The Intangible Dimension of Urban Heritage

Rohit Jigyasu s essay on The Intangible Dimension of Urban Heritage discusses the nature of the intangible values in historic environments and the process of their representation (or not) and preservation. Furthermore, he looks, through the lens of some selected case studies in Asia, at the ways in which intangible values are associated to planning and management processes, and considers the tools that can be used and developed to identify and assess the impact on intangible heritage values. Two contributions enrich this discussion. An interview with Lisa Prosper, an indigenous peoples intellectual leader, offers insights on the role of intangible values as expressions of local identity. A case study by Feng Han presents the philosophical and cultural basis for the interpretation of Nature in the Chinese tradition that informs directly urban planning and design.