Understanding the influencing factors of heritage building maintenance management: findings from developed and developing regions

Heritage buildings (HBs) have been identified as iconic buildings vital to sustainable development. Unlike modern buildings that can be maintained without conserving cultural significance, HBs are typically symbols of cultural identity that necessitate specific maintenance management. While effective HB maintenance is critical, research on the influencing factors (IFs) of HB maintenance management (HBMM) is limited. This study investigated IFs in developed and developing regions, namely Hong Kong (HK) and Nigeria, to fill this research gap. First, a systematic literature review was conducted, which resulted in the identification of 17 IFs. Then, a questionnaire survey was conducted to solicit maintenance practitioners' opinions on the effects of the IFs on HBMM. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to identify commonalities and disparities among 154 valid survey responses. The findings reveal that while the respondents agreed on some IFs' importance, including international statutory protection guiding HB use, they held divergent opinions about other IFs, which include cultural/religious attachment to HBs. This study revealed the distinctiveness between HK and Nigeria regarding the factors influencing HBMM and provided insights for future researchers to further explore the understudied areas of HBMM. The study's recommended measures can also help to improve and inform HBMM policy-making.