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Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal

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A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Architectural Design, Urban Science, and Real Estate".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2024) | Viewed by 25036

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Dr. Fei Chen

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Guest Editor

School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Interests: urban design; spatial anthropology; architectural design; sustainable development; organic urban renewal; architectural metabolism; heritage conservation in Asia; participatory design
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Gang Feng

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Guest Editor

School of Architecture, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
Interests: architectural design; urban design; university campus planning

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Although historic neighborhood building’s conservation can be practiced on a small scale, it is equally important for urban planning and sustainable urban renewal. From the Siheyuan in Beijing, the buildings in Roji of Tokyo, and the Avenue in Switzerland, historic neighborhood buildings are widely regarded as the carriers of urban development, life traces, and cultural spirit for individual cities. The focus of conserving urban historical neighborhood buildings is placed on the tangible parts of buildings, such as conservation technologies and material studies. In spite of this, it can also be carried out at an invisible level. In this case, the focus is placed on the culture, identity, memory, and daily life behind urban renewal, which functions as the historical carrier of urban life. Its conservation also involves the planning policies and management models of urban renewal and building conservation. With the support of digital technology, the conservation of historical neighborhood buildings will be conducted through data collection, fine scanning, and digital management of urban historical neighborhoods. This practice relies on UAV remote sensing, big data, artificial intelligence, geographic information systems, and other advanced methodologies. Globalization has promoted the knowledge exchange of various relevant information and case comparisons, improving the understanding of conservation in terms of urban planning, architecture, building technology, heritage, geography, psychology, and others.

This Special Issue of Buildings hopes to receive and inspire cross-technological and multi-dimensional communications on the organic conservation of urban historical neighborhood buildings, for the promotion of sustainable urban renewal, under the theme of Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal.

We especially encourage papers that present research on the following topics:

Sustainable renewal of urban historical neighborhood buildings;
Conservation technology of urban historical neighborhood buildings;
Digital conservation of urban historical neighborhood buildings.
Urban conservation and renewal management of historical neighborhood buildings.

Dr. Fei Chen
Prof. Dr. Gang Feng
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 20706 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Post-Evaluation Study on the Renewal of Public Space in Qianmen Street of Beijing’s Central Axis Based on Grounded Theory

by Shu Tao and Wei Duan

Buildings 2024, 14(12), 3969; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14123969 - 13 Dec 2024

Viewed by 454

Abstract

Historic districts are an important component of urban heritage, carrying the memory of the city. The study provides objective spatial level and subjective perception level analysis regarding the evaluation of the renewal of historic districts. We selected Qianmen Street, which is located on the central axis of Beijing, as the research subject. Space syntax was used to determine the importance of the main street to the district, and a kernel density analysis revealed that it was a poor tourist attraction. We used online comment data to establish an evaluation system, based on grounded theory, for the renewal of Qianmen Street. The evaluation system consisted of four primary indicators, including space creation, architectural style conservation, locality, and business management, as well as fifteen secondary indicators. Additionally, an importance–performance analysis (IPA) was used to conduct a quadrant analysis on tourist satisfaction evaluation indicators, in order to analyze influencing factors. The results show that tourists are most concerned about the dimensions of locality and business management, but the level of tourist satisfaction is low. The renewal of the Qianmen historic district should give priority to the creation of its historicity, cultural characteristics, and uniqueness, and should use a small-scale, gradual, and sustainable renewal method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal)

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36 pages, 11684 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Satisfaction of Residents in the Historic Center of Macau and the Characteristics of the Townscape: A Decision Tree Approach to Machine Learning

by Shuai Yang, Yile Chen, Yuhao Huang, Liang Zheng and Yue Huang

Buildings 2024, 14(9), 2925; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092925 - 15 Sep 2024

Viewed by 1202

Abstract

The historic city of Macau is China’s 31st world heritage site, and its residents have actively contributed to preserving its heritage and will continue to reside there for the foreseeable future. Residents’ satisfaction with the current urban environment is closely related to the landscape characteristics of the towns surrounding the historic center of Macau. This study aims to analyze the relationship between landscape characteristics and residents’ satisfaction, determine the key factors affecting their satisfaction and how they are combined, and provide a scientific basis for urban planning. This study used a decision tree machine learning model to analyze 524 questionnaire survey responses that addressed five aspects of the historic town’s landscape: the architectural, Largo Square, street, mountain and sea, and commercial landscapes. The data-driven approach helped find the best decision path. The results indicate that (1) the layout of Largo Square, the commercial colors and materials, the location of the former humanities and religion center, and the commercial signage system are the primary factors influencing residents’ satisfaction. (2) Incorporating decision tree parameters with information entropy as the splitting criterion and a minimum sample split number of two (with no maximum depth) led to the best performance when investigating residents’ satisfaction with Macau’s historic town landscape characteristics. (3) A reasonable layout for Largo Square (satisfaction > 3.50), prominent and harmonious commercial colors and materials (satisfaction > 3.50), rich cultural and religious elements (satisfaction > 4.50), and an excellent commercial signage system (satisfaction > 4.00) can significantly improve residents’ satisfaction. This provides important empirical support and a reference for urban planning and landscape design in Macau and other historical and cultural cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal)

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21 pages, 11024 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Visual Analysis of Social Media Data on Experiences at a World Heritage Tourist Destination: Historic Centre of Macau

by Mengyan Jia, Jingzhao Feng, Yile Chen and Chunxi Zhao

Buildings 2024, 14(7), 2188; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14072188 - 16 Jul 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2112

Abstract

The burgeoning field of sustainable tourism in historically significant urban districts has derived increasing attention in tandem with broader urban economic development. The perceived image of a tourist destination significantly affects tourist consumption behaviors and destination choices, while negative evaluations provide destination managers with insights for targeted improvements to tourist amenities, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of these historically significant districts. This study leveraged Python 3.12.3 software to collect online textual data from popular tourism websites, specifically Ctrip 8.71.4 and Mafengwo 11.1.7. Then, ROST CM6.0 software facilitated high-frequency word analysis, network semantic analysis, and sentiment analysis to outline the perceived image and characteristics of the Macau Historic District, a UNESCO World Heritage site, from the perspective of tourists. The findings are as follows: (1) The image of the Historic Centre of Macao as a tourist destination comprises four primary dimensions: cultural (16.02%), landscape (30.85%), emotional (16.97%), and local (36.16%). (2) Tourists perceive the Historic Centre of Macao as a blend of dynamism and tranquility, tradition, and modernity. (3) Emotional evaluations of the Historic Centre of Macao as a tourist destination are primarily positive (85.45%), whereas negative sentiments constitute 5.76%, with recurring themes pertaining to overcrowding, high prices, a lack of interactive experiences at attractions, excessive commercialization, and insufficient public rest facilities. These findings offer valuable directives for the future planning and development of tourism in Macau, a city recognized for its World Heritage status. (4) In summary, the thematic image of the Historic Centre of Macao can be considered authentic, romantic, and commercialized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal)

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18 pages, 9458 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Four-Dimensional Digital Monitoring and Registering of Historical Architecture for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage

by Mohamed Saleh Sedek, Mabrouk Touahmia, Ghazy Abdullah Albaqawy, Enamur Latifee, Tarek Mahioub and Ahmed Sallam

Buildings 2024, 14(7), 2101; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14072101 - 9 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1048

Abstract

Preserving cultural heritage through monitoring, registering, and analyzing damage in historical architectural structures presents significant financial and logistical burdens. Developed approaches for monitoring and registering 4D (4-dimensional)-scanned range and raster images of damaged objects were investigated in a case study of historical Baron Palace in Egypt. In the methodology, we first prepared and observed the damaged historical models. The damaged historical models were scanned using a laser scanner at a predetermined date and time. Simultaneously, digital images of the models were captured (by a calibrated digital camera) and stored on a researcher’s tablet device. By observing and comparing the scanned models with the digital images, geometric defects and their extent are identified. Then, the observed data components were detected on the map. Then, damaged statue materials were investigated using system of energy dispersive (SEM; scanning electron microscope, Gemini Zeiss-Ultra 55) and XRF (X-ray fluorescence) spectroscopic analysis to identify the statue’s marble elements, and the results indicate that SEM-EDX and XRF analyses accurately identify major and minor compositions of the damaged statue. Then, the damaged models were registered in two stages. In the registration stages, the corresponding points were determined automatically by detecting the closest points in the clouds and ICP (iterative closest point) algorithm in RiSCAN. The point clouds (of the Palace and damaged statues) gave very detailed resolutions and more realistic images in RiSCAN, but it is a costly program. Finally, the accuracies of the registration tasks were assessed; the standard deviations are within acceptable limits and tend to increase irregularly as the number of polydata observations used in the registration calculations increase. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal)

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53 pages, 39715 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Artificial Intelligence for Routine Heritage Monitoring and Sustainable Planning of the Conservation of Historic Districts: A Case Study on Fujian Earthen Houses (Tulou)

by Jiayue Fan, Yile Chen and Liang Zheng

Buildings 2024, 14(7), 1915; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14071915 - 22 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1960

Abstract

With its advancements in relation to computer science, artificial intelligence has great potential for protecting and researching the world heritage Fujian earthen houses (Tulou) historical district. Wood is an important material used in the construction of Fujian earthen houses (Tulou); wood is used in both the main structure of the buildings and for decoration. However, professionals must invest significant time and energy in evaluating any damage before repairing a building. In this context, this study proposes and optimizes a detection method based on the YOLOv8 model for detecting damage to the wooden structure of Fujian earthen houses. Through multiple experiments and adjustments, we gradually improved the detection performance of the model and verified its effectiveness and reliability in practical applications. The main results of this study are as follows: (1) This machine-learning-based object detection method can efficiently and accurately identify damaged contents, overcoming the limitations of traditional evaluation methods in terms of labor and time costs. This approach will aid in the daily protection monitoring of historical districts and serves as a preliminary method for their renewal and restoration. (2) Through multiple rounds of experiments, we optimized the YOLOv8 model and significantly improved its detection accuracy and stability by removing samples with complex backgrounds, improving label quality, and adjusting hyperparameters. In the final experiment, the model’s overall mAP was only 57.00% at most. However, during the field test, the model successfully identified nearly all damage points, including holes, stains, and cracks in the wooden structure of the analyzed earthen building, effectively fulfilling the requirements of the detection task. (3) In the KuiJu Lou field test in Fujian Tulou, the model also performed well in complex environments and was able to reliably detect damage types such as holes, stains, and cracks in the wooden structure. This test confirmed the model’s efficiency and stability in practical applications and provided reliable technical support for Fujian Tulou protection and restoration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal)

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27 pages, 35405 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on Tourist Satisfaction Based on the Conservation and Reuse of Alleyway Spaces in Urban Historic Neighborhoods

by Yimin Song, Chenqi Han and Yang Zhao

Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1324; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051324 - 8 May 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1377

Abstract

The preservation and reuse of historical alley spaces infuse these areas with renewed vitality, which holds significant importance for the direction of preservation and restoration efforts in historical districts. This paper focuses on Jinyu Alley in Quanzhou and identifies a study targeting tourists for the protection and reuse of historical alley spaces. Through preliminary research and interviews, a system of evaluation indicators for urban historical alley spaces post-usage was established using a factor analysis, extracting five main components: historical context, neighborhood space, commercial environment, supporting facilities, and operational management. Additionally, a modified importance–performance analysis (IPA) method was employed to conduct a quadrant analysis on tourist satisfaction evaluation indicators. Transformation quadrant distribution maps of various evaluation indicators reveal dissatisfaction among tourists with certain aspects of supporting facilities, the commercial environment, and neighborhood space. Relevant departments should prioritize improvements in dining quality, business variety, neighborhood traffic connections and transformations, neighborhood space form and scale, landscape greening, environmental elements, parking availability, and trash bin density for future enhancements. Finally, based on the results of tourist satisfaction surveys and information gathered from interviews with a minority of residents, a more inclusive and sustainable strategy for the protection and reuse of historical alley spaces is formulated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal)

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29 pages, 18602 KiB

Open AccessArticle

External Spatial Morphology of Creative Industries Parks in the Industrial Heritage Category Based on Spatial Syntax: Taking Tianjin as an Example

by Zhuoran Jiang, Zimeng Qi, Lijing Chen, Lei Xu, Da Wan, Piotr Burak-Gajewski, Rafal Zawisza and Li Liu

Buildings 2024, 14(3), 559; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14030559 - 20 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1558

Abstract

Industrial heritage creative industrial parks are an organic component of historical neighborhood buildings. According to several field visits and surveys of creative industrial parks, it has been found that the external space of some creative industrial parks does not meet the needs of the people. This research primarily investigates the critical factors influencing the usability of external spaces in these revitalization projects. Spatial syntax, a field that has seen considerable advancement in recent years, offers a more scientific approach to understanding spatial relationships. Therefore, this paper employs spatial syntax as its principal methodology. It conducts a quantitative analysis of the external spatial morphology of four creative industrial parks of industrial heritage in Tianjin. The study critically evaluates the syntactic values and identifies issues in the external spatial morphology, including a dearth of cultural elements and limited environmental richness. Furthermore, it provides recommendations for the enhancement of these external spaces. The aim is to furnish data support and strategic insights to invigorate the revitalization efforts of Tianjin’s industrial heritage creative industrial parks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal)

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19 pages, 5663 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Factors Influencing the Style of Chinese Historic Districts Based on the Mask R-CNN Deep Learning Model

by Shengzhong Luo, Wei Shang, Zerong Yan and Shiyao Bi

Buildings 2024, 14(2), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14020420 - 3 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1408

Abstract

With the rapid development of Chinese cities, the spatial pattern in historical districts has deteriorated due to a lack of protection measures. Indigenous communities have taken it upon themselves to expand certain spaces around the original residential buildings in order to meet the demands of modern life. However, this expansion has had a negative impact on the stylistic integrity of historical districts, leading to a conflict between cultural heritage and district protection. This study focuses on Tanhualin, a representative historical district in Wuhan. The study divides the district into 10 sub-areas, extracting a total of 4850 street views and selecting 6752 spontaneous spatial samples from them. Utilizing the Mask R-CNN model, the study uses computer-based deep learning to identify, summarize, and categorize the various forms and functions of these spontaneous spaces. The study also analyzes the negative impact of these spaces on the unity of the historical blocks’ interfaces, as well as their positive impact on cultural heritage and the creation of a distinctive atmosphere. Finally, the study proposes reconstruction and renewal strategies from both urban design and architectural design perspectives. These strategies aim to improve the quality of life for indigenous communities, establish a sustainable system for preserving historical imprints, protect the cultural atmosphere of historical blocks, and enhance the adaptability of these blocks in modern cities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal)

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21 pages, 10227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Influencing Factors of the Perception Experience of Historical Commercial Streets: A Case Study of Guangzhou’s Beijing Road Pedestrian Street

by Qian Xie, Linhui Hu, Jiye Wu, Qian Shan, Weicong Li and Kang Shen

Buildings 2024, 14(1), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010138 - 5 Jan 2024

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2454

Abstract

Given the complex interplay between economic and cultural–historical factors, this paper explores scene perception and its mechanism in individual and collective cognition of historical commercial streets. Based on a perception model constructed from scene theory, the study utilizes user scene experience feedback from Beijing Road, a commercial pedestrian street in Guangzhou. It conducts a systematic assessment using hierarchical analysis (AHP) across three dimensions: authenticity, theatricality, and legitimacy. The findings reveal the following: (1) according to visitors, traditional cuisine, cultural and creative arts, and Lingnan’s intangible cultural heritage received low ratings; (2) historical relics and traditional cuisine are dominant factors, highlighting public attention to cultural heritage, but the role of historical–cultural characteristics and festival activities is relatively marginalized; (3) cultural–historical relics and traditional cuisine are the leading factors that contribute to an authentic experience, while historical context and festival activities constitute secondary factors; (4) cultural landscapes and arts are central to theatrical experiences, with modern visual elements playing a lesser role; (5) diversified commercial formats and public services are the core factors influencing legitimacy experience, reflecting the role of market diversity and policy orientation in building consumer trust. The design of historical and cultural streets should prioritize the preferences of those experiencing them to promote cultural identity and historical continuity. Additionally, the synergy between commercial diversity and policy orientation should be strategically emphasized to form a business ecosystem supporting sustainable development. Future commercial street renewals should focus on the key role of visual narrative in shaping brand culture. This paper offers insights into the dynamic process of constructing scene experience from perspectives of spatial materialization and emotional empowerment to cultural identity, providing references for strategies in historical place renewal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal)

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19 pages, 9135 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Investigation and Value Evaluation of Historic Building Resources in Xi’an City

by Dengyue Li, Jun Wang and Ke Shi

Buildings 2023, 13(9), 2244; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13092244 - 4 Sep 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2125

Abstract

In China, as statutory non-cultural relic buildings, the conservation and reuse of historic buildings have received increasing attention in recent years. Among them, the investigation and value evaluation of historic buildings are the basis and core of the conservation work, and many cities have explored related technologies and methods according to local conditions. This paper takes the historic building resources in Xi’an as the research object, with the core of historic building registration and the principles of scientificity and operability. It proposes the methods and basic processes for investigating historic building resources and constructs a step-by-step evaluation system for the historic buildings in Xi’an. This research first formulates a registration standard for the identification and evaluation of historic buildings, then applies the analytic hierarchy process, Delphi method, and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to assess the comprehensive value of historic buildings. Finally, it was recognized that the historic building resources are primarily modern and contemporary buildings, playing a significant role in the cultural continuity of the ancient capital, Xi’an. In its value evaluation, emphasis should be placed on the environmental landscape value and socio-cultural value. At the same time, it is necessary to consider the comprehensive value and sub-indicators of historic buildings so that they can guide conservation and adaptation practices in a targeted manner. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal)

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26 pages, 15534 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Renovation of Traditional Residential Buildings in Lijiang Based on AHP-QFD Methodology: A Case Study of the Wenzhi Village

by Junjie Li, Xiangbin Peng, Chen Li, Qiong Luo, Suna Peng, Huanchen Tang and Ruomei Tang

Buildings 2023, 13(8), 2055; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13082055 - 11 Aug 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2161

Abstract

The rapid growth of tourism has led to the transformation of numerous traditional dwellings in Yunnan into commercial lodgings, presenting a challenge to the preservation and inheritance of traditional culture. However, the existing renovation practices lack scientific data support and rely heavily on architects’ subjective designs. Thus, finding a scientific and stable approach to maintain the traditional residential characteristics becomes crucial. This study focuses on the renovation of Wenzhi villagers’ residences in Yunnan as a case study. It employs the innovative AHP-QFD design methodology to explore a more scientific and objective method for preserving and promoting the features of traditional dwellings in commercial renovations. Initially, the study assigns weights to the commercial renovation objectives—local traditional features, architectural functions, sustainability, and comfort—using the hierarchical analysis method (AHP). Subsequently, specific design features are derived from transformation requirements through interviews and questionnaires with residents, tourists, government officials, and experts. The innovation of this research lies in the application of AHP and QFD models to the innovative design of commercial renovations for traditional dwellings in Yunnan, resulting in a set of systematic and scientifically supported decision-making methods for renovating and preserving traditional buildings in the region. The study’s findings reveal that building geometry and dimensions, skilled traditional craftsmanship, and flexible and expandable solutions carry the highest weight in design. The application of the AHP-QFD model in commercial transformation design effectively balances the preservation of traditional culture and the pursuit of commercial value. It offers a feasible and innovative design solution for commercial transformations of traditional houses in the Yunnan region, ensuring the preservation of cultural heritage while enhancing commercial appeal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal)

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19 pages, 5709 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Application of CGAN in the Design of Historic Building Facades in Urban Renewal—Taking Fujian Putian Historic Districts as an Example

by Hongpan Lin, Linsheng Huang, Yile Chen, Liang Zheng, Minling Huang and Yashan Chen

Buildings 2023, 13(6), 1478; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13061478 - 7 Jun 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2596

Abstract

In recent years, artificial intelligence technology has widely influenced the design field, introducing new ideas to efficiently and systematically solve urban renewal design problems. The purpose of this study is to create a stylized generation technology for building facade decoration in historic districts, which will aid in the design and control of district style and form. The goal is to use the technical advantages of the conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN) in image generation and style transfer to create a method for independently designing a specific facade decoration style by interpreting image data of historical district facades. The research in this paper is based on the historical district of Putian in Fujian Province and facilitates an experiment of image data acquisition, image processing and screening, model training, image generation, and style matching of the target area. The research found the following: (1) CGAN technology can better identify and generate the decorative style of historical districts. It can realize the overall or partial scheme design of the facade. (2) In terms of adaptability, this method can provide a better scheme reference for historical district reconstruction, facade renovation, and renovation design projects. Especially for districts with obvious decorative styles, the visualization effect is better. In addition, it also has certain reference significance for the determination and design of the facade decoration style of a specific historical building. (3) Lastly, this method can better learn the internal laws of the complex district style and form to generate a new design with a clear decoration style attribute. It can be extended to other fields of historical heritage protection to enhance practitioners’ stylized control of the heritage environment and improve the efficiency and capability of professional design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal)

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26 pages, 28193 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relevance of Catholic Parish Churches in Public Space in Barcelona: Historical Analysis and Future Perspectives

by Alba Arboix-Alió, Josep Maria Pons-Poblet, Adrià Arboix and Jordi Arboix-Alió

Buildings 2023, 13(6), 1370; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13061370 - 24 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2515

Abstract

Knowledge of the link between church and public space remains limited. However, there seems to exist a relationship between the church and the city, dating back to the first foundational temples. This relationship is still present in the churches of the most recently created neighborhoods, including those that are now gone and gave way to new squares, as well as those that were repurposed to house new activities. In this study, the relationship between public space and 132 parish churches within the municipal limits of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) was analyzed, with the aim to highlighting the most representative examples to understand the role of religious buildings in the urban landscape of the contemporary city. Morphological analyses and comparative views were the methodological research tools used for drawing new maps highlighting how they configure urban axes and homogeneous patterns. Finally, we included a relevant case study of urban regeneration, Mare de Déu dels Àngels church, as an example to demonstrate that a church without a square can have one. In conclusion, churches influenced both the public space adjacent to the parish temples and the urban growth and expansion of the city of Barcelona. Moreover, urban regeneration and new uses of some underutilized churches are a non-negligible future perspective. Churches are relevant for understanding the past of the city of Barcelona, but they are also important for the present and future of the city’s public space. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Dimensional Organic Conservation of Historical Neighborhood Buildings in the Context of Sustainable Urban Renewal)

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