Multi-criteria decision-making for grading the rehabilitation of heritage sites. Application in the historic center of La Habana

The rehabilitation of an historic city centre is approached in this investigation through a multi-criteria decision-making methodology. The methodology assists a panel of experts to take key decisions on rehabilitation options. The viability of the methodology is verified through its practical application in the Historic Centre of La Habana, in which extreme situations are analyzed: a culturally protected (World Heritage) urban zone with many degraded buildings at risk of collapse. In view of the urgency of the rehabilitation decisions, efficient criteria for “emergency actions” on the 3593 buildings of that historic centre were analyzed. The conclusions were that 1033 buildings were in need of one or various emergency actions, with 169 awaiting demolition or restoration and, finally, 597 in need of non-urgent repairs.