Amity School of Architecture and Planning

B.Arch Programme, IX Semester

Theory of Urban Design

ARCH503
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Urban Conservation

Contents
Contents
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Why there is a need of Urban Conservation?

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Global processes have a direct impact on the

identity and visual integrity of historic cities and their
broader setting, as well as on the people who live in
them.
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While some cities are growing exponentially, others

are shrinking and being radically restructured as a
result of shifting economic processes and new
patterns of migration.

To address these issues, local urban strategies are

becoming the key component of urban
development planning.
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The increasing globalization of the economy is

radically transforming many contemporary cities,
benefiting some groups, whilst marginalizing others.

In some countries, centrally controlled planning has

given way to decentralization and market-oriented
approaches.
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The result is that cities have been exposed to new

pressures
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Toong On Church, Chinatown,

Kolkata

 Rapid urbanization threatening the sense of place

Source;
https://pune365.com/conservationist- and identity of communities
kamalika-bose-balancing-
urbanisation-heritage-conservation/
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 Uncontrolled, poorly conceived and/or badly

implemented urban development
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What South Beach, Miami, would probably look like if temperatures rise by 2 degrees
Celsius.
Image courtesy of Nickolay Lamm/ClimateCentral/sealevel.climatecentral.org

 Intensity and speed of changes, including global

warming
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 Unsustainable consumption of resources.

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Hence there is need to conserve

“Urban Historic Landscape”
which comprise of certain value and significance for
different communities.
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Urban Conservation is not limited to the preservation of single

buildings.

It views architecture as but one element of the overall urban setting,

making it a complex and multifaceted discipline.
By definition, then, urban conservation lies at the very heart
of urban studies.
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Conservation?
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Heritage?
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Historic Area?
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Historic Area

“Historic and architectural (including vernacular) areas” shall be taken to mean

any groups of buildings, structures and open spaces including archaeological
and paleontological sites, constituting human settlements in an urban or rural
environment, the cohesion and value of which, from the archaeological,
architectural, prehistoric, historic, aesthetic or sociocultural point of view are
recognized.

Source; https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/activities/documents/activity-638-98.pdf
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Historic Area Definition

Among these “areas”, which are very varied in nature, it is

possible to distinguish the following “in particular:
prehistoric sites, historic towns, old urban quarters, villages and
hamlets as well as homogeneous monumental groups, it being
understood that the latter should as a rule be carefully
preserved unchanged.

Source; https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/activities/documents/activity-638-98.pdf
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Urban heritage?
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Urban heritage

Urban heritage comprises three main categories:

• Monumental heritage of exceptional cultural value;
• Non-exceptional heritage elements but present in a coherent way with a
relative abundance;
• New urban elements to be considered (for instance):
The urban built form;
The open space: streets, public open spaces;
Urban infrastructures: material networks and equipment.

European Union research report Nº 16 (2004), Sustainable development of Urban

historical areas through and active Integration within Towns – SUIT
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References;
1. https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/activities/documents/activity-638-98.pdf
2. World Heritage Committee 1976 Recommendation
3. ICOMOS Washington Charter
4. European Union research report Nº 16 (2004), Sustainable development of
Urban historical areas through and active Integration within Towns – SUIT
5. ICOMOS Australia Burra Charter
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Thank You