Cultural built heritage and intervention criteria: A systematic analysis of building codes and legislation of Southern European countries

Abstract Several scholars have recently pointed out difficulties when intervening on old and historical buildings due to the inadequacy and incompatibility of actual codes’ requirements in relation to the particular constructive, architectural and material characteristics of built heritage. As a result, this study aims identifying criteria to support a holistic methodology that assures maximum preservation of built heritage through minimum, but sustained interventions. In particular, it aims identifying heritage categories and values, as well as measures and levels of intervention through a systematic analysis of the codes and standards involving protection, conservation, rehabilitation and control of interventions on built heritage of three Southern European countries with similar cultural approaches: Italy, Spain and Portugal. The wide reflection and comparison of these documents allows discussing and pointing out different (and common) approaches and criteria; in particular, it underlines the need for inventorying and cataloguing methodologies and procedures.