Interview about the Architecture, Urban Planning, Landscape Research Agenda of the National Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE): With Jaap Evert Abrahamse, Eva Röell en Gabri van Tussenbroek

With Jaap Evert Abrahamse, Eva Röell en Gabri van Tussenbroek

Abstract

This article presents an in-depth interview with Jaap Evert Abrahamse, Eva Röell, and Gabri van Tussenbroek on the development of the Architecture, Urban Planning, Landscape Research Agenda of the Dutch Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE). Conducted in early 2025, the conversation explores the motivations, structure, and intended impact of this agenda, which forms part of a broader national knowledge strategy. Central to the discussion is the conviction that research and knowledge are the foundation of effective heritage management.

The interview elaborates on the agenda’s guiding principles, notably its systems-based approach, which seeks to transcend traditional typological classifications of buildings and sites. Instead, the agenda connects architecture, urban planning, landscape, infrastructure, and subsoil within a coherent analytical framework. By doing so, it aims to situate individual objects—such as bunkers, farms, or industrial complexes—within their wider spatial, historical, and functional contexts.

A key theme is the relationship between heritage research and contemporary societal challenges, including climate adaptation, spatial pressure, sustainability, and changing patterns of use. The interviewees emphasise that the agenda is not a policy document but a flexible instrument designed to identify knowledge gaps, guide future research, and enhance the societal relevance of heritage studies. Drawing inspiration from the National Archaeology Research Agenda (NOaA), the document is intended to function as a long-term, dynamic reference framework.

The article also addresses concerns about the future of architectural history and heritage expertise, particularly in education. It argues that sustained investment in research, historical knowledge, and interdisciplinary collaboration is essential to ensure the continued care and meaningful interpretation of the built environment.