The encounter of different cultures in the historic urban landscape's safeguard

Ref.: 233
Área temática: 03 Integridad visual de los paisajes urbanos históricos
Fecha de recepción: 15/11/2008

AUTORES (* Autor principal)

MESSERI, Beatrice * (Italia) - Institute for Advanced Studies

ABSTRACT

The study focuses on an overview of some case-studies all around the world to illustrate the tendencies in this sector in different localities especially the similarities and the common aspects in Oriental and Western countries. The author has investigated personally the case- studies proposed.

DESCRIPTION AND METHODS:

The first part concerns an explanation of the main documents from the Declaration of the Cultural Landscape (1992), through the Vienna Memorandum (2005) and the present local documents. A defined legislation is an optimal starting point to safeguard the historic urban landscape.
The soul of the ancient city and the integration with the contemporary architecture should be preserved and valorized, distinguishing when it is possible to talk about a violation of the urban scenery and on the contrary, when a cohabitation between them is well realized. A glance of historic urban landscape attests the radical mutations of the society from the past to now, even if the rapidity of the transformations derives from different reasons in the various countries.
The role of the international organizations is fundamental and sometimes can interfere in this process and gives a decisive direction to the urban landscape semblance.
Furthermore, what is happening with the sites inserted in the World Heritage List?
The management plans are significant documents in the general strategy to govern the urban and natural heritage, obviously for the effective practical application.
The involvement of the local community in the management of the mass tourism, especially for the most attractive sites and particularly the World Heritage ones, is an opportunity for the future development of the place.
Identity and memory are the keywords to understand an urban context and discover the real spirit of the place. The intangible heritage represents an essential aspect in the preservation history and is increasingly significant for the management of a place. The functional activities are an integrating part in the present configuration that characterize the urban tissue.
Some of the case-studies treated concerns Florence and Milan in Italy, London (England), Paris (France), Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Los Angeles in the United States, Hong Kong (China), Beijing (China), New Delhi (India), Agra (India) Chandigarth (India), Yangon (Myanmar) and Luang Prabang (Laos).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:

Often the challenge is the cohabitation between the old traditions in an ancient context and the modern habits (technologies, infrastructures....) and activities. To preserve the contemporary urban landscape means to maintain the collective memory of the society and sometimes it is difficult task because of the rapid evolution. The world is changing before we can realize it, so what will be the future for the new generations? What are the models of reference and the approaches? One or hundreds.....

BIBLIOGRAFÍA