Urban Fabric Research Articles

Research on the historical spatial characteristics and conservation strategies of colonial cities in Asia and Africa: a case study of 21 typical cities

Colonial cities in Asia and Africa, developed under the dual influence of native and sovereign cultures during the colonial era, exhibit unique urban morphological characteristics and reflect the planning ideologies of diverse cultures. Thus, the morphological study of colonial cities in Asia and Africa is crucial for understanding and identifying the historical and cultural value of these cities, which in turn enables the formulation of precise conservation strategies. In light of this, the study develops an urban morphological analysis methodology comprising "Colonial Background Analysis—Morphological Characteristics Analysis—Driving Factor Extraction" based on the Conzenian Approach, which is used to examine the morphology of 21 typical colonial cities in Asia and Africa across various colonial periods. As a result, "Dual-City" emerges as the core spatial characteristic of colonial cities in Asia and Africa, reflecting the morphological differences in road layouts, urban fabric, and urban cores between native and European zones. Additionally, as native settlement sizes, social structures, and cultural identities differ between cities, three major spatial patterns of the "Dual-City" model can be identified: separated, mediated, and integrated spatial patterns, resulting from the varied planning approaches applied by colonizers. Furthermore, suggestions for the conservation of colonial heritage are proposed based on the driving factors analysis from the morphological study.

Photovoltaics Energy Potential in the Largest Greek Cities: Atmospheric and Urban Fabric Effects, Climatic Trends Influences and Socio-Economic Benefits

This comprehensive study explores the influence of aerosols and clouds on solar radiation in the urban environments of nine of Greece’s largest cities over the decade from 2014 to 2023. Utilizing a combination of Earth Observation data, radiative transfer models, and geographic information systems, the research undertook digital surface modeling and photovoltaic simulations. The study meticulously calculated the optimal rooftop areas for photovoltaic installation in these cities, contributing significantly to their energy adequacy and achieving a balance between daily electricity production and demand. Moreover, the research provides an in-depth analysis of energy and economic losses, while also highlighting the environmental benefits. These include a reduction in pollutant emissions and a decrease in the carbon footprint, aligning with the global shift towards local energy security and the transformation of urban areas into green, smart cities. The innovative methodology of this study, which leverages open access data, sets a strong foundation for future research in this field. It opens up possibilities for similar studies and has the potential to contribute to the creation of an updated, comprehensive solar potential map for continental Greece. This could be instrumental in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, thereby promoting sustainable urban development and environmental preservation.

Reclaiming urban lost spaces around elevated urban linkages: the case of El Sawy Cultural Wheel, Egypt

In recent times, elevated urban linkages (EULs) have emerged as crucial components of urban development, cutting through the cities’ urban fabric to accommodate the rapid expansion of urban cores and to facilitate traffic flow. However, these massive infrastructures have inadvertently given rise to urban lost spaces—vacant, inefficient areas within the urban fabric. Recognizing these lost spaces as untapped public assets, the paper explores sustainable development strategies to reclaim them into the urban fabric, transforming them into vibrant, multi-functional public spaces. The paper aims to achieve a set of urban design guidelines for rehabilitation design interventions which will be deduced into a comprehensive framework. This framework encompasses criteria for selecting appropriate approaches and types of rehabilitation design interventions, as well as design principles ensuring the desirability of the reclaimed space. The paper applies this framework to assess the El Sawy Cultural Wheel in Egypt, revealing it as a successful example of a reclaimed space. While positive aspects of rehabilitation design interventions are evident in terms of the approach and type of intervention in this case study, there are identified areas with shortcomings in fully implementing the design principles, if enhanced, could elevate the overall quality of the reclaimed space.

Iper-luoghi e trame urbane: il ruolo dei centri commerciali nel contesto territoriale lombardo

Abstract Hyper-Places and Urban Fabrics: The Role of Shopping Centers in the Lombardy Territorial Context Moving from a reflection related to urban transformations that have occurred over the years the paper reflects on the generation of new urban spaces – which are configured as strong attractors, connectors, and diffusers – capable of encompassing various individual practices as well as the functions of a society as a whole. Assuming this framework, the contribution focuses on the role of shopping centers – with particular attention to the role assumed by Oriocenter in Lombardy (Italy) – as hyper-places. In fact, since the early 1990s, such structures have undergone profound changes, developing both through an increase in size and through a diversification of commercial attractors, promoting renewed flow trajectories and leading to increasing territorial complexity.

The Artistic Impact of Computer-Aided Design on Building Façade in Nigeria

The visual landscape of our cities is ever- evolving, shaped by the architectural and embedded computer aided design marvels that adorn the urban fabric. Among the myriad elements that contribute to the allure of a building, the artistic impact on its facade holds a distinct significance. The facade, as the external face of a structure, acts as a canvas where artistry and design converge, manifesting an artistic expression that resonates with its surroundings and captivates the human eye. The interplay between art, computer and architecture has been a topic of fascination for centuries, as artists, computer aided design and architects have sought to transcend mere functionality and transform buildings into visually striking works of art. From ancient civilizations to modern metropolises, the artistic impact on building facades has been an enduring reflection of cultural heritage, societal values, and creative ingenuity. This journal aims to delve into the multifaceted aspects of artistic and computerization impact on building facades, exploring the diverse factors that shape this phenomenon and the profound influence it has on our built environment. By delving into the intricate interplay of aesthetics, functionality, and cultural context, we seek to unravel the power of artistic and automation expression in transforming buildings into iconic landmarks. Understanding the artistic and embedded system impact on building facades necessitates an exploration of various dimensions. Examining the influence of cultural context, as different regions and communities in Nigeria imbue their buildings with distinct artistic computerization styles, motifs, and themes rooted in their heritage and traditions. Additionally, architectural coupled with automation system style plays a pivotal role, as different design paradigms demand specific artistic elements and materials to achieve harmony and coherence between form and function. Furthermore, this journal will investigate the impact of the urban environment on artistic automation system expression. The surrounding cityscape, with its diverse architectural and computerization styles, urban planning principles, and contextual demands, serves as a backdrop against which building facades make their artistic and automation statements.

Urban Livability and Vertical Inclusion: Exploring Mixed-Use Development Strategies in Khulna, Bangladesh

As urban populations expand and future needs evolve amidst limited land availability, rethinking traditional planning and construction approaches becomes imperative. Architect Frank Schlesinger advocates for urban environments that embrace mixed- use complexes, conceptualizing urban land as dynamic, three-dimensional blocks accommodating diverse functions above, at, and below ground levels. Shopping facilities, pivotal in urban landscapes, reflect regional and temporal variations in consumer behavior. Integrating public and private amenities is essential for cultivating a thriving urban ecosystem. However, rigid block structures in current city master plan to constrain diversity and livability, are exacerbated by inadequate setbacks that challenge urban identity. In Khulna, bustling daytime cores contrast with deserted evenings and holidays, reflecting segregated land uses that hinder societal inclusivity. Despite demand, office and commercial spaces often remain vacant. This study employs a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative surveys with qualitative methods such as interviews and observational studies. It aims to address critical local issues including land scarcity, traffic management, vertical development challenges, and the provision of sophisticated services to enhance urban comfort. By exploring innovative configurations of civic facilities, both horizontally and vertically, the study seeks to demonstrate how integrating functions can create cohesive and vibrant urban environments. Ultimately, the adoption of vertically integrated spaces holds promise for fostering inclusivity and sustainability in Khulna’s urban fabric.

Industrialisation and Accompanied Urban Fabric: Case Studies of Asian Cities

Industrialisation and Accompanied Urban Fabric: Case Studies of Asian Cities

Towards an exclusionary social contract: Narratives of a revanchist city in (post)war Syria

ABSTRACT This article asks to what extent national narratives drive changes in social contracts on both national and local level. Societal and especially state actors can use narratives to underline or omit specific rights and duties in social contracts, or to privilege particular contracting parties. In the Syrian case, repression and foreign intervention triggered changes in the national social contract, yet the exclusionary narrative functioned as a catalyst for these changes and entrenched them on both, the national and the city level. We show that housing, land and property (HLP) policies in (post-)war Damascus have an urban scope but a national impact. Not only wartime destruction but also post-war demolition have been particularly high in selected neighbourhoods and (re-)construction favoured upscale urban mega projects. This approach to urban planning reflects an exclusionary national narrative, which stigmatizes parts of the population as ‘terrorists’ and suspects them of stirring up public disorder. In consequence, these groups are marginalized or even ‘evicted’ from the social contract. For those Syrians still covered by the social contract, the narrative seeks to offer a justification for the large-scale exclusion of fellow citizens. Our analysis is based on an extensive review of literature from human geography, with a focus on the physical and social urban fabric, and political science, on intra-societal power relations.

Handicrafts as cultural creative clusters: a spatial-cultural planning approach for the regeneration of the urban historical fabrics

Handicrafts as cultural creative clusters: a spatial-cultural planning approach for the regeneration of the urban historical fabrics

Cycling Greenway Planning towards Sustainable Leisure and Recreation: Assessing Network Potential in the Built Environment of Chengdu

In the quest to enhance urban green mobility and promote sustainable leisure activities, this study presents a comprehensive analysis of the potential for cycling greenways within the urban fabric of Chengdu, China. Leveraging the built environment and cycling routes, simulated by dockless bike-sharing (DBS) big data on weekend afternoons, the cycling flow on existing networks reflects the preference for leisure cycling in surroundings, thus indicating the potential for future enhancements to cycling greenway infrastructure. Employing Multi-Scale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWR), this research captures the spatial heterogeneity in environmental factors influencing leisure cycling behaviors. The findings highlight the significant roles of mixed land use, network diversity, public transit accessibility, human-scale urban design, road network thresholds, and the spatially variable impacts of architectural form in determining cycling greenway potential. This study culminates with the development of an evaluation model, offering a scientific approach for cities to identify and prioritize the expansion of cycling infrastructure. Contributing to urban planning efforts for more livable and sustainable environments, this research underscores the importance of data-driven decision-making in urban green mobility enhancement by accurately identifying and efficiently upgrading infrastructure guided by public preferences.

Sherds and the City: Pottery Production, Society, and the Changing Urban Fabric of Fustat, Egypt

ABSTRACT This paper coordinates archaeological information on the changing urban landscape of Egypt’s first Islamic-era capital, Fustat, with topographical, social, and economic insights from the Geniza archive and other sources. A focus on the organization of the city’s pottery industry provides new insights into the multiple “abandonments” and reoccupations familiar from historical sources, showing how diverse residential areas were turned to industrial use (and back) via adaptable transitional processes.

Analysis of Forms on Pediments of Domestic Buildings in Osogbo, South-Western Nigeria

Pediments of domestic building are spaces for ornamentation inspired by the modern Yoruba culture of sealing up domestic buildings with gated fences. The erected fences often conceal ornamented buildings, thus preventing the showcasing of the beautiful embellishments on lower walls, in line with the institutionalized ostentation in Yoruba culture. The embellishment of pediments in Yorubaland, has not been treated with deserved importance despite the uniqueness of the forms, which leaves a gap in literature on this topic. This discourse examines and analyses the images on the pediments of domestic buildings, with the view to documenting the artistic embellishments and revealing the social-cultural significances of the presented forms. The study carried out in Osogbo metropolis, South-western Nigeria, utilized the ethnographic approach, with data derived mostly from primary sources. The paper submits that images on pediments send out information about the philosophies, religious and the socio-cultural affiliations of the owners of these sealed-up buildings to passers-by. It is also observed that although ornamented pediments beautify buildings, they are more of status symbols and are better appreciated from afar, thus enhancing the urban fabric in general.

Market Squares of Small Towns as Public Space of Opole Silesia on Selected Examples (Legal Status After 2015)

This paper presents the results of research on the diagnosis of the state of public space in the context of the evolution of its structure, on the example of market squares of small cities. The background to the research is the implementation of the Act on Ensuring Accessibility for Persons with Special Needs (The Accessibility Act, 2019) and the Revitalisation Act (2015), as documents with significant impact on the shape of public spaces in Polish cities. The multicultural and cross-border region of Opole Silesia was chosen as the research area. Six small towns in the region, whose market squares have undergone a revitalization in recent years, were selected for analysis: Biała, Dobrodzień, Korfantów, Otmuchów, Paczków, Ujazd. This article aims to diagnose the condition of public space, on the example of the market squares of small towns, based on the solutions adopted in the revitalization projects. The criteria adopted for the analyses are the identity of the place and continuity of development, accessibility, and adaptation to climate change. The research uses the method of comparative analysis of the morphological structure, the method of analyzing the physical parameters of space, and the analysis of historical iconography and cartography. Conducted analyses will make it possible to formulate an answer to the question of to what extent the introduction of the regulations as mentioned above has changed the approach to the revitalization process as a continuation of the historically formed way of building the urban fabric, and to what extent it has forced the introduction of solutions that violate the continuity of historical development. The result of the research will be a diagnosis of the problems in the revitalization processes of small towns in the multicultural area of the Opole region, in the context of current legal conditions, and sustainable development.

Potential of Former Mill Race Corridors for Urban Regeneration Strategies—A Case Study from Podolínec in Prešov Region (Slovakia)

In the past, mill races were part of the urban structure of many towns in Slovakia. As regulated and artificially created waterways, they served to drive mills, rollers, or hammers. With the use of new sources of energy, they lost their functions, and most of them were dried, filled, or buried underground. In our research, we examine the former mill race corridor in Podolínec (Prešov region, Slovakia) and its potential to contribute to urban regeneration strategies. The research steps included the following, namely 1. Identification of the route of the mill race corridor according to historical sources, 2. survey of its current state and its spatial preservation in the urban structure, 3. evaluation of the possibilities of its new uses, which could increase the quality and attractiveness of urban public spaces. The research results show that the fragments of the corridor of the extinct mill race are still identifiable in the urban fabric, and in the cadaster, they are in public ownership and suitable for new uses. The fragments of the corridor of the extinct mill race in Podolínec represent a potential for strengthening the blue and green infrastructure, pedestrian and cycling greenways, and a potential for the presentation of cultural heritage values, which could contribute to the improvement of the qualities of the urban environment.

Examining Sustainable Urban Design Pattern by Explaining the Compatibility Model based on Density in Residential Fabrics of District 4th in Tehran City

Concerns about energy and climate change have taken center stage in urban studies in recent years. Buildings are the primary focus of the problem of maximizing energy efficiency in cities, and among the energy Additionally, the most crucial aspects of urban energy efficiency research are consumption, solar radiation energy on the one hand, and thermal energy demand on the other. These factors, together with other climatic factors, primarily influence the standard of life in urban areas. The main aim of research is to establish a model of sustainability in the physical form of the city, the primary objective of the current research is to extract the ideal framework and also the proposed model in the form of a structure for the concept of urban design in urban morphology, which is, on the one hand, the architectural scale of the buildings of the urban fabrics. In terms of structure, the current research is analytical-descriptive, and the method of data collection is in the form of documentation, survey, modeling and simulation using energy analysis software in the field of energy with a micro-analytical approach of urban climate such as Envi-met. For this reason, 4 morpho-types were evaluated in the context of the 4th district of Tehran, and the findings of the research show the difference between the optimal state and the current state of the evaluated parameters, and the amount of difference and the effect of added density in each morphological type of the effective range based on the index It explains that the high-rise building type has the most positive changes in the proposed conditions, and the compact types have lower values respectively. In the future researches, other morphological variables and adaptation modes with climatic parameters can also be investigated in order to achieve energy efficiency in other modes. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52783/pst.545

Creative use of post-industrial space in Lodz - tour guides’ perspectives

ABSTRACT City guides play an important role in shaping the experience of space, including the transformation of its image, which is particularly important in post-industrial cities. They look for non-obvious elements of the urban space, creating an original narrative and offering visitors and residents creative initiatives to help them get to know the city and even build a local identity. The aim of the study was to analyse the creative use of post-industrial space by city guides, using the example of Lodz. The authors explored which resources of the city space they find particularly inspiring, and what the conditions, barriers to action and needs of the respondents are. The analysis was conducted on the basis of two focus group interviews (FGI) among selected guides. The research revealed the relevance of the city’s atypical heritage in the development of a creative guiding offer. The non-obvious urban fabric, which has not been subjected to revitalisation and aestheticisation processes, is becoming an inspiration for the creation of unique tourism products, as well as a valuable identity resource for the city.

Screens as an archipelago: analysis of screen-based public art as expanded cinema in Chinese metropolises

ABSTRACT Drawing upon Édouard Glissant’s notion of the ‘archipel’ and Gene Youngblood’s concept of the ‘expanded cinema,’ this study examines recent examples of screen-based public art showcased in densely populated Chinese metropolises. Focusing on the artworks’ potential to reconfigure the spaces they inhabit and engage the spectators within the context of urban landscapes, screens in these artworks are portrayed as integral components of an archipelago, elucidating the mobility of cultural communication. We introduce a methodological framework, termed ‘World-Archipelago’ and ‘Archipelago-World.’ The former scenario involves artworks that remain central and interact with their surroundings as extensions, merging virtual experiences with reality, while the latter blurs the boundaries between the artwork and its context, harmonizing with local culture and seamlessly integrating into the urban fabric. Thus, this study posits that applying archipelagic thinking provides a substantial and analytical understanding of screens as an artistic medium within public art, involving a rhizomatic interplay that transcends the conventional centre–periphery paradigm and demands an exploration of the evolving relationships between screen-based public art and spatial critical awareness within metropolitan contexts.

The fluctuating mosaic of socio-spatial inequalities in central Pyongyang under the pressures of marketization

North Korea is one of the world's remaining totalitarian states. Nevertheless, marketization, despite officially being banned, rapidly developed and metamorphosed local society following the severe economic crisis of the mid-1990s. This article examines the transformation of central Pyongyang after 2000 through the lens of socio-spatial inequalities using residential housing as a key criterion. Utilizing historical satellite images, we accurately mapped and traced the evolution of housing stock in central Pyongyang over the past two decades. The coexistence of the market and the legacy of the state's welfare system was found to have kept the slums, quasi-slums and a nomenklatura gated community geographically distinct and socially homogeneous. In contrast, in other parts of central Pyongyang, the active pursuit of middle-size and high-rise residential development, taking forms of housing renovations, redevelopments of industrial sites, and infill development, have rapidly expanded and verticalized the residential urban fabric while intensifying a spatial intermixture of different socio-economic groups. In short, marketization was powerful enough to transform the urban landscape and the patterns of socio-spatial inequality in Pyongyang despite the numerous institutional and administrative barriers that have maintained socio-spatial distance between those at the very top and the very bottom.

A Rough Guide to the Oil Archive

The omnipresence of petroleum makes it an essential part of a history of the modern world. However, this ubiquity also presents a challenge as to which archival materials historians should use to tell this story. By using material gathered during fieldwork in the Colombian oil city of Barrancabermeja, this article aims to investigate the nature of the oil archive. Situated within the broader field of literature on the history of petroleum and archives, the investigation touches upon records in diverse archives, the urban fabric, and repositories of oil’s history to be found underground. By pinpointing such materials across Barrancabermeja, the article argues that the oil archive is not just found in historical documents but embedded in the landscape, in social practices, in human bodies, and even in the geology of the earth. To understand the deep-seated influence of oil, the article argues for the establishment of an interdisciplinary working group of the oil archive. Faced with the impending challenge of climate change and the long-lasting legacy of the fossil fuel age, such a group could provide evidence for how humanity got to this stage, point to different imaginaries of past and future, and clarify issues surrounding climate justice and responsibility.

The invisible city: The mundane biogeographies of urban microbial ecologies

AbstractMore‐than‐human, multispecies and animal geographic accounts of the city have tended to focus on large, charismatic and wild organisms, to the detriment of spatially invisible other‐than‐humans that are central to urban reproduction. At the same time, urban microbial geographies have foregrounded embodied interactions between humans and microorganisms, whether they are symbiotic or pathogenic, often marginalising the material contributions of extracorporeal microbiomes to the urban fabric. Building from these two blindspots, this article focuses on microbial ecologies that live constitutively outside of (other‐than‐)human bodies and which are intimately caught up in the metabolic intensities and infrastructural environments of the urban realm. There are two key aims: (1) to explore different forms of urban microbial ecologies and (2) to examine their relationships with urban infrastructures and reproduction. My disciplinary lenses are animal geography, microbe studies and urban ecology and my case studies are focused on urban water metabolism. Thus, based on empirical fieldwork on the urban River Lea in East London and supplemented by scientific literature and technical documents, I analyse three urban microbial ecologies that correspond to the urban realms’ ‘extended microbiomes’: those involved in slow sand filtration for the treatment of drinkable water, those involved in sewage treatment via the activated sludge process and those emerging and evolving in disused urban canal infrastructure. These processes spatially manage microbial growth and modulate the distribution of different forms of microbial agency with important effects for the smooth functioning of urban water metabolism. I suggest these ecologies correspond to the ‘spaces' of microbes in the city, and characterise a mundane system of repetition and regulation. However, microbes continue to assert their agency within the spaces of urban water metabolism, create their own places and worlds and highlight a more‐than‐human contingency and indeterminacy at the heart of urban reproduction.