Urban Heritage Research Articles

Urban Heritage Facility Management: A Conceptual Framework for the Provision of Urban-Scale Support Services in Norwegian World Heritage Sites

This study validated the theoretical keypoints obtained from a previously published scoping literature review within the context of three Norwegian World Heritage sites: Røros, Rjukan, and Notodden. The cross-sectional table of the urban heritage facility management (UHFM) framework, which is based on interviews and correspondence, demonstrates the connection between the tasks of the six clusters of technical departments responsible for the provision of urban-scale support services and the modified critical steps of the Historic Urban Landscape approach, in which an additional step for “monitoring and evaluation” was included. UHFM operates at the intersection of heritage preservation, urban-scale facility management, and stakeholder coordination, which requires a careful balance between urban heritage conservation and sustainable urban management practices, thus enabling the preservation of World Heritage status that, among others, fosters sustainable tourism. The three case studies highlighted the significance of UHFM in preserving heritage value, authenticity, visual quality, and significance. Besides providing comprehensive support services that extend beyond the daily tasks of conservators and World Heritage managers, UHFM also allows feedback mechanisms for continuous improvement. This study highlighted the complex relationship between the provision of urban-scale support services and the preservation of Outstanding Universal Value as the core business of World Heritage sites.

Strategies for the Preservation of Historic Areas within Existing Middle Eastern Cities: The Case of Historic Jeddah

During the recent founding of Saudi Arabia in 1932, there was no interest in the urban and architectural heritage that Jeddah possesses. As a result, historic Jeddah was exposed to many problems similar to many historical Middle Eastern cities. For example, the historic city wall and many heritage buildings were demolished. With the economic recovery during the 1970s, the original dwellers abandoned the city altogether. They were soon replaced by a class of ex-patriate workers who would inhabit the area, and the city’s distinct heritage fell into neglect. At the beginning of the 1980s, attempts to preserve that area began with the expert Robert Matthew, who studied the remaining historical buildings and proposed strategies for preservation that were based on three main directions: restoration, replacement, or new construction. The issuance of “Saudi’s 2030 vision” included programs to develop Saudi cities, including Jeddah. This program includes the removal of unplanned and slum areas around historic Jeddah without developing a clear master plan for what will replace them. In addition, it includes the complete expropriation of historic Jeddah, without announcing a specific plan for what the area will be used for. Therefore, this study seeks to review current preservation strategies, with the aim of reaching results related to the challenges facing the area; demonstrating the effectiveness of the preservation strategies used; and deducing what could contribute in the future to the development, preservation, and optimal exploitation of the area, without losing its value as a result of the modernization processes currently taking place.

Identifying urban built-up areas using CORONA imagery in the pre-Landsat era: a case study of Shanghai in 1965

ABSTRACT The Corona project (1959–1972) created a large number of high-resolution images that provided valuable historical research data before the advent of Landsat (1972) and even compensated for the lack of accuracy in early stages. In this study, we collected eight available Corona images to create a historical remote sensing image of Shanghai in the 1960 and developed an automatic image segmentation and classification methodology. In the experimental part, we verified its accuracy, and discussed the urbanization process in Shanghai. The results showed that 1) In 1965, the urban area of Shanghai was mainly distributed in Puxi, and the urbanization degree of the entire hinterland of Pudong was still very low. Built-up areas were highly concentrated in the main urban areas. 2) The overall accuracy was 91.5% and the kappa coefficient was 0.762. 3) We compared the built-up area in 1965 with the current urban area, which increased from 306.23 to 2,804.25 km2. Besides, historical imagery also captured the state of environmental pollution at that time. Overall, our method could inform the mapping and classification of remotely sensed land surfaces on a global scale in the 1960s, extending pre-Landsat era research to studies of urban history, archaeology and cultural heritage.

Механизмы сохранения градостроительного наследия в Санкт-Петербурге

The article discusses the main legal mechanisms that ensure the preservation of the urban heritage of St. Petersburg. The correlation of various security mechanisms is carried out. Such concepts as the united zones of protection of cultural heritage objects, the historical settlement of St. Petersburg, historical buildings and others have been analyzed. The conclusion is made about the necessity of the planned development of the megalopolis with the simultaneous preservation of its historical and cultural heritage.

The impact of Iran’s urban heritage on sustainability, climate change and carbon zero

The impact of Iran’s urban heritage on sustainability, climate change and carbon zero

Advanced Techniques for Geospatial Referencing in Online Media Repositories

In the digital transformation era, video media libraries’ untapped potential is immense, restricted primarily by their non-machine-readable nature and basic search functionalities limited to standard metadata. This study presents a novel multimodal methodology that utilizes advances in artificial intelligence, including neural networks, computer vision, and natural language processing, to extract and geocode geospatial references from videos. Leveraging the geospatial information from videos enables semantic searches, enhances search relevance, and allows for targeted advertising, particularly on mobile platforms. The methodology involves a comprehensive process, including data acquisition from ARD Mediathek, image and text analysis using advanced machine learning models, and audio and subtitle processing with state-of-the-art linguistic models. Despite challenges like model interpretability and the complexity of geospatial data extraction, this study’s findings indicate significant potential for advancing the precision of spatial data analysis within video content, promising to enrich media libraries with more navigable, contextually rich content. This advancement has implications for user engagement, targeted services, and broader urban planning and cultural heritage applications.

The Status of Urban Heritage Conservation: Competency of Local Government in the Western Cape Province

The National Heritage Resources Act was promulgated in the efforts of establishing effective conservation principles that would meet the needs of all South Africans. The Act makes provision for each level of government to have authority over its respective heritage resources. Donaldson (2005) anticipated that the acting authority in the Western Cape province, Heritage Western Cape, was likely to come under pressure soon. This was owing to the fact of increasing heritage resources (the phenomenon of aging) and that the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority oversaw both Grade II and III heritage resources since no local municipality was deemed fully competent. This research aimed to assess the capacity and competency of local government in the field of built heritage conservation of non-metropolitan municipalities in the Western Cape, South Africa. A qualitative research method was implemented in the form of a questionnaire with informal interviews to assist in the explorative nature of this paper. By mapping and recording the current state of heritage conservation practices in the province, it was found that two local municipalities were deemed competent, while several others had made strides towards conserving local heritage resources.

Creative Destruction and Built Environment Heritage in Makhanda, South Africa

Heritage conservation is recognised as an important component of sustainable development but is often considered a lower priority compared to other development imperatives, and societal issues. The prioritization of economic and urban development threatens urban heritage through a process known as creative destruction. This research uses the concept of creative destruction to explore the interplay between market forces and urban planning and management practices on the heritage conservation of the city of Makhanda in South Africa. Makhanda has a rich and varied cultural heritage landscape, including many individual buildings and streetscapes. A qualitative approach, including semi-structured key informant interviews and secondary sources was employed. The study found that municipal dysfunction and other urban management challenges result in difficultly in enforcing legislation and policy, and thereby threatens heritage conservation. The fates of three buildings within the historic urban fabric of the city are explored in terms of the impacts of neoliberal urbanism occurring within this context. The research contends that for heritage management to be successful, there needs to be a balanced approach through improvements in stakeholder relationships, governance, institutional capacity, knowledge sharing and community involvement in decision-making processes.

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.

Housing Affairs and Urban Heritage Conservation in George Town World Heritage Site, Penang Island

ABSTRACT In recent decades, issues relating to affordable and inclusive housing have become pressing in the light of globalization and urban neo-liberalism. The predicament is not only common in modern cities but also unfolding in historic cities, especially after receiving the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site inscription. While there are upsides and downsides to the debate on how urban heritage conservation intersects with housing affairs, arguably, the situation and outcomes differ across temporal and geographical contexts. This study aims to examine the relationship between urban heritage conservation and its implications on affordable and inclusive housing in the George Town World Heritage Site. Based on mixed research methods, the findings gathered indicated that following two defining moments namely, (i) the repeal of the Control of Rent Act; and (ii) the UNESCO inscription, socio-economic transformations have altered the demographics, socio-economic base and housing demands/needs of the heritage site. Undoubtedly, gentrification has set in and housing is deemed unaffordable, especially to low-income citizenry. The study recommends that conceptual notions, policy affairs and action plans in GTWHS should integrate the aspect of inclusive housing to ensure that no one in the heritage site is deprived of a roof above their heads.

ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE OLD TOWN TO STRENGTHEN THE IMAGE OF THE CITY OF SEMARANG

A good city must have a city Image where the perception of the city image is based on the process of observation, memory, attitude, and feelings that are directly created. The Old City as an urban heritage destination has its charm for visitors to the city of Semarang, which in turn has contributed to the image of the city of Semarang. This study aims to determine how the attractiveness of the old city strengthens the image of Semarang City and what factors support. This can promote the physical and non-physical sustainability of the old city, so that people get to know the city of Semarang through the old city. The results of this study found that the Old City of Semarang contributed to the formation of the image of the city of Semarang but was not too strong. This is influenced by the attractiveness of the old city which is visually different from its surroundings where the forming elements have a strong characteristic. Keywords: City Image, Attractiveness, Old Town

Whose pain? Whose shame? Integrating heritage and histories in Ballarat, Australia

ABSTRACT For generations a burden of misplaced shame has sat with victim-survivors of children’s institutionalisation. Experiences and memories of family separation, cultural obliteration, mistreatment, hunger, unpaid labour, curtailed educational and professional opportunities, and abuse had come to silently define and destroy the lifelong living experience of childhood incarceration. Meanwhile, institutions and the communities they are part of have been able to effectively ignore the legacies of their own trespasses, through ‘top-down’, celebratory approaches to history and heritage. In recent decades, renewed emphasis on survivor voices and agency has culminated in a range of Commonwealth and state-based reports, Inquiries and Commissions, driven by abundant survivor testimonies and truth-telling. The sense of shame and guilt over these parts of our collective histories has now re-centred on the perpetrators and enablers of abuse and mistreatment. Using interpretive heritage and historical lens this article outlines a theoretical conception of ‘integrated’ approaches to history and heritage, using real-life examples from contemporary urban development and institutional heritage in the regional Australian city of Ballarat. The authors examine changing contemporary representations of institutional Care, neglect and abuse, arguing that shifting cultural and social power is reflected in the urban landscape and cultural fabric of the associated institutions.

Exploring the Contribution of Advanced Systems in Smart City Development for the Regeneration of Urban Industrial Heritage

This article shows the potential of smart city development in revitalizing urban industrial heritage and traditional industrial blocks. It highlights the challenges faced by these areas, such as aging infrastructure, pollution, and neglect. Smart city technologies are examined as effective solutions for addressing these challenges by promoting efficient resource utilization, improving mobility and connectivity, and enhancing the quality of the built environment. International examples of smart city initiatives implemented in industrial heritage sites and traditional industrial blocks are presented to demonstrate the potential benefits of these technologies. This article emphasizes the importance of inclusivity, sustainability, and community engagement in the revitalization process. It argues that smart city development should prioritize the needs and aspirations of local communities, leveraging their knowledge and expertise for long-term success and sustainability. This article underscores the significance of adopting a comprehensive and integrated approach to urban revitalization that considers social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainability. It suggests that smart city development can act as a catalyst for transforming urban industrial areas into thriving and resilient landscapes capable of addressing the challenges of the 21st century. This article aims to explore the potential of smart city development in revitalizing urban industrial heritage and traditional industrial blocks while advocating for equitable outcomes and sustainable urban environments.

Exploration of Planning and Design Strategies for Residential Historical Communities based on Protecting Cultural Stability

In urban design and urban renewal, preserving communities and rural heritage that are not included in the protection list has always been controversial. The main difficulties they face are often investment restrictions and low returns. However, perhaps considering it solely based on economic factors may not be rigorous enough; heritage is crucial to the inheritance of community spirit and cultural sensitivity of the community. This article will explore the important value of community heritage and rural heritage that have not been included in the protection list for residents and take Xuanyuandian Community in Changsha City, Hunan Province, and Yanxia Village in Zhejiang Province as examples to discuss the use of urban heritage in the process of urban renewal and design. Planning and design strategies for residential historic communities with the main purpose of protecting community cultural stability.

CONNECTING EMBEDDED HISTORY OF THE URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE TO THE CONTEMPORARY CITY: A CASE STUDY OF GWANGHWAMUN WOLDAE RESTORATION

Abstract. The captured 3D digital record of the excavation site represents a momentary state of the city, but also conveys rich evidence and stories as an urban environment created by the interaction of actors, artifacts, and institutions surrounding the place. These digital records combine multiple temporal layers of complex urban scenes and require interpretation by multiple stakeholders for comprehensive decision-making. This study revealed that in the context of Seoul, the Cultural Heritage Administration and the City of Seoul have made significant use of digital records in cultural heritage restoration from the perspective of preservation and utilization. The two organizations collaborated on the Gwanghwamun Woldae excavation survey recently. The site has been dealing with the multi-layered time and space of complex urban sites for over 40 years while carrying out urban planning and cultural heritage preservation. Through a case study of the Gwanghwamun Woldae excavation site, we articulate the nature of governance in digital documentation to extend its application. The goal is to highlight the urban cross-section and historical layers of urban infrastructure captured digitally - LiDAR and photogrammetric scanning - at the Gwanghwamun Woldae excavation site. This involves describing the chronological layers of tram lines, streets and buildings from different eras and linking them to the current urban context of Seoul through analog historical records such as maps and plan diagrams. Ultimately, we discuss the value of digital restoration of technologies, events and landscapes as a record of the process valuing modern urban heritage.

The Relationship Between Urban Cultural Memory and Heritage Conservation in Yeşilköy

Kent hafızası bağlamında kültürel bellek olgusu, kültürel miras koruma çalışmalarının tamamlayıcı unsurudur. Tarihî bir alana kendine özgü çehreyi kazandıran yapılar, anıtlar, meydanlar, sokaklar, yollar olduğu gibi; o yere ait dokular, renkler, hatıralar, sözlü anlatılar, geleneksel ve törensel tekrarlardan oluşan tinsel unsurlardır. Kültürel bellekte yer eden bu tamamlayıcı unsurlar, kültürel mirasın korunması ve sürdürülebilirliğine yönelik çalışmalarla ayrı düşünülmemelidir.
 Bu çalışma Yeşilköy’de kültürel bellek ve kültürel miras koruma ilişkisine dair somut veriler ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu doğrultuda Yeşilköy semtinin, 19. yüzyıl ortalarından bugüne dek şahit olduğu tarihî olaylar, sosyo-kültürel yapısı, tarihî çevresinin oluşumu, günümüzdeki mevcut hâli irdelenmiştir. Gerçekleştirilen saha çalışmaları ile Yeşilköy’de yerin ruhu, topoğrafya, doğal peyzaj, kentsel sit ve tarihî çevreyi kapsayacak şekilde kültürel belleğin izleri sürülmüştür. Çalışma Yeşilköylülerle gerçekleştirilen sözlü tarih mülakatlarından elde edilen verilerle desteklenmiştir. Bununla beraber Yeşilköy’de hafıza mekânları, insanî ilişkiler, geleneksel ve gündelik ritüellere dayalı sözlü tarih anlatılarının; edebiyatta ve anılarda, Türk sinemasında yer alan Yeşilköy imgesiyle örtüştüğü görülmüştür. Kültürel çeşitliliği, demografik yapısı, tarihî silüeti günden güne değişen Yeşilköy’de kent hafızası bağlamında kültürel belleğin kayıt altına alınması hedeflenmiştir.

Re-envisioning the Heritage: Towards Interpreting Mandalay’s Multi-ethnicity through the Lens of Old City Quarters

Mandalay is a multi-ethnic metropolitan city since the 19th century. Mandala symbolism is included in the city structure of Mandalay. In order to compete the Western power structure, Mandala was based in Mandalay’s city planning design which was planned in parallel with Yangon to go against the colonial power. It was quite transparent which ethnic groups were kept there, how they served the king and made cultural exchange among them and formed the national centre of cosmopolitan power and future multi-ethnic capital city. After the king was sent to exile and during the colonial period, these diverse cultural patterns were disturbed. It has undergone many changes since its creation, very slow and inappropriate ad-hoc developments after independence and only promoting the ancient Myanmar cultural heritage in past few decades. This paper highlights the multi-ethnic cultural heritages of Mandalay where Mandala symbolism is included in the the city planning concept. The unique Myanmar feature of Mandalay not only lies in its Buddhist and ritual believes, but also in its multi-ethnic groups’ rituals and meanings because of nearly 170 years of impermanence of different heritage of diverse ethnic groups. There are some parts still visible in daily fabric and activities. The paper concludes that the complexity of urban cultural heritage highlights that simple definition of urban identity does not make sense for Mandalay. Capturing Mandalay’s ethnic complexity is beyond the range of a single short paper. In this paper we will limit our discussion to a focused discussion of Islamic, Thai, Chinese, Christian and Manipuris and Assamese communities. Mandala’s cultural exchange was transparent and there are still the possibilities to be so in 2023 landscape.

Revitalizing Old Facades: Innovations in Facade System Installation and Preservation

This article presents a novel approach to enhancing the aesthetic appeal and longevity of old building facades through the installation of a new facade system. The study aims to improve the appearance of buildings while safeguarding the integrity of existing facades and mitigating various associated challenges. The methodology involves a detailed analysis of the old facade's condition, selection of appropriate materials and technologies for the new system, and implementation strategies for seamless integration. Results indicate significant improvements in building aesthetics, increased durability, and reduced maintenance costs. The implications of this research extend to urban planning, heritage preservation, and sustainable architectural practices, offering valuable insights for architects, engineers, and policymakers globally.
 Highlights:
 
 Facade renovation enhances building aesthetics and preserves historical architecture.
 Innovative materials and technologies ensure long-term sustainability and reduce maintenance costs.
 Global impact: Research findings inform urban development practices, emphasizing heritage preservation and sustainable building strategies.
 
 Keywords: Facade System, Building Renovation, Modernization

Cultural continuity and change in Kudus Kulon: the urban heritage trialogue

Physical changes to built heritage are usually a major cause for concern when reviewing approaches to conservation and adaptation to the historic built environment. The hictorical area Kudus Kulon has witnessed significant changes in its environmental conditions, not only includes physical transformation, but also involves the social and economic dynamics that develop around it. Physical changes to built heritage are usually a major cause for concern when reviewing approaches to conservation and adaptation to the historic built environment. This study aims to reveal the changes and continuity of the Kudus Kulon historical area in the context of heritage preservation. This qualitative research employs a case study approach, focusing on Kudus Kulon as a single case. Through observations and interviews with key informants, the aim is to present an unbiased perspective on the intangible aspects. The findings in this study will enrich cultural theory through its ability to dialogue value systems, activities, and artefacts in the context of change and continuity in the historic district of Kudus Kulon. The result shows the continuity of fundamental aspects in the value system (belief, norm, and local wisdom) underscores the resilience of the system and its ability to navigate the complexities of time without compromising the integral values that define its cultural identity. This research provides a strong foundation for future studies to explore the intricate dynamics between core values, societal development, and adaptations on heritage site in urban area, with a specific focus on tangible aspects like artefacts and activities.

Hawker Centres, Cultural Heritage and Tourism – A Case Study of Lau Pa Sat, Singapore

Summary In the dynamic matrix of urban development, the conservation of heritage sites and the imperative of modernisation often find itself at a challenging nexus. This case study delves into the intricate interplay between urban heritage conservation and contemporary socio-economic demands, using the transformative narrative of Lau Pa Sat, Singapore, as a focal case. Drawing upon the dual paradigms of “use value” and “exchange value”, the research underscores the potential of heritage sites to both conserve cultural memory and catalyse modern economic revitalisation. Lau Pa Sat’s adaptive repurposing from a historical edifice to a dynamic hawker hub exemplifies a successful synthesis of architectural preservation and entrepreneurial initiative. Such an approach ensures the site’s functional sustainability while amplifying its cultural resonance. The research further highlights the significance of multi-stakeholder participation in rejuvenating urban memory through visual representation, communal spaces, and cultural paradigms. The findings underscore that, with strategic planning and community engagement, heritage sites can transcend historical confines, emerging as vibrant spaces that harmonise cultural conservation with contemporary relevance. This study provides invaluable insights for urban planners, policy makers, and heritage management professionals, advocating for a holistic approach that balances cultural stewardship with economic imperatives in urban heritage contexts. Information © The Author 2024