Cities are more than physical infrastructure; they are dynamic repositories of collective memories. Rapid urbanization, however, threatens to erase cherished landmarks, severing the connection between communities and their history. To address this loss, we created immersive virtual heritage environments based on CITY IN TIME, a digital platform that uses immersive technology to reconstruct 44 iconic Hong Kong landmarks as they existed between 1900 and 1970 from archival sources.
Here we demonstrate that a virtual experience of historical Hong Kong significantly enhanced memory recall, reduced stress and increased social connectedness in older adults, supported by consistent physiological and psychological measures. Semi-structured interviews further revealed the multidimensional nature of urban memory, encompassing both tangible places and intangible narratives. Taken together, our findings illustrate how urban heritage can safeguard collective memory and foster community well-being, offering a scalable approach to preserving the layered histories that shape inclusive and emotionally resonant cities.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout CITY IN TIME is publicly accessible at https://www.cityintime.hk. The experimental data are not publicly available due to ethical restrictions. De-identified or aggregated data may be requested from the corresponding author by submitting a research proposal and data-use plan.
Qiu, B., Song, P., Tao, X., Zhou, Q. & Zhang, F. Construction of urban collective memory maps based on social media data: a case study of Nanjing, China. npj Herit. Nursanty, E., Rusmiatmoko, D. & Husni, M.
From heritage to identity: the role of city authenticity in shaping local community identity and cultural preservation. Examining the symbolic dimension of Aleppo’s historical landmarks. Heritage and pathways to wellbeing: from personal to social benefits, between experience identity and capability shaping.
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