From national monuments to World Heritage Site: Macau’s modern conservation history

Review: <i>Saving Spaces: Historic Land Conservation in the United States</i>, by John H. Sprinkle Jr.

Reviewed by: Plazas and Barrios. Heritage Tourism and Globalization in the Latin American Centro Histórico Rosemary D. F. Bromley Plazas and Barrios. Heritage Tourism and Globalization in the Latin American Centro Histórico. Joseph L. Scarpaci. Tucson: The University of Arizona Press, 2005. xix and 267 pp., maps, photos, notes, references and index. $45.00 cloth. ISBN 0-8165-1631-6. The Latin American historic city center (centro histórico) is a worthy topic for a book. This part of the city displays Spanish colonial and nineteenth century buildings with grandiose squares, set amongst the imprints of modernity. It is an old city space teaming with life: shops, street traders, and low income residents. The centro histórico lies at the heart of much change in the Latin American city. It saw the flight of wealthy residents (and smart shops) to the suburbs and their replacement by the poor (and informal trade) in a process of transformation reflecting trends occurring at the world scale. Today it is a focus for historic preservation and for nurturing heritage tourism, which is becoming so important to economic development in Latin America. Much could therefore be written about the characteristics, transformations and influences involving the centro histórico. Joseph Scarpaci draws on his long acquaintance with Latin America, and on his detailed research in various historic centers since the early 1990s. He bases his writing on nine case study cities displaying varied economic roles, sizes, and coastal and inland locations. Five of the cities are dealt with fairly sketchily: Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Puebla and Quito; whereas four provide the bulk of the material for the book: Cartagena in Colombia, Cuenca in Ecuador, Havana and Trinidad in Cuba. His approach is that of the urban cultural geographer with an architectural slant, enriched with personal experiences. In the first chapter about the built heritage, we are introduced to Scarpaci's wide ranging and eclectic approach. He opens with two vignettes in different places in different time periods: Paris in the 1880s and Cuenca in the 1990s, to illustrate how modernity is associated with transformation in older urban areas. He deals effectively with the necessary definitions, pondering the meaning of heritage, Latin American architecture, policies for heritage tourism, and outlining the book's approach. A substantial Chapter 2brings more focus and provides an urban historical geography of the Latin American centro histórico. We are provided with the details of Spanish urban planning and some brief introductions to the nine cities, their histories and their planning contexts, with a set of useful maps. Nothing is covered in depth. Unusually the reader is also offered a sample of the author's field notes in a strangely personal digression. These notes capture some of his impressions and help to convey the ambience, by embracing the non-material [End Page 118] characteristics of the different centers. Chapter 3 is an excellent feature of the book. Here Scarpaci provides the reader with an "empirical snap shot" of his nine case study cities. He developed a methodology to enable comparisons of general land uses, building quality and building height in the different historic centers. Land use surveys were carried out by profiling nearly 30,000 doorways. These surveys revealed the ways in which the Cuban cities were dominated by residential land-uses, how Quito had a concentration of commercial activity and how abandonment levels of over 5% characterised Buenos Aires and Montevideo. Other surveys derived building quality from the façades, and noted building heights to suggest the impacts of modernity on the skyline. Key features are summarised in tables and diagrams, offering the reader valuable insights into the different centers. The next four chapters focus on selected aspects of the four main case study cities. Chapter 4 draws on both Cartagena and Cuenca to illustrate the influences of tourists, investors and relatives living outside historic centers. Globalization is a strong theme, although the chapter title suggests a greater emphasis on social construction. Scarpaci uses focus group discussions to conclude on the low levels of community participation in the patterns of change. Chapter 5 reports on the financing of historic preservation in Cartagena. The main section concerns the regulatory environment...

The changes of urban forms inside of post-socialist cities (during the last 25 years) had transformed the life-style of the city and created a more adaptable and resilient city. The core of the city, the historical city centre represent the object of the present study, whereby evidences and assessments of transformations that occurred had been highlighted. Using a GIS analysis, the socialist relicts inside of historical city centre are analysed from the economic, social and built-up area point of view. The historical transformations of the city are presented in order to understand the local context that the city (and historical centre) faced. The analysis concentrates upon the present state of the study area, aiming to reveal patterns of economic, social, demographic and morphologic features of urban transformations. The results emphasis a heterogeneous construction of the city centre, with a lack of cultural and urban identity, where social processes of gentrification, stratification, poverty and social exclusion cannot hide the process of rebranding that the city is trying to achieve.

The proposed topic of “sustainable management of the indoor and built environment,” in the specific case of historic centres may be condensed to the concept of “conservation of the existent.” The architecture of the historic centre of Oporto in Portugal, Unesco’s World heritage, is a remarkable testimony of sustainability. Local materials and local resources were naturally used over more than 300 in construction which has withstood the test of time. Traditional building materials and techniques should be a priority when selecting rehabilitation strategies for historic centres. The performance of these buildings within their original constructive system should be examined prior to intervention, resulting in a more conscious rehabilitation focusing on the principle of least interference. The main purpose of this paper is to highlight both the thermal and energy outcomes of minor interventions in historic centres, respecting the heritage values of buildings and cities while focusing on improving air infiltration rates linked to repeated use of the vernacular shading system, comprising internal wooden shutters. Using dynamic simulation analysis, the case study assesses energy performance in winter of a dwelling in a typical building kept in its original condition, in the historic heritage centre of Oporto. Also, a minor intervention is simulated to improve the ventilation and energy potential of these emblematic internal wooden shutters. The results obtained reinforce the idea of an inherent energy value within this vernacular constructive system, in addition to the heritage values.

Title of Document: THE CONSERVATION MOVEMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA: DEVELOPING A HISTORIC CONTEXT AND GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING STATE FORESTS AND PARKS Tyra Leigh Guyton, Master of Historic Preservation, 2015 Directed By: Dr. Dennis Pogue, Associate Professor, Historic Preservation The removal of timber by lumber companies during the Industrial Revolution caused wide spread environmental degradation and spurred a movement to preserve forests. At a time when conservation was a new concept to a nation that had a history of exploiting its resources, Pennsylvania led the way and helped shape a national policy of managed use of forests. This project creates a historic context for the conservation movement in Pennsylvania and develops guidelines to evaluate state forests and parks for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places. In Pennsylvania, there are insufficient guidelines to evaluate these properties resulting in their underrepresentation on the National Register of Historic Places. Development of a thorough context for these properties will allow for the identification and evaluation of more resources and create a better understanding of the role that Pennsylvania’s conservation movement played in preserving forests and developing parks, both in the state and nationally. THE CONSERVATION MOVEMENT IN PENNSYLVANIA: DEVELOPING A HISTORIC CONTEXT AND GUIDELINES FOR EVALUATING STATE FORESTS AND PARKS

After a long-standing debate of pluralism in heritage conservation, the global practice has just started to broaden its view from material to people and even to nature, leading to the potential of a more comprehensive understanding and harmony between these spheres. Notwithstanding that the shift from material to people and then to nature seemingly looks like the only path in the modern heritage conservation movement to achieve the foregoing goals, in fact, there exist some regional cultures that originally featured particular views on human–nature harmony. This paper hence highlights the regional difference in heritage with a focus on China of ancient times, which unfolds the particular perspective emphasising the unity of human and nature. With a case study of Huaqing Palace of the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE), the research is expected to be the first attempt to rediscover that the four schools of thought, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and I Ching, had jointly formed a “wisdom” system of the ancient Han Chinese in shaping the idea of cultural heritage, as well as the idea of heritage conservation, which were inherited by modern Chinese without knowing and recognising it. The paper, therefore, argues that without understanding and acknowledging the significance of the ancient Han Chinese’s particular view on nature and the universe formed by the four schools of thought behind the material, it is not likely to protect and promote comprehensively their heritage value, such that the importance of cultural diversity will be just rhetoric.

Identifying fire risk in urban centres is instrumental for supporting informed decision-making and outlining efficient vulnerability mitigation strategies. Historic centres are particularly complex in this regard due to the high density of combustible materials in these areas, the favourable fire propagation conditions between buildings, and the complex urban morphology, which makes the evacuation of inhabitants difficult in case of a fire emergency. Recent safety regulations tend not to be fully applicable to historic city centres, where the specificities of the buildings, together with the need to safeguard their heritage value, make the rules for new buildings incompatible. For that reason, an adaptation of current evaluation methods is required to assure the safety of these places. The present paper aims to contribute to this topic by presenting and discussing the results obtained from the application of a simplified fire risk assessment methodology to a representative part of the historic city centre of Aveiro, Portugal. Data were collected through fieldwork building inspections and the results were mapped using a Geographic Information System tool. The study reveals that around 63% of the assessed buildings have a level of fire risk greater than the level of risk which is acceptable for buildings with this type of use and value. Based on the work developed, different mitigation strategies are suggested and compared. Finally, the results obtained in this work are compared with results published for historic urban areas with similar characteristics.

A Novel Paradigm to Achieve Sustainable Regeneration in Historical Centres with Cultural Heritage

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present a narrative history of the birth of human resource management in the New Zealand hotel sector. This historical development is analysed through the influence of changes in the national economic and employment relations context, the demise of national corporatist structures and individual and enterprise level agency. Thereby, the paper provides a new explanatory framework for the origins of human resource management in hotels and also presents this unique birth of human resource management as a microcosm of the wider social, political and economic “big bang” that fundamentally changed the course of employment relations in New Zealand during the 1980s and 1990s.Design/methodology/approachThe data for this paper were gathered as part of a larger historical study of employment relations in the New Zealand hotel sector from 1955 to 2000. The sources for the study included semi-structured interviews and archival research, which were interpreted using manual thematic analysis.FindingsThe paper presents an original explanation of the birth of human resource management in New Zealand hotels by drawing on historical changes in national frameworks, corporatist approaches and individual agency, and thereby, it illustrates the uniqueness and intensity associated with the implementation of human resource management in New Zealand hotels.Originality/valueThis paper makes a significant contribution to the scant literature on the historical origins of human resource management. It also explains the historical and contextual embeddedness of various employment relations approaches in New Zealand hotels.

This paper explores the concept of healthy cities, emphasizing the need for urban environments that promote health, well-being, and sustainability. It highlights the challenges posed by rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and social inequalities. The World Health Organization’s definition of a healthy city is outlined, emphasizing the integration of physical and social environments to enhance quality of life. The paper reviews existing evaluation frameworks and certifications and proposes a toolkit for assessing the health of historic urban centers, incorporating factors like cultural heritage preservation, tourism, and social equity. The historic center of Chania which is used for the application of the proposed evaluation framework is characterized by moderate preservation, with signs of deterioration in some buildings and limited adaptive reuse. Environmental quality is relatively good, but noise pollution and low green space coverage are concerns. Accessibility for people with disabilities and public transportation services are inadequate, while cycling infrastructure is poorly developed. Climate resilience is weak, and sustainable tourism efforts are insufficient, leading to overcrowding and strain on infrastructure. Proposals for improvement include enhancing heritage preservation, expanding sustainable transport, increasing green spaces, and strengthening climate resilience. These measures aim to improve accessibility, livability, and sustainability for both residents and visitors.

PurposeWorldwide, natural hazards are affecting urban cultural heritage and World Heritage Sites, exacerbating other environmental and human-induced threats deriving from deterioration, uncontrolled urbanization and unsustainable tourism. This paper aims to develop a disaster risk analysis in Italian historic centers because they are complex large-scale systems that are cultural and economic resources for the country, as well as fragile areas.Design/methodology/approachA heritage-oriented qualitative methodology for risk assessment is proposed based upon the formalization of risk as a function of hazard, vulnerability and exposure, taking into account the values of cultural heritage assets.FindingsThis work provides a contribution to the body of knowledge in the Italian context of disaster risk mitigation on World Heritage Sites, opening for further research on the monitoring and maintenance of the tangible heritage assets. The application to the site of San Gimignano proves the effectiveness of the methodology for proposing preventive measures and actions that ensure the preservation of cultural values and a safer built environment.Originality/valueThe application of a value-based simplified approach to risk analysis is a novelty for historic centers that are listed as World Heritage Sites.

The Impact of UNESCO World Heritage List on Historic Urban City Centers and its Place in Urban Regeneration: The Case of Melaka, Malaysia and Tire, Turkey

Within the last 20 years, medium-sized cities in Portugal’s interior have been subject to a process of “desertification.” They have progressively lost in terms of economic activity, value and vitality, with the corresponding erosion of their heritage value. One exception to this general trend is the town of Évora. Of particular note is the vitality of its historic center (designated as a World Heritage Site in 1986) and the balance achieved between the center and a number of subcenters outside the walls. Here, urban centralities have proven to be an essential component of the urban structure in the fight against urban failure. This research project analyzes the relationship between town planning and the emergence of urban centralities. Historic towns are a very particular case, with subcenters emerging as a town grows and the historic center co-evolving with the entire urban area and surrounding urban centralities. The rise of centralities testifies to the vitality of the town. This article seeks to understand what factors have led to the balance of urban centralities in Évora by examining their structure and how they have emerged in the context of planning policies and urban growth. The methodology adopted crosses the results of three different approaches to highlight the emergence of urban centralities: identification and assessment of urban centralities, analysis of urban areas based on a space syntax approach, and the study of urban planning and management policies focused on centralities. The results help to characterize urban centralities that coexist with a strong historic center.

Active mobility in historical centres: towards an accessible and competitive city

The rapid urbanization, taking place in Southwest Nigeria in the last 40years has necessitated the need for regenerating the historic city cores of the region. The state governments and big private stakeholders determine the key narratives for the urban upgrades. Loss of patrimonial stock of indigenous buildings and communal cohesion in these enclaves after upgrading often lead to a complete loss of the socio-cultural heritage. The promotion of urban tourism, which is ideal for cities with heritage values, is thus made more challenging for these cities. This study examines the sensitive nature of upgrade programmes as it affects historic city centres. A review of instances in the area is concluded with a case study of the Abeokuta city core. The study was carried out using literature about upgrades in Southwest Nigeria and field studies that involved interviews and questionnaires in Abeokuta city core. The research discovered that while residents are aware of the programmes, they had no input in the planning and implementation, whereas, they appreciate heritage preservation and prefer to be carried along in the planning. The research concluded that more inclusive policy planning and project participation would have entrenched heritage preservation, stemmed the rate of gentrification, and produce more acceptable outcomes.