Introduction
Architectural heritage and historic urban fabrics embody the collective memory and cultural identity of societies, preserving layers of historical, social, and symbolic values shaped through daily life. Contemporary heritage discourse has shifted from a rigid, object-oriented paradigm—focused primarily on material and technical preservation—toward a holistic approach that prioritizes intangible values, lived experiences, and the essential role of local communities. Consequently, heritage conservation is now understood as a multi-dimensional process that emphasizes social continuity, identity, and the active stewardship of historic environments.
Despite this global paradigm shift toward community-based conservation, a conceptual gap remains: it is not yet fully understood how social relationships, daily dwelling practices, and place attachment transform into tangible conservation agency. There is a lack of clarity regarding how residents’ routine interactions and sense of belonging effectively translate into actions such as the daily maintenance of built structures or active participation in decision-making processes.
This issue is particularly significant in historic cities like Yazd, where contemporary challenges—including demographic shifts, tourism growth, and evolving management approaches—threaten to sever the bond between residents and their historic environment. This study focuses on the historic fabric of Yazd to explore the mechanisms by which daily dwelling experiences foster conservation agency among inhabitants. It aims to develop an analytical framework that elucidates how local social capacities can be harnessed for sustainable heritage conservation, addressing the core question: How and under what conditions do daily dwelling experiences and social interactions in the historic fabric of Yazd lead to the formation of conservation agency?

Methodology
This study adopts a qualitative research strategy utilizing systematic Grounded Theory, based on the approach developed by Strauss and Corbin. The research paradigm is interpretive, focusing on understanding the meanings assigned to conservation by local stakeholders. The research setting comprises four historic neighborhoods in Yazd: Fahadan, Sheykhdad, Shah Abolghasem, and the Zoroastrian Quarter. Purposive and theoretical sampling methods were employed to achieve theoretical saturation. Data collection involved 60 in-depth, semi-structured interviews: 30 with local residents/users and 30 with heritage professionals, urban managers, and policymakers. Data analysis was conducted through three levels of coding: open, axial, and selective. The analysis of residents’ data resulted in 697 initial codes, 33 sub-categories, and 8 main categories. Constant comparative analysis was used to refine the emergent conceptual framework. Ethical considerations, including anonymity and informed consent, were strictly observed. The research emphasizes analytical generalizability rather than statistical representativeness, aiming to provide a deep understanding of the conservation phenomenon within the context of living historic cities.


Results and discussion
The core category identified is “Stakeholder Orchestration for Sustainable People-Centered Conservation.” The findings reveal that conservation in living fabrics is not merely a technical task but a socio-institutional process. Four primary analytical mechanisms were identified: “Material Vulnerability,” “Daily Dwelling,” “Empowerment and Institutional Disconnect,” and “Tourism and Adaptive Reuse.”
The analysis shows a profound “structural gap” between actors. Residents possess “emotional investment” and provide “everyday care,” yet their potential is hampered by a lack of professional common criteria, inconsistent regulations, and the discretionary implementation of conservation rules. Heritage management often adopts a “project-oriented approach,” which ignores the granular nature of maintenance needed by residents.
From the perspective of Habermas’s theory of “Lifeworld vs. System,” the institutional system often “colonizes” the lifeworld of the residents by imposing top-down, restrictive measures that alienate them from their own historic environment. The study highlights the “mutual lock-in” effect where residents’ inability to maintain their properties (due to poverty or administrative complexity) leads to decay, which in turn justifies further institutional control, thus deepening the alienation.
Tourism serves as a double-edged sword; while it brings economic resources for adaptive reuse, it simultaneously pressures infrastructure and risks triggering gentrification-led displacement. The model shows that contextual conditions—such as sense of belonging and social cohesion—act as catalysts. If supported by intervening conditions like distributive justice and collaborative management, they strengthen the “protective agency.” Conversely, in the absence of such support, the “erosive scenario” prevails, leading to the gradual loss of both authenticity and social vitality.

Conclusion
The research concludes that the traditional, authority-driven model of conservation is insufficient for living historic urban fabrics. A transition towards “Stakeholder Orchestration” is essential for a sustainable “Social Contract for Conservation.” This requires institutionalizing neighborhood-level facilitation offices, shifting from rigid, binary preservation codes to performance-based guidelines, and reorienting financial support from large-scale development projects towards micro-credits for routine maintenance. Furthermore, the development of intergenerational spaces and inclusive management platforms can help bridge the gap between residents and authorities. Future research should explore the longitudinal impact of these proposed collaborative mechanisms on the social sustainability of Yazd’s historic fabric.