Democratic evaluation of architectural heritage restoration and conservation projects

ABSTRACT The paper is about what kind of evaluation is more suitable for the architectural heritage conservation-restoration projects. Adopting a theoretical-methodological approach, the paper specifically deals with the problem of the complexity of both the concept of architectural heritage and the decision-making of conservation-restoration project, and with the effects it has on the evaluation process. The author argues that the traditional technical-operative approach (efficient and effective use of resources) should be abandoned and replaced by a holistic and strategic one supporting the use of democratic evaluation, which: is based on justifiable and acceptable reasoning, is able to consider the multiplicity of the values and the involved actors’ viewpoints, considers preferences' dependence on the development of the deliberation process, and fosters the redefinition of the problems and the invention of new shared solutions.