The Heritage Urbanism project is based on the premise that heritage must not only be a historic monument (protected object), but an active factor (creative entity) in contemporary life and cultural, social, economic and spatial development of the community.
Recognizing the importance of basic cultural and historic research that leads to better understanding of cultural heritage, as well as its spatial context, the conference will deal with three paper topics focused on the following:
- criteria, methods, models and scenarios of revitalization and enhancement of cultural heritage
- new high-quality interventions that turn cultural heritage into an essential local development factor.
CONFERENCE TOPICS
1. Planning and Heritage
Cultural and historical heritage demands serious considerations regarding its conservation and enhancement. Planning and new interventions in historical, urban and rural environments are an important part of the planning process that requires development of appropriate methods along with application of special knowledge and approaches. Spatial development have to acknowledge the existing layers of history, not only by analyzing and recording them, but also by developing methods for their evaluation and inclusion into the development of the area. Spatial planning documentation for areas rich in heritage sites demands adjustment/change of the existing spatial planning methods and models that are the legislative framework. Technological and infrastructure systems in such spatial context also require a different technical approach.
The questions are: How can someone plan contemporary interventions in historical environments in a functional and well-arranged manner? What are the preferred methods and sustainable scenarios?
2. Perceiving Heritage
We are surrounded by cultural and historical environment but in order to understand them and let them become the development incentive, we need to learn how to interpret them and create attitudes toward them via special forms of education and promotion. Rural heritage, heritage of small towns, military and vernacular architecture, as well as all other types of heritage, are important components of the broader spatial context. In the urban environment, we observe cultural heritage by interpreting and experiencing the urban fabric through the urban morphology of historical sites, whereas in landscape we observe it in obsolete and preserved landscape patterns as testimonies to man’s presence in the area.
The questions are: Which elements of landscape and urban identity can become the bearers for the development? What are the relevant factors and applicable criteria?
3. Development based on Heritage
Development based on cultural and historical heritage requires the use of new tools and new methods in creation of development scenarios. The saying “Heritage as a resource for economic development” is very widespread, however, good examples are rare. Successful projects involve new approaches in which the architectural and planning section is only one part of a bigger project. There are calls for new kinds of collaboration and adjustment to project, organizational and financial frameworks. A special form of reflection on the broader context of heritage can be seen in high-quality projects, which provide thematic networking and development of new visions and scenarios for heritage development incorporated into international project collaboration.
The questions are: What are the eligible/sustainable development models related to cultural and historic heritage, especially in the context of space capacity? Which urban and architectural criteria are important to ensure design and construction excellence on heritage sites?
Heritage Urbanism Conference 