Safeguarding Orkney’s vernacular buildings in a climate crisis. [Case study]

This case study discusses the impacts of climate change on Scotland's vernacular architectural heritage, examining both the physical degradation of these structures and the cultural transformation, making it challenging to create wider community attention. Using Orkney as an example, we will explore the inadequacies of existing conservation frameworks. We propose adaptive, community-based strategies that merge traditional practices with contemporary climate resilience science and argue for a paradigm shift, from static preservation to dynamic resilience, in how we value, protect, and sustain vernacular heritage in a warming world.