Integrating Heritage Conservation and Smart City Planning: A Socio-Technical Framework for Sustainable Adaptive Reuse

Abstract

As the pressure of urban development grows, the loss of resources for heritage buildings and the demands of modern life are creating new threats. Although adaptive reuse has become an important sustainable strategy, its comprehensive integration with smart city technologies in the context of conservation is still relatively unexplored. This research will endeavor to develop a socio-technical framework which unifies smart technology with heritage conservation for resilient urban spaces. With the help of a systematic literature review (SLR) approach, the study examines the convergence of technical building effectiveness and human-centred social response. The theoretical framework provides a theoretical synergy between Socio-Technical Systems (STS) and Regenerative Design through a paradigm that goes beyond the typical sustainability levels. The study demonstrates that the deployment of artificial intelligence based sensor systems, powered automated lighting optimization, and remote occupancy management that extends the lifecycle of the building substantially promote user place attachment. As for the authors, their findings suggest a joint scheme, wherein their analysis suggests that transforming heritage resources into smart-functional spaces, e.g. intelligent retail or coffee places, reduces embodied carbon and upholds urban cultural identity. The findings highlight that the interplay between technical engineering thresholds and restorative human experiences is paramount to achieving resilient social infrastructures that address SDG 11, Sustainable City and Community.