HerO Workshop on Multifunctional Old Town Areas
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09 October 2017HerO 'Heritage as Opportunity' is one of the URBACT projects which is currently in their implementation phase and that will end in 2011. Its nine partners have been working for two years on integrated and innovative management strategies for historic urban landscapes . On 17th-19th November 2010 the HerO partners and representatives of their associated Managing Authorities met in Naples for their last Expert Workshop to discuss 'multifunctional old town areas - balancing the needs of different stakeholder groups in historic city centres'.
The Vienna Memorandum on "World Heritage and Contemporary Architecture – Managing the Historic Urban Landscape" (UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 2005) states that the historic urban landscape cannot be merely seen as an accumulation of significant monuments but rather needs to be considered as a living organism and vital living space for its inhabitants. However, the rapidly changing basic conditions of modern times pose a big challenge on the management of many historic urban areas, which can no longer be handled by traditional mono-sectoral policies. The imbalance of progress and the preservation of the historic urban fabric often result in either economic stagnancy or the loss of cultural heritage values and with it the loss of identity.
In this context, the URBACT project HerO is looking for joint, effective and sustainable solutions in the field of cultural heritage and urban development. Indeed, HerO project led by the City of Regensburg main objective is facilitating the right balance between the preservation of built cultural heritage and the sustainable, future-proof socio-economic development of historic towns in order to strengthen their attractiveness and competitiveness. Emphasis is placed on managing conflicting usage interests and capitalising the potential of cultural heritage assets for economic, social and cultural activities.
This last project Expert Workshop focussed on the fact that a mix of different functions is essential for a sustainable and future-proof development of old town areas. Hence, to keep historic urban landscapes vital and attractive places, the demands of inhabitants, visitors and retail trade need to be reconciled with the preservation of the (tangible and intangible) cultural heritage assets.
During the event, keynote speaker Jean-Pierre Charbonneau from Paris introduced the topic and raised relevant issues before the project partners exchanged about the challenges and approaches in their cities in regards to traffic and infrastructure, noise pollution, retail initiatives and the careful renovation and re-use of buildings.
The colleag
Naples presented their projects on the ground: Walking tours through Naples’ city centre gave participants the opportunity to learn about the local characteristics and challenges and to explore the city’s rich cultural heritage.
Further, the HerO project partners got the chance to meet local stakeholders and learned - amongst others - about a project on traditional handicraft, about the excavations of an ancient amphitheatre which is partly hidden by recent residential buildings, about an art project in Naples’ metro stations and about the planned upgrade of Piazza Mercato - a project carried out in cooperation with the university.
Read more:
- HerO - URBACT website
Download HerO_Newsletter_Christmas_Issue_2010__2_.pdf (2.74 MB) – Christmas Issue 2010 – pdf- HerO Project Final Conference - Save the date! - URBACT website
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