Safeguarding the Past, Building the Future: A Collaborative Model for Ensemble-based Heritage Conservation in Barbados

Abstract

Co-led by the Barbados National Trust (BNT) and the Division of Culture (DOC), Prime Minister's Office, this project is developing a multi-institutional, intergenerational framework for the conservation and site management of Tyrol Cot – a nationally significant heritage property in a tropical climate that has suffered from chronic under-resourcing. By recontextualising colonial narratives and establishing sustainable management through a collaborative model, the project has brought together cultural practitioners, artisans, inter-institutional resources, and new technologies. The approach aligns with UNESCO World Heritage and ICOMOS standards, connecting local practices with global heritage frameworks. Cross-disciplinary contributions allow professionals to interchange where training, budget, or availability has fallen short, turning potential deficits into opportunities for mutual learning and innovation. The project exemplifies how scalable, low-cost, high-impact approaches can strengthen climate resilience, support skills transfer, and foster culturally grounded heritage stewardship in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).