Detecting failures in conservation practice in relation to cultural significance: the case of heritage buildings in Khartoum

摘要

Heritage buildings are valuable assets to the community. Thus, they require continuous monitoring to preserve their values. But, in many cases, these values are influenced negatively due to improper interventions. Cultural heritage significance is a core value that should be preserved. Therefore, this study focuses on examining the impact of physical alterations on this value to detect the failures in conservation practice in Khartoum. Through this research, three selected cases of the colonial era are evaluated according to the cultural heritage criteria. Conservation experts of architectural, archaeological, and civil engineering backgrounds are interviewed for this evaluation. Then, the outcomes are analysed to diagnose intervention problems. They reveal that the most negatively impacted values are architectural, aesthetic, and technical. Failures are the results of legislative problems, the lack of awareness, end users' interference, the unqualified workmanship, political interests, and community exclusion. Hence, this paper provides suggestions to enhance future practice.