THE HERITAGE UBERIZATION EMERGING TYPOLOGIES ON HERITAGE ARCHITECTURAL SPACES

Abstract

Commercialization of heritage is a long-standing phenomenon. In the third decade of the 21st century tourism is an important vector of change for heritage that justifies its renovation and establishes new uses according to contemporary social practices. This research proposes a mix study of main architectural transformations in heritage buildings or buildings of historical, artistic and/or context value, introduced by their use as hotel spaces (mainly through Airbnb). The study case is Guanajuato. The main trends of formal, aesthetic, structural and functional change of heritage buildings were analyzed. New uses on built
heritage appear for private actors and governments. The former question the notion of heritage authenticity and the cultural value of their properties. The latter adopt business policies to make heritage the raw material for the economic and urban development of territories. Both contribute to a cultural reinterpretation of heritage and to its elitization.