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Keep up to date. Our blog includes insights, articles, media and research.
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Fed Square and Advertising: Finding the Right Balance
How do heritage places manage advertising? James Lesh on recent debates at Fed Square.
2 days ago2 min read
Housing and Queer Heritage: In the media
James Lesh on Repurposing Old Large Heritage Buildings and the exemplary LGBTQIA+ Oxford Street, Sydney Heritage Study.
Apr 102 min read
Rocking Heritage and Stained Tiled Debates: In the Media
James Lesh has rocked heritage and discussed stained tiles in public space in recent media interviews.
Feb 132 min read
Heritage Workshop on Developing a new Plan for Victoria
Heritage Workshop's submission to the new Plan For Victoria.
Aug 22, 20244 min read
Planning, Housing, Pubs: In the Media
Over recent months, I’ve provided expert commentary to media outlets in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide .
Apr 11, 20241 min read
Values-Based Heritage Conservation: Historical Origins and Future Directions
An extract from James Lesh's book 'Values in Cities' on values-based conservation, both where it's come from, and where it's heading.
Sep 14, 20235 min read
Abandoned Buildings and Heritage Places
Restore, rebuild or raze? Debate rages over the fate of our grand old buildings!
Aug 10, 20231 min read
YIMBYs and NIMBYs unite! You can have both heritage protection and more housing
Heritage conservation has been blamed for making the housing crisis worse by standing in the way of new, higher-density housing. But protecting heritage and increasing housing should be complementary objectives.
Jul 11, 20234 min read
Urban Change on Bourke Street, Melbourne: Eastern Market, Southern Cross Hotel, SX Towers
Destruction, Development and Heritage at one site in Melbourne.
Jul 1, 20231 min read
People-Centred Heritage Conservation: Paperback Published
James Lesh and Rebecca Madgin have co-edited the book collection People-Centred Methodologies for Heritage Conservation: Exploring Emotional Attachments to Historic Urban Places.
May 16, 20233 min read
Giving Value to Architecture and Heritage: Book Review
James Lesh reviews 'Valuing Architecture: Heritage and the Economics of Culture'.
May 5, 20235 min read
Heritage Educator Panel
James Lesh joins a panel of esteemed heritage educators to discuss Jorge Otero-Pailos' essential text.
Feb 3, 20231 min read
What is worth keeping and who decides?
My words on heritage appear in Architect Victoria magazine, Edition 3, 2022. I collaborated with Loren Adams, Felicity Watson, Kerstin...
Oct 19, 20221 min read
Frozen in time, we’ve become blind to ways to build sustainability into our urban heritage
Adopting new perspectives won’t only preserve our historic buildings and places by enabling us to shape them for today’s needs. It will also mean urban heritage can contribute to cities becoming more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.
Sep 29, 20224 min read
University of Melbourne Heritage MicroCerts Information Session
Check out James Lesh's information session on professional education in urban and cultural heritage at the University of Melbourne.
Feb 1, 20221 min read
Managing Indigenous Heritage Values at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy
The Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra raises significant questions about the management of Indigenous heritage values in Australia.
Jan 31, 20221 min read
Conserving Melbourne’s creative heritage: The Nicholas Building
In mid-2021, the owners of the historic Nicholas Building in the heart of Melbourne put the landmark on the market.
Jan 20, 20224 min read
Building Federation Square, 1994 – 2002
James Lesh shares his academic article on Federation Square's inception.
Dec 11, 20211 min read
Our Heritage for the Future Webinar
James Lesh joins a panel to discuss 'Our Heritage for the Future'.
Feb 3, 20211 min read
An introduction to 'Heritage Cities'
What does heritage mean for cities? This introductory article provides some guidance. Have a listen to the associated podcast too.
Oct 1, 20201 min read
Eastern Freeway: A Heritage Commentary
Despite its importance, the Eastern Freeway did not receive a heritage listing. This article asks: why?
Sep 23, 20205 min read
The meaning of 'place' in heritage practice
James Lesh explores the definition of 'place' in heritage practice, including through the Burra Charter.
Sep 1, 20201 min read
‘Questioning the Consensus? Urban Conservation in 1990s Sydney and Melbourne
James Lesh will be speaking at a virtual seminar in the UK.
Jul 13, 20202 min read
Road to nowhere? (on the Eastern Freeway heritage listing)
Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway is likely to be state heritage listed next year. Heritage Victoria has identified it as aesthetically and historically important. But should freeways be managed within the heritage system? Or is a freeway the kind of 20th century relic which we should be prepared to let go of?
Jan 16, 20204 min read
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