Balancing tradition and innovation : a holistic evaluation framework for built heritage resilient retrofits : Glasgow case study
Kotikova, Sofia (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025110226874
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025110226874
Tiivistelmä
This study develops and validates an integrated evaluation method for climate-resilient refurbishments of historic buildings, overcoming the challenge of environmental performance versus heritage conservation in wet, temperate climates. Glasgow serves as a case study. The study integrates environmental science, heritage conservation principles, and socio-economic considerations into a rational decision-making system.
It comprises a four-stage process. Stage one is the systematic literature review (SALSA with PRISMA-S) on heritage resilience, retrofitting solution, adaptation frameworks, extraction of performance indicators, and knowledge gaps. Stage two, informed by expert consultations, works towards an interdisciplinary evaluation framework, integrating tangible performance metrics (energy efficiency, structural resilience) with intangible heritage values (authenticity, social equity). Third, the comparative assessment matrix evaluates selected retrofit measures against nineteen indicators across four categories: heritage value, environmental and climate resilience, socio-cultural influence, and economic sustainability. Finally, the framework is applied to Glasgow building typologies, operationalising its use in a humid-northern climate environment.
The results show that heritage-sensitive, low-intervention options like sacrificial coatings, enhanced drainage, and targeted vegetation management were highly ranked for heritage consistency and cost-effectiveness but lower on mass energy performance gains. Conversely, deep fabric interventions (like innovative glazing, internal insulation) were high on environmental gain but require careful mitigation to avoid compromising heritage values. The outcomes confirm that no single solution ranks highly across all criteria; instead, optimal approaches emerge from complementary combination of methods tailored to different building types and stakeholder interests.
Application of the framework demonstrated that it offers a method for structuring multidisciplinary input, clarifying trade-offs, and supporting context-dependent decision making. The framework offers a reproducible model for other wet-climate heritage contexts, enabling stronger integration of climate adaptation into conservation practice.
It comprises a four-stage process. Stage one is the systematic literature review (SALSA with PRISMA-S) on heritage resilience, retrofitting solution, adaptation frameworks, extraction of performance indicators, and knowledge gaps. Stage two, informed by expert consultations, works towards an interdisciplinary evaluation framework, integrating tangible performance metrics (energy efficiency, structural resilience) with intangible heritage values (authenticity, social equity). Third, the comparative assessment matrix evaluates selected retrofit measures against nineteen indicators across four categories: heritage value, environmental and climate resilience, socio-cultural influence, and economic sustainability. Finally, the framework is applied to Glasgow building typologies, operationalising its use in a humid-northern climate environment.
The results show that heritage-sensitive, low-intervention options like sacrificial coatings, enhanced drainage, and targeted vegetation management were highly ranked for heritage consistency and cost-effectiveness but lower on mass energy performance gains. Conversely, deep fabric interventions (like innovative glazing, internal insulation) were high on environmental gain but require careful mitigation to avoid compromising heritage values. The outcomes confirm that no single solution ranks highly across all criteria; instead, optimal approaches emerge from complementary combination of methods tailored to different building types and stakeholder interests.
Application of the framework demonstrated that it offers a method for structuring multidisciplinary input, clarifying trade-offs, and supporting context-dependent decision making. The framework offers a reproducible model for other wet-climate heritage contexts, enabling stronger integration of climate adaptation into conservation practice.