ABSTRACT

The changing nature of heritage over recent decades has stimulated a focus on intangible heritage – the understanding of which specifically from within the UK built heritage paradigm remains inconclusive. This is problematic when considering developments in policy and practice that demonstrate a steady dismantling of a material focus. To gain sector-specific insight into how the intangible heritage of buildings is conceptualised, a series of 16 semi-structured interviews were conducted with built heritage professionals. Data were collated into eight themes (stories; history; events; memory; use; discord; craft; emotion) and an explanatory model developed, revealing the understanding of intangible heritage as a collection of ‘narratives’ that contribute towards an overarching building ‘story’. Both ‘buildings’ and ‘people’ were acknowledged as co-authors of this story; however, professionals did not acknowledge their own role within the storytelling process. This downplays their role as curator of heritage, as well as their personal experiences that inevitably shape the storytelling process. Findings suggest built heritage practice should be reconceptualised as a storytelling activity. This will offer greater opportunities for intangible heritage to be consolidated within the built heritage paradigm, by encouraging professionals to see themselves as narrators of intangible heritage as well as custodians of physical heritage.

摘要

近几十年来，遗产性质的不断变化激发了人们对非物质遗产的关注-特别是从英国建造的遗产范式中对非物质遗产的理解尚无定论。当考虑到政策和实践的发展表明已逐渐取消实质性重点时，这是有问题的。为了获得特定部门对建筑物非物质遗产的概念化了解，对已建成的遗产专业人士进行了16次半结构化访谈。数据被整理成八个主题（故事；历史；事件；记忆；使用；不和谐；工艺；情感），并开发了一个解释模型，揭示了对非物质遗产的理解，这些非物质遗产是对构成整个建筑“故事”的“叙述”的集合'。“建筑”和“人民”都是这个故事的共同作者。但是，专业人士并没有承认他们在讲故事的过程中所扮演的角色。这淡化了他们作为遗产策展人的角色，以及不可避免地影响着故事叙述过程的个人经历。调查结果表明，应将传统建筑实践作为讲故事的活动来重新概念化。通过鼓励专业人士将自己视为非物质遗产的叙述者和自然遗产的保管人，这将为非物质遗产整合到已建成的遗产范式中提供更大的机会。以及他们不可避免地影响故事叙述过程的个人经历。调查结果表明，应将传统建筑实践作为讲故事的活动来重新概念化。通过鼓励专业人士将自己视为非物质遗产的叙述者和自然遗产的保管人，这将为非物质遗产整合到已建成的遗产范式中提供更大的机会。以及他们不可避免地影响故事叙述过程的个人经历。调查结果表明，应将传统建筑实践作为讲故事的活动来重新概念化。通过鼓励专业人士将自己视为非物质遗产的叙述者和自然遗产的保管人，这将为非物质遗产整合到已建成的遗产范式中提供更大的机会。