Knowledge transfer in sustainable management of heritage buildings. Case of Lithuania and Cyprus

Abstract

The article focuses on sociocultural, socioeconomic and environmental sustainability dimensions with respect to heritage buildings and built heritage management knowledge transfer between two European countries – Lithuania and Cyprus. These countries had joined European Union in 2004 and since then had achieved some advancements in implementing the policies of sustainability and sustainable heritage management. The aim of this research was to demonstrate the possible knowledge transfer fields related to heritage and the body of knowledge that can be transferred from Lithuania to Cyprus and vice versa resulting in the positive heritage buildings management innovations. The methods of research included the analysis of literature, the empirical research in heritage objects, and the descriptive analysis of obtained data and selected cases as a form of narrative knowledge transfer. The results of the analysis have demonstrated that balanced country-to-country knowledge transfer can give stimulus to positive heritage buildings management innovations including re-functioning of heritage buildings, the attention to users’ comfort in historic structures and low-cost heritage actualisation initiatives.