On Harmonious Development of Historic Urban Landscape & Its Culture

Ref.: 183
Área temática: 02 Integridad funcional de los paisajes urbanos históricos
Fecha de recepción: 30/10/2008

AUTORES (* Autor principal)

WU, Jianhua * (China) - Tourism School of Guangdong Commercial College
XIAO, Xuan (China) - Tourism School of Guangdong Commercial College

ABSTRACT

The definition of "historic urban landscape" (HUL) has been developed and refined by many experts. In historic perspective, HUL reflects the historical changes of urban landscape, as well as the history how human made it. In ecological perspective, it vividly shows unique urban image, corroborating how character-defining elements and construction details interact each other and make the HUL together.
As visual perceptual objects, HUL shows the relationship between human and history, implies people's attitude to land and city, and reflects their ideal. As living space, HUL embodies human's temporal-spatial positioning and shows their identity to the city. As a symbol, HUL is the trace of human history and ideal, revealing the interactions of human and Nature as well as interactions among human beings themselves. HUL is also a complex environmental and socio-cultural system studied by scholars from various fields.
While a HUL came into being, its culture was generated simultaneously; i.e. each HUL is endowed with a unique, splendid culture. Nevertheless, the homogeneity trend of HULs, driven by urbanization and globalization, is depriving them of their features of being local, cultural, traditional and diversified. The characteristics, as the soul of a HUL, are sadly fading away, together with its unique charm and flavor.
The causes lie in many aspects, such as out-dated theories and perceptions, immature approaches, lust for quick benefits without considering the long- term prospects, and so on. Facing the problems, we should have a thorough understanding of the serious situations. Furthermore, we should take feasible measures, especially endeavor to achieve harmonious development of HUL and its culture.

BIBLIOGRAFÍA

[1] Landscape Design of Ecological Culture in the Development of the Metropolitan Coordinating Region, by CHU Xiaoqing, Hundred Schools in Arts, 2006 Vol. 1 ;
[2] Analysis of Concepts and the Nature of Urban Landscape, by CHEN Ye, New Architecture, 2004 Vol. 5 ;
[3] Preservation and development modes of historical buildings in townscape, by LV Haiping & WANG He, Journal of Shenyang Architecture and Civil Engineering University (Natural Science), 2003 Vol. 2 ;
[4] Olinda Report of the Regional Conference "Historic Urban Landscapes in the Americas", UNESCO's conference document, November 2007 ;
[5] Vienna Memorandum on "World Heritage and Contemporary Architecture ­ Managing the Historic Urban Landscape", UNESCO's conference document, May 2005;
[6] World Urban Forum III ­ Vancouver Report, UNESCO's conference document, June 2006.