Macau Squares: Discerning the Triadic Sign Model of Built-Heritage

Despite an objectivist vision by many heritage conservation bodies, the extant literature mostly dwells on value of as something subjective and arbitrary. Semiotically treating built-heritage a Peircian triadic sign, instead dyadic could reconcile this apparent dichotomy. Some squares Macau]’s Historic Centre are taken case study. Using Coasian perspective, paper argues how meaning-delimiting consequences semiotic framework allow for lower transaction cost in valuation eventually more sustainable conservation. This has been confirmed expert decision designating relatively new protected areas.