Urban World Heritage sites are at the heart of a debate on heritage authenticity, posing conceptual and practical challenges to the global architectural community. How might dynamic historic city centres evolve into the new millennium while preserving the historic qualities which underpin their World Heritage inscriptions?

Ever at risk from museification and bad pastiche, these living, breathing urban entities effectuate a complex traversal between the old and the new at each architectural intervention within their boundaries. This critical post-historical condition calls for a discussion on the meaning and significance of its architectural heritage in respect of new architectural interventions.

Through the lens of World Heritage ‘authenticity’, the naoh initiative explores the constructive translation of heritage values into architectural realities, through conservation and contemporary architecture.

© James D. White, 2012