Historic Urban Fabric Research Articles

Sustainable-Oriented Development for Urban Interface of Historic Centers

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) cities’ historic centers have a unique urban fabric regarding land use, physical characteristics, and environmental performance. Several cities within this region are subject to significant development projects based on demolition and replacement. These projects aim to improve the quality of life and enhance the city’s socioeconomic and sustainability. This paper investigates the physical characteristics of the urban interface between the historical centers and the rest of the cities’ urban expansions to ensure a smooth transition between the historic urban fabric and the rest of the city’s urban fabric. The research objective was fulfilled by developing a framework to classify urban fabric types based on their physical characteristics. Jeddah city was selected as a case study. Six growth phases of the city were identified. Based on this classification, urban fabric samples representing these phases were selected. These urban samples’ physical characteristics were analyzed. Results identified in urban fabric characteristics between the historic center and the other identified urban fabrics within the city, especially the demolished deteriorated surrounding urban areas. Urban features for under-development urban areas were concluded. Design guidelines were suggested for historical centers to achieve homogeneous integrated, sustainable, livable urban areas.

Nuove tecnologie e sostenibilità: dal rilievo alla comunicazione per il Museo di Casa Romei di Ferrara, città Patrimonio UNESCO

The paper, taking the Museum of Casa Romei in Ferrara - an UNESCO heritage city - as a case study, explores some new technologies, ranging from surveying to digital communication and investigates their potentialities in improving the sustainability of cultural heritage. The work pursues the dual value of analyzing new tools and providing research products useful for the enhancement of the specific site, favoring the dissemination of consolidated tourist flows from the major monuments of Ferrara to the more peripheral historical urban fabric. Through the theme of analysis, documentation and archiving of architecture and its context, the research - addressing specific themes of integrated and multi-scale survey, 3D processing, 2D drawing, interactive data storage - examines the use of digital technologies for multi-level dissemination of the cultural assets and their possibilities as tools for accessibility and inclusivity.

A Dilemma of Integrity in the Implementation of Conservation Development Plans in Bursa, a World Heritage Site in Turkey

Conservation of historic areas defining the urban identity of the cities emerged in research on urban planning activities in Turkey only after the 1970s. However, the term ‘integrity’ was yet to be included in the national conservation legislation. In the historic city of Bursa, however, conservation decisions on the sustainability of traditional fabric had already been taken in 1960 with Piccinato’s plan. Accordingly, demolished landmark buildings in the Historic Trade Centre were reconstructed; so although authenticity was lost, the spatial integrity of the area was kept. Afterward, thirteen conservation plans for historic regions were prepared from 1981 to 2007, with the participation of experts from various institutions. The primary aims of these plans were to provide structural and spatial integrity of associated historic areas, improve living conditions, and avoid gentrification during the urban development of Bursa. However, it is impossible due to the lack of a holistic approach to the application process.
 This study aims to present the dilemma observed in implementing conservation decisions taken from the 1980s until the 2000s, which pose problems regarding the integrity of the historic urban fabric in Bursa. It sets off with a brief description of the significance of integrity in urban conservation while highlighting Bursa as a pioneering city, where holistic decisions on the sustainability of its historic urban identity were taken through conservation development plans –much earlier than the rest of the country. The contradictions between conservation plans and their implemented forms are subsequently discussed to understand the level of achievement in ensuring the integrity of its urban identity. Hence, it is claimed that the traditional urban fabric of Bursa could not be preserved with its natural and architectural values since the aim of holistic conservation in related plans was implemented inconsistently.

Kamienice czynszowe na ul. Franciszka Smolki w Przemyślu – zagadnienia funkcjonalno-architektoniczne zabudowy mieszkalnej, wielorodzinnej z okresu 1852–1914

Tenement houses in Franciszka Smolki Street in Przemyśl – functional and architectural issues of multi-family houses in the 1852–1914 period For Przemyśl, the second half of the 19th century was a time of dynamic economic and territorial development. It was then that the majority of historic urban fabric was established, both in terms of area and numbers. Unfortunately, the 19th-century tenement houses in Przemyśl have not been widely discussed so far. The few publications there are concern converted houses, untypical of that period. The literature on urbanization of the suburbs (which today constitute the historic town centre) in that period is also scanty. In order to discover the nature of changes in the town at that time, the author has chosen to discuss tenement houses in Franciszka Smolki Street. Those houses are a typical example of multi-family houses in the period under discussion. They were built in a previously undeveloped area, and soon that street became one of the more elegant ones in Przemyśl. Although it was subjected to urbanization relatively promptly, its houses are not homogeneous in nature and they are evidence of aesthetic changes and changes connected with the residents’ standard of living. Functional and spatial solutions used in particular groups of houses constitute the history of urbanization of that fragment of the town.

Dyal Singh Majithia & his Legacy of Crown Rule in Indian Sub-continent: Case of Dyal Singh Mansion

The research is an endeavour to pay tribute to a legend “Dyal Singh Majithia” and an effort to safeguard his legacy of the crown rule in sub-continent. Dyal Singh was entitled as a proud son of Punjab due to his contributions to introduce modern education. He bequeathed assets of worth around 30 lack Indian rupees in charity to establish various institutes through a trust. Under the umbrella of this trust, Dyal Singh College, library, a hall and a mansion was constructed in Lahore. Selected case study, Dyal Singh Mansion is a master piece of colonial era and remarkable example of Indo-Saracenic architecture in the historic urban fabric of the Mall Road, Lahore during 20th century. Apart from façade, rest of the faces is in a crumbling state and illegally encroached by residents and vehicular repair workshops. Data has been collected by using desk-based studies, from relevant departments. Visual surveys have been conducted to identify causes of decay. In the conclusion, we have to formulate a policy to conserve this heritage being part of Mall road and legacy of British period Sikh heritage during colonial period.

A framework proposal for resilience assessment in traditional commercial centres: case of the historical bazaar of bursa as a resilient world heritage site

Throughout history, the different cycles of change that traditional commercial centres (bazaars) have undergone in different Islamic cities call attention to the hidden abilities insuring their resilience until today. To understand the way in which these bazaar areas absorb and adapt to change, this paper investigates the resilience awareness of a specific case study ‘the bazaar of Bursa’, by dealing with key morphological, behavioural and institutional aspects. Several resilience assessment frameworks have been developed, including cultural, economic, and spatial proxies. However, most of them have focused on physical structures while assessing resilience concretely. This study represents a first step towards a Framework Proposal for resilience assessment in traditional commercial centres (bazaars) combining together tangible and intangible features specific to the historical bazaar of Bursa as a case study using a quantitative approach in a form of a survey. The findings showed a clear overlap between the tradesmen’s perception of factors affecting resilience in the bazaar of Bursa and those proposed by authors. This research may help decision-makers gain a better understanding of the key hidden factors promoting resilience in such historical urban fabrics and guide them in making adequate planning decisions in the future.

Strengthening the architectural identity of Makkah Al-Mukarramah’s buildings: an assessment of the impact of laws and regulations

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s future vision (Vision 2030) focuses on the enhancement of the urban and architectural identity of cities, where in (2022) King Salman Charter for Architecture and Urbanism was issued to improve residents’ quality of life through the establishment of architectural environments that emphasize cultural and environmental heritage while also simulating future developments. Makkah Al-Mukarramah is distinguished by its religious uniqueness being the ground of the Holy Mosque and a set of natural factors, all of this influenced the formation of its distinctive architectural identity over time, However, for the sake of development projects, and expansion of the Haram Al-Sharif, demolition of many of Makkah’s old neighborhoods occurred leading to declining the city’s historical urban fabric, this development was governed by regulations and rules that focusing only on organizational aspects without considering the architectural identity. This crystallizes the research problem in two main points: “What are the regulations and legislation that led to Makkah losing its distinctive architectural identity?” What function may legislation and laws possibly play in the long-term rehabilitation of Makkah’s distinct architectural identity? The purpose of this research is to define the architectural and urban identity, as well as the major factors that influence them. Also, investigate the impact of the urban development of Makkah on the city’s architectural identity. And the extraction of design requirements for the control of architectural identity. The research uses a theoretical approach to understand the principles of architectural identity and character, as well as to measure the influence of laws and regulations on preserving and enhancing the architectural identity. a descriptive-analytical approach to analyze the laws and regulations related to the architectural identity of several selected cities; to come at a set of criteria that contribute to preserving the identity, following that, a questionnaire is developed for the opinion of academic architects as well as engineers specialized in this field, to try to find the flaw that caused the loss of character and to make some recommendations to correct the flaws caused by lack of attention to architectural identity.

Environmental Identities and the Sustainable City. The Green Roof Prospect for the Ecological Transition

This research deals with the issue of the recovery of the historic urban fabric with a view towards ecological transition, nowadays considered the preferable direction of sustainability for the reform of the house–city–landscape system. The massive incentives provided by the Italian government for sustainable building, in view of the post-pandemic economic recovery, risk being reduced to mere support for the real estate sector, which turns the financial transfer from the public into an increase in asset value for the private sector. Such an incentive system could contradict the original function of the city, which is to be the privileged place for social communication and the creation of the identity of settled communities. A process of property development that disregards the distribution of income favors the most valuable property, thus increasing the socioeconomic distance between centrality and marginality. The latter is a condition that often characterizes the parts of the historic city affected by extensive phenomena of physical and functional obsolescence of the built heritage, and it is less capable of attracting public funding. The increase of building decay and social filtering-down accelerates the loss and involution of neighborhood identities; the latter constitutes the psycho-social energy that helps preserve the physical, functional and anthropological integrity of the city, due to the differences that make its parts recognizable. This study, with reference to a neighborhood in the historic city of Syracuse (Italy), proposes a model of analysis, evaluation and planning of interventions on the buildings’ roofs, aimed at defining the best strategy for ecological–environmental regeneration. The model presented allows one to generate a multiplicity of alternative strategies that combine different uses of roofs: from the most sustainable green roofs, but that are less cost-effective from the identity and landscape point of view; to the most efficient photovoltaic roofs from the energy–environmental point of view; and up to the most cost-effective ones, the vertical extensions with an increase in building volume. The proposed tool is an inter-scalar multidimensional valuation model that connects the multiple eco-socio-systemic attitudes of individual buildings to the landscape, identity, energy–environmental and economic overall dimensions of the urban fabric and allows one to define and compare multiple alternative recovery hypotheses, evaluating their potential impacts on the built environment. The model allows the formation of 100 different strategies, which are internally coherent and differently satisfy the above four perspectives, and it provides the preferable ones for each of the five approaches practiced. The best strategy characterizes most green roofs, 427 out of 1075 building units, 277 blue roofs, 121 green–blue roofs and 46 grey roofs.

The “deep plan” as an engine of modernity in Barcelona’s residential buildings. 1930-1970

The large building depth is a remarkable feature of the housing building of the historical urban fabric of Barcelona and is one of the elements that most characterize the identity of the city. The article investigates the influence of the “deep-plan” in the housing building of the second modernity, focusing on the difference between permanence and transformations The deep plan was originally a response to the high demand for housing, but it turns into a structural law that becomes a common ground for the architects of the second modernity on which they experiment and introduce innovations in the arrangement of spaces. The deep plan has syntactic meaning in the plan layout arrangement. The overlapping of innovative theories, connections with another cultural environment as Milan, and professional practice turned into a figure with a semantic meaning.

Seismic fragility analysis of traditional himis structures in Turkey

It is extremely important to better understand the behavior of existing buildings against earthquakes, to reduce the damage that may occur in these structures in future earthquakes, and to repair and strengthen them when necessary. Studies on the earthquake behavior of traditional Himis structures, which constitute a large part of the historical urban fabric in Turkey, are not quite enough. So, using existing example types, the purpose of this study is to examine, wooden himis frame Turkish structures according to seismic loads. In this study, the earthquake performance of traditional Turkish himis structures under different earthquake accelerations and the behavior of structures in earthquakes were investigated. Himis structures are also evaluated in terms of their studs types, as well as material details. The buildings were modeled based on the finite element model approach by Sap2000 V22 software, their dynamic characteristics were determined and time history analyses were performed to obtain drift ratio. Furthermore, the seismic demand of the Himis structure types was defined and compared. Finally, to assess seismic risk and damage estimation, a probabilistic assessment was carried out and the fragility curves for each building type were derived.

Review: Riemenschneider in Rothenburg: Sacred Space and Civic Identity in the Late Medieval City

Review: <i>Riemenschneider in Rothenburg: Sacred Space and Civic Identity in the Late Medieval City</i>

Quantification of Outdoor Thermal Comfort Levels under Sea Breeze in the Historical City Fabric: The Case of Algiers Casbah

Thermal comfort in cities is an influential factor for citizens’ wellbeing and life quality. Urban microclimate studies have gained popularity following increasing urbanization trends and global climate change in recent years. Urban fabric and morphology in traditional cities represent a unique pattern both spatially and climatically. However, few studies have investigated traditional cities’ urban thermal comfort conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the thermal comfort in different subspaces of Algiers Casbah’s historic urban fabric, which falls in the hot Mediterranean climate (Csa). This research evaluated the human thermal sensation by applying the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) index. The methodology used was a mixed approach, including field measurements, calculations, and a survey questionnaire. The results indicate the presence of a high-stress level during the measurement periods, and notable differences between the subspaces in January (ΔPETMax.Jan = 3.7 °C) and August (ΔPETMax.Aug = 2.2 °C). The highest discomfort was recorded in spaces with collapsed buildings, especially during the hot hours of the day. The findings also highlight a strong impact of the sky view factor on the mean radiant temperature (Tmrt) and the physiological equivalent temperature (PET). The study discusses recommendations and ways to improve the design of outdoor spaces and relieve heat stress in the streets of traditional cities. Finally, this work helps urban managers and heritage conservators in urban rehabilitation policies concerning outdoor microclimate improvement.

Street Life in Renaissance Italy

Street Life in Renaissance Italy

Morphological and physical characteristics of the historic urban fabric and traditional streets of Xiguan in Guangzhou

ABSTRACT In 1982, the Chinese government approved the status of ‘National Famous Historical and Cultural City of Guangzhou’. This recognition acknowledged the value of the historical urban fabric and traditional streets of Guangzhou. This paper considers the morphological and physical characteristics of Xiguan area inside Guangzhou and analyses its urban fabric, traditional building typology, and daily social activities. The case study examines the Enning Road Historical Conservation Area and the Micro-renovation project of the Yongqing Fang Community. The value of heritage and urban characteristics became the source of the revival of local identity and cultural traditions.

Historical Urban Fabric in the Face of Hazards (a Case Study of Ferdowsi Neighborhood in Tehran, Iran)

Historical Urban Fabric in the Face of Hazards (a Case Study of Ferdowsi Neighborhood in Tehran, Iran)

Urban Conservation in International Charters

This paper will present an analytical review of doctrinal texts that have been key for the shaping of integrated urban conservation practice internationally: from the Athens Charter to the Historic Urban Landscape Convention.&#x0D; The 1931 Athens Charter for the Restoration of Historic Monuments was published at the same time when the Congres Internationaux d’Architecture Moderne was summing up its controversial urbanist ideology in its own Charte d'Athènes of 1933. Whilst the Athens Charter focused on technical aspects of monument restoration, the preceding debate showed a raising interest in historic urban areas. CIAM’s Charter too, despite including a section regarding historic urban areas, limited its recommendations to the protection of individual monuments or ensembles. &#x0D; Substantial research of historic centres in European countries preceded the first national legislations and international charters targeted specifically at urban areas in 1960s and 70s. Notably, the 1964 Venice International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites finally extended the concepts of restoration and rehabilitation of monuments to protected areas such as historical city centres, recommending expanded heritage protection legislation worldwide. European national legislations followed suit. In 1975, the European Architectural Heritage Year had seen also the first charter promoting the conservation of the historic built environment as a whole.&#x0D; However, by the end of the 20th century, despite a good number of further doctrinal texts being adopted internationally, and the publication of numerous books, articles and reports touching on the problematic of urban conservation, the paucity of theoretical and conceptual advance of this field remained evident. The delay in giving a sound theoretical structure to the field of urban conservation has been, quite understandably, due to the complexity of the urban environment and the ensuing difficulty of separating out the effects of different variables at work within it.&#x0D; Charters over the past three decades call for an integration of planning and urban conservation based on an appraisal of the historic urban fabric and its community, an approach which should eventually provide a more sustainable urban development. This means understanding and evaluating the significance of place, on one hand, and drawing out management implications for protecting this significance and identifying opportunities for change, on the other. The 2011 Historic Urban Landscape Recommendation goes some way to internationalise the theory and practice that has been developed so far predominantly within the European context.&#x0D; There are many issues that have been raised through charters over the last hundred years, and many still need a proper theoretical framework that can allow them to be used in practice widely, beyond the places with strong heritage conservation traditions and legislations.

Color mapping of the building façades in the historical urban fabric: The Ayazini village civil architectural examples

AbstractColor, which extends from the urban scale to the space scale, is important design elements expressing the unique visual and psychological identity of a settlement in the architecture. Every settlement has original color schemes formed with natural and human construction elements. The tinctorial designs in urban settlements in the present day have become gradually distant from natural and cultural elements because of the developing construction techniques after the industrial revolution. However, the vernacular architecture was able to preserve its color identity from the landscape, building façades, and interior space colors. In this study the environmental color mapping method is used for the determination of the prevalent colors. The environmental color mapping studies are made with an on‐site examination, the photographing in an unfiltered manner of the colors or with the specimen‐taking techniques. Subsequently, the averages are determined connected to the densities of the colors with the help of computer technologies. In this study, the Ayazini settlement sampling area was chosen, which was registered as a cultural heritage value connected to Afyonkarahisar Province. Ayazini, which is an extension of the Phrygian Valley, and that has a 6000‐year‐old past, is in a region where volcanic tufa rocks are found. The architectural fabric, the rock carvings, and the tufa building stone were formed with the shaping technique with the design of the inner spaces and the structural surfaces. The tufa rocks are the most important natural environmental elements, which determine the landscape, structure, and inner space character of Ayazini village. In this study, by taking the color change specimens occurring in the natural and artificial process of tufa rocks with the aim of producing the environmental color mapping of the Ayazini tufa, the averages connected to the densities of colors were determined. According to the data obtained at the end of the study, ıt was concluded that the dominant colors observed in the Ayazini tufa were khaki, pastel gray, ash gray, platinum, cadet gray, and armor gray. It is thought that these colors could be a reference for new designs with the landscape and architectural preservation activities that would be made at the settlement place. In this context, it is proposed for the colors obtained at the conclusion of the environmental color mapping to be used in the traditional house façades within the scope of the façade strengthening activities, which are continuing in the Ayazini region.

Key stakeholders and operation processes in the regeneration of historical urban fabrics in Iran

This article is a comprehensive study about the process of regeneration of historical urban fabrics of Iran through the role played by its main stakeholders. A thorough analysis of the relevant legislation was carried out to establish the background of the research, followed by a survey to identify the main bodies and their importance in the regeneration process. The analysis of the results shows the existing conflicts among the different bodies with responsibilities in the regeneration process, due to the absence of a codified duty description, and the deficiencies arising from the lack of adequate participation of local people and NGOs in the process. The analysis underscores the necessity of implementing both a comprehensive legal system and an integrated management system. The study proposes a preliminary solution to deal with governance and institutional problems in the regeneration process of historical fabrics in Iran that could be useful for countries with similar political structures and the need to preserve their urban heritage.

Evaluating the impact of large-scale urban interventions on the historic Urban Fabric with emphasis on economic effects (Case Study: Buffer zone of Sahib-ul-amr complex in Tabriz)

Evaluating the impact of large-scale urban interventions on the historic Urban Fabric with emphasis on economic effects (Case Study: Buffer zone of Sahib-ul-amr complex in Tabriz)

Multi-Attribute Analysis of Contemporary Cultural Buildings in the Historic Urban Fabric as Sustainable Spaces—Krakow Case Study

This study concerns contemporary cultural buildings in the historic city centre of Krakow, Poland, and their assessment in terms of sustainability. The paper aims to bridge a research gap in previous studies on pluralistic values and the impact of cultural heritage on sustainability. The comparative case study conducted in Krakow aims to evaluate the functioning and potential of the space towards achieving the following five goals: accessibility, conservation, mix of functions, aesthetics, comfort and sociability. The perception of these buildings and the public space around them by the city residents, as well as their operation during unexpected circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, were also evaluated. The author combined an on-site analysis, behavioural mapping and a survey. The results correlate the liveability and aesthetics of public spaces along with the amount and quality of greenery found there with the comfort of users and the popularity of particular places. This paper highlights how important it is to create cultural spaces in a historic city to develop a range of their activities linked to the surrounding public spaces and green areas. Activating cultural spaces and connecting them to sustainability goals is especially important when faced with declining tourism.