Urban Regeneration Processes Research Articles

Enhancing Urban Connectivity and Regeneration of Historic Areas: Case Study of Heart of Sharjah

This study employs the integrative design process of sustainable urban regeneration of the historical district in Sharjah city in UAE by It also improves physical and visual connectivity and integration within the neighbourhood and among the surrounding areas to encourage walkability in the district provides a liveable community, and increase accessibility and social interaction. Applying comprehensive design strategies to promote connectivity and revitalize the public places in historical district. The study employs a combination of field studies and parametric simulation tools to investigate the district and identify opportunities for improvement. By optimizing the master plan, the research aims to enhance integration and connectivity within the neighbourhood. The study yielded several significant findings; most notable was the increment of the integration value of the optimized master plan by approximately 41% in comparison with Shurooq proposed master plan 2025, as a result of improving the urban configuration, the street network enhances the connection between the old district and the waterfront, and introducing a central plaza to be connected with Al Rola park to achieve the holistic desired approach. The study's outcomes offer practical implications for urban planners and policymakers in the Gulf Region, highlighting the importance of integrative design strategies in fostering sustainable urban regeneration and improving social interactions within historical districts. The study contributes to the promotion of sustainable urban development methods in the Gulf Region by providing insights into how to improve social interactions, promote a holistic approach to urban regeneration in historical districts, and enhance urban sustainability.

Towards A City of Good Dwelling

One of the main issues in contemporary urban planning is the fragmentation of urban spaces (Batty 2009) due to the relentless processes of land transformation. This phenomenon can lead to the creation of isolated urban islands and a lack of high-quality public areas. Such weaknesses particularly affect the socio-economic conditions of marginal areas within the existing city, especially those on the outskirts near rural areas. Public spaces (Low et al 2006) are essential for social interaction, community building, and improving the overall quality of urban life. They are spaces where cultural, economic, and social activities converge, contributing to the city's vibrancy and inclusiveness. Are considered the key of the new processes of urban regeneration and it contributes significantly to the making of the city of "good dwelling" (Beauregard 2020). To obtain the conditions for a good dwelling, it is proposed to apply the seven principles contained in the "Manifesto della Città del Buon Abitare"(Colarossi et al 2023): the city of good dwelling must assume the general principles of hospitality, urbanity and beauty of its public spaces. The paper proposes as innovative approach, the use of an urban planning tool with which it is possible to apply the principles of the Manifesto of the city of good living and which is called "Plan-program of public space planning and public and private services" (P.A.S.S.i.). The effort of this research is to identify a general planning tool for the redevelopment to the existing city. The multi-scalar approach of the research tool simultaneously allows an overall vision of the program and a qualitative control of each individual project.

Innovative perspectives on urban heritage. Towards the integrated regeneration of mass housing neighbourhoods

Introduction: Many 20th-century residential neighbourhoods exhibit a high degree of obsolescence both in terms of new technical demands and social and environmental requirements. However, current regeneration processes often lack cohesive vision, revealing sectorial biases and inconsistencies in quality interpretation. Methodology: This research proposes a comprehensive review on two levels: (1) integrated studies on urban rehabilitation and regeneration, and (2) a focus on Andalusian neighborhoods as a case study. Results: Drawing from a wide range of literature references, the research highlights the diverse approaches. Detailed case studies, particularly from Andalusia, illustrate the large applications of urban regeneration strategies and studies. Discussions: The research highlights that while residential neighbourhood regeneration has been extensively studied, there's a notable gap in recognising them as heritage assets. The study emphasises the necessity of integrating heritage considerations into urban regeneration processes. Conclusions: The research underscores the complex interplay between heritage conservation and urban regeneration, advocating for a holistic approach that respects historical contexts while meeting contemporary needs.

Buildings’ façades as catalysts for urban regeneration: mitigating the “touristic bypass effect” in Finiq's Small Towns.

The municipality of Finiq, located in the Vlorë region, is an administrative division that encompasses multiple small towns and provides local government services such as public works, education, and health services. It is well known for its scenic landscapes and natural beauty, including forests, hills, and rivers which have the potential to drive economic growth through tourism. In addition, the proximity to Saranda and Greek regions could help to perceive tourism as a catalyst for economic regeneration. However, the lack of adequate infra- structure and appropriate services for both tourists and local communities does not facilitate this growth process in many villages of the municipality. Despite the various administrative and governmental efforts, orientated at aligning their intentions and actions with the goals of supranational European projects, they often require very long timelines to be realized. Furthermore, within the Feniq municipality, the most important cultural and archaeological attractions, often related to ancient times, are located in natural areas outside the existing urban center. This geographical location may cause a "bypass" effect where tourists do not visit the city center and negatively impact its economic growth. This phenomenon suggests that, on one hand, tourists will not be able to comprehend the authentic identity of local cultures, and on the other hand, small towns within the Finiq municipality may not realize optimal economic advantages from tourism. This process is also encouraged by the qualitative conditions of the towns, which are characterized by numerous buildings with a high degree of degradation and a constant presence of urban voids. Urban voids refer to abandoned or underutilized urban areas that do not meet the needs of local communities and represent a loss of economic, social, and environmental potential. These areas can be the result of factors such as economic recession, deindustrialization, or population migration to more prosperous areas. A key role in the regeneration of such areas does not only involve the design of adequate open urban spaces but also the redevelopment of buildings that face them and, in particular, their façades, which assume a public connotation in that context regardless of the building's use. The redevelopment of buildings’ façades that face these urban voids can play a crucial role in urban regeneration by increasing urban quality, identity, and tourist flows. These façades represent architectural backdrops that, if adequately redeveloped, contribute to triggering re- generative processes by increasing urban quality, and on the other hand, enhance the towns’ identity, strengthening, at the same time, the tourist flows. This contribution aims to investigate the role played by the façades in the urban regeneration process, showcasing international examples that emphasize it. The study explores how the implementation of successful international strategies in redeveloping existing facades on urban voids can help to overcome the challenges facing the Finiq municipality and drive eco- nomic growth through urban regeneration. The findings of this study will provide valuable insights into the role of buildings’ façades redevelopment that faces existing urban voids in promoting sustainable urban regeneration.

Community‐based participatory research for urban regeneration: Bridging the dichotomies through the exp‐EIA method

AbstractUrban environment design profoundly influences citizens' health and well‐being. Despite the aim of urban regeneration initiatives to enhance community well‐being and social connections, they often struggle to ensure a balance of power among stakeholders, effectively involve citizens, and accurately assess subjective urban experiences. New methodological approaches in community‐based participatory research (CBPR) are advocated to facilitate interactions among social actors and overcome the digital versus real dichotomy. This article introduces the Experiential Environmental Impact Assessment (exp‐EIA) method as a novel research and intervention tool to address these challenges. Grounded in psychology, exp‐EIA aims to integrate emotional, cognitive, and community identity dimensions to capture the nuanced experiences of urban environments. Through digital data collection and visualization tools, exp‐EIA could facilitate participatory decision‐making processes across various stages of urban regeneration projects. Furthermore, its adaptability enables significant integration with existing participatory methods, fostering inclusive engagement and innovative design solutions. The theoretical framework of exp‐EIA, its application in CBPR, and its potential to bridge the gap between technological innovation and citizen engagement in urban regeneration processes are discussed. A blended case study conducted in the metropolitan area of Milan (Italy) is presented, highlighting a promising pathway towards more inclusive and effective approaches to community revitalization.

Critique of everyday life of the night: Young people's re-appropriation of Turin's eveningificated nightlife

Urban night has undergone a significant transformation over recent decades, shifting from being a peripheral and liminal space-time to becoming both a new market for implementing processes of urban regeneration, and a problematic contest that needs to be regulated by developing new strategies of surveillance and control. Building on Henri Lefebvre's “critique of everyday life,” we develop a “critique of everyday life of the night,” since a common thread links the flatness and monotony of everyday life to the changes that have affected nightlife. Taking the city of Turin (Italy) as a case study, the impact economicist and securitarian urban policies on its nightlife is analyzed, in what is described as a process of ‘eveningification.’ Nevertheless, Lefebvre's permanent dialectic between flatness and extraordinariness of existence led us to carry out a rhythmanalysis of Turin's most problematic square in order to understand various practices and spatial dynamics in an ‘eveningificated’ neighborhood.

A Decision Support Evaluation Framework for Community-Based Collaborative Urban Regeneration Processes

The current debate on urban regeneration highlights the significance of social innovation and the reuse of cultural heritage to develop new economic and entrepreneurial models, creating value chains and benefits for communities. International and European directives, such as the European Agenda 2030 and the New European Bauhaus, advocate for inclusive and sustainable urbanization, encouraging participatory and circular urban regeneration processes. This study presents a decision support framework for community-based collaborative urban regeneration processes, focusing on the urban area of Reggio Calabria in Southern Italy. In this region, some cultural assets have been reactivated and made accessible, while others remain inactive, underutilized, or abandoned. The research aims to explore how to effectively enhance cultural heritage and promote urban regeneration through a collaborative network strategy. By employing multicriteria analysis, involving the selection and definition of specific criteria and indicators for each site, a priority map is created to facilitate the implementation of regeneration processes. The application of this approach in the urban center of Reggio Calabria demonstrated its effectiveness in revitalizing unused or abandoned cultural heritage, transforming it into a catalyst for urban vibrancy and vitality.

Nature-Based Solutions to Enhance Urban Resilience in the Climate Change and Post-Pandemic Era: A Taxonomy for the Built Environment

Global environmental and health issues such as climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the weaknesses of current urban systems, including the poor availability and accessibility of green and public spaces in cities. Nature-based Solutions are configured as promising solutions to increase the resilience and health of the built environment by addressing climate and pandemic issues, promoting the psycho-physical well-being of users and proposing solutions for the protection of the environment and ecosystems. Following a systematic review of the scientific literature using the PRISMA methodology, this study aims to provide a taxonomic framework for Nature-based Solutions for the built environment that is applicable to the urban and building scales, highlighting key benefits in addressing pandemic and climate challenges and achieving urban resilience. This framework proposes a holistic and multifunctional approach that will prove to be a useful tool for researchers and policy makers to incorporate greening strategies into urban regeneration and redevelopment processes. The application of Nature-based Solutions still seems to be limited. It is therefore necessary to raise awareness of this issue among citizens and policy makers and to promote close co-operation between the different actors in territorial decision-making processes.

Networks Cultivating Values: Insights from Five Culture-based Regeneration Projects in Italy

This contribution aims at improving the understanding of the conditions and dynamics that facilitate processes of culture-based urban regeneration via social innovation. It presents and discusses the outcomes of an in-depth investigation of five projects taking place in large cities in Italy dealing with the reuse and regeneration of urban spaces through creative and innovative practices. Research findings demonstrate the centrality of the network dimension in sustaining and shaping processes of urban regeneration through social innovation and cultural production. Networks are led by social entrepreneurs having a strong territorial focus that “cultivate” new values for the local community by reusing and mobilizing publicly owned vacant or abandoned material assets.

Foundations of banking origin, compromises and contradictions in the urban regeneration of the historic centres1

Urban regeneration often implies conflicts, unresolved contrasts, but also beneficial prospects for the territory. The aim of this essay is to shed light on the relationship between urban regeneration processes in historic centres and foundations of banking origin, an unusual actor, but common in the Italian context, through some case studies. The findings provide new perspectives on the sector of philanthropy and on an actor, that engages in various forms of interaction with local communities.

Socio-hydrological modelling using participatory System Dynamics modelling for enhancing urban flood resilience through Blue-Green Infrastructure

Cities are complex systems characterised by interdependencies among infrastructural, economic, social, ecological, and human elements. Urban surface water flooding poses a significant challenge due to climate change, population growth, and ageing infrastructure, often resulting in substantial economic losses and social disruption. Traditional hydrological modelling approaches for flood risk management, while providing invaluable support in the analysis of hydrological dynamics of floods, lack an understanding of the complex interplay between hydrological and non-hydrological (i.e., social, environmental, economic) aspects in an urban system, hindering effective flood risk management strategies. In this context, socio-hydrological modelling methods offer a complementary perspective to traditional hydrological models by integrating hydrological and social processes, thereby enhancing the understanding of the complex interactions driving flood resilience.The present work proposes a participatory socio-hydrological modelling approach based on System Dynamics (SD) to quantitatively analyse the interactions and feedback between flood risk and different aspects of the urban system. By combining scientific expertise with stakeholder knowledge, the modelling approach aims to provide decision-makers with a comprehensive understanding of flood dynamics and the effectiveness of resilience-building measures. Furthermore, the role of Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) in enhancing urban flood resilience, considering its interplay with grey infrastructure and interactions with various sub-systems, is explored.The results reveal i) the contribution of SD quantitative modelling in supporting the analysis of interactions between flood risk reduction measures and different sub-systems thus offering decision-makers actionable insights into the multifaceted nature of flood risk and resilience; ii) the added value provided by the combination of scientific and stakeholder knowledge in tailoring the model to the case study, quantifying socio-hydrological modelling dynamics limitedly explored in the scientific literature and supporting the selection of measures for increasing flood resilience; iii) the ability of BGI to provide not only hydrological benefits (mainly about the reduction of surface runoff) but also multiple social and environmental benefits (i.e., the co-benefits), especially when coupled with well-functioning grey infrastructure. Reference is made to one of the case studies of the CUSSH and CAMELLIA projects, namely Thamesmead (London, United Kingdom), a formerly inhospitable marshland currently undergoing a process of urban regeneration, with an increasing vulnerability to flooding.

URBAN STAKEHOLDERS AS KEY TO MANAGE MODELS FOR URBAN REGENERATION: CONTRIBUTION FROM SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE (2009-2022)

The Sustainable Development Agenda promotes the optimal execution of planning processes within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals. For this reason, urban management models and planning processes must identify the role of the stakeholders that develop the construction of the city; they are the ones who use it, enjoy it and live it. The lack of knowledge about the roles and actions of urban stakeholders prevents them from getting involved in the development of planning processes. This article presents an academic literature review that systematizes the existing information about the role of urban stakeholders in the development of the city found in scientific literature in the period from 2009 to 2022. The results show decisive lines of action for the participation of the social fabric in the development of sustainable management models. The conclusions show that urban regeneration processes have a direct impact on the social organization of the city. The article can contribute to academic discussion, particularly in Latin America, where studies about urban regeneration are not as common as in Asian and European countries.

문화적 도시재생에 의한 도시관광 개발과 방향

Purpose: This study is a case analysis of Yangrim-dong, Gwangju. For each of the five strategic sectors, the current status of implementation, performance, problems, and limitations so far were analyzed, and implications and future improvement directions were presented.
 Methods: Based on the theoretical review, an analysis framework was established by deriving five strategic elements necessary for cultural urban regeneration and urban tourism activation, and the current status and problems of each strategy were analyzed for Yanglim-dong and activation plans were proposed.
 Results: We analyzed the plan for revitalizing urban tourism in connection with the cultural urban regeneration of Yangrim-dong, the research target site, and proposed the revitalization plan. As a result of the study, meaningful implications are presented in that it pursues sustainability
 Conclusion: This study is significant in that it analyzes the process and status of cultural urban regeneration and urban tourism projects in Yanglim-dong, Gwangju, and suggests strategies to revitalize urban tourism through cultural urban regeneration in Yanglim-dong. First, open traditional and Christian buildings. Second, develop a travel program. Third, organize community governance to seek directions for development. Fourth, it is necessary to prepare guidelines for environmental landscape design. Accordingly, it is hoped that Yanglim-dong can become a representative urban tourism destination in Gwangju through multilateral search and help achieve sustainable development.

Research on governance structure and benefit balance concerning urban regeneration in Beijing, China: Analysis of the best practical cases

While proposing the national strategy of implementing urban regeneration, the Chinese government put forward requirements such as preventing large-scale demolition and construction and protecting historical architecture, indicating that the previous urban regeneration methods of demolishing low-rise and old buildings and building high-rise and new ones are no longer applicable. As the capital city, Beijing is facing more stringent constraints on reduction-oriented development and historical protection, and the problems of insufficient motivation and unclear paths for market players to participate in urban regeneration have become more prominent. Based on a systematic review of the main theories and practices of market participation in urban regeneration, this study builds a market-oriented mechanism analysis framework for urban regeneration of “governance structure-benefit balance.” In this study, we compared 34 cases that won the title of “The First Beijing Urban Regeneration Best Practice in 2022” and conducted further in-depth analysis of three typical cases by semi-structured interviews, field research, qualitative analysis, and quantitative comparison. From the study, we identified three typical governance structures of welfare protection, economic growth, and comprehensive development during the emergence of market participation in Beijing’s urban regeneration process and found that different governance structures have different cooperation and interaction mechanisms, value promotion orientations, and benefits distribution, which are respectively applicable to facilities and public space regeneration projects that implement social public welfare responsibilities, industrial regeneration projects with ample economic value-added space, and regional comprehensive regeneration projects where quasi-public goods and private goods coexist. We believe that the coexistence of multiple governance structures is an inevitable choice for China’s market mechanism of urban regeneration. The value-added space of urban regeneration projects should be further improved, the distribution of interests among multiple subjects should be balanced, and the sustainable and normalization of urban regeneration actions should be promoted.

Budżet obywatelski jako narzędzie partycypacji w procesach rewitalizacji miast. Przykład Łodzi

W artykule przedstawione zostało rozmieszczenie przestrzenne projektów wdrożonych w ramach Budżetu Obywatelskiego (BO) w Łodzi w latach 2013–2019 na tle obszaru rewitalizacji. Autorzy dokonują analizy przedsięwzięć, ich systematyzacji oraz oceny pod kątem realizacji celów, jakie wyznaczone zostały w programie rewitalizacji. Artykuł wpisuje się w dyskusję naukową na temat uczestnictwa lokalnej społeczności w życiu miasta, w szczególności w zmianach dokonywanych w jego przestrzeni, a także skuteczności stosowania i roli narzędzia partycypacyjnego, jakim jest budżet obywatelski. Może też stanowić inspirację dla samorządów do świadomego przygotowywania i wykorzystywania tego instrumentu w procesach rewitalizacji miast.

Strategies for Co-Creation and Co-Governance in Urban Contexts: Building Trust in Local Communities with Limited Social Structures

Over the last few years, community empowerment has become a central focus when discussing the sustainability of large-scale urban regeneration processes, especially those related to the implementation of nature-based solutions. In this article, the authors describe the experience of the CLEVER Cities project in the city of London, by looking at the dynamics of the early stages of co-creation and the implications on co-governance, motivation and policy. Particular attention is given to the importance of carefully evaluating the project context to guide where emphasis is given on the use of specific co-creation strategies such as building trust, raising awareness or networking. In this case, a set of strategies emerge that are a response to several factors but are strongly influenced by the backdrop of limited social structuring encountered in South Thamesmead, South London. The methods are derived based on a qualitative and looped observation approach over three phases applied to three urban living labs in the project area. Finally, to structure the results, an iterative co-production of knowledge approach is used to cluster the strategies into ten more synthetic recommendations based on collaborative governance, communication and capacity building, as well as incentives and motivation. Further, guidance is given by highlighting priorities to inform policy and place-based planning actions.

Participatory Causal Loop Diagrams Building for Supporting Decision-Makers Integrating Flood Risk Management in an Urban Regeneration Process.

Several modeling tools commonly used for supporting flood risk assessment and management are highly effective in representing physical phenomena, but provide a rather limited understanding of the multiple implications that flood risk and flood risk reduction measures have on highly complex systems such as urban areas. In fact, most of the available modeling tools do not fully account for this complexity-and related uncertainty-which heavily affects the interconnections between urban systems evolution and flood risk, ultimately resulting in an ineffective flood risk management. The present research proposes an innovative methodological framework to support decision-makers involved in an urban regeneration process at a planning/strategic level, accounting for the multi-dimensional implications of flood risk and of different flood risk management strategies. The adopted approach is based on the use of System Thinking principles and participatory System Dynamics modeling techniques, and pursues an integration between scientific and stakeholder knowledge. Reference is made to one of the case studies of the CUSSH and CAMELLIA projects, namely Thamesmead (London), a formerly inhospitable marshland currently undergoing a process of urban regeneration, and perceived as being increasingly vulnerable to flooding. It represents an interesting opportunity for building a replicable modeling approach to integrate urban development dynamics with flood risk, ultimately supporting policy and decision-makers in identifying mitigation/prevention measures and understanding how they could help achieve multi-dimensional benefits (e.g., environmental, social and economic).

The role of associations in the social and cultural integration of refugees in Nea Kokkinia (Nikea)

Abstract: Nea Kokkinia, today’s Nikaia, is a city that is about five kilometers from the port of Piraeus. It was founded in 1923 by refugees from Asia Minor and constitutes the largest organized urban refugee settlement in Piraeus, which was created through the collaboration of rehabilitation agencies, the Greek State, foreign charities, but also the active participation of the refugees themselves through the associations they created. The refugee associations were established simultaneously with the settlement of the refugees in the area. The study of the integration of refugees and the efforts they made for their rehabilitation and social integration constitute an invisible aspect of the refugee issue. However, a “bottom-up” approach transforms refugees into active subjects of history and co‑shapers of their place and life, since within the cities these individuals live, work, have fun, play sports, and socialize, they form their identities, and claim their rights and even organize themselves. This article presents these unseen aspects of the complex process of urban regeneration and associations.

Kamu Arazilerinin Özelleştirilmesi ve Dönüşümünde Kamu Yararı Perspektifinde Bir Değerlendirme: İstanbul

Urban regeneration has become one of the most significant instruments for the urban planning process particularly after the 1980’s with the effects of globalization and the acceleration of the race between cities. Thus, the metropolitan cities that stand out with their economic performance, cultural/traditional identity, and tourism potential have been restructured due to the social, cultural, technological, and economic changes and expectations that spread throughout the world. Cities known for their industrial areas and productions in the past are now turning into innovative productions and new prestige areas where the service sector is concentrated. In recent years, old industrial areas, warehouses, which had lost their former functions, have undergone the urban transformation processes. More recently, public lands located in city centers have been incorporated into the agenda of urban regeneration. Privatization of public lands is the most basic approach in such regeneration processes and therefore protecting public interest is the most critical issue. The main objective of this study is to identify the role of privatization policies in relation to the urban regeneration process and to provide an analysis of several urban regeneration projects in İstanbul.

Energy communities and architectural quality of small historical centres

The text looks at Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) as a tool for implementing strategies that favour local energy transition, with particular focus on inland areas and small historical settlements. These “sensitive” contexts, often situated in landscapes or historical-cultural areas of significant value, require policies to convert to green energy and energy self-sufficiency that evaluate the need for specific actions tied to environmental protection objectives. The study reveals the role RECs can play in urban and landscape regeneration processes in these territories, under the condition that we adopt a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to design, oriented toward reimagining these sites with a view toward relaunching and promoting them.