Bailrigg House: Where is the Balance between Heritage, Reuse, and Immaterial Knowledge? Part 2 Dissertation 2026 Nora Anyaehie Lancaster University | UK How do we conserve heritage when the value of a building extends beyond its physical fabric? This dissertation explores the relationship between adaptive reuse and the often-overlooked intangible dimensions of heritage, including memory, patterns of occupation, social practices, and cultural meaning.Using Bailrigg House as a case study, a Grade II listed Arts and Crafts building at Lancaster University, the research examines how heritage is transformed as buildings evolve to meet changing needs. Through archival investigation, architectural analysis, field observations, and comparative study of historical and contemporary layouts, the project traces the building’s journey from private residence to educational institution.Rather than viewing conservation as the protection of a fixed moment in time, the dissertation presents heritage as a living and evolving process. The findings reveal that while historic fabric and architectural features are often successfully retained through conservation policies and listing frameworks, the less visible aspects of heritage are more vulnerable to alteration or loss. As buildings are adapted, new meanings emerge alongside older ones, creating layered identities that reflect both continuity and change.The project contributes to current discussions on sustainable conservation by arguing that successful adaptive reuse should be measured not only by what is physically preserved, but also by how cultural narratives and lived experiences are recognised and interpreted. Ultimately, it calls for a more holistic approach to heritage practice, encouraging architects to engage with buildings as repositories of both material and immaterial knowledge, and to design interventions that respect the complexity of their histories. Tutor(s) Ana Rute Costa