ENVIRONMENT OF HISTORICAL AREAS OF CITIES AS A BASIS FOR THE FORMATION OF INTERACTIVE RECREATION

Abstract

Problem statement. In the modern urban planning practice of development of historical cities the role and potential of the city center are still insufficiently defined, features of its preservation and possible development are not revealed. In Ukraine, there is still no clear definition of the concept of “city center”, which does not contribute to the sustainable urban and architectural development of historic cities. Today there are different interpretations of such an urban category as “city center”. According to the researcher M. Bevz, the “city center” provides a rare opportunity to trace the millennial evolution of the urban planning system, which is rare in Ukraine. Some researchers believe that the city center is an important communication hub and a special space in which various functions of urban life are introduced, in all its evolution, modification, meanings and perceptions (O. Rybchynsky “Formation and revitalization of historical cities of Ukraine”). The author of the study considers it most appropriate to consider the concept of “city center” as identical to the concept of “historical core of the city”. Characteristics of the concept of “historic area of the city” appeared only in 2000 in the Law of Ukraine “On Protection of Cultural Heritage” as part of the settlement, which preserved cultural heritage sites and related planning and form of construction that originate from previous periods of development, typical of certain crops or periods of development. One of the most important methods of preserving and properly modernizing the environment of historical areas should be considered “revalorization”, which contributes to the cultural value of the historic city center. 
 The purpose of the article is to highlight the importance of the historical area as a basis for the formation of interactive recreation. 
 Results. Implementation of revalorization into the theory and practice of domestic reconstruction of the urban environment on the basis of comprehensive and deep theoretical research, as well as ideas for improving and arranging urban space with a focus on successful foreign solutions for using the cultural potential of the central areas of historical cities in the system of interactive recreation. The city should be considered as a multifunctional phenomenon in the diversity of manifestations due to its general cultural and historical significance. In this context, the historic city center is a concentration of interactive communication between residents. Interactive communication is primarily an exchange of ideas for improving the urban environment and enhancing information exchange between people. In such interaction of people and environment of special importance acquires the reflection of human emotional reaction to the made architectural and town-planning environment with its historically formed “human” scale and richness of forms that in turn is necessary protective reaction of the modern person to “standardization” of new city building. The creation of interactive recreation based on the cultural potential of the historic areas of the city allows to form in these areas full-fledged interactive recreational spaces in the combination of existing and new buildings. 
 Scientific novelty and practical significance. Due to the active growth of requirements for the quality and comfort of the urban space of the historic core of the city, the practical significance of the study is to study the historically formed substance of the city, its authenticity; preservation, revival and development of the historical image of the city center on the principles of revalorization. Today there is a need to find and develop methods of activating the environment, one of which is the creation of interactive recreation, which will help to adapt the city-forming and functional significance of their historic areas to new needs.