Urban morphology and place identity in European cities: built heritage and innovative design

Abstract

In the processes of economic and cultural globalization, European integration and the blur of national identities in Europe, place identity emerges as a central concern of both scholars and other people. This paper examines the ways specific aspects of urban morphology such as built heritage and the innovative design of space may contribute to place identity in European cities. First, it develops a theoretical conjecture that in post‐modern multi‐ethnic and multi‐cultural societies, innovative design of space can efficiently work as a place identity generator in the same ways built heritage has been performing in modern—culturally bounded and nation‐state‐oriented—European societies. This conjecture is then tested by research in the city of Bilbao. The outcome of the research supports the argument that innovative design schemes: (1) may permit divergent interpretations by individuals thereby fitting into the ‘diversity’ and ‘individualization’ of new modernity; (2) may synchronize different ethnic/cultural/social groups by offering themselves as a new common terrain for experiencing and familiarizing with new forms of space; (3) by becoming landmarks and promoting tourism/economic development, may generate new social solidarities among inhabitants grounded on ‘civic pride’ and economic prospects.