Historic Town Research Articles

Morphological Evolution of Baghdad: Analyzing Urban Growth Patterns and Transformation Processes

Urban landscape analysis is crucial for understanding the dynamics of urban transformation, especially in historic city centers. This study delves into the morphological evolution of Baghdad, focusing on its transformation from a historic nucleus to a vast metropolitan area. The primary objective is to identify mechanisms of transformation that bring about changes in the structure of the town center. Utilizing a combination of geographical-morphological methods, historical maps, and modern satellite imagery, the research identifies six distinct urban growth patterns—concentric, irregular strip, scattered, multi-nuclei, sectoral, and instant growth. The research methodology includes a detailed collection of historical maps from Western geographical travelers of the 18th and 19th centuries and modern satellite images to compare historical and contemporary urban forms. Data digitization processes were employed to prepare these maps for analysis, followed by boundary determination to track Baghdad’s expansion over time. The study integrates these digital maps to conduct temporal analyses, characterizing the main morphological phases from the historical nucleus to modern urban growth. The study is able to set forth how a complex interplay of physical, social, economic, and political forces has defined the urban form of Baghdad. Findings will make it possible to understand these growth processes for modern urban planning and design. The management of sustainable growth in a way that tackles sprawl, connectivity, and human scale in design requires a fusion of historical contexts with modern practices. This study offers the necessary information and direction for sustainable urban development in Baghdad as well as any other historic town elsewhere.

Placemaking and People-making

This study aimed to understand the interaction between young people and the built environment of Taal Park, a public park located in the poblacion (central business district) of a historical town in Batangas, Philippines. With a renewed appreciation of public spaces in the post-COVID-19 era, this work builds on the promising opportunity for people to collectively claim the right to a (city) space – and to continuously reshape it through time. Employing a qualitative case study research design, the study involved the conduct of a survey and unstructured non-participant observation. Data was then analysed through complementary descriptive and thematic analysis. The results of the study highlighted the positive impact of Taal Park on youth well-being through effective design that facilitates and encourages social interactions. The nexus between placemaking and people-making in this context illustrates how the built environment design and young people’s use of public spaces are mutually reinforcing. However, limitations in terms of the planning systems that are currently in place further highlight the need for more meaningful youth engagement mechanisms. Future research should continue utilising a transdisciplinary approach to deepen the knowledge base on public space in Global South contexts focussing on exploring effective youth engagement strategies in urban planning. Overall, ensuring that youth have a substantive role in shaping these environments can lead to more inclusive, dynamic, and vibrant public spaces.

The historical evolution and social transformation of settlements in the mountainous regions of western Guangdong: a case study of Xinyi County, China

The formation of China’s territory has a long historical process. Prior research has highlighted the diverse historical development patterns across different regions. To delve deeper into the distinctiveness among regions and their nuanced disparities, the research centers on the settlements within Xinyi County, situated in the mountainous terrain of western Guangdong Province, China. The current study employs the research method of “Backward Observation” by conducting a literature review and utilizing ArcGIS for spatial analysis to investigate the spatial distribution and evolution process of regional settlements in western Guangdong. The results suggest a predominant involvement of the state in propelling the advancement of the indigenous community within Xinyi County, a progression primarily fulfilled by the conclusion of the late Qing and initial Republican eras, guided by the persistent localization and gentrification of migrating populations. Xinyi’s advancement pattern and speed exhibited notable distinctions from neighboring areas within Guangdong Province. This investigation additionally delves into G. William Skinner’s inquiries regarding the exceptional attributes and evolutionary patterns of localities, aligning with the South China School’s viewpoint on the varied nature of regional advancement procedures and cadences. This research on Xinyi’s historical evolution is importance in coordinating the preservation and advancement of historical towns, addressing urban-rural development disparities, and formulating future development strategies.

Correlation between soundscape and sense of culture in historic public space

Soundscapes, as part of cultural heritage, have attracted attention for their role in crafting atmospheres and fostering a sense of place. It is still unclear how soundscapes and the sense of culture interlink within historic public spaces. This research explores how soundscape elements influence the sense of culture in historic towns. Twenty-five typical railway-type historic town public spaces in northern China are selected as examples. We restored the field situation in the laboratory. Through correlation analysis in SPSS, we analyzed the relationships between soundscape elements (encompassing objective environmental attributes and subjective perception) and cultural senses. The result shows: 1) Natural sounds, people sounds, and cultural activities sounds like music/shows significantly influence the sense of culture in historical spaces along the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER). 2)Calm and stable sound environments contribute to creating a cultural atmosphere. 3)Pleasure and eventful sounds strengthen people's connection to culture. 4)Enclosed spaces, pedestrian-friendly environments, and bustling crowds enhance the cultural ambience. 5)Visual perception correlates more strongly with the sense of culture than auditory evaluation. This research provides valuable insights for enhancing cultural senses in historic towns through soundscape design.

From “Living in History” to “Ghost Town”: Hasankeyf’s Lost Social Values

ABSTRACT In 2020, the Ilısu Dam partially flooded the historic town of Hasankeyf in southeast Türkiye. To mitigate the impact of flooding, the government launched a program to relocate the town’s residents, along with some historic monuments and archaeological remains, to a new town situated on the opposite shore. Hasankeyf’s heritage embodied strong social values for its residents and had a central presence in their daily, spiritual, and recreational lives. The mitigation efforts, however, failed to recognize these values, and the townspeople played no role in the decision-making processes. This article examines the adverse impacts of the Ilısu Dam project on Hasankeyf’s social values by bringing to the fore local relocation experiences and discussing the sociocultural and economic outcomes that have emerged in the post-relocation context. As the case of Hasankeyf illustrates, mitigation efforts that overlook local concerns might result in heritage destruction for dam-affected populations.

Investigating the Satisfaction of Residents in the Historic Center of Macau and the Characteristics of the Townscape: A Decision Tree Approach to Machine Learning

The historic city of Macau is China’s 31st world heritage site, and its residents have actively contributed to preserving its heritage and will continue to reside there for the foreseeable future. Residents’ satisfaction with the current urban environment is closely related to the landscape characteristics of the towns surrounding the historic center of Macau. This study aims to analyze the relationship between landscape characteristics and residents’ satisfaction, determine the key factors affecting their satisfaction and how they are combined, and provide a scientific basis for urban planning. This study used a decision tree machine learning model to analyze 524 questionnaire survey responses that addressed five aspects of the historic town’s landscape: the architectural, Largo Square, street, mountain and sea, and commercial landscapes. The data-driven approach helped find the best decision path. The results indicate that (1) the layout of Largo Square, the commercial colors and materials, the location of the former humanities and religion center, and the commercial signage system are the primary factors influencing residents’ satisfaction. (2) Incorporating decision tree parameters with information entropy as the splitting criterion and a minimum sample split number of two (with no maximum depth) led to the best performance when investigating residents’ satisfaction with Macau’s historic town landscape characteristics. (3) A reasonable layout for Largo Square (satisfaction > 3.50), prominent and harmonious commercial colors and materials (satisfaction > 3.50), rich cultural and religious elements (satisfaction > 4.50), and an excellent commercial signage system (satisfaction > 4.00) can significantly improve residents’ satisfaction. This provides important empirical support and a reference for urban planning and landscape design in Macau and other historical and cultural cities.

Reviving the Identity of Historic Town – A Case of Sindkhedraja

India being a country with great cultural diversities has a number of historical towns that have been very significant in the annals of the country. Sometimes their features include unique architectural structures, cultural activities, and historical background; however, these towns experience numerous difficulties in the contemporary world. Their cultural identity is under threat due to the effects of speedy urbanization, societal disregard, and shift in social status. Thus, the aim of this research is to discover how to restore and maintain the character and identity of these historical towns while promoting sustainable development. This research paper aims to bring out the historical importance of Sindkhedraja, the present day issues that have let it lose its identity and how it can be revived in the state of Maharashtra. Famous for its historical background and its historical connections with Jijabai, the mother of Maratha king Shivaji, Sindkhedraja holds a prestigious position in the Indian history. The goal of this paper is to focus on the historical significance of this town, discuss the causes of the situation that it is in now, and present long term measures that could be taken to resurrect the town.

Local community engagement and gazettement approach in managing and conserving Pangani historic town in Tanzania

Pangani is a historic coastal Swahili town situated at the mouth of the Pangani River, which empties its waters into the Indian ocean. Archaeologists have traced the origins of this town back to the seventh century through evidence from material cultures found in this area. Despite its historical importance and archaeological interest, Pangani faces substantial conservation and management challenges, primarily due to low awareness levels among its local community. These residents are largely unaware of the town’s historical value and of the impact of factors such as climate change, stone quarrying, wave erosion, and development pressures, so effective conservation plans are lacking. In finding the best practices for managing and conserving this historic town, a critical question remains as to how to rescue the town's significance and value from these challenges. This paper proposes a gazettement approach for managing and conserving Pangani, emphasising a bottom-up approach that involves local communities and other stakeholders in the conservation process.

Tourists’ narrative engagement and the multidimensional construction of historic urban landscapes: exploring the role of narration in place attachment

This study explores how the tourists’ narration contributes to the construction of the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL), with the forming of place attachment. Leveraging the Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique, this study investigates tourists’ narration of Wuzhen, a historic town in China. The results reveal that tourists have a substantial influence on crafting a fresh narrative, actively contributing to the inclusive cultural landscape within the context of indigenous urbanisation in the HUL. Place attachment forms within this process, first with the cultivation of familiarity, then with the development of meaningful memories for city-dwelling tourists. These findings establish a correlation between tourist narration, place attachment, and the construction of the HUL. The study then highlights the creation of a multi-dimensional landscape representation due to diverse tourist narratives and underscores the previously undervalued role of narration as an essential element in the framework of place attachment.

«Право на город»: Кронштадт глазами горожан

The article examines the social space of modern Kronstadt, a small historical town within the boundaries of St. Petersburg, whose residents still claim to preserve a special collective identity. The work is based on materials collected during interviews with locals in the spring of 2021. Kronstadt’s social space is characterized and described as an assemblage in which heterogeneous forces interact, thereby determining the prospects for the town’s development — both in terms of urban economy and the perception of the townspeople. There are four main elements of the current urban identity— or four components of the “Kronstadt palimpsest”: first, the townspeople’s perception of the town’s status and resource position within the hierarchy of St. Petersburg’s urban environment. Second, the determination of the administrative and “natural” boundaries of the town on the territory of Kotlin Island. Third, the ranking of neighborhoods based on the degree of prestige, along with the folklorization of “disadvantaged” zones. And fourth, the attitude toward the influx of tourists and the perception of “strangers” by local residents, as well as the division of city attractions into “ceremonial” and “personal” ones. It is concluded that the townspeople’s ongoing pursuit of the “right to the city”, based on the history, geographical location of the settlement, and their own ideas about the preferred urban way of life, largely determines the uniqueness of the Kronstadt assemblage. This sets this small town apart from the array of satellite towns around Russian megacities.

Urban Safety, Socio-Technical Solutions for Urban Infrastructure: Case Studies

Urban space’s physical and environmental characteristics impact urban public safety. Specifically, many areas in the older urban core are morphologically unsafe. The historic city’s resilience to natural disasters and emergency phenomena often surpasses expectations thanks to settlement principles, post-disaster transformations, and redundancies that enhance the performance of the historic built environment. Yet, the necessity to introduce new qualities to reclaim urban heritages scattered throughout the territory, often abandoned or sparsely populated, underscores the need for maintenance and management measures to boost safety and resilience. This study aims to identify technological components in urban space that influence the safety of places and define a design method for safety planning in historic urban settings. Urban safety interventions encompass various technological aspects in conjunction with the widespread distribution of equipment, adaptation of public and private facilities, and networked infrastructure and services. This paper delineates the elements that converge in the technological design of an appropriate historic town center to address potential emergencies. It presents the initial findings of studies conducted on a minor center with a strong historical value. This document aims to be useful for administrations of smaller municipalities, as the proposed method can be replicated in similar contexts.

A study on optimizing public spaces in rural heritage tourist sites from spatial perception: The case of Jinggang historic town

The development of cultural and rural tourism has fostered the expansion of heritage sites while concurrently presenting challenges such as resource wastage and cultural degradation. Optimizing spatial use requires a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics inherent to these sites. An emerging trend involves the integration of human perception technology into spatial perception research. Thus, to examine the correlation between alterations in physical and visual environments, tourists’ perceived changes, and primary influencing elements in rural heritage tourism sites, Jinggang – a historic and cultural town in Changsha, Hunan province, China – was selected as the research site. A comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis was conducted by integrating physical environment data from public spaces. These data include air temperature (Ta), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS), equivalent sound pressure level (ESPL), visual environment data (including green view index [GVI], sky view index [SVI], road and pavement view index (R&PVI), and construction view index [CVI]), along with biosensing data (level of stress [LS]) collected from tourists. The findings indicate the following: (i) the LS of the public space in Jinggang falls within the normal range but remains generally high, with the humanistic landscape, dominated by traditional architecture, scoring higher than the natural landscape; (ii) regarding spatial perception, the quantity of physical environment elements influencing LS surpasses that of visual environment elements, and the most relevant indicators, including ESPL, R&PVI, and CVI, all contribute to tourists’ LS; and (iii) ESPL significantly influences LS within the environment domain, where higher environmental noise decibels correspond to tourists’ increased LS. The study concludes that historic towns possess distinct characteristics as types of rural heritage tourism sites. This study provides valuable insights into enhancing spatial environmental quality and promoting an appealing and sustainable rural setting by implementing public space optimization strategies in rural heritage sites.

ЕВОЛЮЦІЯ ЛЬВІВСЬКИХ УКРІПЛЕНЬ XIV – XVII ст. ТА ЇХ ЛОКАЛІЗАЦІЯ НА СУЧАСНІЙ ТОПОГРАФІЧНІЙ КАРТІ

Complexes of urban fortifications are the basis for analyzing historical development of a settlement and developing urban planning documentation. Therefore, in 2014, as part of the publication “Atlas of Ukrainian Historic Towns, Volume1: Lviv”, the authors of the present article published a scheme-reconstruction of the localization of Lviv's historical defensive buildings based on a modern topographic basis. The format of the Atlas did not provide for a full justification of the work done. Hence, the purpose of the present article is to reveal the methodology of the tracing of Lviv fortifications on a modern topographic basis; to substantiate the received results on the localization of fortifications and to determine their evolution. Based on the analysis of the works of predecessors, bibliographic, cartographic, and iconographic sources, three separate historical complexes of Lviv fortifications are identified, and the evolution of the complex of fortifications of the 14th - 17th centuries is highlighted. As a result of combining the drawings of the first three lines of fortifications worked out by J. Witwicki and our results of tracing the fortifications, we have found the high accuracy of J. Witwicki's work. Based on the analysis of sources and archaeological research, we have clarified information in a number of flanking elements and in certain directions of the three lines of fortifications in Lviv. In order to supplement this work with the results of the work of a wide range of scholars, obtained during the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, we have conducted a pre-project study, the results of which are embodied in the differentiated designation of lost, preserved, and archaeologically recovered fortifications of the 14th and 17th centuries on a modern topographic basis at the scale of 1:2000. As a result of tracing the bastion fortifications of the suburbs, the remains of fortifications from the projects of F. Getkant (1635) and J. Behrens (1678-1682) have been found in the topography and planning structure of the city, as illustrated in the reconstruction schemes.

Transformation of Silifke—A Historic Town in Anatolia in the Ottoman Period

This article focuses on the Ottoman Period urban fabric of Silifke, a crucial historical town in Turkey. The aim of this paper is to develop a research framework for the transfer of cultural heritage and cultural continuity in multi-layered historical cities. In this context, investigating the level of sociocultural transition and physical permeability between layers is the main problem of the article. The scope of the study consists of an approximately 1.5 km2 (150 hectares) area within the boundaries of the 3rd Degree archaeological site determined in 1995 by the Adana Cultural and Natural Heritage Conservation Regional Board. In the case area, there are building remains and 58 registered buildings, 40 of which were built during the Ottoman Period. The findings and evaluations were examined in three parts: the periods before the Ottoman Period, the Ottoman Period, and the Republican Period. Analyses were developed independently or overlapped from archive documents such as the Presidential Ottoman Archive (BOA), provincial yearbooks, engravings of travelers, photographs, aerial photographs of different years, current maps, zoning plans, and conservation plans. Then, we made descriptions and inferences about urban change/transformation, which is affected by the political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental factors of the town and will shape the future change/transformation and management of the town. The ultimate goal is to set up a basis for the Silifke town center that will guide future interventions and design and planning policies for cultural continuity.

Tourism as an Opportunity or the Danger of Saturation for the Historical Coastal Towns

In the era of urbanization, small towns confront challenges in sustaining and preserving their essence and population. Historical towns have discovered their potential in tourism development, yet this opportunity often escalates into overtourism, particularly in renowned cruising destinations. This paper focuses on examples of coastal historical towns dependent on tourism revenue and faced with an excessive influx of tourists in the Mediterranean Region. The objective is to examine various cases across diverse geographical, cultural, and policy contexts to evaluate their success in achieving a balance between economic development and genius loci. This analysis seeks to identify the factors that contributed to the attainment of this equilibrium. Therefore, we selected case studies throughout the Mediterranean coast—from Saint Paul de Vence and Èze at the Azure Coast, Dubrovnik and Kotor in the Adriatic Sea, to Nafplio and Monemvasia in the Aegean Sea. The selected examples range from towns that are almost entirely depopulated to those that are suffocating from the influx of tourists. Observations on the spot and review of policies led us to the conclusion that the geography of the area and cultural values represent comparative (dis)advantages that can be influenced and shaped by policies from the time of the pre-tourist phase to the phase of overtourism. Even though the success of an early policy and the effects of investments aligned with it might be uncertain, pre-tourist policies turn out to be the most successful when it comes to balanced tourist-resident development. Determination of authorities to not only see economic benefit but also genius loci and quality of life of residents is crucial, too.

Why I revisit a historic town in Chengdu? Roles of cognitive image, affective image and memorable tourism experiences

PurposeBuilding upon the cognition-affect-behavior (CAB) model and script theory, this research aims to enrich the existing literature on historic town tourism consumption by offering empirical evidence of how the cognitive and affective images of historic towns contributes to tourists' memorable tourism experiences (MTE) and revisit intention, while identifying the cognitive image dimensions that are relevant for evaluating historic towns.Design/methodology/approachAn on-site survey was conducted with 486 local tourists who visited the historic towns in Chengdu. partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to assess both the measurement and structural models.Findings(1) Cognitive image emerged as a significant predictor of affective image; (2) Both cognitive image and affective image had a positive influence on MTE, in which cognitive image played a more dominant role in shaping MTE; (3) MTE was found to strongly predict revisit intention among tourists; (4) MTE and affective image mediated the relationship between cognitive image and revisit intention.Research limitations/implicationsThis research highlights the value of incorporating cognitive and affective constructs in predicting MTE, and the proposed integrated framework of the CAB model and script theory exhibits superior predictive power in understanding tourists' revisit intention.Practical implicationsThis research provides empirical insights about how historic towns improve their marketing strategies as short day-trip destinations.Originality/valueThis research provides a novel insight on the applicability of an integrated model combining the CAB model and script theory in explaining the revisit behavior of local tourists within the context of historic towns.

Pangangalaga o Pag-unlad? (Preservation or Development): A Phenomenological Study on the Views of the Stakeholders on the Conservation and Urbanization of a Historic Town: The Case of Lucban, Quezon, Philippines

This qualitative-phenomenological study aimed to assess the stakeholders’ perspectives on the conservation and urbanization of Lucban, Quezon, as a historic town. The researchers deployed focus group discussion and documentary analysis to collect significant information from the key informants ( n = 8). A repertory grid and thematic network analysis were used to evaluate and assess the collected information. Based on the findings, Habhab Framework on Stakeholders’ View on Heritage Conservation and Urbanization was conceptualized to provide an in-depth assessment of the town’s current situation. The framework identifies the significance of the historic town’s culture and heritage resources, primary and secondary stakeholders, current programmes, related issues and constraints, tangible and intangible resources needed for conservation, proposed programmes and perceived positive impacts. It will serve as a basis for stakeholders, especially local authorities, to develop sustainable programmes and projects to conserve and safeguard their rich culture and heritage resources.

Historical spatial structures in small towns and their role in the cultural landscape: a case study of towns in the polish region of Warmia

Historical town centers have a different layout and functions than do contemporary urban districts. The urban layout and architecture of medieval towns constitute tangible cultural heritage that shapes the local landscape. The aim of this study was to analyze and evaluate historical spatial structures in small towns, and to describe their role in the evolution of the regional cultural landscape.The study examined medieval towns in the region of Warmia in north-eastern Poland. An attempt was also made to explore the impact that historical towns exert on the local cultural landscape. The study demonstrated that a medieval urban spatial layout makes a fundamental contribution to the local landscape and regional identity. The study also revealed that well-preserved historical structurescan drive local development and effectively promote regions.

No Room for Modesty in Heritage Significance: The Case of Dennesig in Stellenbosch, South Africa

Significance and authenticity are two key concepts that run through the practice of urban heritage conservation. When combined, they form a powerful tool within a value-based system that ensures the preservation and continued use of historic places. Stellenbosch, being the second oldest town in South Africa, holds great importance as a historic town. However, several historic suburbs have experienced processes of redevelopment, studentification, and gentrification over the past decade, resulting in their deterioration. But what happens when the unique heritage character of a place is considered insignificant by developers, heritage practitioners, architects, and the local authority? This paper focuses on the Dennesig neighborhood in Stellenbosch, where the broader context of modest heritage significance has been neglected and erased from historical records due to poorly conceived planning, urban design, and mismanagement of heritage resources. The argument put forth in this paper is that in order to evaluate a specific case study site, one must consider the complexities of broader heritage and urban planning processes. This understanding is crucial to comprehend the factors that have shaped the current context and the eventual significance attributed to a particular place, setting, or townscape.

The Impact of War on the Public Realm and the Reconstruction in Cities after War Case study: Iraq, Mosul city

The social life, history, and customs of historic towns are all influenced by the public domain. The urban planning and architecture of the public domain establish the distinctive identity of old towns. They help to bring people together and form social bonds. In this phase, urban planning and architecture are vital. The public realm's historical character is essential for social interactions. The purpose of this study is to investigate and evaluate the impacts of conflict on the urban public realm (market places) in Mosul's war-torn region. Because they are largely responsible for the synthetic feeling of multidimensional space, the combination of urban and architectural influences was evaluated. These goals were fulfilled by employing an interpretative historical analysis methodology based on original assessment criteria. The data were used to categorize parts of the public domain that needed revitalization. By reestablishing the proper balance of economic, social, and cultural forces, revitalization programs aid in the preservation or revitalization of desirable places. The study found that the orderly and harmonious preparation of the public domain has a significant impact on people's perceptions of space.