Matthias Ripp

Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus - Senftenberg | BTU

The heritage community has long faced difficulties with the theoretical as well as practical challenges of managing continuity on the scale of historic cities. Identifying individual components of the architectural heritage and selected areas for a variety of levels of conservation, from the benign to the interventionist, has largely proved to be t...

On the urban level, cultural heritage frequently is integrated into a DRM processes at a very late stage, if at all. Most often, the narration is that cultural heritage is an object and it only needs to be protected and preserved. It was the intention of this workshop to open up this notion and embrace also the qualities that (urban) cultural herit...

Full List of Publications till January 2023

Dear Colleagues, We would like to inform you that a Call for Book Chapter to the "Geographies of the Anthropocene" book series for the volume titled: Climate change related urban transformation and the role of cultural heritage (Language: English), edited by Matthias Ripp (Organisation of World Heritage Cities, Regensburg) and Christer Gustafsson (...

A metamodel for heritage-based urban development used to evaluate a urban renewal case in the City of Bamberg.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential transfer of a metamodel for heritage-based urban development (HBUD) in a postcrisis urban recovery scenario. After an introduction to the field of cultural heritage as a resource for urban development, the research question is elaborated, and the current understanding of urban heritage is explor...

The Introduction to the book “50 Years World Heritage Convention: Shared Responsibility – Conflict & Reconciliation” sets the stage by presenting the key message, background and content of the book. The identity-building function of heritage and its sustainable protection assume a central role. Accordingly, the chapter provides an overview of polic...

The chapter “Outlook” brings together the main messages of this book; formulates concluding comments and reflects on the way forward. Out of the many conflicts affecting World Heritage, the chapter highlights some, which appear as obstacles that must be overcome for a sustainable protection. The unequal geographical distribution of World Heritage p...

To build the Metamodel, specific epistemologies were used, and terminology had to be developed that could adequately represent the diverse elements. This chapter first explains the chosen epistemologies and elaborates how they informed different parts of the research design in Sect. 6.1. The common element between the research methods and metamodel...

The following chapter describes the Metamodel, including its different visualizations and five different phases. The chapter first provides an overview of the Metamodel elements in Sect. 8.1. Then, in Sect. 8.2, the five phases of the Metamodel are introduced, along with their conception in the spiral form. The chapter then dedicates a subsection t...

This chapter establishes the proposed solution for the research problem and then expands upon how this solution informed the research design and process. First, Sect. 5.1 elaborates how the development of a metamodel can be used in different scenarios as a proposed solution to the presented problem. The chosen research design, mixed-methods, is des...

The Metamodel can be applied in different scenarios and for different purposes. The most relevant scenarios are explained in this chapter. The general and specific use of the Metamodel is described, and the role of each phase of the Metamodel corresponding to each scenario is elaborated together with a brief comparison to alternative approaches. An...

Starting from concepts of cultural heritage and urban development and their relevance, this chapter outlines the scientific background of this research. How concepts of cultural heritage have changed over time is discussed in Sect. 3.1, before considering how cultural and urban heritage are linked and their relevance to this research work in Sect....

The main problem that this work aims to address is that there is no universal method to use urban heritage as a resource for development. This chapter sets out the foundations of this research: the identified problem, hypothesis, and research questions. Setting the context of the established problem, Sect. 2.1 explores the potential benefits of urb...

This chapter examines the scientific theories that form the background of the research approach and explains how the proposed research design integrates these theories. This chapter first explores some theories that encourage understanding the city as a system in Sect. 4.1 before specifically examining metamodeling theory (Sect. 4.2), the theory of...

Grounded theory has been used as a qualitative empirical method to develop the elements of the Metamodel. Design research methodology was used to develop the Metamodel based on the Metamodel elements. In this chapter, the research methods are described and applied. This chapter is split into two Sects. 7.1 and 7.2, reflecting the methods used.

The major findings of this research are recapitulated, and a general resume of the selected approach is elaborated in the following section.

This chapter demonstrates the artefact in one specific environment and evaluates whether it works or needs to be further adapted. The real-world example that is used is the UNESCO World Heritage City Old town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof. Through simulation, the abstract representations of the Metamodel are related to existing Entities. The object...

Der Artikel behandelt Dimensionen und Beispiele wie urbanes Kulturerbe zu Resilienz beiträgt.n

Die Grenzen zwischen Besucher*innenzentren und Museen waren nie völlig trennscharf auszumachen, doch heute werden sie zunehmend verwischt. Digitale Angebote, Besucher*innenbeteiligung und Partizipation sind Trends, die in beiden Institutionen Einzug halten (vgl. Ripp, Runnel & Stauber). Besucher*innenzentren mit ihrer größeren Flexibilität (aufgrun...

In den letzten Jahrzehnten sind Besucher*innenzentren entstanden, in denen kulturelles Erbe vermittelt wird. Da sich Besucher*innenzentren zu vielseitigen Einrichtungen entwickelt haben, in denen eine unabhängige Interpretation des Natur- oder Kulturerbes und die Vermittlung von Wissen angeboten wird, wurde die Grenze zwischen Besucher*innenzentren...

Cities are constantly changing. Today, policy makers all over the world are discussing how to create the conditions for developing green, healthy and safe cities where people meet and innovations are created. There is a great need to change to a climate-smart society with people at the centre. Urban cultural heritage is also constantly changing; ho...

The management of World Heritage Cities and sites is a challenging task. Getting visitor flows and the enormous traffic under control and implementing urban development projects in ways that preserve the integrity and authenticity of cultural heritage requires a high level of expertise, backed by the support of civil society and politics. This book...

Full list of publications up till 2022

Work experience, skills, projects and selected publications.

The persistence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus imposed vaccination passports for traveling in most countries. We investigated psychological factors that predict the intention to vaccinate for travel. In a cross-sectional study, we examined how demographic variables, vaccination status, perceived risk of infection and severity of disease contracted at trav...

The starting point of this dissertation was the fact that it is scientifically proven that Cultural Heritage is a potential resource for Urban Development. International Organisations like UN-Habitat , or the European Commission have been following this conclusion and published policies and programmes where Heritage has been put at the centre of ur...

Drawing conclusions from successful projects that have used urban heritage as a starting point for regeneration and development, this article develops a set of “success-factors” that can be transferred to other cities.

Resilienz als Konzept zum Schutz vor und zum Umgang mit Krisen. Welterbestätten sind weltweit einzigartige Orte und Bauwerke der Menschheitsgeschichte sowie einmalige Naturlandschaften. Die UNESCO hat es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht, diese für die Zukunft zu bewahren. Dabei spielt die Vermittlung der Welterbe-Idee eine ebenso bedeutende Rolle wie der...

This article explores how heritage-based urban regeneration can be used as a resource to stimulate urban resilience and develops a set of principles to enable this.

The major findings of the thesis will be recapitulated and a general resume of the selected approach will be elaborated. To access the full document you can access it by distance lending through BTU Cottbus

“Rediscover, expose and exploit the concealed Jewish heritage of the Danube Region” is the title of the three-year INTERREG REDISCOVER project, of which the present handbook is the condensed result. Heritage is experiencing a renaissance during the last decades, not only in its classical sense but the popularity of “vintage” designs is also almost...

“Rediscover, expose and exploit the concealed Jewish heritage of the Danube Region” is the title of the three-year INTERREG REDISCOVER project, of which the present handbook is the condensed result. Heritage is experiencing a renaissance during the last decades, not only in its classical sense but the popularity of “vintage” designs is also almost...

Wenn diese Pressemitteilung nicht richtig angezeigt wird, klicken Sie bitte hier. Wir würden uns freuen, Sie auch auf Facebook über unser Programm zu aktuellen Themen informieren zu dürfen. Aktuelle Neuerscheinung: Kurt Luger / Matthias Ripp (Eds.): World Heritage, Place Making and Sustainable Tourism Kurt Luger/Matthias Ripp (Eds.) World Heritage,...

World Heritage Cities (WHCs) can be understood as systems that are part of a greater whole representing complex and constantly transforming modern societies. These systems and subsystems are where the heritage sector dynamically interrelates with transportation, tourism, the wide field of culture with its own intercultural di- mensions, migration,...

https://europa.eu/europass/eportfolio/api/eprofile/shared-profile/ 9d634cbb-4e66-426c-90b5-2b1fc7120658?view=html https://europa.eu/europass/eportfolio/api/eprofile/shared-profile/ 9d634cbb-4e66-426c-90b5-2b1fc7120658?view=html

We see the key leadership role in securing more sustainable cultural tourism as falling, in large part, to historic towns and heritage cities…. These guidelines show how decision makers can assess their current approach and begin to scope a clear plan of action for a better, more sustainable and resilient future. The Covid 19 pandemic presents them...

Coordinating holistic heritage approaches, current challenges, historic urban landscapes, and local communities How urban heritage is perceived has changed significantly over the past years, and so too has the role of local communities. A more systemic and holistic understanding of urban heritage has been gaining favour as urban heritage sites face...

The article describes how the managementplan of the city of Regensburg has addressed and integrated climate change prevention and adaptation strategies and activities to enhance the urban resilience with heritage-based urban development.

The Organisation of World Heritage Cities just published a position paper - based on the work of the Working Group for UNESCO World Heritage Cities of the German Association of Cities. In contrast to many valuable international charters, recommendations and likewise, this report has been prepared by heritage officers from heritage cities and thus r...

Das vorliegende Bildungsportfolio soll Lehrern, Eltern, Schülern, Jugendgruppen und Organisationen, Bildungsträgern und Interessierten gleichermaßen als Anregung dienen, und sie ermutigen, mit uns Kontakt aufzunehmen. Wir können Sie auf unterschiedliche Art und Weise unterstützen und würden uns sehr freuen, wenn wir noch viele Kinder und Jugendlich...

Published work till 2021

Introducing the Position Paper

Explaining the differences between Visitor Centers and Museums

Identifying the success factors of visitor centres on the Example in Regensburg

The Danube and Heritage-based Urban Development1 The city of Regensburg was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006. The process of urban regeneration and a dynamic urban development started long before and was based on an inventory of the historic building stock. The direction for the upcoming years was set in the year 2012 with the pa...

Das Management von Welterbestätten unterliegt den hohen Anforderungen der UNESCO. Städte mit UNESCO-Welterbestätten stehen daher vor besonderen Herausforderungen und müssen erhebliche Anpassungsleistungen erbringen. Mit dem Welterbe sind aber auch gro-ße Chancen verbunden – und davon können auch andere Städte profitieren! Das vorliegende Papier des...

The City of Regensburg was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006. Long before, the process of urban regeneration and a dynamic urban development had already started and was based on an inventory of the historic building stock. With the participatory elaboration of an integrated heritage management plan, the direction for the upcoming...

Zur Rolle von Archiven im Rahmen von historischen Stadtlandschaften

The City of Regensburg was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2006. Long before, the process of urban regeneration and a dynamic urban development had already started and was based on an inventory of the historic building stock. With the participatory elaboration of an integrated heritage management plan, the direction for the upcoming...

Die Einrichtung eines Besucherzentrums steht derzeit bei vielen Welterbestätten auf der Agenda. Im Vordergrund steht dabei häufig, neben wirtschaftlichen Gesichtspunkten, der Wunsch durch eine moderne Vermittlungsmethodik ein breites Publikum anzusprechen. Der Besucher soll im Mittelpunkt stehen. Idealerweise werden durch eine ausgeklügelte Didakti...

Erfolgsfaktoren bei der Einrichtung von Informations- und Besucherzentren – Erfahrungen aus dem UNESCOWelterbe Altstadt von Regensburg mit Stadtamhof.

Acknowledging that heritage is now better understood as being both determined by and the responsibility of local communities, their participation from the outset is clearly essential to reach a common understanding of the objectives connected to it (Ripp and Rodwell 2016). To shape this action space for the best possible benefit, the identification...

Baukulturelles Erbe kann sehr gut als Ausgangspunkt für städtische Entwicklung im Sinne einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung genutzt werden. Um das Potential des baukulturellen Erbes noch stärker in den Köpfen zu verankern ist es einerseits notwendig baukulturelles Erbe statt als starre und rigide Substanz als System und Prozess zu begreifen. Andererseit...

Across Eastern Europe, there is a significant number of small and medium-sized towns with historic urban areas and valuable cultural heritage assets. Today, and almost without exception, such towns are facing various and serious challenges. These often common challenges include economic downturn, emigration of skilled people, ageing populations, ph...

The term integrated conservation first entered the lexicon of the cultural heritage community in the 1975 European Charter of the Architectural Heritage recognising that the future of that component of our heritage depends on the weight attached to it within the framework of urban and regional planning. Since then, formal recognition within the her...

The Communication Model of Built Heritage Assets (COBA) refers to several scientific theories in the realm of learning and cognition. The idea of the COBA-Model is to support and stimulate a more professional heritage communication and a more efficient use of existing resources. Thus, the identification of citizens with their Built Heritage Asset s...

Nowadays the menace of war, at least in Europe, has almost vanished. Instead new challenges have arisen - not only for World Heritage Cities. This summer for example, a tornado caused enormous damage to the small town of Hautmont in France. Many buildings were destroyed, some inhabitants were injured, three even killed. Unpredictable natural catast...

To achieve wide-spread support, identification, and acknowledgement of Regensburg’s World Heritage management plan, it was developed in a participatory process that involved many stakeholders. Aims of the process included:  boosting awareness of concerns and opportunities for the development of the historic old town through World Heritage  coord...

In the past built cultural heritage was, in the framework of sustainable urban development, often seen as an obstacle that is difficult to integrate into urban change. The need to change and adapt the historic urban fabric is more pressing than ever. The concept of resilience, originally applied in psychology and now used throughout various discipl...

In November 2015, the Organization of World Heritage Cities decided on occasion of its world congress in Arequipa/Peru to make “Heritage and Communities: Tools to engage local communities” the main theme for the next congress in November 2017 in Gyeongju/South Korea (https://www.ovpm.org/en/brochure ). The topic was chosen in a bottom-up decision:...

COMUS brings heritage and communities together, in the heart of decision making on urban regeneration and local development. It introduces a methodology based on existing heritage resources, laying out an integrated approach with emphasis on the process. It further argues that urban heritage is not an isolated concept on its own, but is part of a l...

Short article (in german) on the role of local governments and local governance in urban heritage management and development.

The term integrated conservation first entered the lexicon of urban heritage in the 1975 Council of Europe European Charter, recognising that the future of the architectural heritage depends on the weight attached to it within the framework of urban and regional planning. Since then, the agendas of sustainability, sustainable development and climat...

Regensburg ohne die Steinerne Brücke? Nicht vorstellbar! Sie ist neben dem Dom DAS ikonographische Element in der Stadtsilhouette und verbindet fast schon emblematisch die beiden Herzstücke des Regensburger Welterbes. Diese Verbindung zwischen den zwei Seiten der Stadt Regensburg enthüllt ihre Bedeutung bis heute auf verschiedenen Ebenen. Die Brück...

Da wir nicht in die Zukun blicken können, müssen wir uns bei der Beurteilung von Resilienzfaktoren auf Erkenntnisse aus der Vergangenheit stützen. In der Persönlichkeitspsychologie etwa bildet die Auswertung von vorhandenen Stärken, welche sich durch Ereignisse, Interpretationsmuster, Bewertungen etc. zu bestimmten Persönlichkeitsmerkmalen ausgebi...

Erfahrungsbericht und Case-Study zum Besucherzentrum Welterbe in Regensburg

During the HerO Project mayor projects have been triggered in the HerO partner cities. This documents provides an overview.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to outline the strategies, policies and tools used in the World Heritage city “Old town of Regensburg/Germany with Stadtamhof” to face specific challenges. Even in a short period of time the city set up a management system which is working with an integrated approach to deal with all World Heritage issues. Desi...

Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region ‘Upper Palatinate’. Its population is about 147,000. The town measures 81 km2, the historic city centre is about 183 hectares in size. The first s...