November 12, 2014

Global Seminars & Invited Speaker Series

HERITAGE AND SPEECH. A FRAMEWORK DE REFERENCE LETTER

The museumisation of the historic city

D. Alfredo J. Morales Martínez
University of Seville

The principle of musealization is always present in any operation aimed at the conservation of cultural heritage, regardless of whether it involves pieces housed in a building or immovable urban elements. On the other hand, the creation of museums and cultural containers in general remains one of the usual resources in plans for the regeneration and revitalization of depressed and degraded urban areas. 

Donatello. St. George (Copy).Church of Orsanmichele. Florence
 

The need to conserve historic cities implies the development of a process of museumization. However, it should be pointed out that such a process raises concern or fear in relation to these cities loaded with testimonies of the past because of the risk of loss of vitality that it implies. In fact, the massive and uncontrolled presence of visitors can cause imbalances and damage not only to the heritage elements themselves, but also to the resident population, as their daily life and sociability can be altered, just as their Economics can suffer the effects of the progressive increase in the cost of services and urban speculation. It is a question of seeking a balance, bearing in mind that historic cities, with their architectural and environmental values of the past, with their functional values of the present, are more than an economic asset, they are a cultural asset that must be used rationally and socially. 

Seville. Santa Cruz neighborhood