From Documentation to Governance: A Framework for Decision-Grade Documentation of Modern Architectural Heritage in Rapidly Transforming Cities

Modern architectural heritage is increasingly threatened by rapid urban transformation, yet documentation practices often remain descriptive and insufficiently aligned with governance decision-making processes. This article addresses the gap between heritage documentation and regulatory readiness by proposing the Modern Heritage Documentation Protocol (MHDP), a governance-oriented framework that transforms documentation into decision-grade evidence. The protocol integrates a structured evidence taxonomy and a staged documentation workflow that links architectural documentation to heritage governance requirements, including designation review, conservation planning, and adaptive reuse decisions. The framework was tested through demonstrator applications across three modern architectural heritage cases to evaluate its operational applicability within real documentation workflows. The results show that structured evidence capture and synthesis can convert fragmented heritage information into coherent documentation that supports governance decisions in rapidly transforming urban environments. By reframing documentation as a governance-oriented process, the proposed framework contributes to more effective heritage management and supports the integration of modern architectural heritage within sustainable urban development strategies.