Historic Urban Landscape Research Articles

A Study of Historic Urban Landscape Change Management Based on Layered Interpretation: A Case Study of Dongxi Ancient Town

In the face of external shocks from urbanization and the inherent needs of economic development, it is essential for urban and rural heritage to adapt timely to achieve sustainability in development. Employing Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) methodologies for change management holds significant implications for the sustainable preservation and utilization of heritage. This study used Dongxi Ancient Town as a case study, characterized by a distinct evolutionary trajectory and diverse layers of accumulation throughout its historical progression, making it an exemplary instance for change analysis. This paper analyzed the processes and outcomes of historic urban landscape changes through a layered historical approach. Combining historical data translation methods with ArcGIS spatial analysis, we documented and mapped the cultural and natural characteristics of Dongxi Ancient Town. The layered process of the town’s historical landscape was categorized into four stages: the primary formative period from the Western Han to the Ming dynasties, the rapid development during the Qing dynasty, the prosperous period of the Republic of China, and the transitional expansion period following the establishment of the People’s Republic of China. The study analyzed the morphological changes and values of the historical landscape throughout these periods. Based on the analysis results, we suggest three transformation management strategies for historical landscapes oriented towards economic development: (1) converting cultural heritage into cultural assets, (2) implementing moderate and controlled quantitative changes, and (3) enhancing operational feasibility through collaborative efforts among multiple stakeholders. These strategies aim to establish a sustainable model that balances heritage conservation with economic growth.

Editorial Issue 2/2024

In recent years, community engagement has become a cornerstone in peace-building, decision-making and sustainable development. It also plays an increasingly significant role in heritage management and the processes involved in heritage listing. The 1972 World Heritage Convention, Article 5, proposed adopting a policy of integrating cultural and natural heritage in the life of communities. In 2007, “Communities” was added as the “Fifth C” to the Strategic Objectives to “enhance the role of communities in the implementation of the World Heritage Convention” (UNESCO 2007). The 2011 UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach further strengthened commitment to community engagement by emphasizing the importance of community values and the need to learn “from communities about their histories, traditions, values, needs and aspirations, and by facilitating mediation and negotiation between groups with conflicting interests” (UNESCO 2011). This shift reflects a broader recognition that effective heritage preservation requires integrating local knowledge, practices and cultural values.

Capturing the transition of historic urban landscapes using scores from Hanoi’s ancient quarter

ABSTRACT Asian cities are exposed to dynamic changes in their historic urban landscapes (HULs). However, the ways in which to quantify the degree of landscape change to guide spatial management have remained underexplored. Taking rapidly changing Hàng Buồm Street, Hanoi, Vietnam, as case study, we developed a numerical score for HULs to capture change tendencies. From onsite surveys, we defined the intensity and speed of change in trade and façades and identified vulnerable spots by mapping the scores for 131 units in 2015, 2017, and 2019. Our results showed that superficial façade changes happened regardless of the degree of trade change, and that the intense façade and trade changes happened around junctions with heavily touristified streets. We also found that aside from conventional tourism, newly emerging nighttime economies, wellness tourism, and multifunctional complexes had more intense façade changes. Based on these findings, we propose refining current management strategies by preparing stricter guidelines to control the aforementioned highly influential trades, establishing urban design project for old street to improve management of junctions especially with heavily touristified streets, and providing detailed examples of appropriate signboards that can easily be referenced by merchants and investors.

Analysis of Multi-Dimensional Layers in Historic Districts Based on Theory of the Historic Urban Landscape: Taking Shenyang Fangcheng as an Example

The accelerated process of urbanisation in China is resulting in a decline in and threat to the historic landscape of historic districts. This study is based on the theory of historic urban landscapes and employs a multi-dimensional layers research framework for historic districts. It adopts a single case study and a research method that combines quantitative and qualitative methods. The stratification elements of Fangcheng in Shenyang are identified and summarised, the process of stratification is analysed, and the stratification patterns and laws are summarised through the acquisition and collection of multivariate data. The findings of this study indicate that the stratification elements of the Fangcheng Historic District have undergone five distinct phases of stratification evolution. The resulting stratification pattern can be summarised as follows: newborn, preserve, override, juxtaposition and decession. The spatial elements are layered in the following pattern: The historic landscape can be conceptualised as comprising four layers: (1) the layering of the historic landscape with large public buildings as the anchor point; (2) the layering of the historic landscape with the spatial pattern as the skeleton; (3) the layering of the historic landscape with the iconic buildings as the nodes; and (4) the layering of the historic landscape with the correlative elements as the substrate. The law of value element layering primarily reflects the principles of concentration, diversity and adaptation. In light of the urban historic landscape theory, the reconstruction and restoration strategies, integration of old and new and adaptive conservation of historic landscapes are proposed to offer novel insights and guidance for the conservation of the historic landscape in the Fangcheng Historic District.

Heritage Value Assessment and Landscape Preservation of Traditional Chinese Villages Based on the Daily Lives of Local Residents: A Study of Tangfang Village in China and the UNESCO HUL Approach

Traditional Chinese villages, recognized as national heritage sites, are invaluable cultural assets. Since 2012, efforts have focused on their preservation, though issues remain such as prioritizing authenticity over usability and material over cultural elements. This paper adopts the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach, emphasizing the integration of physical heritage with daily life to shift value assessment. The fundamental argument of this paper is that the HUL method can serve as a new tool for preserving the historical heritage and landscape of rural areas, particularly in the context of assessing and formulating preservation frameworks for traditional Chinese villages. Through the case study of Tangfang village’s new conservation plan, the research demonstrates that the value of traditional villages lies in the continuous interaction between daily activities and physical space, including landscape, functional, and spiritual dimensions. The study concludes that a preservation framework based on local residents’ daily lives ensures more effective heritage conservation and landscape preservation by addressing both material and human values.

Dynamics of Cultural Landscape on Idjen Boulevard as an Icon of Heritage Street Corridor in Malang City - Indonesia

The dynamic development of the city has brought about significant physical and environmental changes in Malang City, impacting the increasingly blurred identity of heritage areas. One such area is Idjen Boulevard, representing an icon of the heritage road corridor in Malang City. To comprehend the evolving nature of these heritage areas, it is essential to conduct studies documenting their past conditions and dynamics across various historical periods: the Colonial period, the Old Order period (the beginning of Indonesian independence), the New Order period, and the Reformation period. This comprehensive approach aims to understand the changes that occurred in each time periodization within each zone/road segment. These insights are crucial for determining future development control steps through targeted regulations. The research employs the Interpretive Historical Urban Landscape method, focusing on thirteen components that constitute the Cultural Landscape. This method involves analyzing the results of observations, both from literature and field sources, supported by tools such as CAD Mapper, Google Earth, Google Street View, GISTARU (an interactive urban spatial detail plan), and SketchUp. These tools are instrumental in obtaining findings about the hierarchy of changes in cultural landscape components and the dynamics within each zone of the specified observation unit.

Continuity and Interruption in Architecture /Case of the historic urban landscape of Finiq (ancient Phoeniciae), Albania

The conventional object-based approach that focuses on singular built heritage assets is currently changing towards a more holistic approach where the setting and context of a heritage site as well as its development play a greater role. This paper explores the com- plex interrelation between the built environment and its natural and rural setting in Finiq, Al- bania. It introduces the concept of historic urban landscape in Finiq, taking into consideration the rich heritage legacy of the area mainly represented by the remains of the ancient city of Phoinike located in the hill overlooking the contemporary rural settlement. The purpose of the paper is to understand the special role that the landscape has had through- out history in the place-making of the settlements of this region, in the shaping of the form of the built settlement and in the development of local spatial typologies. Eventually it seeks to highlight the role that the historic urban landscape approach can play in developing a sense of cohesion and flow between historic and contemporary or between built and natural setting. The analysis of the interrelation between built environment and natural setting is undertaken through the use of the architectural concepts of “continuity” and “interruption”. This interrelation is explored in three scales being land use, spatial development as well as building scale also by taking into consideration two factors being time and space. Through offering an overview of the historic traces still present and continuing in the territory and also by highlighting the interrupted relations or traces and their impact in the settlement urban form, the conclusions and findings can help to understand contemporary challenges and develop a series of new interpretations in the Finiq area. The final aim is to contribute to the general discourse in of considering relationships between historic built areas and their setting in a more comprehensive and integrated way.

Employing the Historic Urban Landscape Approach for Planning of Historic Places: Directions for the Preservation of Kota Lama Gorontalo, in Indonesia

There is a general concern that the development of historic urban areas can damage cultural heritage sites. Kota Lama Gorontalo located in Gorontalo City, Gorontalo Province, Indonesia is such a cultural heritage site. This area was a bustling port city in the past. Its strategic location being between two crowded shipping areas, namely the South China Sea and Tomini Bay has made Kota Lama Gorontalo grow into an important city in Sulawesi, as the center of a traditional kingdom. This study investigates the historical layers of Kota Lama Gorontalo and threats to its preservation. It is based on the premise that by applying the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach, historic city areas can be developed to meet the changing functional and technical needs while maintaining their character and identity. The research obtains data related to the past context from archival data, maps, and old photographs. Data related to the present-day context is obtained from field research. The findings show that the long period of existence of Kota Lama Gorontalo has produced a variety of cultural remains that have become the identity of the region. Undeniably, it needs to be preserved because these cultural remains are deteriorating because of the developments that do not heed conservation rules and also because of natural disasters. This paper offers recommendations for the preservation of Kota Lama Gorontalo based on the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach.

Landscape Evolution and Protection Value Assessment of the Historic Campus of Chongqing University from the Perspective of Historic Urban Landscape (HUL)

Landscape Evolution and Protection Value Assessment of the Historic Campus of Chongqing University from the Perspective of Historic Urban Landscape (HUL)

The Importance of Stakeholder Involvement in Promoting the Cherchell Aqueducts as Tourist Attractions: Current Situation and Prospects

The Roman aqueducts in Cherchell, built in the second century AD, are a remarkable engineering achievement that spans over 130 kilometers and has historical significance. Today, the aqueducts have five easily accessible bridges. However, there is a lack of coordination among stakeholders involved in managing the cultural heritage in Cherchell. The 2014 strategic plan aimed to safeguard and enhance archaeological monuments and historic buildings by promoting and advertising the Cherchell aqueducts. The Protection and Enhancement Plan for Archaeological Sites with their protected zones (PPMVSAZP) focuses on tackling tourism through various measures and attributes. Two methodological techniques were used for this case study: Researching accounting values through design (RtD) and the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach. Consulting examples of Gallo-Roman aqueducts in France allowed for a critical comparison of strategies required for managing development projects with all stakeholders. The main focus of this paper is to establish a critical analysis of the current situation by situating dysfunctions in the collaborative relationships between different stakeholders. The paper aims to emphasize how stakeholders, community organizations, and professionals can work together to designate, enhance, and manage the case study, proposing an efficient collaborative assessment as a potential opportunity for the future.

Mapping the past with historical geographic information systems: layered characteristics of the historic urban landscape of Nanjing, China, since the Ming Dynasty (1368–2024)

The layering process of the historic urban landscape (HUL) has spatial and temporal characteristics. With the help of digital technology, building a database to collect and manage spatial information on HUL is an effective research method. Taking Nanjing since the Ming Dynasty (1368–2024) as an example, our paper proposes a framework for constructing a historical geographic information system (HGIS) for HUL. The results show that (1) ancient Chinese historical archives have good potential for use in the construction of historical landscape databases. The HGIS can visualize the evolution of HUL and realize the storage, expression, querying, and analysis of information in different formats. (2) The Republic of China is a turning point in the evolution of Nanjing’s HUL. In terms of spatial evolution, the main distribution areas of urban form and characteristic places, as well as the NACH (normalized angular choice) and NAIN (normalized angular integration) cores of the road network, all moved from the south to the north of the city. In terms of typological evolution, the urban form changes from a predominantly residential area to one that emphasizes residential, administrative, educational and industrial areas. The main types of characteristic places shifted from house gardens, temples and ancestral halls to scenic buildings and public gardens. (3) Political factors, urban planning, commercial ports, and land prices influence the layering process of the HUL. The constructed database guides the preservation of HUL from the digital heritage perspective and the construction of other historical databases with spatial characteristics.

Adaptive Reuse Approach to the Conservation of Historic Urban Landscape: Evolution and Role of Facadism

Adaptive Reuse Approach to the Conservation of Historic Urban Landscape: Evolution and Role of Facadism

Urban morphology and identity: The dock spaces of melaka on the maritime silk road

Background: This research investigates the intricate relationship between historical docks and the urban development of Melaka, a significant maritime entrepot along the Maritime Silk Road. Focusing on the physical connections and urban morphological performance, this study explores how these docks have influenced the urban morphology and architectural typology of Melaka from its earliest settlement to the present. Method: Utilizing a multidisciplinary approach that combines urban planning, architectural analysis, historical research, and extensive fieldwork, this research identifies key dock spaces along the Melaka River and examines their connections to the city's inland areas. Through historical mapping and analysis of lost docks and market spaces, as well as religious buildings, the study reveals the complex interactions between these maritime infrastructures and urban development. Result: The findings highlight numerous challenges in preserving these historical nodes, including issues related to modern urban integration and conservation. Conclusion: The research concludes with recommendations for the conservation and management of these historical sites, emphasizing their importance in preserving Melaka’s historic urban landscape. By safeguarding these cultural heritage nodes, Melaka can maintain its urban identity and continue to honor its rich maritime history. Novelty/Originality of this study: The development of a comprehensive and adaptive maritime heritage integration model in modern urban planning, which combines urban morphology, historical mapping, and socio-economic impact assessment, provides a multidimensional framework for urban planners to preserve and revitalize infrastructure nodes while accommodating contemporary urban development needs, thereby creating a balance between heritage preservation and urban progress.

Green Heritage and Lanna Urban Identity: A Study of Temples in Chiang Mai Old City

This study employs the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) framework to explore the integration of landscape plants as green heritage with Lanna urban identity in Chiang Mai Old City, Thailand. The research focuses on 38 Lanna temples, investigating the characteristics and roles of plant materials in these sacred spaces. Through comprehensive ground surveys, GIS mapping, and structured interviews with monks, temple caretakers, and long-term residents, the study documents the types, locations, and uses of native and exotic plants. The findings emphasize the cultural, aesthetic, and ecological significance of heritage trees, such as the Bodhi trees and the Yang tree. These trees are pivotal in maintaining cultural continuity, supporting traditional rituals, and enhancing biodiversity. The study also reveals that while ornamental and edible plants are actively used in rituals and community practices, medicinal and applicable plants are preserved more for their historical value than practical use. This research underscores the necessity of sustainable landscape management, community engagement, and the preservation of ethnobotanical knowledge to mitigate the impacts of urbanization. By integrating green heritage into urban planning, the study provides valuable insights for enhancing the cultural and environmental landscape of Chiang Mai.

Automatic Detection and 3D Reconstruction of Buildings from Historical Maps

ABSTRACT This paper presents an automatic 3D building reconstruction methodology for historical urban maps. It uses facade and openings detection on the maps, followed by rectification, regularization, and 3D model generation techniques. Evaluation metrics confirm the effectiveness of the approach, with high accuracy in detecting facades and their openings while maintaining geometric integrity. The flexibility and interoperability of the chosen 3D building representation method allow for adjustments in dimensions without compromising layout, making it suitable for completing the urban environments where facades may not be directly visible. This methodology represents a significant step toward automating the reconstruction of 3D historical urban landscapes, contributing to heritage preservation and architectural understanding.

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.

A multidimensional framework for assessing cultural heritage vulnerability to flood hazards

ABSTRACT This study proposes a multidimensional framework for the assessment of cultural heritage vulnerability to flood hazards. In this framework, cultural heritage is framed within a landscape approach drawing on the concept of the historic urban landscape as a physical entity, a lived space and a layered socio-economic environment. In such manner, this study emphasises that climate change disturbs both tangible and intangible aspects of cultural heritage – such as social systems and daily life practices – by modifying the material conditions that sustain them. Thus, the proposed framework integrates built and natural heritage with area-based vulnerability and socio-economic deprivation, considering households’ exposure to flood risk. The analysis follows a spatial and quantitative approach using open geospatial data available at the statistical unit level. The data are processed and analysed employing QGIS software and statistical analysis. Results confirm that cultural heritage vulnerability is highly associated with socio-economic deprivation and area-based vulnerability. The understanding of this interrelation is key to the identification of historic urban landscape qualities and priority areas for reconstruction and social support.

Balancing Social and Cultural Priorities in the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for UNESCO World Heritage Cities

There is a strong relationship between heritage-led urban regeneration and the UN initiatives for Sustainable Development (SD). These include the Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention (ICH; 2003) and Historic Urban Landscape (HUL; 2011) under the UNESCO mandate and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs; 2015) and the New Urban Agenda (NUA; 2016) under the UN mandate. Despite the presence of those initiatives, regeneration in a World Heritage city often leads to the disappearance of intangible heritage, gentrification, excessive tourism, and social exclusion. Therefore, this paper critically identifies the shortcomings of those initiatives in addressing social and cultural sustainability. It uses the recently inscribed city of As-Salt on the WHL to showcase how the relevant SDGs’ targets and indicators are problematic in monitoring and measuring the sustainability of urban regeneration practices in WH cities. This is achieved by investigating where heritage and culture are embedded within the descriptions of goals and indicators in the three initiatives (SDGs, NUA, and HUL) document. A content analysis, using the NVivo qualitative data analysis tool, was conducted in order to identify complementarity, synergies, and correlations among the goals and indicators related to social and cultural sustainability. This paper concludes by suggesting an integrated approach under the umbrella of the SDGs for a more sustainable heritage-led urban regeneration alternative for cities acquiring UNESCO WH status.

Evolution of heritage and development in Liverpool's waterfront over 40 years

The recent delisting of Liverpool’s World Heritage Site has highlighted the adverse impacts of ongoing urban developments on the city’s heritage. This study aims to address the critical question of how Liverpool can safeguard its heritage following the loss of its World Heritage status. As this status withdrawal implies a lack of international policy consideration, it raises important questions: What additional measures should be implemented? How could we reassess Liverpool's heritage in this new context? To tackle these issues, we investigate the changing relationship between safeguarding heritage and urban development on Liverpool Waterfront’s Historic Urban Landscape over the past 40 years. This study analyses the impact of developments on Liverpool’s heritage values, specifically focusing on Integrity, Authenticity, and Outstanding Universal Value. By employing a novel, top-down heritage impact assessment methodology, we evaluate the influence of urban and architectural developments on these values. This methodology is distinguished by its comprehensive comparative analysis of diverse elements drawn from heritage policy documents, spanning both tangible and intangible domains. In addition, we conducted interviews with experts familiar with Liverpool's heritage context to deepen our understanding of developmental impacts. The analysis framework comprises three case study areas and their associated developments: the adaptive reuse of the Albert Dock Complex (1981–1988), the Pier Head Developments (2007–2013), and the Stanley Dock Conservation Area (2021 onwards). The findings indicate that adaptive reuse schemes have been reasonably successful in preserving heritage values, whereas certain urban interventions have had detrimental effects. This study underscores the need for stricter regulations and broader stakeholder involvement to protect Liverpool's heritage. Further research is recommended, incorporating more development case studies and examining successful urban interventions in other heritage cities, to strengthen Liverpool’s heritage safeguarding strategies amidst evolving urban development pressures.

Urban Transformation in Muslim Neighborhoods: From Shanghai’s Women’s Mosque into a Retirement Home

Since the mid-19th century, the migration of Hui Muslims to Shanghai has fostered the development of stable residential neighborhoods around the Small Peach Garden Mosque, turning the area into a hub for religious gatherings and a bustling economic center, especially for the beef, mutton, and catering sectors. However, the dawn of the 21st century brought with it swift economic expansion and urban redevelopment, gradually replacing the neighborhoods surrounding the mosque with high-end residential zones. Soaring land prices slashed the profits of Muslim food businesses in the area to the point of unsustainability, disrupting the traditional pattern of life around the mosque. This study offers insights from interviews with older Muslim women who stayed at the Small Peach Garden Women’s Mosque after its demolition, slowly transforming it into a retirement home. Their stories underline that architectural conservation alone is not sufficient to preserve the character of historic and cultural sites. The study calls for a deeper understanding of urban transformations in historic urban landscapes for religious minorities.