Title

Author(s)

Mirko Romagnoli

Affiliation

Università degli Studi di Firenze

DOI

https://doi.org/10.65686/ANZM6357

Keywords

Adaptive Reuse, Colonial Heritage, Karachi

PP

824-830

How to Cite

Romagnoli, Mirko. “Accessibility and Conservation in Historic Gardens The Accessibility Plan for the Boboli Garden.” In Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptive Reuse. Volume 1, edited by Andrea Crudeli, Francesca Molle, and Emanuele Carrai, 824–830. Firenze: STH Press, 2026.

Abstract

Accessibility to cultural heritage is currently one of the primary challenges for policies concerning the protection and enhancement of historic landscapes. In monumental historic gardens, which embody significant historical, symbolic, and landscape values, accessibility cannot be addressed solely through regulatory frameworks or standardized technical solutions; rather, it necessitates an integrated approach that reconciles conservation and use. Although, the relationship between accessibility and conservation in cultural heritage has often been framed as oppositional, with access measures perceived as potential threats to authenticity. This paper challenges such a dichotomy, arguing that accessibility and conservation are complementary aspects of heritage management. Contemporary international frameworks, including ICOMOS, UNESCO, and the Council of Europe, increasingly recognize human rights and user diversity as core principles, emphasizing that cultural heritage acquires value only if it is experienced and interpreted by all. Historic gardens, in particular, present unique challenges due to their spatial complexity, ecological dynamics, and historical layering, where physical, perceptual, and cognitive barriers coexist. This paper presents the Accessibility Plan for the Boboli Garden as a pilot initiative aimed at overcoming the assumed conflict between accessibility and heritage preservation in historic garden. The Plan advances an interdisciplinary and incremental conception of accessibility, understood not merely as the removal of architectural barriers, but as a cultural strategy designed to ensure that diverse audiences can engage with the meanings, content, and values of the historic landscape. The Boboli experience is framed as a methodological laboratory, offering a transferable model for other historic gardens.

Edited by
Andrea Crudeli
Francesca Molle
Emanuele Carrai

Publisher
STH Press, Firenze

ISBN Paperback – 9791281661141
ISBN Ebook – 9791281661158
DOI – https://doi.org/10.65686/SISY7263

Year
2026

Proceedings of
International Conference on Adaptive Reuse
hosted by The University of Pisa, Italy
15-19 September 2025, at the Gispoteca di Arte Antica dell’Università di Pisa.