Historical City Centre Research Articles

Urban Development and Population Pressure: The Case of Młynówka Królewska Park in Krakow, Poland

Green areas are necessary components of contemporary cities. They have a positive impact on the climate, ecological balance and resilience of the city structure, and provide numerous benefits to inhabitants. However, progressing urbanisation and a rise in urban population leads to increasing pressure on existing green spaces. Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, but especially over the past decade, the number of new developments in Krakow has been successively increasing. New multi- and single-family housing complexes are built not only in peripheral areas, but also as infilling and development of areas closer to the historical city centre. Simultaneously, the number of urban green spaces has increased only insignificantly. This paper analyses the example of Młynówka Królewska Park, located in the western part of Krakow, Poland. It focuses on city expansion processes and their relationship with public greenery. Furthermore, his study examines spatial and demographic issues that may have an impact on accessibility of the park area. The study was based on statistical data, analyses of recent planning documents, procedures and practices, as well as research performed in situ. The results indicate that the population pressure in the area under analysis changed significantly. According to the results, a correlation can be found between the latest urban development and population dynamics.

Assessing the effectiveness of park-and-ride facilities on multimodal networks in smart cities

This paper presents an optimization procedure to choose a parking facility according to different criteria: total travel time including transfers, parking fee and a factor depending on the risk of not having an available spot in the parking facility at the arrival time. An integer programming formulation is proposed to determine an optimal strategy of minimum cost considering the available information, different scenarios, and each user profile. To evaluate the performance, a computational experience has been carried out on Seville (Spain), where a historical city center restricts the traffic of private vehicles and encourages the use of parking facilities.

СРАВНИТЕЛЬНЫЙ АНАЛИЗ КОЛОРИСТИКИ АРХИТЕКТУРЫ ИСТОРИЧЕСКИХ ЦЕНТРОВ ГОРОДОВ ЮГА ТЮМЕНСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

The article presents the results of research and analysis of the general state of the architectural structures’ coloristics in historical areas of a number of cities in the south of the Tyumen region. It contains the examples of photofixation and formalized color schemes of the selected building facades, and provides a summary table of typical colors in the historical centers of cities under study. The differences in the polychromy of the studied cities and possible options for the development of the concept of coloristics of the architectural environment of these cities are determined.

Tarihi Kent Merkezlerinde Tüketim Mekânlarının Dönüşümü: Yeldeğirmeni Mahallesi Örneği

Tarihi Kent Merkezlerinde Tüketim Mekânlarının Dönüşümü: Yeldeğirmeni Mahallesi Örneği

THE RESTORATION AND REFUNCTIONING PROPOSAL OF ÖZDOĞANLAR MANSION IN SİVAS

Özdoğanlar residence, in Sivas Province, Merkez District, Akdeğirmen neighbourhood; is one of the few original housing examples in the historical city centre which is important to protect together with the traditional houses in its vicinity. Purpose: To make the restoration decisions of the abandoned building, which has entered a period of rapid degradation due to natural and human-induced effects, and which is in danger of collapse, and to present conservation and usage recommendations. Method: Within the scope of this study, the plan setup, construction system, original elements and problems of the building are defined; its current situation, changes and deteriorations were documented and dated and related restitution proposals were presented; The potential and needs of the house and its immediate surroundings have been evaluated. Findings: It has been determined that the Özdoğanlar residence has lost its original features day by day as a result of intense exposure to atmospheric conditions due to being out of use, the additions and removals made by the former users on time, and the looting by groups prone to Vandalism. Suggestions for the solution of the identified problems of the building were determined in chemical and physical terms. These data were obtained by researching the original plan scheme, space and architectural elements of the building. Result: Özdoğanlar House, which is a qualified traditional house example with its original plan scheme and architectural features, has been documented. A restoration proposal that will preserve the original characteristics of the building was prepared and presented.

Administrative and legal mechanism of complex reconstruction of the housing stock of historical centers of Russian cities

На основе обзора теоретической и законодательной базы реконструкции жилищного фонда исторических центров городов России, а также результатов работы государственных органов за последние три десятилетия авторы представляют Механизм комплексной реконструкции жилищного фонда исторических центров городов России. Этот административно-правовой Механизм направлен на улучшение условий жизни людей и сохранение уникальных исторических ландшафтов городов. Проведён анализ действующей законодательной и нормативно-правовой базы охраны объектов культурного наследия: городского планирования и землепользования, а также институционных взаимодействий между государственными органами охраны объектов культурного наследия (федеральными, региональными и муниципальными), государственными кадастровыми органами и администрацией муниципалитетов, правовых отношений между участниками в области реконструкции жилищного фонда. Главное положение Механизма – согласование всех его элементов для обеспечения комплексной сохранности объектов культурного наследия. Ключевые слова: Механизм комплексной реконструкции, реконструкция жилищного фонда, исторический ландшафт города, объекты культурного наследия, градостроительство An overview of the accepted practice, theoretical and legislative basis for the renovation of the housing stock of the historic centers of Russian cities is presented. On this basis, the authors propose a Mechanism for the complex housing renovation of historic centers of Russian cities, aimed at improving the living conditions and preserving the unique historic urban landscapes. The analysis of the current legislative and regulatory framework for the protection of cultural heritage: urban planning and land use; institutional interactions - between state bodies for the protection of cultural heritage (federal, regional and municipal); state cadastral bodies and municipal authorities; legal relations between the participants of housing renovation programs. The Mechanism proposed by us is based on the results of the work of state bodies over the past three decades; one of its central provisions is the coordination of all elements of the Mechanism to ensure the comprehensive preservation of cultural heritage. Keywords: Mechanism of complex renovation of historic housing, historic urban landscape, cultural heritage, urban planning

The relevance of creating a system of underground parking in the historical centers of central asian cities on the example of the city of Samarkand

The relevance of creating a system of underground parking in the historical centers of central asian cities on the example of the city of Samarkand

Sheltering knowledge : residences of the Royal Society of Tasmania and its precursors, 1838 to 2021

The Royal Society of Tasmania and its precursors have met and stored their collections in at least eight different buildings in Hobart and several in Launceston since Sir John and Lady Franklin started a scientific society in 1838. Those built for the specific purpose of housing collections initiated by the societies remain as important components of the built heritage of Tasmania. The choices of style and architect made by the Royal Society for its Tasmanian Museum contributed directly to, and through influence on, the character of the historic city centre of Hobart

Preserving UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Assessing and Monitoring the Carrying Capacity of the Historic City Centre of Florence

Preserving UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Assessing and Monitoring the Carrying Capacity of the Historic City Centre of Florence

RENOVATION OF INFORMAL GREEN SPACES IN OLD URBAN RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES IN CHINESE CITIES AND RELATED PUBLIC PERCEPTION INVESTIGATION

Existing large-scale urban green spaces in a low distribution density can hardly meet citizens’ diverse and growing needs for convenient access and sharing modes, especially to those living in old communities. Compared with formal green spaces, informal green space (IGS) is a new urban green infrastructure contributing to the city’s coconstruction, co-governance, and co-sharing. This study was conducted based on a typical old residential community in the historic city center of Beijing, namely Beitaipingzhuang Neighborhood, acquired residents’ opinions, evaluation, and willing to participate in IGS governance, and investigated their preference of IGS renovation, activity, and the positive / negative perception of IGS scenarios through virtual renovation proposals upon the real scenes. According to the survey result, most residents have been aware of the existing IGS in communities as well as the advantages and disadvantages, and shown their support to IGS cogovernance; residents’ preference of IGS renovation scenarios is significantly affected by environmental factors—residents prefer the green spaces with a higher plant richness, a larger crown size, and a more complete leisure facility system. Therefore, residents’ positive perception can be enhanced through enriching plant species, adjusting green space ratio, and introducing proper planting patterns and facility types. Finally, the authors put forward several research interests for following up so as to provide targeted guidelines for the optimization of urban living environment.

Covid-19 and Recovery Strategies. Some Insights From an Ongoing Exploratory Study in the Italian Hospitality Industry: The Case of the Historic City Centre of Venice

Covid-19 is disruptively impacting the tourism industry and the recovery will likely be slow and followed by important transformations for tourist companies. The paper wants to provide a contribution to the understanding of the immediate and future response mechanisms of tourism businesses for recovery. It is based on an ongoing explorative research started in June 2020 and based on interviews and focus groups among a small sample of hotel companies in the historic center of Venice - Italy. First insights show that recovery actions are still quite passive and defensive, due to the great uncertainty. Nevertheless, positive signals seem to come from the increase in direct sales and, surprisingly, in high-profile and high spender tourists. Businesses are dealing a situation that, however negative for their revenues, opens up the prospect of a new development for tourism in Venice different from mass tourism that was afflicting the city.

Transformation and Continuity of Sacred Places: The Case of Galata (Istanbul)

In historical city centers that are constantly inhabited for centuries, it is a predictable phenomenon that sacred places of different periods often share the same location. This is the case not only for the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul but also Galata, which is the former capital's another ancient district opposite the Golden Horn. Accordingly, Arap Mosque is perhaps the most renowned example to this issue that it shares the same location with two former churches from the Byzantine and Genoese periods. While similar origins of other monuments in Galata like Yeni Mosque have also been discussed by scholars, those cases lacked elaboration from a more comprehensive urban perspective. Following a historical research methodology for specific urban aims, it was seen that spatial connections between the shrines of Galata from its Byzantine, Genoese and Ottoman periods are even stronger on the same plots, which better display a spatial continuity within a historical urban layout for centuries. Moreover, it can be seen that even if a sacred place had a new function, some certain traces still reveal its origins, which stress the multilayered ancient settlement.

«GENIUS LOCI» AS AN IMPULSE TO THE REVITALIZATION OF THE ADMIRALTEYSKAYA SLOBODA AREA IN THE CITY OF KAZAN

The transformation of the concept of «genius loci» is considered in the context of redevelopment projects realized in the historical city center and the tangible and intangible aspects of the latter are elicited on the example of Admiralteiskaya Sloboda in Kazan. The study involved the use of general scientific methods, field research and interdisciplinary synthesis. A retrospective, demographic and urban planning analysis revealed challenges and resources of the site. Recommendations are given concerning the preservation of the spirit of the place and the shaping of Admiralteiskaya Sloboda environment’s identity: functional enrichment of the area, development of a network of social services, residential reconstruction and construction, preservation of the cultural heritage and transformation of the industrial sites into modern cultural and creative clusters, organization of a landscaped recreational framework, and promotion of the area’s cultural brand.

«URBAN VILLAGE» AS A FORM OF HABITATION IN THE HISTORICAL CENTERS OF LARGE CITIES

The article discusses the concept of "Urban village", it presents the results of its application to the analysis of historical centers of large post-Soviet cities: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Samara, Odessa and Tbilisi. An att empt has been made to develop this concept. The features of the "urban village" and changes of the historical centers of these cities from the late 19th century to 2020th are analyzed.

Observed Performance of a Deep Excavation in the Historical Center of Rome

The C Line of the Rome underground underpasses the historical city center, facing significant problems for the presence of archaeological artefacts and the necessity to prevent damage to the historical and monumental heritage. This paper describes the field performance of a 30-m-deep excavation that has been constructed at a short distance from the Aurelian Walls at Porta Asinaria (third century). An extensive instrumentation program was conducted during construction, as well as field observations including deflection of the diaphragm walls, ground movements, pore water pressures, settlements, and rotation of the Aurelian Walls. Observed ground settlements and diaphragm wall displacements were smaller than those monitored in other case histories worldwide, inducing no damage to the Aurelian Walls. The lessons learned from this case study showed that a stiff retaining system and a strict control of the construction sequence were the key to minimize the effects of a deep excavation with millennia of history at risk.

Case study: use of Rapid Ethnographic research for participatory urban design

This article analyzed the use of rapid ethnographic methodologies to assess community concerns for urban design practices. Rapid Ethnographic Assessment Process (REAP) is a compilation of methodologies that produce ethnographic knowledge in a short time frame and is constantly used for public health and sustainability. The article is about a participatory case-study conducted in the historic city center of Santiago de Los Caballeros, in the Dominican Republic. REAP was used to understand its application for urbanism. The case-study revealed a spectrum of cultures from different groups within the study area, and how the project would impact their ways of life. It also depicted a gap between the pre-existing proposals and the aims and challenges of the community groups. If appropriately applied, REAP can produce valuable results, and help inform urban design practices while assuring that they are respectful to the populations they will influence.

Case study: use of Rapid Ethnographic research for participatory urban design

This article analyzed the use of rapid ethnographic methodologies to assess community concerns for urban design practices. Rapid Ethnographic Assessment Process (REAP) is a compilation of methodologies that produce ethnographic knowledge in a short time frame and is constantly used for public health and sustainability. The article is about a participatory case-study conducted in the historic city center of Santiago de Los Caballeros, in the Dominican Republic. REAP was used to understand its application for urbanism. The case-study revealed a spectrum of cultures from different groups within the study area, and how the project would impact their ways of life. It also depicted a gap between the pre-existing proposals and the aims and challenges of the community groups. If appropriately applied, REAP can produce valuable results, and help inform urban design practices while assuring that they are respectful to the populations they will influence.

Историческая ретроспекция праздничной культуры как форма сохранения нематериального культурного наследия и конструирования городской идентичности (на примере анализа практик балов в особняках Санкт-Петербурга, 2017-2019 гг.) (Historical Retrospection of Festive Culture as a Form of Preserving the Intangible Cultural Heritage and Constructing an Urban Identity (Using the Example of the Practice of Balls in the Mansions of St. Petersburg, 2017–2019))

Russian abstract: В данной статье анализируется популярный феномен реконструкции исторических балов. Реконструкция бала рассматривается как один из двух вариантов исторической ретроспекции праздничной культуры, как элемент городской и культурной идентичности и как форма сохранения нематериального культурного наследия. Статья базируется на данных лонгитюдного исследования практик балов методом включенного наблюдения в особняках Санкт-Петербурга, в течение 2017-2019 гг., на изучении научной литературы, СМИ, афиш, а также на качественных и количественных результатах глубинных интервью и интернет-опросов участников (всего 30 и 800 человек соответственно). Цель данного исследования - выявить функции балов в целом и реконструированных исторических балов, в частности, обращая особое внимание на связь последних с нематериальной культурой города и городской идентичностью. В результате выявлены и описаны жанровые особенности бала с опорой на теоретическую (работы С.Холла, К.Левина, М.Ю.Лотмана, М.М.Бахтина, Д. С. Лихачева) и эмпирическую базу исследования (свидетельства участников бала). Исследование раскрыло социализирующую функцию исторических балов, выявив потенциал бала для укрепления культурной идентичности - города (как важный элемент брендинга города), и горожан (которые укрепляют локальную культурную идентичность, ориентируясь на традиционные практики бала и места его проведения в историческом центре города); исследование подтвердило принадлежность таких балов к нематериальному культурному наследию города, обнаружило недостаток освещения функции идентичности и репрезентации нематериального культурного наследия балов в современной научной литературе. English abstract: This article analyzes the popular phenomenon of reconstructing historical balls. The reconstruction of the ball is considered as one of the options for historical retrospection of festive culture, as an element of urban and cultural identity, and as a form of preservation of the intangible cultural heritage. The article is based on data from a longitudinal study of the practice of balls by the method of included observation in the mansions of St. Petersburg, during 2017-2019, on the study of scientific literature, media, posters, as well as on qualitative and quantitative results of in-depth interviews and online surveys of participants (total 30 and 800 people respectively). The purpose of this study is to identify the functions of balls in general and reconstructed historical balls, in particular, paying particular attention to the connection of the latter with the intangible culture of the city and urban identity. As a result, the genre features of the ball were identified and described based on the theoretical one (works by S.Hall, K.Levin, M.Yu. Lotman, M.M. Bakhtin, D.S. Likhachev) and the empirical basis of the study (testimonies of the ball participants). The study revealed the socializing function of historical balls, revealing the potential of the ball to strengthen the cultural identity - the city (as an important element of city branding), and the townspeople (who strengthen the local cultural identity, focusing on traditional ball practices and venues in the historic city center); the study confirmed that such balls belong to the intangible cultural heritage of the city, found a lack of coverage of the identity function and the representation of the intangible cultural heritage of balls in modern scientific literature.

Espacio doméstico, abismo y experiencia estética: el diseño del «Museo de las Casas Colgadas» de Cuenca

El Museo de Arte Abstracto Español, inaugurado en 1966, es el primer centro de arte contemporáneo de iniciativa privada en España. Localizado en Cuenca, una pequeña capital de provincias, y fundado por artistas, supuso una descentralización del tejido cultural del momento y la reactivación del centro histórico de la ciudad al emplazarse en su principal reclamo turístico, sus famosas «casas» (de ahí el popular apelativo «Museo de las Casas Colgadas»). El proyecto concedió una importancia inusitada a la convivencia entre obra y espacio expositivo, favoreciendo una experiencia estética íntima en las distintas estancias del edificio junto a las vertiginosas vistas de la peculiar geografía de una ciudad tallada en la roca. Analizando su historia, desentrañaremos las poéticas de esta imbricación entre arquitectura, arte y paisaje, la cual ha hecho de este un Museo reconocido internacionalmente.

Historical Centers of Small Cities in Slovakia – Problems and Potentials of Creating Livable Public Spaces

Public spaces in the historic cores of cities need to adapt to changing requirements for their use, reflecting the current needs of their users. High-quality public spaces provide a safe, accessible, suitable and pleasant environment for various types of activities and meet the needs of residents - users. Based on their good functioning, cities are generally evaluated by their inhabitants as more or less attractive for life. Within the project “LIVA - The concept of livability in the context of small towns” we have examined public spaces in the historic city cores of selected small cities in Slovakia, to identify the problems and potentials of forming environmentally and people-friendly public spaces. The research shows, that today’s architectural-urban forms of public spaces in the historical centers of small towns in Slovakia are burdened with many problems, the most serious of which are usually their unsatisfactory functional content, unsatisfactory organization of transit transport, the poor state of public greenery, or unsatisfactory conditions of the physical environment – pavements or equipment with urban furnishings. The public spaces reflect the overall problems of small towns, remoteness, lack of investments, departure of young people and aging of the population, resulting in a lack of basic infrastructure and underdeveloped amenities for providing public services. In many cases, the historical centers of small towns do not provide sufficient attractiveness for businesses and cultural and social facilities in the parterre of buildings, nor variability of functional use of the public space. On the other hand, public spaces in the centers of small cities show the potential to offer a better quality of the environment. The central zones, the amenities, and public services, green infrastructure or recreation and sports areas in small cities are usually accessible within walking distances, which supports pedestrian movement and reduces the use of cars. The historical cores of small towns in many cases successfully preserved their cultural heritage values, their historical identity, and their character.