Reviving Heritage: Integrating Adaptive Reuse in the Framework of Ecomuseums

Abstract

Ecomuseums serve as community-driven, place-based institutions that integrate tangible and intangible heritage with environmental stewardship. This open concept positions heritage not as a static artefact but as a living system shaped through local participation, cultural continuity, and ecological responsibility. Yet, rapid urbanisation and shifting societal demands have rendered many heritage buildings to disuse, neglect and eventual demolition. Conventional conservation practices struggle to keep these sites socially relevant or environmentally sustainable, leading towards the erosion of the cultural landscape. This study aims to (1) investigate how adaptive reuse can revitalise heritage structures, (2) examine the capacity of Ecomuseums to foster community participation and environmental education, and (3) identify sustainable conservation practices that emerge from integrating adaptive reuse within Ecomuseum frameworks. Using a document analysis approach, the research reviews literature and archival documents to enable a critical synthesis of theoretical perspectives, practical examples, and sustainability principles relevant to heritage conservation. The analysis reveals that adaptive reuse significantly enhances the lifecycle and social relevance of historic buildings. At the same time, Ecomuseums provide participatory platforms that deepen community engagement and environmental awareness, underscoring that integrating both approaches supports sustainable conservation. The findings highlight the importance of community-centred heritage strategies and the need for design innovations that navigate the complexities of historical integrity and present-day use. Building on these insights, future studies may develop a comprehensive framework toolkit to assist architects, planners, and policymakers in operationalising adaptive reuse within Ecomuseum models across diverse cultural and geographical contexts.