Whispers of Time: Heritage as Narratives Of Climate-Change
Lead Research Organisation:
Durham University
Department Name: Engineering
Abstract
In the face of escalating climate crises, exemplified by devastating wildfires in Greece and Italy, a severe heat wave in India, and ash-covered New York from Canadian forest fires, scientists warn of accelerated risks. The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) may collapse earlier than anticipated, signalling profound shifts in climate patterns (IPCC 2022). This reinforces the urgent recognition of climate change as the paramount threat to humanity and cultural heritage (ICOMOS 2021).
By 2050, climate change is predicted to significantly impact both natural (Stocker et al., 2014) and historically built environments (UNEP, 2016). Despite this, the understanding of physical environmental risks to cultural heritage remains incomplete, hindering the development of effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. UNESCO defines cultural heritage comprehensively, encompassing tangible, natural, and intangible elements. The WRENCH project builds upon this definition, conceiving heritage as a complex interplay of material and immaterial legacies within landscapes and the narratives woven around them.
WRENCH challenges the separation of material and immaterial aspects, emphasizing their dialectic and performative interconnectedness. Whether embodied in a colossal dam, as seen in the Vajont Dam Disaster (1963), or in the narratives of modernization etched into landscapes, material structures and stories are inseparable. The project contends that storytelling, through established arts, texts, or experimental practices, holds equal cultural significance to traditional monuments. The transient heritage of cityscapes, streets, and buildings, imbued with the narratives we craft, is as vital as tangible structures like churches.
WRENCH pursues a dual objective: (a) to formulate a transdisciplinary methodology uniting environmental sciences, engineering, and humanities to assess the impact of climate change on both material and immaterial heritage and (b) to leverage heritage as a storytelling tool, rendering climate change risks visible and enhancing public awareness.
The transdisciplinary methodology of WRENCH encompasses several key components:
(1) Advanced Climate Modelling: Utilizing state-of-the-art climate models for data analysis, extracting historical data, and projecting future hydrometeorological variables.
(2) Physical Testing and Structural Modelling: Investigating the impact of extreme environmental conditions on historical materials and structures through in-situ physical testing, rheological model development, and advanced structural modelling.
(3) Immaterial Heritage Assessment: Employing historical methodologies, including archival research, oral history, and audiovisual materials, alongside participatory research involving local communities.
(4) Holistic Framework Development: Creating a comprehensive framework for evaluating the effects of climate change on cultural heritage.
Through this multifaceted approach, WRENCH aims to deepen our understanding of climate change's repercussions on heritage while utilizing storytelling as a potent means to communicate and foster awareness.
By 2050, climate change is predicted to significantly impact both natural (Stocker et al., 2014) and historically built environments (UNEP, 2016). Despite this, the understanding of physical environmental risks to cultural heritage remains incomplete, hindering the development of effective adaptation and mitigation strategies. UNESCO defines cultural heritage comprehensively, encompassing tangible, natural, and intangible elements. The WRENCH project builds upon this definition, conceiving heritage as a complex interplay of material and immaterial legacies within landscapes and the narratives woven around them.
WRENCH challenges the separation of material and immaterial aspects, emphasizing their dialectic and performative interconnectedness. Whether embodied in a colossal dam, as seen in the Vajont Dam Disaster (1963), or in the narratives of modernization etched into landscapes, material structures and stories are inseparable. The project contends that storytelling, through established arts, texts, or experimental practices, holds equal cultural significance to traditional monuments. The transient heritage of cityscapes, streets, and buildings, imbued with the narratives we craft, is as vital as tangible structures like churches.
WRENCH pursues a dual objective: (a) to formulate a transdisciplinary methodology uniting environmental sciences, engineering, and humanities to assess the impact of climate change on both material and immaterial heritage and (b) to leverage heritage as a storytelling tool, rendering climate change risks visible and enhancing public awareness.
The transdisciplinary methodology of WRENCH encompasses several key components:
(1) Advanced Climate Modelling: Utilizing state-of-the-art climate models for data analysis, extracting historical data, and projecting future hydrometeorological variables.
(2) Physical Testing and Structural Modelling: Investigating the impact of extreme environmental conditions on historical materials and structures through in-situ physical testing, rheological model development, and advanced structural modelling.
(3) Immaterial Heritage Assessment: Employing historical methodologies, including archival research, oral history, and audiovisual materials, alongside participatory research involving local communities.
(4) Holistic Framework Development: Creating a comprehensive framework for evaluating the effects of climate change on cultural heritage.
Through this multifaceted approach, WRENCH aims to deepen our understanding of climate change's repercussions on heritage while utilizing storytelling as a potent means to communicate and foster awareness.
Description | Belmont Forum Climate & Cultural Heritage (CCH 2023 CRA): Collaborative Research to Address Urgent Challenges |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Ashraf Osman and Marco Armiero attended the Belmont forum meeting on "Collaborative Research to Address Urgent Challenges" in Climate and Cultural heritage in Helsinki 10-11 June 2024. The meetings have discussed the challenges that resulted from climate change on cultural heritage. The meeting also discussed forming future Belmont Forum funding agenda. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | First focus group for the construction of the Community Plan and People Guide |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The workshop aimed to initiate a community-based planning process within the framework of the WRENCH project, involving a group of people mobilised for the regeneration and reuse of the Former Military Hospital in Naples, one of the WRENCH pilot cases. The workshop was held on-site and was structured in two parts: an introductory segment and an interactive session. At the beginning, Professor Marco Armiero introduced the project to the participants. Following this, an activity was launched to test the protocol for the "Community Plan and People's Guide for taking care of the living heritage, in the face of climate change" (draft attached). This protocol will be further developed and applied in all WRENCH case studies. During the workshop, participants were asked to produce brief written statements, sharing stories and ideas about the future of the neighbourhood and the building. We collected 28 statements for the neighbourhood and 16 for the building. All 13 participants expressed their willingness to continue with the co-production of the plan. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
Description | Hidden Heritage Workshop, Durham 25-26 July |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Professor Ashraf Osman delivered a talk on a workshop organised by the Hidden Heritage AHRC Research Network, Durham, 25-26 July, attended by 32 participants from various cultural heritage sectors. The focus of the workshop is on "Archaeology, Investigation, Conservation". The talk has sparked discussion and interest for further collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
Description | Living heritage as a strategic means for public engagement across disciplines |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Giusy Pappalardo, Marco Armiero and Samuele Andreoni delivered talks at the "First Strategic Conferences of the iHC", UAB, Barcelona, Spain on 5 February 2025 on "Living heritage as a strategic means for public engagement across disciplines". The talk attracted 20 attendees and sparked discussion and interest for collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
URL | https://www.uab.cat/web/news/detall-noticia/primeres-jornades-estrategiques-de-l-ihc-1345831799542.h... |
Description | WRENCH website |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The website features a Homepage with a general description of the project and a News section. It is organized into eight additional sections. About Us: This section provides information about the consortium and includes brief bios of the researchers and non-academic partners involved in the project. WRENCH Network (under construction): This section will host information about organizations or individuals interested in or involved with the project, beyond the consortium. Living Heritage Platform (under construction): This section will feature an interactive map of WRENCH case studies, with descriptions of each case, links to a YouTube channel containing multimedia materials, and a platform for sharing materials and facilitating interactions among participants. Videodictionary: A section dedicated to key concepts related to the project, explained by scholars in short videos. Survey: This section will include a link to the project's survey and disseminate its results. Articles and Conference Contributions: A section hosting articles, conference papers, and other published work related to the project. Deliverables: The section of the website where the project deliverables, in the form of PDFs, will be published and made accessible. Contact us: It allows audiences to get in touch with the project team via email. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
URL | https://webs.uab.cat/wrench/ |