On October 22, 2025, two Heriland Early Stage Researchers reached an important milestone in their academic journeys. Maciej Jakub Świderski (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) and Tinatin Meparishvili (Newcastle University) successfully defended their PhD theses before examiners and supervisors, marking another proud achievement for the Heriland network.
In his research, Maciej Jakub Świderski explored how incorporating intangible heritage, particularly personal memories, into urban planning can enhance communication and foster more emotionally attuned understandings of space among stakeholders. It also examines how gamifying planning deliberations can further encourage empathetic and collaborative engagement. Grounded in the “democratic shift” within heritage studies, which emphasizes inclusion of diverse voices and everyday landscapes, the research situates its inquiry in a late-modernist housing estate in Warsaw, Poland. Drawing on theories of deliberative democracy from Habermas and Mouffe, and integrating the Landscape Identity Circle (Stobbelaar & Pedroli), the study proposes two conceptual models: a modified LIC model illustrating the cyclical nature of landscape identity, and an empathy-based pluralistic consensus model promoting affective understanding in decision-making. Through mapped questionnaires and gamified workshops, the findings demonstrate that working with personal memories can transform planning discussions into more open, empathetic, and less confrontational exchanges, while gamification can make the process more engaging and collaborative.
Tinatin Meparishvili at the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape at Newcastle University investigated ‘TOURISM, GENTRIFICATION, AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF SENSE OF PLACE: CASE OF RIONE MONTI, ROME.’
In her research, Tina evaluated how processes of globalisation, gentrification, and touristification since the late 20th century have reshaped urban heritage and transformed residents’ relationships with historic cities. Focusing on the lived experiences of local communities through semi-structured interviews and analysis of public documents, the research examines how socio-spatial change affects sense of place, community identity, and collective memory. Findings reveal that as local populations are displaced and neighbourhoods evolve, residents’ perceptions of heritage and belonging become fluid, reflecting reinterpretations of both past and present identities. The study contributes to theoretical understandings of the interplay between socio-spatial transformation and community attachment, while advocating for more socially sustainable approaches to urban heritage management in rapidly changing urban contexts.
Again, on behalf of the Heriland team, we would like to congratulate both of the ESRs for their hard work and remarkable research practice!
Congrats, Dr Świderski, and Dr Meparishvili!