Introduction

This chapter explores the way in which the conservation of built heritage and cultural landscapes is conflicted and the form in which a human-centered, emancipated conservation practice might take, and the ways in which this goal can be put into practice using evidence. Built heritage conservation decisions are, not based on rigorous, methodologically sound research, but rather archaic techniques that are undemocratic and potentially oppressive in their application. The rules and regulations that dictate the work of heritage conservation practitioners in the United States are based on rationalistic preservation/conservation doctrine and not empirical evidence. Changing the system of built heritage conservation is instead a political process that requires the creation and modification of laws, rules, and regulations. At the core of evidence-based design is a desire to understand the relationship between people, place, and behavior. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.