Theory

Difficult heritage

Macdonald's framework for sites whose pasts (typically of state atrocity) are troublesome to inherit, requiring negotiation between demolition, preservation, profanation and education.

Heritage Memory Power

Details

Introduced: 2009

Referenced by

Difficult Heritage: Negotiating the Nazi Past in Nuremberg and Beyond articulates
Sharon Macdonald proposed
Authorised Heritage Discourse (AHD) influenced

Sources

Macdonald, S. Difficult Heritage. Routledge, 2009.

Cite this entry

First published May 2026Last revised Jul 2026

CLAD. "Difficult heritage." Atlas of Architectural Thought. CLAD, 2026. https://www.cl-ad.com.au/research/atlas/theory/difficult-heritage/. Accessed July 17, 2026.