Review of Management and Conservation System of Architectural Heritage with Classification Instrument in East and Central Asia

Today, architectural heritage management faces many challenges due to the extent of assets, limited financial resources, development threats and change in concepts and social values. Accordingly, comprehensive principles are essential for integrated management and conservation prioritization. Most developed or developing countries in the region have reached a logical framework for the classification of immovable cultural heritage as an instrument for management and conservation, But in Iran, an independent policy and approach in this field has not been presented yet. This study tries to develop theoretical concepts in the field of classification system by reviewing the constitutions, national guidelines and experiences of countries of the common cultural field of Iran in East and Central Asia. The main question is the types of approaches, Classification levels and how to evaluate the assets in the decision-making process in the countries of the region. Due to the subject, the research approach is qualitative and with the method of documentary study, first, policies and actions are reviewed and regulated and then the content analysis done by descriptive-interpretive and comparative. According to the research findings, achieve an appropriate mechanism to prioritize the level of conservation for the implementation of integrated policies in order to raise awareness of local communities and economic participation, respect the rights of private owners and facilitate future decisions, has been the main aims of classification. Architectural heritage classification in case countries is done with a Managerial- Conservative approach in a specific system. In this process, after comprehensive identification and listing, based on criteria of Cultural Significance, Historical and Architecture importance, Outstanding Values, Uniqueness, Authenticity and Integrity, Aesthetic features and at risk, by the advisory committee in the presence of government officials, experts and stakeholders, level of assets is evaluated and determined. Finally, classification is considered as a tools to explain the management approach and level of conservation.