**1. Introduction and Research Methods**

The protection of architectural heritage within historic urban landscapes is a complex area that includes basic protection—research, valorization, legal protection—as well as protection through planning activities and documentation.

The nature of the problem of treatment of protected historic urban landscapes is the fact that urban development and the preservation of architectural heritage in Serbian conditions are seen as the two opposing concepts, while in most Western European countries these two terms represent two sides of the same coin [1]. Part of the professional public often resents the traditional approach of protection and preservation of architectural heritage which hinders and slows down urban development, while, on the other hand, the pressure of development is often perceived as a threat to the survival of cultural heritage [2,3]. However, although there is an opinion that heritage preservation impedes the development of historic urban landscapes, a number of authors point out the role of architectural heritage as a driving force of economic and social development. Tweed and Sutherland [4] emphasize the contribution of cultural heritage in the development of local communities and in meeting human needs. Based on the examples of several cities which base their development strategy on cultural heritage values, Evans [5] points out the positive effects of regeneration and planning interventions in historic urban areas. Current research indicates that cities with cultural heritage have a soft advantage over the competition in the global market [4], which gives them a unique identity.

### *1.1. Historic Urban Landscapes Interlinked with Strategic Spatial Planning*

The widespread understanding and appreciation of architectural heritage in recent decades, coupled with the increasingly complex ways of identifying, protecting, preserving and presenting it, has significantly increased the complexity of planning and managing historic urban landscapes. It is clear that a time of enormous uncertainty imposes the need to consider various possible planning patterns that could be continuously adapted to change. Many communities with cultural heritage face problems such as declining real estate values, economic downturns, and leaving the area. In order to preserve life in historic urban landscapes, we need to constantly change our approach and practice, because preserving historic urban landscapes today goes beyond the traditional sectors defined in economic, social and political systems. The consequences of mismanagement are often severe, and not only do they risk the destruction of a valuable architectural heritage, but they often threaten the socio-economic development of the local community.

Cities, including their historic urban landscapes, are at present the focus of economic, social and cultural activities, in which a diversity of interactions creates new initiatives and ideas. To preserve their vitality, historic urban landscapes need to be renewed through a planning approach based on modernization, adaptation and regeneration, while retaining entire complexes, or at least individual buildings, that give the city its character, identity and competitiveness. For these reasons, it is necessary to develop new strategies that can anticipate the complexity of change and create an adequate development and planning platform to act in the new, dynamic ambient [2].

In this sense, in recent decades, a new approach to heritage management has been developed worldwide that treats cultural and historic entities as urban landscapes and became more interlinked with spatial planning in general, and strategic planning in particular. This approach has been promoted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) regarding the integration of historic urban areas. Specific areas of integration and links between heritage management of urban landscapes and spatial planning have been strengthened in several characters and recommendations. As a result, the Nairobi Recommendations [6] brought several planning instruments for the regeneration of historic urban centers and a range of public, community organizations, experts and citizens as stakeholders, while the Washington Charter [7] introduced an integration of economic, cultural and social development policies and urban planning related to urban heritage conservation projects and urban regeneration. Eventually, *historic urban landscape* as a term was defined in the Vienna Memorandum [8], bearing in mind broader territorial context as the new method for heritage conservation and urban regeneration, and comprising assemblages of buildings, structures and open spaces, thus going beyond the traditional historic centers definition.

Finally, Recommendations on the Historic Urban Landscape [9] envisioned that both urban heritage protection and its integration in local sustainable development using spatial planning could contribute to urban identity in the fundamentally changed globalization environment, traditional mass tourism, heritage exploitation, and climate change. The Recommendations recognize that the city is a dynamic organism influenced by economic, social, and cultural forces, and thus use the existing physical fabric, cultural diversity, and local community values integrally as assets in promoting sustainable goals of urban heritage conservation, social, environmental, and economic development. Therefore, this approach focuses on the specifics of local situations in the search for a balance between the protection of architectural heritage, and the economic development, functionality and vitality of the city. Furthermore, it responds to the present needs of residents while improving the city's natural and cultural resources for future generations, which is entirely in line with the notion of sustainability. Above all, it is assumed that the protection and presentation of heritage, economic, environmental and socio-cultural development goals are not conflicting but complementary, and that their long-term success depends on the ways that they are interconnected. An especially important aspect of the Recommendations on the Historic Urban Landscape for this particular research is the call for a range of traditional and innovative regulatory and legislative measures, as well as civic engagement and financial instruments which have to be locally adjusted.

On the urban level, the Recommendations on the Historic Urban Landscape [9] provide principles and guidance for implementing a comprehensive approach to local urban management. These recommendations indicate that the integration of heritage conservation and urban development is a major challenge at the urban level, as it is a very complex process that needs to be addressed at multiple levels [2].

The management of the historic urban landscapes is even more complex because, in addition to concepts related to intangible heritage, it has to include the management of complex social and economic processes [5,10]. This approach is holistic and aims to integrate architectural heritage management with a broader socio-economic development framework. This integration applies both to the vertical integration of heritage and non-heritage sectors in institutional terms, as well as to the horizontal integration of the different levels of related urban development and protection policies.

Integrating strategic urban planning with cultural planning is an approach that recognizes the unique value of the architectural heritage, but also the contemporary need for the development of communities related to historic landscapes. The architectural heritage should be seen as a vital ambient for both residents and visitors, especially in the light of the fast-growing cultural tourism. Regarding cultural tourism for increasing the attractiveness of tourist destinations, tourists are becoming more demanding in a globalized world with growing competition and, therefore, the management of any destination should strive to meet the multiple motivations and interests of tourists [11].

The preservation and enhancement of historic heritage are mostly dependent on a formulated local strategy for the protection and enhancement of historic urban landscapes. The strategy should clearly define the overall objectives, which should be based on the principles of sustainability, efficiency, fairness and transparency. The strategy needs to identify existing resources, both material and human resources. Following such a comprehensive analysis, concrete measures need to be developed in order to implement formulated objectives. What is specific to the historic urban landscapes, in relation to other cultural assets, is their dual character. First of all, this is the practical function of the buildings which represent part of the city, in most cases their most significant part, and the cultural functions that the objects themselves possess. Due to this specificity, in addition to the general strategy for the protection of cultural heritage at the national level, it is necessary to develop an integrated urban development strategy at the local level, whose essential aspect would be the preservation and enhancement of historic urban landscapes.

### *1.2. Strategic Plans for the Development of Historic Urban Landscapes*

Since the city is an arena where the fields of action of different sectorial strategies intertwine in the face of constant changes, an integrated strategic concept is proposed in this paper as an adequate planning model. Integrated strategic urban development planning in recent years, regardless of variations in economic structure and population, has been established as standard across Europe. It is based on a model of a spatially compact, mixed-use, socially and culturally integrated city in which the sustainable development conditions are met. This planning model was proposed at an informal meeting of European Ministers of Urban Development, held in the German city of Leipzig in 2007. The main objective of such planning is to pay equal attention to the economic, ambient, social and cultural dimensions through urban development. Planning should find a technical answer and a politically responsible balance between these areas of activity. Urban development planning should provide equal opportunity for various and different social and age groups through the participation of citizens and for the fulfillment of public interest.

The advantage of strategic versus traditional urban planning is reflected in several aspects. The choice of strategic objectives is more reliable due to the hierarchy of strategic planning, which allows the objectives to be defined at higher and implemented at lower levels. In the strategic planning process, the analysis of the situation and the creation of the framework are carried out within the framework of collaborative decision making, and therefore the relationship between local government officials and the public is far more transparent. Strategies should link the different sectors that affect each other and which, with the specific knowledge of experts and stakeholders, should agree on common goals. Of course, there are difficulties in reaching consensus when sectors are representing different interests [12].

A spatial dimension would be a key component for integrated urban development strategies for historic urban landscapes. For each part of the city, the specific integration of sectoral policies that are often interest-oriented would be specifically ensured. In an integrated approach, different thematic areas, levels of government, resources and other actors should be linked. In order to develop this strategy, coordination between different levels of government is needed, facilitated by communication with citizens, the participation of the local economic players, representatives of public institutions and other relevant actors in the planning and implementation of projects and activities. This strategy is expected to improve the process of urban planning and development by linking various institutions and the resources that can be provided. It should be based on the demographic and social parameters of development to ensure the preservation and improvement of quality of life, as well as ensuring social stability [13].

### *1.3. Materials and Methods*

We used theoretical research and a literature review from the disciplines of cultural heritage, urban management, and planning for the heritage protection strategies, and experiences in managing protected areas in order to interlink those fields in the introductory part of the paper.

In the second chapter of the paper, we presented a conceptual strategic planning and management model for the regeneration and protection of the historic city centers.

In the third chapter of the paper, we presented the urban planning and governance context in relation to the preservation of protected heritage in Serbia. We have analyzed various types of documentation—reports, plans, documents, and personal experience of dealing with protected heritage and strategic planning.

In the fourth chapter, the strategic planning and management model for the regeneration of historic urban landscapes was tested by a case study method using the example of a protected historic center—Novi Pazar in Serbia. Yin [14] states that the case study method can be useful for more in-depth and comprehensive research for the analysis of a unique situation, like the one in this paper. Justification of a case study method is also underlined by Flyvbjergs [15] since it comes closer to real-life situations. Besides various local government reports, plans, and documents, we used interviews

conducted with citizens, shop owners, and employees at the Institute for Urbanism and Planning of the City of Novi Pazar and Regional Institutes for the Protection of Monuments to gain their judgment on existing urban heritage values. Their value judgment was used as a starting point for an adequate initial stage of the conceptual strategy, which was done by the authors of the paper for the regeneration of historic city center in order to test the possibilities of applying strategic planning model and policy instruments for implementation tailored to the local context.

In the fifth chapter, the initial stage of the conceptual strategy and management model for the regeneration and protection of the historic center of Novi Pazar was prepared by the authors of the paper as a simulation for the future strategy. The process of the involvement, relation, and organization of different actors is involved in the model as an integral part of goals' and objectives' formulation.

In the concluding chapter of the paper, the sustainability indicators of regeneration strategies for historic city centers are provided in the Conclusion section of the paper. We found that the appropriate combination and utilization of regulatory, economic and informational management instruments have to be in place in the specific context. Additionally, the final section of the article builds on the preceding arguments to consider more directly the implications of the results for the theory and practice of strategic planning and the protection of historic urban landscapes.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the role of strategic planning as a sustainable tool for regulating both the protection and development of historic urban landscapes, as well as for developing an adequate and effective strategic model and management instruments for implementation. The goal is to capture the physical, economic, social and environmental indicators and effects of a given space.
