View Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025): Water & Heritage for Sustainable Development
Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025)
Water & Heritage for Sustainable Development
Published: 2025-03-03

challenges, concepts and new approaches

  • Fig. 1 Zenu Ancestral Hydrotechnology, Colombia (Source: Jordi Morató Farreras, 2020).
    Ancient Hydro-Technologies as a Response to Climate and Food Emergencies: Use of Cultural Heritage to Rescue the Future
    Jordi Morató, José Luis Martín, Olga Lucia Sánchez

    The Mediterranean region faces worsening climate challenges, including rising temperatures, water scarcity and ecosystem degradation. Climate projections indicate a temperature increase of up to 6.5°C by 2100, with reduced rainfall and increased evaporation exacerbating water shortages, particularly in agriculture, which consumes 70–80 per cent of the region’s water. Competition for freshwater, declining agricultural productivity, and salinization of coastal aquifers further threaten sustainability. Ancient hydro-technologies—traditional water management systems developed by ancient...

  • Fig.1 Qanats of Bam (Source: S.H. Rashedi, 2014. Nomination File, © S.H. Rashedi, whc.unesco.org/en/documents/141554).
    Qanats: Ancient Innovations Nurturing Sustainable Futures in Water Management
    Vladimiro Andrea Boselli, Massimiliano Borroni, Jalal Kassout, Mhammad Houssni, Athmane Kettouch, Simone Cristoforetti

    The qanat, a timeless testament to human ingenuity, emerged on the arid Persian Plateau around three millennia ago as a sustainable solution to water scarcity. This technique channels water from aquifers using gravity through gently sloping sub-horizontal tunnels, avoiding over-extraction and ensuring a delicate balance between human needs and environmental preservation. By naturally regulating water flow according to aquifer levels, qanats prevent excessive depletion, serving as a model for sustainable water resource management. This study explores the fascinating journey of qanats,...

Announcements

Creating a Vision for Port Cities: Workshop and Field Trips

2025-06-24

We invite professionals—architects, urban planners, municipal officials, port managers, policymakers, and cultural practitioners—to engage with real-world examples and work on their own case studies. Through this, we will explore how to activate heritage as a tool for sustainable urban development, rethink water infrastructure for multifunctional use, and design urban spaces that remain relevant for future generations.

Read more about Creating a Vision for Port Cities: Workshop and Field Trips