Cultural Memories for Better Place Experience: The Case of Orabi Square in Alexandria, Egypt

Globalization is associated with significant transformations in city forms and cultural and social performances. Governments and cultural heritage organisations increasingly appreciate the importance of preserving diverse physical cultural heritage through rehabilitation and the implementation of conservation plans. Nevertheless, there is a need to evaluate whether these plans understand the importance of cultural memory in societies, as well as how it affects the human psyche. Utilizing Orabi Square, which is one of the richest Historic Urban Landscapes (HUL) in the metropolitan city of Alexandria in Egypt, this study aims to answer the question; to what extent does Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) management present a situation that maintains cultural memory and achieve psychosocial well-being? The research explored the site’s old and new conditions and place experience, applying a qualitative approach through onsite face-to-face semi-structured interviews combined with data from a Facebook group—Alexandria’s Spirit. The QSR Nvivo12 analysis program was used for the data interpretation and for charting the intangible values accompanying cultural memory such as emotions and behaviour. The study indicated that cultural memory is an affective catalyst for emotional attachment to place and is an important factor informing sense of place. Based on our study, inclusion of cultural memories should be an integral element in the future management plans of Orabi Square to enhance place experience and psychosocial well-being.

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Towards Psychosocial Well-Being in Historic Urban Landscapes: The Contribution of Cultural Memory

Urban Science ◽

10.3390/urbansci4040059 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 59

Author(s):

Fatmaelzahraa Hussein ◽

John Stephens ◽

Reena Tiwari

Keyword(s):

Cultural Memory ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Well Being ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Heritage Conservation ◽

Urban Landscapes ◽

Review Of Literature ◽

Mind's Eye

A crucial element in the human search for well-being is achieving a sense of identity within, and belonging to, the landscape in which we live. Landscape should be understood as not only the visible environment but the affective values we attach to it and how we shape it in our mind’s eye. These inner reflections of our landscapes constitute one of our richest archives, in particular, in terms of creating and passing down to future generations our cultural memories. The current paper is a review of literature on the concepts of urban heritage conservation, and, in particular, the development of the historic urban landscape (HUL) approach, with reference to the role and contribution of cultural memory and its presence in the urban landscape. We also investigate how the notions of place attachment and identity interrelate with cultural memory to elucidate how such interrelations can contribute to human psychosocial well-being and quality of life (QOL). This review points to the neglected role of cultural memory in the maintenance of psychosocial well-being in HULs, a topic which requires further research to deepen our understanding about its importance in urban environments.

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Grounded Theory as an Approach for Exploring the Effect of Cultural Memory on Psychosocial Well-Being in Historic Urban Landscapes

Social Sciences ◽

10.3390/socsci9120219 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 219

Author(s):

Fatmaelzahraa Hussein ◽

John Stephens ◽

Reena Tiwari

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Grounded Theory ◽

Cultural Memory ◽

Well Being ◽

Research Approach ◽

Urban Landscapes ◽

Urban Planning And Design ◽

Nuanced Understanding ◽

The Impact

Although grounded theory (GT) has emerged as a popular research approach across multiple areas of social science, it has been less widely taken up by researchers working in the fields of urban planning and design. The application of GT enables uniquely innovative insights to be gained from qualitative data, but it has attracted criticism and brings its own challenges. This paper proposes a methodology that could be applied by other researchers in the field of urban research. Utilising constructivist GT as a qualitative approach, this research investigates how cultural memory impacts the psychosocial well-being and quality of life (QoL) of users of, and visitors to, historic urban landscapes (HULs). Based on the findings, it can be posited that the application of GT yields a rich and nuanced understanding of how users of HULs experience the settings in which they live, and the impact and significance on human psychosocial well-being of the cultural memories incarnated within such settings. The current paper also contends that GT enables researchers studying the built environment to construct inductively based theories. Lastly, the practical implications of developing GT for application to HUL management are discussed, both in regard to how users experience the contexts in which they live and the impact of such contexts on well-being and quality of life.

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Green Infrastructures in the Peri-Urban Landscape: Exploring Local Perception of Well-Being through ‘Go-Alongs’ and ‘Semi-Structured Interviews’

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12176836 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (17) ◽

pp. 6836

Author(s):

Rocío Santo-Tomás Muro ◽

Carlota Sáenz de Tejada Granados ◽

Eva J. Rodríguez Romero

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Well Being ◽

Full Potential ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Local Perception ◽

Relevant Role ◽

Environmental Inequalities

Providing conditions for health and well-being, especially for those most exposed to social and environmental inequalities, is a precondition for sustainable development. Green infrastructures in peri-urban areas have the potential to improve the quality of life of locals by fostering healthy practices, providing views, or bringing nature closer to the city. This work explores the local perception of well-being within urban green infrastructures (UGI) in the peri-urban fringe of Madrid (Spain) through a combination of qualitative methods: “go-alongs” and “semi-structured static interviews”. The grounded-theory based codification of the data using NVivo software and their subsequent analysis results in the identification of social, natural, and perceptual elements that prove to play a relevant role in locals’ perception of well-being. Among these, connectivity with other green spaces, panoramic views and place-based memories are aspects that seem to make UGI serve the community at its full potential, including perceived physical and psychological well-being. We identify in each case study both positive characteristics of UGI and dysfunctional aspects and areas of opportunity. Lastly, a methodological, geographical, and theoretical discussion is made on the relevance of the case studies and pertinence of the two interview methods as valuable tools for analysis and intervention in the peri-urban landscape.

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Административно-правовой механизм комплексной реконструкции жилищного фонда исторических центров городов России

ВЕСТНИК ИНЖЕНЕРНОЙ ШКОЛЫ ДВФУ ◽

10.24866/2227-6858/2021-1-14 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Urban Planning ◽

Cultural Heritage ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Housing Stock ◽

Urban Landscapes ◽

The Past ◽

Accepted Practice ◽

Complex Housing ◽

Protection Of Cultural Heritage

На основе обзора теоретической и законодательной базы реконструкции жилищного фонда исторических центров городов России, а также результатов работы государственных органов за последние три десятилетия авторы представляют Механизм комплексной реконструкции жилищного фонда исторических центров городов России. Этот административно-правовой Механизм направлен на улучшение условий жизни людей и сохранение уникальных исторических ландшафтов городов. Проведён анализ действующей законодательной и нормативно-правовой базы охраны объектов культурного наследия: городского планирования и землепользования, а также институционных взаимодействий между государственными органами охраны объектов культурного наследия (федеральными, региональными и муниципальными), государственными кадастровыми органами и администрацией муниципалитетов, правовых отношений между участниками в области реконструкции жилищного фонда. Главное положение Механизма – согласование всех его элементов для обеспечения комплексной сохранности объектов культурного наследия. Ключевые слова: Механизм комплексной реконструкции, реконструкция жилищного фонда, исторический ландшафт города, объекты культурного наследия, градостроительство An overview of the accepted practice, theoretical and legislative basis for the renovation of the housing stock of the historic centers of Russian cities is presented. On this basis, the authors propose a Mechanism for the complex housing renovation of historic centers of Russian cities, aimed at improving the living conditions and preserving the unique historic urban landscapes. The analysis of the current legislative and regulatory framework for the protection of cultural heritage: urban planning and land use; institutional interactions - between state bodies for the protection of cultural heritage (federal, regional and municipal); state cadastral bodies and municipal authorities; legal relations between the participants of housing renovation programs. The Mechanism proposed by us is based on the results of the work of state bodies over the past three decades; one of its central provisions is the coordination of all elements of the Mechanism to ensure the comprehensive preservation of cultural heritage. Keywords: Mechanism of complex renovation of historic housing, historic urban landscape, cultural heritage, urban planning

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The regaining of public spaces to enhance the historic urban landscape

The Journal of Public Space ◽

10.5204/jps.v2i1.49 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 45 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Roberto Bolici ◽

Matteo Gambaro ◽

Cristiana Giordano

Keyword(s):

Cultural Values ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Public Spaces ◽

World Heritage ◽

Point Of View ◽

Urban Landscapes ◽

Design Strategies ◽

Open Spaces ◽

Management Plans ◽

Urban Complex

Open spaces in the urban landscapes suffer from deterioration caused by man that leads to two major outcomes: on one side they are abandoned because of newer contemporary needs, on the other hand they tend to be “cannibalized” in the attempt to satisfy our society. This has caused a progressive retraction of urban open spaces that have become residual spaces with no shape and no name. This course of crisis has damaged the identity of places and this is more acute in historic urban landscapes that are recognised as cultural heritage and world heritage. The historic urban landscape approach suggested by UNESCO recognises public spaces’ importance for society and promotes the acknowledgement of public spaces and their dynamism aiming to the integration of preservation, social development and economic targets. To understand how “historic urban landscapes” are taking care of their public spaces, a few Management Plans of UNESCO’s World Heritage cities have been compared. Only Italian UNESCO sites with an “urban complex” characterisation have been considered, this means a limited part of a city with homogenous characteristics from a spatial, historic and cultural point of view. We have focused our attention on the specific interventions for the management of open spaces, in order to identify the major targets and their executive tools, projects and actions. In the light of the above-mentioned analyses, we propose some strategies to fight the decline of public spaces (streets, squares, gardens, etc.) and to enhance these spaces with great attention, trying to improve their fruition and comfort according to their historic and cultural values. The need to identify design strategies to enhance public spaces within the historic urban landscape is included in the research and test activities carried out in the UNESCO site of Mantova and Sabbioneta. This site is an excellent area of applicability because of its urban shape, molded in years by the Gonzaga family. Together with the UNESCO Mantova e Sabbioneta office, we have involved citizens in the requalification design to activate regaining process and test the applicability of our analyses in the city of Mantova, a very articulated and complex reality, starting from the fruition of its places and according to its morphological, environmental, cultural and perceptive aspects.

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Grass-Roots Initiatives and Bottom-Up Musealisation Mechanisms in Urban Space: The Case of Heraklion Crete

Heritage ◽

10.3390/heritage2030116 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 1912-1926

Author(s):

Konstantina Nikolopoulou

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Public Space ◽

Urban Space ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Tourist Destination ◽

Bottom Up ◽

Grass Roots ◽

Grass Roots Initiatives ◽

The City

Heraklion is gradually transforming into the newest tourist destination in Crete, which is one of the most popular island destinations in Greece. The regional statutory and local tourist bodies aim to develop Heraklion as a destination per se, overcoming the “gateway to the rest of the island” identity that the city currently holds. At the same time, grass-roots initiatives are active in the city context, defending public space and urban cultural heritage, in idiosyncratic, bottom-up ways. This paper investigates the role undertaken by three such initiatives, currently active in Heraklion, to better comprehend their possible impact on the urban landscape and cultural heritage, within this gradually developing tourist landscape. The structure, aims and vision of the initiatives were documented through semi-structured interviews. Their actions, despite being diverse, are compared to the wider activity of similar initiatives in Greece, especially against neoliberal politics, culminating in defending public space, activating bottom-up musealisation mechanisms and participating in urban design in their own ways.

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Memory for Social Sustainability: Recalling Cultural Memories in Zanqit Alsitat Historical Street Market, Alexandria, Egypt

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12198141 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (19) ◽

pp. 8141 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fatmaelzahraa Hussein ◽

John Stephens ◽

Reena Tiwari

Keyword(s):

Social Engagement ◽

Cultural Memory ◽

Methodological Approach ◽

Social Sustainability ◽

Well Being ◽

Place Identity ◽

Community Identity ◽

Urban Landscapes ◽

Collective Memories ◽

Group A

Historic urban landscapes (HULs) are composed of layers of imbedded tangible and intangible features such as cultural memories. As the collective memories of city inhabitants, cultural memories can affect elements of social sustainability such as health, well-being, community identity, place perception and social engagement. Utilising the popular Zanqit Alsitat (also known as ‘Zanket el-Setat’ or ‘Zane’t El-Settat’), the only remaining historical street market in Alexandria, Northern Egypt, this research proposes a theoretical model for recalling and continuity of cultural memory features in HULs, which can be used to achieve social sustainability. The research explored the site by applying a qualitative methodological approach through semi-structured in-person interviews in the study site, along with analysis of comments obtained from a research-purposed social media (Facebook) group. A qualitative data management software (NVivo12 programme) was utilised for interpretation and charting the features of stored cultural memories relating to this place. The study indicates that educing and maintaining the features of cultural memory in HULs contributes to social sustainability through its influence on the formation of place identity, sense of place, civic pride and quality of life. This framework for social sustainability in HULs can be applied by engaging social groups through participatory planning.

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Propositions for the Aesthetic Continuity of Urban Landscapes

SAGE Open ◽

10.1177/2158244020941851 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 215824402094185

Author(s):

Hyejung Chang

Keyword(s):

Everyday Life ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Well Being ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Spiritual Experience ◽

Shared Environment ◽

Urban Landscapes ◽

Irreversible Loss ◽

The Aesthetic ◽

Ethical Significance

While many global societies have undergone radical transformations, places have suffered from the irreversible loss of public memory. The value of continuity in the urban landscape has gradually declined due to the culture of “avant-gardism.” This article explores the enduring values necessary for human cohabitation and aesthetic qualities inherent in the rapidly changing urban environments of today. It draws attention to the ethical significance of continuity as the whole notion of “place” hinges, and argues that the experience of urban continuity in everyday life is an intrinsic and instrumental factor for our sense of identity, well-being, and belonging. Continuity, as predicated on human existence, is essential for the evolutionary, ecological, cognitive, cultural, and spiritual experience of the shared environment. The proposed dimensions of an aesthetic continuity are intended to provide a normative and pragmatic framework useful for application to placemaking in ever-changing urban environments.

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The Multi-Method Tool ‘PAST’ for Evaluating Cultural Routes in Historical Cities: Evidence from Cagliari, Italy

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12145513 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (14) ◽

pp. 5513 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chiara Garau ◽

Alfonso Annunziata ◽

Claudia Yamu

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Urban Landscapes ◽

Street Network ◽

Planning And Design ◽

Decision Making Processes ◽

Definition Of ◽

Cultural Routes ◽

Street Segments

Thematic paths are a central aspect of urban policies for cultural heritage valorization. In fact, thematic paths are central spatial features for structuring the image of a historical landscape. Hence, this study proposes the cultural paths assessment tool (PAST) as a methodological framework for individuating a network of routes connecting cultural heritage components and for assessing their usefulness. Usefulness is herein defined as the potential of a street network to support the meaningful experience of a historical urban landscape. PAST combines space syntax techniques, a geographic information system, and a qualitative analysis within a multi-criteria analysis framework for addressing four aspects of connecting cultural heritage components, including: (i) the individuation of relevant assets; (ii) the identification of the sub-network of most central street segments; (iii) the definition of the street network of thematic routes; (iv) the assessment of the usefulness of thematic paths, according to the criteria of usability, imageability, and accessibility. The proposed methodology, applied to the historical district of Marina in the city of Cagliari in Italy, supports planning and design processes in two ways: (1) by identifying street segments and squares comprising a network of thematic routes; (2) by individuating high-leverage interventions for improving the usefulness of thematic routes. Consequently, the proposed study addresses the need to establish methodologies and analytic tools that support decision making processes for conserving, managing, and valorizing historic urban landscapes.

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Pelestarian Warisan Budaya Kota (Urban Heritage) Melalui Pendekatan Heritage Urban Landscape (HUL) dan Cultural Heritage Integrated Management Plans (CHIMP)

Jurnal Konservasi Cagar Budaya ◽

10.33374/jurnalkonservasicagarbudaya.v14i1.230 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 60-70

Author(s):

Brahmantara Brahmantara

Keyword(s):

Cultural Heritage ◽

Urban Landscape ◽

Integrated Management ◽

Urban Heritage ◽

Management Plans

Pelestarian warisan budaya kota (urban heritage) saat ini mengalami tantangan yang cukup besar. Laju pembangunan menjadi ancaman dalam menggeser nilai nilai budaya itu sendiri. Bagaimana mendesain sinergitas antara warisan yang bersifat fisik dan nofisik melalui pendekatan Heritage Urban Landscape (HUL) dan Cultural Heritage Integrated Management Plans (CHIMP)? Apakah kedua metode tersebut sesuai untuk diterapkan? Lantas, bagaimana kedua metode tersebut bekerja? Dalam pengelolaan dan pelestarian warisan budaya perkotaan (urban heritage), ada dua pendekatan yang dilakukan. Pertama adalah pendekatan Heritage Urban Landscape (HUL), pendekatan ini dilakukan dengan metode melihat warisan budaya kota sebagai aset sosial, ekonomi dan budaya untuk pengembangan kota dan bergerak diluar pelestarian fisik lingkungan, dan berfokus kepada lingkungan manusia beserta lingkungannya baik yang bersifat bendawi maupun tak bendawi. Metode yang kedua adalah pelestarian dengan pendekatan Rencana Manajemen Terpadu Warisan Budaya (Cultural Heritage Integrated Management Plans / CHIMP). CHIMP adalah instrumen inovatif yang secara efektif mengelola perlindungan dan pengembangan daerah perkotaan bersejarah secara berkelanjutan menuju warisan budaya kota yang menarik, kompetitif dan multifungsi. Instrumen ini menyeimbangkan dan mengkoordinasikan antara kebutuhan akan warisan budaya dengan kebutuhan dari “pengguna” (masyarakat) dan stakeholder terkait yang bertanggung jawab terhadap kelangsungan dari warisan budaya kota tersebut. Metode pendekatan tersebut baik HUL maupun CHIMP sesuai untuk diterapkan dalam pelestarian warisan budaya kota. Kedua metode tersebut mampu menghubungkan dan menyeimbangkan antara pembangunan sosial- ekonomi yang berkelanjutan dengan perlindungan warisan budaya dan identitas yang dimiliki. HULlebih banyak bergerak diluar pelestarian fisik lingkungannya, sedangkan CHMIP bergerak disemua aspek pelestarian. Perbedaan bukan merupakan suatu kelebihan dan kekurangan, namun merupakan dua pendekatan yang sebenarnya saling melengkapi. Identifikasi karakteristik yang dimiliki ini menjadi penentuan awal apakah metode pendekatan dengan HUL atau CHIMP. Karakteristik kota yang didominasi oleh karakter dan nilai budaya yang bersifat fisik lebih cocok menggunakan pendekatan CHIMP dan sebaliknya kota yang mempunyai lebih banyak karakter nilai budaya non fisik akan lebih sesuai menggunakan pendekatan HUL.

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