Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development: The Case of Urban Densification

The concept of sustainable development continues to influence urban planning, and one of the strategies planners use to generate sustainable urban growth is the densification of urban districts. Because densification projects often take place in historic environments, however, this model might represent a challenge to the preservation of cultural heritage. With its emphasis on economic, social and environmental concerns, the popular tripartite sustainability model has achieved hegemony. This paper provides a discussion on what may be considered a fourth pillar of sustainability: cultural sustainability. By incorporating concepts from cultural economics, we will draw attention to how cultural heritage represents cultural value and can be considered alongside other sustainability concerns. The cultural value represented by heritage will be illustrated by referencing three ongoing Norwegian urban densification projects. The discussion leads to the conclusion that it is preferable in urban planning strategies to operate with a clear cultural component. This conclusion calls for adding a distinguishable fourth cultural pillar in the sustainability model.