ISCSBH – Shared Built Heritage

International Scientific Committee on Shared Built Heritage

Formed in 1998 as the “Committee on Shared Colonial Architecture and Town Planning”, the original intent dealt with the heritage of former European colonial structures in non-Europe locations between 1550 to 1940. In 2003 the name was changed to broaden its objectives to include a 21st century perspective of nations dealing with post-colonialism and within a globalised world context.

ISC SBH includes historic urban and rural structures or elements resulting from multi-cultural overlays and/or colonial influences.

ISC SBH promotes awareness of the need to “share” the appreciation and the responsibility for many heritages in different countries, created by different peoples, with those having diverse cultural, religious and social backgrounds.

The widened perspective is inclusive of intra-European heritage configurations, elements that may result from the violent process of across shifting frontiers, and changes and dynamics behind migration that create built forms super-imposed upon another culture’s foundations.

ISC SBH has an impressive series of international meetings around the world and inclusive of all continents. Most recently annual meetings include:

  • 2014 World Heritage Melaka Straights cites of Melaka and George Town, Penang ‘Revisiting after inscription and current management’, and the historic centre of Bandung Indonesia ‘Historic Art deco and Garden Suburb precincts management’, in association with ICOMOS Malaysia, ICOMOS Indonesia and the various city governments and NGOs
  • 2013 World Heritage centre of Havana and Santiago de Cuba in Cuba, ‘The shared values and management of military heritage in the Americas: research, preserving and valuing’, in association with ISC Fortifications and Military Heritage, and ICOMOS Cuba
  • 2012 Kulangsu Island, Xiamen and Wuhan, China ‘The returning Chinese diaspora and the only inland concession’ in association with ICOMSO China, and city governments and NGOs
  • 2011 Cape Town, South Africa ‘The Cape meeting point of many nations and the Cape Vinelands cultural landscape world heritage nomination’, in association with ICOMOS South Africa, South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), Cape Town Heritage Trust, City of Cape Town, African World Heritage Fund and the Federal Department of Arts and Culture
  • 2010 Dublin, Ireland  ‘British colonialism in Ireland: the Georgian legacies’ in association with ICOMOS Ireland and the Irish Heritage Trust.
  • 2010 Suriname, South America ‘Historic cultural landscape of plantations’ in association with the Suriname Government and Suriname National Archives
  • 2009 Gdansk, Poland ‘Timber structures of eastern Europe’ in association with the Technical University of Gdansk
  • 2008 Lviv, Poland ‘Preservation and restoration of Multicultural Heritage – the 10th anniversary of the World Heritage inscription of the city centre’ in association with ICOMOS Poland and ICOMSO Ukraine to discussed the disputable ownership of the built heritage of the city of Polish-Lituanian origin that was long called Lemberg during the Austrian-Hungarian era, changed to Polish, Nazi-German, Soviet to be finally Ukraïne
  • 2005 Qingdao, China ‘The German harbour concession’, arranged prior to the 15th General Assembly held in Xi’an

The ISC SBH website is currently offline as it is under review. Please direct any enquiries to Susan Jackson-Stepowski (see email link below).

Australian members

  • Ms Susan Jackson-Stepowski (ISCSBH Vice-President) – Expert
    Australian voting member
    Email Susan
  • Ms Kerime Danis – Expert
  • Mr Garry McDonald – Expert