CFP “HERITAGE ENTREPRENEURS” PRIVATE DEVELOPERS IN URBAN HERITAGE CONTEXTS AND ECOSYSTEMS - DL 31 MAY
Respatrimoni Network
CALL FOR PAPERS
“HERITAGE ENTREPRENEURS” PRIVATE DEVELOPERS IN URBAN HERITAGE CONTEXTS AND ECOSYSTEMS PARIS,
12-13 NOVEMBER 2026 organised by EIREST, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University in cooperation with ESPI Bordeaux & Université Laval (Québec)
SUBMISSION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 31 MAY 2026
Keynote speakers
María García Hernández Professor of Human Geography Complutense University of Madrid
&
Davide Ponzini Professor of Urban Planning Polytechnic University of Milan
The main objective of this conference, which specifically focuses on the role of private actors in heritage urban contexts (UNESCO World Heritage sites, conservation areas, historic centres, etc.), is to explore the relationships and dynamics established between “heritage entrepreneurs” and other urban stakeholders in diverse heritage contexts as a means to shed light on how these combined actions produce heritage today. We invite proposals which align with the following themes:
● Urban stakeholders’ relations and ecosystems, their impacts on tangible and intangible heritage (Guinand 2015, 2021) and their contribution to the revitalisation and sustainability of historic city centres (Berthold 2012, 2018; Scaffidi et al., 2025).
● Profiles of “heritage entrepreneurs” and rehabilitation practices – professional attributes, specialised expertise and operational characteristics – defining the capacities and market positioning of real estate developers within urban heritage contexts.
● Case studies of heritage revitalisation – understood also as the adaptive reuse of what is “already there” – emerging as a potential resource for advancing sustainability objectives (Nijkamp & Riganti, 2008), tackling urban sprawl (Baarveld et al., 2013), as well as offering a means to address housing shortages and affordable housing (Boukezzoula, 2023).
● Theoretical explorations of reinterpretation, extension or scaling up of the concept of heritage historically (Oláh, 2025) and currently. This theme seeks to critically examine heritage interpretations in neoliberal urban contexts by offering insights and deciphering concepts such as the “neoliberal city” (Morel Journel & Pinson, 2017; Peck, 2010), “speculative urbanism” (Leitner & Sheppard, 2023) and else.
● Analysis of discourses and actions of real estate developers in heritage contexts and new forms of negotiation between use, exchange and sustainability (Peck & Theodor, 2015). Extending beyond academic inquiry, the conference also seeks to gather contributions that will inform localised and practical policy recommendations, providing territorial decision making support for urban heritage contexts (Berthold, 2011).
More on the call
Final conference | « Entrepreneurs du patrimoine »
Context
This conference marks the end of the project “Heritage Entrepreneurs: mechanisms, instruments and sustainability of heritage redevelopment projects in Bordeaux and Quebec City” (HerEntrep), which seeks to explore how for and not for profit actors intervene in protected urban heritage contexts, interact with multiple stakeholders, balance heritage preservation with sustainable development and economic considerations while also contributing to adaptive reuse.
You can find more information about the project and its activities on the project’s website: À propos | « Entrepreneurs du patrimoine »
How to submit your contribution
Please submit your abstract (between 2000 and 3000 characters, including spaces), along with a biographical note (max. 100 words) and your contact information (email, affiliation) via email to herentrep-...@univ-paris1.fr.