The role of Intangible for Built Heritage Conservation

Starting from the analysis of the affirmation of the importance of the intangible values in the Cultural Heritage debate, this contribution clarifies the potential role of intangible aspects in supporting and orienting built heritage conservation workflows. Focusing on the Cultural Built Heritage, intangible aspects are intended as knowledge, skills, and know-how associated with building construction phases, assembly of materials, building techniques employed, adaptive systems to local weather conditions, spatial design, decorative elements with different functions (pedagogic, symbolic, functional, structural, environmental, etc.), building orientation and localization. Conscious of the elusive nature of the intangible, this contribution prepares the ground to set up strategies for the documentation of intangible aspects associated with built heritage. These issues are faced by considering how intangible aspects affect built heritage conservation from a technical as well as social and economic point of view.