Importance-performance analysis of the Historic Centre of Krakow’s revitalisation plan through the lens of the Historic Urban Landscape approach

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore possible contributions of natural resources for the historic urban landscape (HUL) approach. It points to several possible avenues for collaborative research, which can expand the discourse on the topic of urban sustainability with different disciplines of heritage studies, natural resource management, urban planning and disaster risk reduction.Design/methodology/approach– There are already several UNESCO initiatives such as the Man and Biosphere Programme, World Heritage Forests Programme and the World Heritage Programme for Small Island Developing States, which the HUL approach can learn from to understand approaches that integrate natural resource management in urban planning methods. Different cases from the USA, Japan and Singapore applying landscape approaches have also been documented in this research.Findings– Several examples have been found in which natural resources are integrated to bigger strategies of urban planning. Japan has enacted the “Landscape Law” in 2004 to highlight the importance of preserving landscapes in improving the quality and viability of community life. The “Mauritius Strategy” created by small island developing states is another example. It holistically looks at policies to deal with environmental challenges while advocating economic growth and protecting cultural and natural heritage, among other concerns. The long tradition of creating greenways in the USA have also contributed in presenting heritage assets and providing environmental benefits. The High Line in New York City is a good example of this.Originality/value– In line with the HUL approach, the research points out possibilities of non-traditional collaborations in solving current urban challenges. Finding ways of linking natural resources to a bigger urban framework can inspire new solutions for the interlinked problems of urban growth, heritage management and nature conservation amidst climate change.

UNESCO’s Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention (the “Operational Guidelines”) establish procedures for the inscription of properties on the World Heritage List. In 2021, one of the more significant recent changes to the Operational Guidelines occurred. The guidelines for the inscription of cultural landscapes, towns, canals and routes that had been included in Annex 3 were replaced by the Preliminary Assessment Request Format. This article examines the reasons behind the change to Annex 3 and the potential for the reincorporation of inscription guidelines for cultural landscapes, towns, canals and routes. The article commences by tracing the emergence of the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach in response to the growing recognition of urban heritage and the threat of urbanization, as we argue the development of the HUL approach is a major impetus to change Annex 3. Steps leading to the adoption of UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape and the significance of its implementation for urban heritage conservation are then examined. Analysis of relevant World Heritage documentation then indicates that the removal of the inscription guidelines from Annex 3 was a temporary measure to facilitate the integration of the HUL approach. Further analysis of the Annex 3 revision process highlights the limitations in the HUL approach and political challenges within the World Heritage system as factors impeding progress. This article contributes to understanding the dynamics of heritage conservation policies and the complexities surrounding the integration of innovative approaches like the HUL into international frameworks.

In 2011, a new approach was introduced into the management of heritage on Ilha de Moçambique by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Known as the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach, this seeks to expand current understanding of the island’s historic urban heritage, recognising that ‘heritage’ is not limited solely to monuments or the built environment. Importantly, HUL incorporates urban sustainable development within the scope of heritage preservation. Given this, the adoption of the HUL approach has the potential to contribute to ensuring the authenticity and integrity of the built heritage, as prescribed by the 1972 UNESCO Convention, of Ilha de Moçambique, and effectively maintaining the Outstanding Universal Values that resulted in the declaration of the island as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. This paper discusses how local communities use the resources and heritage available to them and the central role of commerce, and the marketplace, in the heritage landscape of the island. A critical aspect of this is the sale of antiquities, including archaeological items, to tourists. Perspectives developed within the Rising from the Depths (RftD) network recently supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) UK, with funding from the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF), offer positive alternative solutions to overcome this challenging situation. In particular, the network sought to identify how the tangible submerged and coastal Marine Cultural Heritage (MCH) of Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Madagascar, and its associated intangible aspects, can be utilised to stimulate ethical, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth in the region. Our paper demonstrates how the implementation of the RftD initiative when combined with the HUL approach can help to increase awareness among communities on Ilha de Moçambique about the relevance of their heritage and the need for preserving it while meeting everyday needs.

In 2015, the Study of Xi’an Historic Walled City Regeneration Strategy applied the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) Approach through experimenting and testing digital technologies following recommended action steps of HUL Approach. Within the context of urbanisation and heritage deterioration happened past decades in Chinese cities, this paper proposes an innovative HUL Information System that can be used to integrate the approach and technical support measures. This enables comprehensive identification of spatial–temporal relativity of urban landscape morphology, linking between the past and present. The use of spatial digital tools such as aerial photo modeling, geographic information system analysis, and space syntax is explored to trace the continuity of the historical landscape in the built environment. The research team uncovered the context of Xi’an’s cultural and historical landscape through historical literature and related studies over past decades, and summarised and obtained a spatial data set for the dominant historical landscape pattern of the walled city area. Compared with the existing spatial pattern identified by digital tools, the findings showed similarity with historical landscape patterns, including part of a fengshui landform, the 17th to 19th century water system, and an evolving community habitat. This could be explained by the literature and academic research, which demonstrates the influence of historic landscape system in urban evolution. This research aims to show the potential of the HUL Information System as a technical support for urban conservation in Chinese cities, particularly with regard to mapping resources, which is fundamental toward other relevant steps in the HUL approach.

The objectives of this study are to assess the trajectory of the heritage conservation system of the Historic Site of Olinda (HSO) and evaluate the impact of this system on the conservation of the heritage assets of the site in the long run. As analytical reference for the analysis will be the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach developed by UNESCO, the period of analysis is 1968–2016. The HSO is a good example of an incremental system that incorporates progressively instruments of urban planning, conservation management, monitoring, documentation, citizen participation, funding, and others that closely followed what would be a similar approach to that proposed by HUL. HSO is also a good example of increasing value of their urban properties due to the conservation policies. The HSO is the main economic asset of the city and, therefore, attracts the initiatives of economic agents to adjust their actions to environmental and constructive conditions of the site, the regulation system, and the opportunities created by the local economic environment. The control and management system of public urban conservation are the adjustment factors between the valuation of the place and the quality of its conservation. In relation to HUL, the case of the HSO is a good example of an incremental conservation system constructed closely to the dynamics of local development process. It shows forward and backward movements as is expected in a complex and democratic society. Also it reflects the larger-scale movement of the interpretation of what is the cultural heritage of an urban historic site. The central questions that the HUL approach tries to help answer constitute the core of today’s challenges for the planning and conservation system of the Historic Site of Olinda.

The Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach offers an innovative integrated approach to urban conservation based on layering analysis. However, adapting the HUL layering model to the East Asian context, particularly China, is problematic. This issue can be addressed by incorporating connection analysis into the HUL approach. The current study emphasises the need to consider the interwoven spatial structure of the urban landscape and treat deeper cultural-natural ties as those embodied in the traditional Chinese concept of Fengshui. Taking Jingdezhen, the historic centre of China’s traditional ceramics industry, as a case study, this study demonstrates local knowledge of natural geography and local intelligence regarding settlement location and design. The results indicate that the natural system is at the core of Jingdezhen’s HUL, and the elements of nature, function and spirit form a holistic and interactive system.

PurposeRecognisable urban fabric of Sarajevo was developed over different periods throughout history. The historic core called Bascarsija (Bašcaršija) was designated as protected area by the Regulatory plan in 1975. Establishing boundaries for the protection of the historic area triggered attitude, which expanded to embrace other architectural ensembles too and, with the decision’s final passage, even a wider area. Sarajevo is proclaimed as Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) in 2020 by the Decision of the Commission to preserve National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This paper aims to evaluate effects of HUL approach applied on the case of Sarajevo, which is mostly limited to the new adjustments made to the governing of the protected areas.Design/methodology/approachReferring to the HUL Recommendation, the content of the current decision as well as its practical implications and the extent of stakeholder engagement was evaluated, and the summary of practical results, if any, three years (since 2020) after the adaptation.FindingsHUL approach applied on case of Sarajevo is currently reflected only as a Decision with limited practical effects. This paper, therefore, defined the missing tools. Also, it was possible to distinguish positive and negative effects, and limitations of the applied HUL approach reflected in practice.Originality/valueAccording to the international legislation, HUL is understood to be a comprehensive approach that covers a greater area in order to improve urban living sustainably and encourage the preservation of historic assets. Learning from the case of Sarajevo, from its consequences on the ground and limitations for successful application, this paper contributes to the understanding of the HUL approach.

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to provide an overview and critical outlook of current evaluation tools for the implementation of the UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach, focusing on the need of multidimensional / multistakeholder evaluation and impact assessment to turn heritage / landscape into a driver of sustainable development.Methodology/Approach: We analyse the definition of Historic Urban Landscape comparing the thoretical mandate to current tools / practices. Based on literature review and critical analysis of recent experiences, we identify indicators categories and evaluation methods that can be applied for a reacher cost-benefit analysis.Findings: Indicators and evaluation methods for multidmensional impact assessment of conservation / regeneration are not applied in HUL recent initiatives and guidelines. Evaluation tools can be developed and tested to inform decision-making processes and to turn the cultural value of heritage / landscape into a resource able to attract investments. A framework for HUL impact assessment can be structured including wellbeing indicators and stakeholders analysis.Research Limitation/implication: New hybrid tools are proposed, providing a possible toolkit for evaluation. However, it needs further testing and implementation.Originality/Value of paper: This paper contributes to bridging the gap between the theoretical approach of the Historic Urban Landscape and its operative practice. The HUL approach has been generally acquired in the theoretical research, but its implementation is still sporadic, and unframed into urban regeneration policies. Evaluation tools are not incorporated in the HUL practices. This paper aims to advance the existing knowledge on evaluation tools to make operational the HUL approach.

Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) identifies an urban area due to its cultural and natural values and the qualities of its historical plane. Within this context, this article aims to determine and categorize these values used in the HUL approach as indicators. The research question focuses on finding specific indicators used in the HUL approach to measuring change beyond considering natural and cultural heritage values in the landscape context. These indicators in 228 peer-reviewed publications implementing the HUL from 2008 to 2021 are assessed. The six-step inclusive and exclusive theoretical framework is established as a method in this article to detect the inadequate implementations of HUL in case studies. The initial finding of this article is that the adequacy of using the HUL approach in publications is questionable as the implementation of the HUL approach processes was incomplete or misunderstood in most of them. Only 29 articles of the 228 publications implemented the HUL approach in its entirety. The other finding is that when the change measurement indicators in the HUL approach are examined, it is evident that natural indicators were the least used group compared to cultural and identity indicators. Each cultural, natural, and identity indicator group should be utilized evenly to implement the HUL approach adequately. This article presents a fundamental indicator list that includes cultural, natural, and identity groups for correctly using the HUL approach.

The General Conference of UNESCO directly linked the underlying principles of the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach to the adoption of the Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape in November 2011. It has been hailed as a new paradigm to include all aspects of conservation in an integrated framework. To explore the awareness about the HUL approach and its implementation in Asia, this chapter discusses two case studies – Yangon in Myanmar and Macau in China. These cases show how tourism becomes a key stakeholder and protagonist heavily influencing the implementation of this HUL concept in urban heritage planning of postcolonial cities. The chapter contrasts the recently developed Yangon Heritage Strategy with urban heritage conservation planning initiatives in Macau, SAR China – another postcolonial heritage city in Asia. The chapter also explores how, despite strong links back to Europe and other Western countries (such as Australia), much of the cultural heritage management practice in these two places has developed along different lines, strongly influenced by local socio-political and economic considerations.

The inevitable effects of globalisation and urbanisation have caused significant challenges to urban conservation. In response, UNESCO introduced the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach in 2011. This approach views the historical urban area as the result of a continuous ‘historic layering’ process, suggesting that conservation and management plans should recognise this dynamic process. Accordingly, this study adopts the ‘historic layering’ concept as a methodological framework to guide urban heritage conservation. It begins by defining ‘historic layering’ through authoritative sources and existing studies. Then, it explores the concept’s origins and its similarities to other layer approaches, as the foundation for proposing the methodological framework. Lastly, the study identifies a three-step implementation strategy as the ‘historic layering’ methodological framework: identifying layers, studying layers and analysing the interactions on and between layers. This framework aims to provide a way to ground the HUL approach from a theoretical level into a practical level for urban heritage conservation.

This study presents the first systematic regional assessment of how the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach has been understood and applied in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) cities between 2011 and 2022. The HUL approach is framed as a socio-spatial perspective shaped by historical layering, cultural practices, ecological structures, and contemporary development pressures. A systematic review of academic publications and institutional gray literature (Scopus, Google Scholar, and municipal repositories) was conducted to evaluate both conceptual understanding and methodological implementation aligned with the six steps of the 2011 HUL Recommendation. Findings reveal a clear implementation gap: although awareness of the HUL approach has increased across the region, its practical application remains partial. Steps 1 and 2 focused on value identification and participatory engagement show the highest adoption, while steps 4 and 6 which require interinstitutional coordination and integration into statutory planning instruments exhibit limited progress. Academic and research institutions play a more prominent role than local governments in leading or supporting HUL-related actions, indicating persistent institutional and governance constraints. Results highlight the need to strengthen municipal capacities, integrate HUL-based diagnostics into urban planning systems, and consolidate participatory, interdisciplinary, and multilevel governance mechanisms to close the gap between conceptual uptake and operational implementation.

Conceptualizing water and heritage together is a key challenge. Only in recent years has heritage management started to embrace sustainable development in the context of heritage preservation. The UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach and policy recommendations for sustainable development integration exemplify this recent development. This contribution examines World Heritage discourses through the lenses of water and heritage as a system. It specifically explores the relation between World Heritage management and water management of World Heritage sites. In doing so, it aims to reinforce the role of water and water management in the World Heritage framework, both in terms of theory and process. It concludes with a call for a stronger acknowledgment of water management as part of good practices for World Heritage sites and their management.

Since the debates on the New Heritage Paradigm for Managing Change in 2000s, the polemics on “cultural heritage/urban preservation” vs. “urban development”, challenges of integrating contemporary architecture within historic urban area and gaps between theory and practice still occur despite the adopted Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach in 2011. The article provides a research aimed at finding current trends in theory and practice concerning the comprehensive assessment of cultural heritage preservation and urban development practice, critical views on HUL approach and development of new alternative approaches & strategies, including the search of the new forms of urban heritage as contemporary architecture, and the best practices in integration of cultural heritage sites with contemporary architecture within urban area. It contributes to the further researches and discussions on the form, direction and capacity of contemporary architecture integration within historic urban landscape to ensure managing urban changes for sustainable urban development.

This paper reflects on the application and adaptation of the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach in Beirut, Lebanon, in post-disaster conditions. Adopted by UNESCO in 2005, the HUL approach marked a shift in addressing urban heritage, echoing an evolution in theory. However, contextualizing the HUL approach to address distinct local, geographic, and cultural conditions and reframing its scale and scope of operation remains a challenge. This paper uses a case-study-based methodology as it reflects on the application of the Historic Urban Landscape approach in the post-blast context of Beirut. Commissioned by UNESCO, an interdisciplinary team at the Beirut Urban Lab used the HUL approach to identify modern heritage in Beirut after adapting it to the post-colonial and Mediterranean context of the city. This study contextualized modern heritage definitions, proposed a periodization of modern built and landscape heritage, and designated modern heritage based on its formal/spatial, urban/landscape, socio-cultural, and environmental values. This paper argues that the study contributes to the advancement of the Historic Urban Landscape approach by operationalizing it into an applicable heritage framework, employing a transdisciplinary model that involves local people at the institutional and community levels, and serving as a basis for generating conservation strategies responsive to place and culture. This study also pioneered a comprehensive, integrative, and transdisciplinary reading of modern heritage in Beirut, breaking the professional silos between disciplines and bringing landscape into the identification of heritage in Lebanon.