How Does Sense of Place Serve Architectural Heritage Conservation and Development? A Scoping Review and Implementation Framework

Architectural heritage conservation and development (AHCD) increasingly require social approaches that connect material remains with emotions, memories, and meanings. Sense of place offers a theoretical lens for understanding these connections, yet its operational role in AHCD remains unclear. This study draws on a bibliometric analysis and narrative synthesis of 79 publications to classify these publications into four architectural heritage contexts: urban residential, rural residential, public, and religious and ritual. The results show that the physical form of architectural heritage fundamentally shapes sense of place, while the pathways through which sense of place supports conservation and development vary across heritage types. The review further identifies emerging research trends, conceptual gaps, and practical limitations in applying sense of place to AHCD. This study proposes an implementation framework for integrating sense of place into AHCD. The framework connects heritage attributes and place meanings with stakeholder engagement and strategies for conservation and development. The framework offers a reference for research, policy-making, and practice in architectural heritage conservation and sustainable development from a social perspective.