The thesis

Fields:
Preservation
Urban cultural development

Problem:
Preservation of cultural heritage is mostly done through preservation of physical objects, as intangible culture is obviously more difficult to preserve. According to UNESCO’s ‘Safeguarding Heritage’-statement (2003) the preservation of cultural heritage must include both tangible and intangible values. One of the problems concerning neighbourhood preservation is to document those intangible values, which strengthen the community’s sense of belonging to their physical surroundings.

Can virtuality be used to map and document intangible values? And how?

Purpose:
The answer to this can help develop the work with preservation and provide a concrete suggestion to how virtuality can play a role in this work.

Formulation of problem:
We will examine how virtual representation of a specific New York neighbourhood can map and document its tangible and intangible culture, in ways that create value to the neighbourhood community.