HeritageCARE: Preventive conservation of built cultural heritage in the south-west Europe

Currently, no systematic policy for the preventive conservation of built cultural heritage exists in South-West Europe. Existing approaches for inspection, diagnosis, monitoring and curative conservation are normally intermittent, unplanned, overpriced and lacking in methodical strategy. The available financial resources are scarce and they are mostly addressed to listed buildings. Besides, owners often conceal an inborn reluctance to invest in preventive conservation and maintenance programs. In the light of these considerations, the HeritageCARE project has recently been launched with the purpose of unfolding an integrated and sustainable strategy for the preventive conservation of built cultural heritage within South-West Europe. This project involves 3 Countries (Portugal, Spain and France), 8 beneficiary partners and 11 associated partners. The main aim of the paper is to present the key aspects of the project, its objectives and challenges, and to outline the multilevel methodology that will be implemented and validated through 60 case-study structures.