Conservation of Historic Districts: Challenges of Integration in Modern Cities within Sustainable Perspective

Abstract

Architecture is a significant product of civilization that represents culture and retains history as culture is the reaction of mankind to nature. The development of architecture is a result of mankind's need to survive and its continual survival with today's sophisticated life style. Cities and regions with diverse and rich architectural heritage have been exposed to extensive deterioration and destruction, due to the rapid modernization and economic, social, and cultural changes.

Dependency on cars and other means of transportation caused most modern cities to expand rapidly. This uncontrolled expansion transformed major cities into metropolitan areas and changed the traditional life style into a modern one. During the past few decades, many architectural heritage symbols and historic buildings as well as historic districts were demolished due to several reasons: modernization and urban development, deteriorated conditions, and unsafe construction situations or they were just not viable economically.

During this period, development and following the international modern typology subjugated urban planning and architecture. Historic buildings and districts faced extreme challenges to survive and cope with the modern urban patterns where cars and grid-iron streets patterns dominated city planning while new buildings were mainly constructed using modern construction technology and building materials such as reinforced concrete, steel, and glass.

One of the main objectives of this research is to explore conservation of historic buildings, in an architectural level, and historic districts, in an urban level, within a sustainable perspective as a multi-layered process with a lot of challenges. Being raised and educated in a region with very rich heritage and witnessing the destruction this valuable immense heritage suffered due to modernization, wars, neglect, and unprofessional conservation policies, was one of reasons that motivated the authors to investigate conservation of historic buildings/districts within modern cities. This process requires planning, knowledge, strategies, research of architectural styles, and professional skills. Conservation of historic buildings and districts has inestimable value for people; however, it can be a costly process. One of the major concerns of historic buildings conservation is how to make these buildings worthwhile financially, viable socially, and vital publically to maintain historic features and cultural value.

This research investigates the impact of modernization on architectural heritage in historic districts in cities with rich heritage in different regions. The research aims to explore how historic buildings/districts can go beyond being just monuments to visit through playing pivotal roles in societies’ daily activities as vital living parts that are integrated within modern cities. To accomplish that, the research examines the adaptive reuse of several case studies in different regions with a focus on community connectivity strategies within sustainable approaches that conserve resources, unique architectural characteristics, and local identity within economic viability.

The research methodology is based on field case study observations and a qualitative analysis of literature review to the main discussed concepts: urban conservation, culture, vernacular architecture, conservation methods, rehabilitation of historic buildings, and sustainability. Using comparative analysis method, the research examines a number of case studies through investigating the conservation polices, strategies, and methods that allow of integration of historic buildings/districts within modern cities fabric and its people everyday life.

Through analytical approach, the research concluded that city development should not be in expense of losing historic buildings/districts; it can be achieved efficiently through applying urban conservation polices within sustainable perspective environmentally, socially, and economically. The research intensifies the role of individuals, society, and local communities in getting involved as well as investing in the adaptive reuse of historic buildings and rehabilitation of historic districts to revitalize the heritage and cultural identity of the society.

Furthermore, the research set some guidelines for planning urban conservation policies that enhance integration of historic districts and old city cores within modern cities planning to preserve the characteristics of society and reveal identity of the region.