Urban Regeneration and Conservation: Analyzing role of Urban Regeneration projects on urban historic landscape of IRAN ( case study ISFAHAN )

Ref.: 93
Key theme: 01 Physical integrity of historic urban landscapes
Date of reception: 31/10/2008

AUTHORS (*Main author)

PIROOZ, Hanachi * (Iran (Islamic Republic of)) - Tehran University
FADAEI NEZHAD, Somaieh (Iran (Islamic Republic of)) - Tehran University

ABSTRACT

The challenge of urban regeneration and conservation is one of the most controversial issues in contemporary Iranian architecture and historic fabric safeguarding .our comprehensive studies show that there are two main approaches in contemporary Iranian experiences. The first one persists in change and regeneration and development and the second in authenticity and conservation.
1- The first one development -dominated approaches, which have a considerable tendency in dismantling valuable historic fabric. these approaches are focused on reconstruction, renewal, regeneration and direct macro intervention in historical urban fabrics, instead of conservation and safeguarding. There is a tendency for an flagship, prestigious and large ¬ scale projects. They look historic buildings and valuable fabrics as intimidating factors, and urban regeneration plans as the most liberating occasions.
2- The second is conservation¬ dominated approaches, which have a considerable tendency in preserving all the buildings which is located in historic fabrics. These approaches are focused on the conservation of old setting. There is tendencies for the preserving all the buildings those are located in old fabrics, either they are a part of national heritage or not; either they are valuable or not. They look development plans as the most intimidating factors, and try to freeze the urban fabrics to reduce the speed of regeneration projects. The challenge and conflict of these two approaches have always resulted in bafflement and disorientation. Urban historic fabrics and its valuable assets are worth preserving, values such as cultural, historical, social, esthetical, architectural, etc.
How ever urban historic fabrics are in need of new buildings and up ¬ to ¬ date infrastructures to be livable and suitable for today's urban life. The past experiences show that our policies were unfair, illegitimate, cursory, impetuous, in ¬ unbalances manner and economically motivated. In this article we shall attempt by reviewing the most influential developments in contemporary Iranian architecture and historic fabrics safeguarding, in order to show the side effects of these opposing approaches which influence on urban historic landscape of ISFAHAN. It seems that the conflict of these two approaches has result in chaotic situation and disorder in valuable historic fabrics, and we should look for complementary approaches. New building and urban projects in historic setting should be development ¬ dominated as well as conservation ¬ dominated. They should commit themselves to the protection of the historical values, as well as looking for an encouraging and hopeful future, as result of, they can create an integrated urban historic landscape. For example, historic buildings have been helpful in many regeneration projects through adding cultural quality and place distinctiveness to schemes. From one hand, preserving the most valuable buildings in urban fabrics could be considered as a regeneration stimulus. On of the other hand, historic fabrics should be adapted for today's needs and requirements. The heritage sector has become key in promotion of the conservation ¬led. Conservation might take place as part of urban regeneration processes that make conservation deeply undesirable. This article briefly explores the history of the relationship between conservation and regeneration , Analyzing and evaluating the influence of outcomes of the urban regeneration projects in urban historic landscape of ISFAHAN.

REFERENCES