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Strategic Replanning and Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 September 2022) | Viewed by 14881

Special Issue Editor

Department of the Built Environment, Birmingham City University, City Centre Campus, Birmingham B4 7BD, UK
Interests: urban form; design and conservation; postcatastrophe reconstruction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Our cultural heritage, and specifically its built and environmental aspects, is by design a persistent feature in our urban and rural landscapes. However, it is not unchanging. If left, all such features will degrade, for example through chemical weathering, vegetation growth, freeze–thaw cycles and so on. Therefore, periodic maintenance is necessary, and sometimes this has to extend to reconstruction. The meanings attached to cultural heritage also change over time as communities change, and this again leads to physical changes—at their extreme, this can be the removal or destruction of monuments following reinterpretation of their heritage significance, as we are currently seeing with “decolonisation" movements. Then, the value attached to original fabric changes from culture to culture, so some cultural heritage monuments are regularly reconstructed via long-term planned processes. Finally, as wider societal needs and aspirations change, strategic planning requirements may dictate that cultural heritage is “in the way”, leading to demolition or the physical removal of features, sometimes including large-scale buildings, museums or other landscape locations.

These are wide-ranging topics, and this Special Issue invites contributions that explore issues of sustainability related to the longevity of cultural heritage, but also our varied responses to its management, protection, reconstruction and strategic replanning. Concepts such as “originality” and “authenticity” need to be carefully examined in this context. Considering the long-term implications of our actions relating to cultural heritage is critical: do we really think long-term, i.e., the sustainability dimension; or do we too often respond to short-term opportunities, e.g., funding availability, opinion change or even the availability of new technology and materials? The impact of management practices, changes, and especially reconstructions on how cultural heritage is perceived, valued and used/consumed must be considered too. Papers exploring these issues from different disciplinary perspectives, different cultures, different legal/planning systems, and covering different historical periods, are welcomed. Comparative papers are particularly welcomed, as are contributions from areas and cultures under-represented in academic and professional heritage debates.

Prof. Dr. Peter J. Larkham
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cultural heritage
  • built and landscape heritage
  • sustainability and heritage
  • heritage protection
  • heritage management and planning
  • historic district management
  • strategic re-planning
  • reconstruction
  • building repair

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 14636 KiB  
Article
Analysis for Conservation of the Timber-Framed Architectural Heritage in China and Japan from the Viewpoint of Authenticity
by Songfeng Jing, Wei Wang and Takeshi Masui
Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1384; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15021384 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2651
Abstract
The precious timber-framed buildings of both China and Japan have been preserved as heritage. Over time, the conservation and restoration of heritage in both countries have gradually matured. The restoration projects in each country are mostly guided by the documents promulgated by ICOMOS, [...] Read more.
The precious timber-framed buildings of both China and Japan have been preserved as heritage. Over time, the conservation and restoration of heritage in both countries have gradually matured. The restoration projects in each country are mostly guided by the documents promulgated by ICOMOS, which are followed as closely as possible in the actual restoration process. Nevertheless, the specific restoration projects in the two countries show a difference in their perceptions of authenticity, especially at the practical level. Therefore, this study intends to improve our understanding of the “authenticity” in the restoration projects of China and Japan so as to provide better guidance for practice. Therefore, this study firstly reviews the development of the conservation theory of authenticity in the West and East Asia. We then analyze the recent restoration projects of three typical study objects from China and Japan—Nanchan Temple, Foguang Temple and Toshodai Temple, which are all world cultural heritage sites—and conduct a comparison study to analyze the embodiment of the concept of authenticity in the actual intervention process. Accordingly, based on the analysis of comparative cases and documents, combined with the statistical results of the frequency of “authenticity” and “intervention” being mentioned in the international documents, we provide insights into the theories of heritage conservation in China and Japan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Replanning and Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage)
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21 pages, 6487 KiB  
Article
Research on Subjective-Cultural Ecological Design System of Vernacular Architecture
by Meng Zhang, Lingzhi Wang and Qingwen Zhang
Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13564; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142013564 - 20 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1888
Abstract
With the impact of urbanization and other factors, the vernacular architectural heritage faces the problem of how to carry on and innovate for sustainable development with originality and authenticity in the process of redesigning and planning. Therefore, this study uses the visualization method [...] Read more.
With the impact of urbanization and other factors, the vernacular architectural heritage faces the problem of how to carry on and innovate for sustainable development with originality and authenticity in the process of redesigning and planning. Therefore, this study uses the visualization method of quantitative analysis to analyze the research trends and hot spots of domestic vernacular architecture and explore new ways of coexistence between vernacular architecture, subject perception and cultural ecology. The critical challenge of this study is to analyze the theoretical coupling action rule between the socio-cultural structure of emotions and the cultural ecosystem of vernacular architecture, drawing on the concept of cultural ecology and the reasoning method of transmission relations in logical deduction. The main contribution of this study is to propose the concept of a subjective-cultural ecological design system for the sustainable development of vernacular architecture, to establish a three-dimensional structural analysis design paradigm and an evaluation analysis matrix, and to make vernacular architecture present the self-renewal ability of continuous exchange and revision in the dynamic cycle of this design system. This study aims to provide a standardized and flexible design research framework for contemporary vernacular architecture’s innovation and sustainable development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Replanning and Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage)
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19 pages, 3529 KiB  
Article
Relics of War: Damaged Structures and Their Replacement or Management in Modern Landscapes
by Peter J. Larkham and David Adams
Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13513; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142013513 - 19 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1319
Abstract
All wars, large and small scale, have had impacts on the built environments enmeshed in the conflict. This is almost always an adverse reaction, often involving destruction, but can also include the construction of defensive or other features. Damaged sites can be redeveloped [...] Read more.
All wars, large and small scale, have had impacts on the built environments enmeshed in the conflict. This is almost always an adverse reaction, often involving destruction, but can also include the construction of defensive or other features. Damaged sites can be redeveloped relatively quickly, though some can persist for decades and some evidence of damage may be deliberately retained for a range of reasons. Damaged structures may remain for decades or centuries, especially if built on a large scale, and, if surviving, may undergo re-evaluation and retention as heritage features. This paper explores the fate of a range of relict features from the Second World War, surviving into modern urban and rural landscapes through inaction or deliberate action. Using a wide range of examples particularly from the UK but also drawing on others from elsewhere in Europe, we explore the impact of conflict on such relics; their nature and scale, processes of decision-making affecting their treatment over the last seven decades, and their landscape impact. The physical legacy of this war still affects many communities. Changing values so long after the conflict, and the decay of unmaintained structures, gives an urgency to reviewing the future of surviving relics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Replanning and Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage)
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26 pages, 10646 KiB  
Article
The Tradition and Symbols of a Place in Shaping Public Spaces through the Example of the Transformation of Litewski Square in Lublin, Poland
by Wojciech Bal, Magdalena Czałczyńska-Podolska and Adam Szymski
Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9161; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159161 - 26 Jul 2022
Viewed by 1466
Abstract
Litewski Square is widely known as the place where the Lithuanian envoys camped to attend the Union Sejm in 1569. Today, Litewski Square represents a space of transformation. The urban public spaces of the square have been rebuilt several times, each instance delineating [...] Read more.
Litewski Square is widely known as the place where the Lithuanian envoys camped to attend the Union Sejm in 1569. Today, Litewski Square represents a space of transformation. The urban public spaces of the square have been rebuilt several times, each instance delineating a distinct rendering of tradition and history. In this article, the evolution of the square is presented in order to analyse three main aspects. Over the years and under changing political conditions, its meaning, role, and function have shifted. Traditions and symbols that shape the space of the square have changed; these changing symbols have influenced how the meaning and functionality of the square have evolved over time. The research methodology of this paper is based on historical and interpretative studies. This form of analysis made it possible to identify the successive stages of the transformation of Litewski Square and, accordingly, in the context of changing political conditions, identify the elements that are important for the meaning of the square today. Litewski Square has evolved from an urban space with a clearly defined function to a multifunctional public space: from a memorial square into a modern space of leisure and entertainment. This paper argues that the accumulation of commemorative elements and directly adjacent recreational spaces give the impression of a lapidary, the constituent elements of which devalue each other. What this means is that, even as the number of commemorative symbolic elements have increased, their status is degraded, as well as that of Litewski Square as a whole. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Replanning and Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage)
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19 pages, 2096 KiB  
Article
Historic Gardens Heritage in Portugal: From the Originality of an Art to the Inventory Process
by Susana Silva and Paulo Carvalho
Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5978; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14105978 - 14 May 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1776
Abstract
Although they are one of the richest expressions of cultural and landscape heritage, gardens are at the same time one of the most delicate. The preservation and protection of these landscapes are based on what we know of them from the inventories which, [...] Read more.
Although they are one of the richest expressions of cultural and landscape heritage, gardens are at the same time one of the most delicate. The preservation and protection of these landscapes are based on what we know of them from the inventories which, in the particular case of historic gardens, have increased since the 1980s, as recommended by the Florence Charter. Portugal has a vast and varied range of historic gardens defined as original and unique. The concern to protect them resulted in lists and inventories being drawn up over time, prompted by academic and institutional initiatives. This article proposes to analyze the inventories of Portuguese historic gardens, specifically in terms of their main characteristics, content, achievements and drawbacks, and to discuss their effectiveness. Twelve inventories were considered. The information was collected from several sources and organized in databases, which were then sampled for a content analysis. The findings show that each study unequivocally added to knowledge about Portuguese landscape art, but also revealed important structural weaknesses. These were found in the different approaches and data standards used and in the information itself, which was often incomplete and was not updated. In addition, information tended to be scattered and there was a lack of interaction between preservation tools. This led to the conclusion that this task is far from being completed and fully effective. The present analysis could provide useful insights and be a starting point to trigger discussion among garden heritage professionals and organizations about centralizing the information on gardens, and to combine efforts to plug the gaps in it, so that the inventory can play an effective part in the sustainable maintenance, management and safeguarding of these assets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Replanning and Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage)
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13 pages, 4506 KiB  
Article
Repurposing and the Impact of New Facilities on the Potential Presentation of Industrial Heritage
by Miloš Aranđelović, Aleksandar Videnović, Nebojša Gadžić and Dušan Tomanović
Sustainability 2022, 14(10), 5915; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14105915 - 13 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1824
Abstract
Industrial heritage combines historical, architectural and cultural values of the context in which it is located. In order for the spatial and architectural potential of these buildings to be used even after the loss of their initial purpose, the previous plants become the [...] Read more.
Industrial heritage combines historical, architectural and cultural values of the context in which it is located. In order for the spatial and architectural potential of these buildings to be used even after the loss of their initial purpose, the previous plants become the hub of new activity through repurposing and adjustment. This study is focused on the interpolation of hotel and business/trade activities within the previous industrial complex Belgrade “Steam Mill” where the practical issues related to the implementation of this entire process have been presented by means of a detailed analysis (case study). Repurposing of the old plant has been accepted as an evolutionary model of integrative protection. This paper names the shifts in the social and economic context of ex-Yugoslavia and adoption of new economic and cultural patterns as one of the causes for the abandonment of the Mill and its fall into disrepair. Accordingly, the contribution of this paper is based on an overview of a potential identification of a specific model for future actions in similar situations and in relation to the industrial heritage of the Republic of Serbia. The critical analysis of the results of Steam Mill repurposing presented in this paper implies the reviewing of both positive and negative aspects of the said process with the aim of understanding the significance of appropriate planning and use of future facilities in relation to the protection and promotion of cultural heritage values of general interest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Replanning and Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage)
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35 pages, 62643 KiB  
Article
Architecture and Recreation as a Political Tool—Seaside Architectural Heritage of the Worker Holiday Fund (WHF) in the Era of the Polish People’s Republic (1949–1989)
by Wojciech Bal and Magdalena Czałczyńska-Podolska
Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 171; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14010171 - 24 Dec 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2425
Abstract
The Worker Holiday Fund (WHF) was set up just after the Second World War as a state-dependent organization that arranged recreation for Polish workers under the socialist doctrine. The communist authorities turned organized recreation into a tool of indoctrination and propaganda. This research [...] Read more.
The Worker Holiday Fund (WHF) was set up just after the Second World War as a state-dependent organization that arranged recreation for Polish workers under the socialist doctrine. The communist authorities turned organized recreation into a tool of indoctrination and propaganda. This research aims to characterize the seaside tourism architecture in the Polish People’s Republic (1949–1989) against the background of nationalized and organized tourism being used as a political tool, to typify the architecture and to verify the influence of politics on the development of holiday architecture in Poland. The research methodology is based on historical and interpretative studies (iconology, iconography and historiography) and field studies. The research helped distinguish four basic groups of holiday facilities: one form of adapted facilities (former villas and boarding houses) and three forms of new facilities (sanatorium-type, pavilion-type and lightweight temporary facilities, such as bungalows and cabins). The study found that each type of holiday facility was characterized by certain political significance and social impact. Gradual destruction was the fate of a significant part of WHF facilities, which, in the public awareness, are commonly associated with the past era of the Polish People’s Republic (PRL) as an “unwanted heritage”. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategic Replanning and Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage)
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