that introduced IEREK as a company and its activities to the audience.

Plenary Session:

A plenary session followed introducing the first keynote speaker Prof. Giles Pritchard, Founder and Director of Pritchard Architecture, a heritage led design practice based at Porters Lodge in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, whose speech was entitled: “Heritage Led Design – A practice perspective: The challenges of adapt re-use of buildings around Portsmouth and Gosport.”

The second keynote speaker was Prof. Simone Sfriso, Co-Founder and co-Principal at Studio Tamassociati, Visiting Professor University of Portsmouth, UK, whose speech was entitled: “Sustainability stands for cultural heritage”

After the keynote speeches was the First Session of the conference titled “City Planning: Urbanization and Development”. The session was moderated by Professor Sara D’Addario, From the University of Ferrara, Italy, and Professor Francesco Alberti, Professor at the Department of Architecture, University of Florence, Italy.

The first session went on, where multiple authors presented their research physically at the conference venue, taking questions from the live audience, and answering as best they could. Following the first session, attendees took a short lunch break, in preparation for the second session.

The Second Session began shortly after the lunch break, entitled “The Importance of sustainability in Architectural Heritage Practices” and was moderated by Dr. Antonino Di Raimo, From the University of Portsmouth, UK, and Prof. Giovanna Concu, from the University of Cagliari, Italy. A discussion and a Questions and Answers session followed, and the first conference day was concluded by a Panel session where final remarks and feedback were discussed.

Day 2:

The 2nd day of the conference started at 9:30 am on the 13th of September ’23 with a short welcoming session then introducing the third keynote speaker Prof. Alessandra Battisti, Professor of Environmental Design and Technology of Architecture at the School of Architecture of Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, whose speech was entitled: “The Impact of Climate Change on Cultural Heritage: risks, resources and sustainable strategies.”

The first session of the day titled “Concepts, Methods, and Technology Used in Sustainable Heritage Asset Conservation” and moderated by Dr. Antonino Di Raimo, From the University of Portsmouth, UK, and Prof. Giovanna Concu, from the University of Cagliari, Italy. A diverse set of authors from around the world presented their research physically and took questions from both, live, and online attendees. Following the this session, a short lunch break was issued, and the second session of the day was set to begin soon after.

The second Session began shortly after the lunch break, entitled “Sustainable Design and Regeneration Practices for Architectural and Urban Heritage” and was moderated by Dr. Tarek Teba, and Dr. Antonino Di Raimo From the University of Portsmouth and a Questions and Answers session followed.

Following the Q&A session, The Hotwalls Studios Tour started, this tour introduced participants to the new sea defense scheme that is an ongoing project. Participants haf the chance to walk over the new and then the old sea defense structure with views to the sea, Isle of Wight and Gosport. After that, participants introduced to the Hotwalls Studios project, an adaptive reuse scheme and a conversion from historic fortifications to Hotwalls Studios. The project Architect Deniz Beck, who has notable experience with other prominent adaptive reuse projects in the city such as Spitbank Fort, and Fort Cumberland, will lead the onsite explanation of the project. The tour ended at the waterfront of Old Portsmouth with an evening view to the sea.

Day 3:

The 3rd day of the conference started online at 9:00 am on the 14th of September ’23 with a short welcoming session then introducing the fourth keynote speaker Prof. Khaldun Bshara, Assistant professor, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Birzeit University, Palestine, whose speech was entitled: “Heritage Preservation in the Global South (the case of Palestine): From Luxury to Necessity”

The first session of the day titled “The Concept of Heritage Sites, their Conservation and Sustainable Adaptation” and moderated by Dr. Antonino Di Raimo, From the University of Portsmouth. A diverse set of authors from around the world presented their research online and took questions from both, live, and online attendees. Following the this session, a short lunch break was issued, and the final session of the day was set to begin soon after.

The final Session began shortly after the lunch break, entitled “Concepts, Methods, and Technology Used in Sustainable Heritage Asset Conservation” and was moderated by Dr. Tarek Teba, and a Questions and Answers session followed.

Wrapping up, final remarks, and a closing ceremony were held, and the conference was concluded after feedback was discussed in a panel session.

We are proud to have received such innovative contributions and are filled with excitement.