Historic Center Research Articles

The Influence of the Aggregate Configuration on the Seismic Assessment of Unreinforced Masonry Buildings in Historic Urban Areas

Unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings in historic urban areas of European countries are generally clustered in an aggregate configuration and are often characterized by façade walls mutually interconnected with adjacent ones. As a result, the seismic performance of buildings in an aggregate configuration can be affected by the mutual interaction between the adjacent units. This interaction, often called the aggregate effect, could significantly influence the level of the seismic vulnerability of URM buildings in aggregate configuration toward in-plane and out-of-plane mechanisms, the latter being the object of the present paper. Traditional methods for assessing the seismic vulnerability of URM buildings neglect the interactions between adjacent buildings, potentially underestimating the actual vulnerability. This study aims to derive fragility curves specific for UMR buildings in aggregate configuration and proposes an innovative methodology that introduces the aggregate effect into an analytical approach, previously developed by the authors for isolated URM buildings. The aggregate effect is modeled by accounting for the friction forces arising among adjacent facades during the development of out-of-plane overturning mechanisms by considering different scenarios, based on how façade walls interact with neighboring structures (e.g., whether they are connected to transverse and/or lateral coplanar ones). The proposed approach is applied to a real case study of an Italian historical center. The obtained results demonstrate that the aggregate effect significantly influences the fragility curves of URM buildings arranged in aggregate configurations. This highlights the importance of considering this effect and the usefulness of the proposed approach for large-scale assessments of seismic vulnerability in historic urban areas, contributing to sustainable disaster risk prevention.

Об ойратских текстах из рукописного сборника БМ-574 из коллекции П. Б. Балданжапова

Introduction. The collection of Oirat manuscripts by the famous Buryat scientist P. B. Baldanzhapov presents samples of Oirat texts collected by him during expeditions to Mongolia in the 1960s–1970s. Among these texts, along with hymns, praises of the deities of the Buddhist pantheon, sutras, fortune-telling books, descriptions of incense rituals, dharani texts (tarni) and texts against slander are presented. The purpose of the article is to present a description of the handwritten collection BM 574 in the Oirat language from the collection of P. B. Baldanzhapov, stored in the collections of the Central Historical Research Center of the IMBT SB RAS. Materials. The collection in question includes two texts: Xutuqtu biligiyin cāna kürüqsen tabün yoümiyin xürāngγüyin züreken kemēkü (“Holy [dharani], called ‘The Heart (Essence) of the Assembly of Five Mothers Who Have Achieved Transcendent Wisdom‘”) and Xutuqtu xara ama kele amurli ülün üyiledüqči kemēkü yeke külgüni sudur (“The Holy Mahayana Sutra, called “Pacifying Slander”). Results. Based on the analysis of the texts of the collection under consideration, their transliteration and translation into Russian in comparison with a number of published texts similar in topic, it was concluded that these texts are evidence of the existence of the Buddhist tradition among the Mongolian peoples, allowing one to get an idea of the thematic diversity of texts that have been circulating among believers. The texts considered shed light on the ritual side of Buddhist practice, aimed at eliminating various types of disasters and negative phenomena in the daily life of believers.

Homeownership Habitus and Residential Practice of Highly-Skilled Chinese Migrants in the Netherlands

ABSTRACT This paper proposes a “homeownership habitus” concept to understand the residential practice of highly-skilled young Chinese migrants in the Netherlands. Using 41 interviews, we show how and why they typically become homeowners soon after securing stable employment. Even without planning to stay in the Netherlands long-term, buying properties was taken for granted, sanctioned by the Chinese value framework whereby homeownership is not only a status-marker and rational economic choice, but integral to adulthood transitions. Homeownership was often enabled by familial intergenerational support, also functioning as a transnational investment strategy. Such rapid tenure transition included spatial strategies to buy in “good” suburban locations or more affordable lower-reputation localities. The historic city centres of Amsterdam and Utrecht were deemed expensive and housing stock old, while Rotterdam’s modern city centre was popular among them. This paper contributes to literature on highly-skilled Chinese in Western cities, residential practice of migrants and transnational materialization of habitus across fields.

We are what we eat. Food and gentrification in two historic centers designated by UNESCO

We are what we eat. Food and gentrification in two historic centers designated by UNESCO

Incidence of environmental factors on travertine façade of heritage buildings in the historic center of Cuenca-Ecuador. A test scenario through Digital Imagen Processing

The problem of architectural heritage conservation in a consolidated historic urban context is of worldwide relevance. In Ecuador, and specifically in Cuenca, there are no specific approaches to evaluate the environmental impact on the heritage deterioration, therefore, an alternative diagnostic of travertine facades is proposed to define the levels of deterioration based on climatic factors through a case study. Two research stages are developed; 1) preliminary diagnosis of the architectural, environmental and anthropic components, using architectural cards and Leopold’s Multivariable Matrix; and 2) quasi-experimental analysis with a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative) based on real-time data collection of potential environmental variables to generate deterioration, which focuses on image processing. This technique is gaining momentum because it offers the possibility of studying the characteristics of surfaces through a non-invasive procedure. This paper describes the application of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NVDI) algorithm applied to RGB images known as False-NVDI in order to obtain the deterioration caused by the incidence of environmental factors on the travertine facades. In particular, images of two buildings belonging to the Historic Center of the City of Cuenca were used. The results indicate that this technique has a great potential to determine three levels of deterioration; good, fair and bad. At the same time, it is confirmed that the proposed methodology is an effective and low-cost tool with high potential for short-term application in previous studies and more extensive research prior to intervention.

A Quantitative and Qualitative Experimental Framework for the Evaluation of Urban Soundscapes: Application to the City of Sidi Bou Saïd

A Quantitative and Qualitative Experimental Framework for the Evaluation of Urban Soundscapes: Application to the City of Sidi Bou Saïd

Walkability index for world heritage cities in developing countries

Walkability principles are an important part in the planning process of cities that face urban problems such as gentrification, pollution, and decay of their built heritage. The proposed factors – connectivity, proximity, land use mix, and retail density – form a comprehensive framework for evaluating walkability that transcends the boundaries of historical cities. These factors, while initially identified within historical contexts, possess inherent qualities that render them universally adaptable to various urban landscapes. By leveraging these factors, urban planners gain insights into the intricate fabric of pedestrian experiences in cities. They serve as universal evaluative tools, applicable not only to historical cities but also to burgeoning metropolises and smaller urban centres. This work introduces a novel approach to assessing the Walkability Index for World Heritage Cities, utilizing a Multiple Criteria Spatial Decision Support System (GIS-MCDA) structured in four stages. The approached methodology is particularly valuable for governments and decision-makers in developing countries of the Global South, where limitations in data and available tools are common challenges. The insights gained from this study can guide the improvement of policies, enable more precise implementation of sustainable mobility infrastructure, and motivate the pursuit or maintenance of UNESCO World Heritage nominations. The case study focused on the Historical Centre of Arequipa, Peru, a city designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in such contexts, owing to its specificity and the integration of both objective and subjective elements.

A framework for multi-risk assessment in a historical area of Lisbon

Historic areas have faced escalating risks due to population growth, urbanization, climate change, and increasing public awareness. Existing risk assessment methods often focus on individual hazards, necessitating a more integrated approach. This research introduces a comprehensive multi-risk model to assess the potential impacts of rainfall and earthquakes on Lisbon's historic city centre. The model considers key risk components – hazard, exposure, and vulnerability – providing a detailed evaluation. Pluvial flood hazards for different return periods were analysed using a proper hydrological model, and seismic hazards were estimated based on PGA values (0.035g–0.25g) with a 10 % exceedance probability over 50 years. Concerning the exposure, the paper integrates spatial distribution data acquired through satellite remote sensing and GIS tools, along with census data. Vulnerability assessments for ordinary unreinforced masonry buildings (URM) used the Risk-UE method and flood stage-damage curves. The results obtained through a multi-exposure and multi-vulnerability framework provide insight into the expected building losses: for a 475/500-year return period, the estimated losses are approximately 1150 M€ for earthquakes and 22 M€ for floods. The higher losses for earthquakes are attributed to structural damage, whereas flood losses are predominantly associated with indirect impacts and loss of contents. This study marks a novelty in the application of risk assessment methodologies in Portugal addressing multiple hazards and highlights the protection of the built environment to mitigate economic and human losses. The paper serves as a starting point for further assessments, offering an overview of the influence of multiple risks on urban settings.

Olive grove landscape change: A spatial analysis using multitemporal geospatial datasets

This research examines the evolution of olive landscapes in Cartoceto, Italy, post-World War II. This study investigates the structural and functional attributes of two distinct olive cultivation models, mixed olive groves with a low tree density and high-density olive groves. The research employs remote sensing aerial imagery and land use cartography to reconstruct the past terrain and classify distinct categories of olive orchards. Landscape metrics are utilised to evaluate the impact of human and natural factors on the temporal development of olive landscapes across multiple spatial configurations, defined as Landscape-scale and sub-units or Landscape Units. The results indicate that olive landscapes have experienced noteworthy alterations, characterised by a reduction in the conventional large-scale system and an increase in specialised planting models of smaller sizes, classified as “high intensity”. The region surrounding Cartoceto's historic centre has conserved a greater variety of mixed olive heritage and has witnessed the emergence of novel high densities of trees compared to other areas. Obtaining these results has been facilitated solely by utilising diverse spatial configurations of smaller sub-units than the entire landscape. The outcomes of this investigation provide a foundation for forthcoming enquiries into olive terrains and the development of sustainable rural landscape strategies.

Renovation of the urban environment of the historical center of the city of novaya ladoga

The architectural and urban heritage of large and small Russian cities is currently not fully appreciated and used to improve the quality of life of the population. Medium and small cities of the Leningrad region have a rich natural and historical and cultural potential and need further spatial development. This work is devoted to the master planning of a fragment of the historical settlement of Novaya Ladoga in the framework of the annual competition “The Concept of Spatial Development of Municipalities of the Leningrad Region”, which was held by the Committee for Urban Planning Policy of the Leningrad Region. One of the fundamental tasks of the urban development of the territory in this case is continuity, the preservation of historical and cultural diversity and the memory of the place. The novelty of the conceptual project proposal lies in the creation of not only a coherent and integral system of public spaces at the citywide and regional levels through a system of points of attraction in order to develop tourism, but also in the formation of an identical cultural and educational cluster to increase the level of human potential of the settlement. Thus, as a result of the renovation of the urban environment, an attempt was made to link the times through the formation of a cultural and educational center and a developing modern infrastructure.

3D Point Cloud and GIS Approach to Assess Street Physical Attributes

The present research explores an innovative approach to objectively assessing urban streets attributes using 3D point clouds and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Urban streets are vital components of cities, playing a significant role in the lives of their residents. Usually, the evaluation of some of their physical attributes has been subjective, but this study leverages 3D point clouds and digital terrain models (DTM) to provide a more objective perspective. This article undertakes a micro-urban analysis of basic physical characteristics (slope, width, and human scale) of a representative street in the historic centre of Valencia (Spain), utilizing 3D laser-scanned point clouds and GIS tools. Applying the proposed methodology, thematic maps were generated, facilitating the objective identification of areas with physical attributes more conducive to suitable pedestrian dynamics. This approach provides a comprehensive understanding of urban street attributes, emphasizing the importance of addressing their assessment through advanced digital technologies. Moreover, this versatile methodology has diverse applications, contributing to social sustainability by enhancing the quality of urban streets and open spaces.

Classicism in the Saratov region

Saratov’s classicism is the first stage of its capital construction. It plays a major role in the formation of the architectural environment of the historical center. Classicism also influences the formation of the central part of the city. The article considers the processes of organization and self-organization of buildings in Saratov during the period of Classicism.Purpose: Identification of classicism buildings in Saratov.Methodology/approach: The main levels of scientific knowledge are accepted: a theoretical method involving the study of documents describing the architecture of classicism, a practical method to determine the elements of the environment, their harmony, and the systems analysis of these documents.Research findings: Regional properties of Saratov are studied for the period of classicism.Value: A study of harmony in the architectural environment of the historical center Saratov.

The relationship between urban form and land-use regulation in China: the case of Nanjing

Urban form is shaped by numerous factors interacting across various social strata, notably influenced by the dynamics of economic development and urban policy. Urban planning policies related to land use play a vital role in the change and management of urban form. In this context, this study examines the influence of land use regulations on urban form in China, using Nanjing as a case study. We investigate relevant urban planning policies at national, provincial, and local city planning administration levels. Depending on their impact on urban form, these policies can be classified as having a direct impact, an indirect influence or no effect, predominantly encompassing mandatory land use conditions, building layout and guiding principles for urban landscape organization. Focusing on land use regulations at the street- block and plot scale, we established a morphological model adhering to these regulations and a correlation evaluation chart. This correlation was validated using 142 plots and 5 street blocks in Nanjing’s historical city centre. Our findings reveal the implications of these policies on the specific physical structure of the urban form through theoretical and empirical analysis. This research significantly contributes to the method of morphological modelling and the revision of relevant urban policy and design specifications.

Times and spaces of crime in the Historic Centre of Porto: Evidence from official data

The analysis of official data is a traditional strategy to study criminality in a geographic space (e.g., city, country). This work focuses on the analysis of the official statistics of crime against property at the Historic Centre of Porto, Portugal, in 2018. It addresses temporal (i.e., by period of the week, time of day) and spatial patterns (i.e., spatial analysis, typology of spaces) of crime occurrences. The database was analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics, and by spatial density analysis. Theft was the most common type of crime, although crime types varied greatly with location, and time of the day. There were no significant differences on crime occurrences by days of the week and most crimes were reported in the afternoon. Concerning typology of spaces, most crimes occurred at linear spaces, especially robberies. Findings can be very useful for sustainable and considered urban planning, by aligning the location of material and human resources with the detection of seasonal and comparable crime patterns, enabling more efficient crime prevention in urban areas.

Inclusiveness of Public Space: Experimental Approaches for the Revitalisation of Smaller Historic Urban Centres

In recent decades, many small Italian historic centers—particularly those situated inland—have witnessed a population decline due to inadequate access to public services and facilities. However, this depopulation has also allowed many centers to retain their distinctive features, now conferring upon them great cultural–historical and landscape value. New quality-of-life-centered economic models present the development of accessible public services as a necessity. Such a process could catalyze the recovery and growth of these centers, which continue to be deserted, regardless of their value. This paper considers combined solutions, including sustainable mobility, digital accessibility, networked services, and technological devices by applying them to trans-scalar studies with the goal of achieving sustainable outcomes. Some of the proposed solutions are the resolution of irregular ground levels, the use of electric vehicles, the creation of sharing models, the physical overhaul of routes, and the retrofitting of minor buildings for inclusive use in a comprehensive human-centered approach toward regeneration. This study is in line with the European guidelines for sustainable and intelligent mobility, whose goal is for at least one hundred European cities to become accessible to all and shifted to zero-emission mobility. Here, sustainable and smart mobility is understood not only as an improvement of environmental and social conditions, but also as a catalyst for environmental and social improvements and as an opportunity to enhance the livability of smaller, geographically isolated historic centers, moving toward a new economy of urban reclamation.

Credo, sentido y organización social en la imaginería cristiana de Tunja, Colombia

In this article, we delve into the role of religious images in the doctrine, worship, and social fabric of Catholic faithful in Tunja, Colombia. As a city steeped in colonial heritage, Christianity has become deeply ingrained in both spiritual and cultural aspects of life. The text explores the intricate relationships between believers and sacred images, reflecting on how the imagery encapsulates, while representing, forms of cohesion and social identification mediated by devotional and organizational experiences. It also presents ethnographic and historical references focusing on the experiences of devotion of members of brotherhoods and devotional groups, particularly their involvement in processions and religious celebrations within the city's historic center. As a result of these public activities with the images, there is a binding association between believers and imagery that extends beyond the religious realm, influencing various aspects of collective life. The article discusses two key processes: the borrowing and extraction of images from religious sites, and the significance attributed to these images by believers outside the ecclesiastical institution, extending their value and meaning to guild and organizational processes that are also part of the faithful’s lives and social values.

A Study of the Kharkiv Architectural Avant-Garde

The article addresses the issue of preserving Kharkiv’s architectural heritage from the first third of the 20th century. The main focus is on the preservation of authenticity of the early modernist heritage in the context of a crisis situation associated with the overall state of heritage preservation in Ukraine and during active military operations. The research was conducted in the context of the planning development and spatial structure of the Kharkiv historical center and suburbs, where new workers’ settlements were formed, as well as considering the architectural layers within the structure of historical districts of Kharkiv. The main objective of the study is to determine the value and authenticity of the architectural heritage of early modernism. The study employed the methods of historical, retrospective, and comprehensive analysis. The general plan of the “Socialist Reconstruction of Kharkiv” from 1931-1933 and the historical-architectural reference plan of Kharkiv from 2019 were analysed as additional sources. The research results provide comprehensive information about the architectural and urban heritage of this period and emphasize the attention to the issue of preservation of authenticity. The conclusions of this work will serve as a basis for further development of specific measures for the conservation, restoration, and preservation of historical monuments in Kharkiv from the first third of the 20th century. The research will also contribute to raising public awareness about the value of early modernist architectural heritage and encourage the implementation of restoration programs to preserve these important landmarks.

The Impact of Pollution on Cultural Heritage in the Historic Centre of Porto, Portugal

Pollution is a constant threat to cultural heritage, mainly affecting its constituent materials, and it is urgent to implement mitigation and adaptation measures to prevent pollution. The city of Porto currently has several initiatives that aim to prepare this municipality for climate change adaptation. This article aims to study the impact of pollution on built heritage, as well as the initiatives that are being implemented in the Municipality of Porto (as part of the Portuguese Camino to Santiago) to protect heritage, based on three case studies, namely Carmelitas Church, São João Novo Church, and Vitória Church, contextualising them over time and understanding their structure and materials. The methodology is based on an anomalies survey through local and surrounding photographic records to assess the effects of pollution, following the model developed at Carmo Church in Olinda, Pernambuco. This study’s results showed that the stone facade of Carmelitas Church, which is in a busier area of the city, is much more deteriorated when compared with the other case studies due to the direct impact of pollution.

La educación de jóvenes y adultos en la hostelería: un estudio sobre el curso técnico Proeja en alojamiento en el Instituto Federal de Maranhão

We aim with this work to identify the profile of the students of the Proeja Course (Youth and Adult Education) in Hotel Management at IFMA - Historic Center of São Luís - MA, to map the students' conceptions about the course, during the training process, aiming to present the main demands of this process. This was qualitative research supported by quantitative elements. A questionnaire was administered on Google Forms, as it was a remote class period. The research revealed that despite advances in Youth and Adult Education in Brazil and Maranhão, there is still a lot to do. Today, students still face and overcome many problems such as reconciling study time with work and caring for their families, (re)adaptation to school writing and reading activities. But there are positive points such as the awakening of a feeling of belonging to the history of São Luís, the motivation to continue studying and enter the job market. In other words, there is a stimulus for the personal and professional growth of students.

Urban morphology clustering analysis to identify heat-prone neighbourhoods in cities

Exposure to heat is a major health concern to urban populations. Cities aim to reduce outdoor thermal stress by adapting the built environment, but the spatial heterogeneity within cities makes it difficult to establish universal mitigation strategies. We present a methodology that identifies the hottest neighbourhoods in a city and links them to underlying patterns in urban form and function, to derive heat mitigation measures for individual neighbourhoods according to their characteristics, mitigation potential, and average surface temperature. The method applies k-means clustering and is applicable to any city using available datasets on surface cover and building morphology, as well as globally available satellite measurements of surface temperatures. Here, we present a heat-mitigation analysis for the city of Zurich. The clustering differentiates seven neighbourhood types, including two types of residential areas, modern neighbourhoods with high-rise buildings, historical districts, and industrial zones. The hottest temperatures are in neighbourhoods with extensive impervious ground cover such as railway tracks and airport parking. Surface temperatures strongly correlate with impervious surface cover and vegetation cover for all neighbourhoods, with building cover only for non-industrial built neighbourhoods, and with sky-view factor for all neighbourhoods except those with large vegetation cover. Historical, modern, and industrial neighbourhoods are particular heat-prone, and increasing vegetation for evaporative cooling is a suggested mitigation strategy for all. Modern and industrial areas could benefit from shading through increase of tree cover, while historical centres may adapt vertical greening as suitable heat mitigation strategy.