PSE.keynote2 | Plenary keynote 2: Heritage as Opportunity: Learning from the Past for Sustainable Futures by Carola Hein
Plenary keynote 2: Heritage as Opportunity: Learning from the Past for Sustainable Futures by Carola Hein
Conveners: Gert-Jan Steeneveld, Marjolein van Esch
Wed, 09 Jul, 10:00–10:30 (CEST)|Room Rotterdam 1+2
Wed, 10:00
At a time of climate change, it is urgent to rethink the relationship of residents and built heritage with rivers, seas, and other water bodies. How we live with the environment, and notably water, has always been a result of technology, lifestyles, and historical and cultural values. Many historic societies have thrived by focusing on shared values of water use, including nature-positive approaches. Yet, many historic structures and practices have become stumbling stones for sustainable development. The histories we write, the designs we make and the heritage we value for living with water today and in the future require attention.

Growing citizen interest in water and water activities challenges paradigms of the modern, industrial past and invites for close study of historic, nature-based solutions, better protection of heritage, and the design of sustainable futures. Recent developments in Amsterdam and Paris exemplify ways of designing the future based on long-term, value case approaches towards climate resilience. The future of Amsterdam’s quaywalls in line with contemporary requirements for logistics, climate adaptation and biodiversity challenges the maintenance and restoration of historic quaywalls and bridges. The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics activated historical relationships of the city with the river including a rethinking of the Seine as swimmable river and heart of the city

To build for the future and to preserve the heritage of the past necessitates attention to ecosystemic approaches and nature positive solutions connecting multiple water uses, as well as capacity building for advanced understanding renewed negotiation among different stakeholders.

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