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The dissertation at hand employs the concept of Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) for understanding the process of urban change and continuity within the context of the historic city of Isfahan and further investigates its application as an analytic tool for guiding urban conservation and development procedures. With regard to the inefficiency of urban conservation approaches in Isfahan during the last three decades, this study aims at identifying context-based problems and potentials that would lead to conceptualising a new framework. Therefore, drawing on the 2011 UNESCO Recommendation, the notion of HUL is hereby explored and a preliminary framework is provided for analysing the urban intervention cases within the historic core of Isfahan.
Learning from the past, designing for the future : sustainability of the Mediterranean vernacular
(2020)
With climate change and the depleting ozone layer, awareness about protecting the environment is increasing and “Sustainable Architecture” is becoming an essential part of the architectural future of cities. However, sustainable buildings of today are being built with high cost, high tech systems which can be reduced by taking advantage of past technologies and systems. The brilliance of vernacular architecture and the way man adapted to his surroundings fascinated me and inspired me to do further research on the sustainable characteristics of vernacular settlements of the Mediterranean area in order to determine if these characteristics can be applied to present and future architecture in an innovative way to create sustainable buildings with least possible energy consumption.
The method of research was based upon a general analysis of the passive design (solar and wind) characteristics of a town or settlement in Mediterranean climate starting from its site elements such as topography, vegetation, water. After that its urban structure, such as the geometry, block and street orientation and dimensions. Following that, the dwelling characteristics like dwelling shape, orientation and dimensions and finally the thermal regulating elements found in these dwellings, such as windows and vegetation. These elements were given a score according to their contribution to energy savings in buildings. Four case studies were chosen: two vernacular case studies from the region of study (the Mediterranean Coasts) and two modern case studies inspired by the Mediterranean vernacular. The analysis was repeated in the same sequence mentioned: Site, Settlement, Dwelling, Element, for the actual performance of each case study. The elements were given a number of points out of the score assigned for each element in the general analysis.
A total score and rating for each case study resulted from this analysis. The objective of these scores were to compare the performance of the vernacular case studies to the vernacular inspired case studies in terms of energy savings. The final scores displayed comparable results between both types of case studies meaning that when these modern settlements were designed with an influence from the Mediterranean vernacular, their performance in energy savings was close to that of a vernacular settlement. That means that it is possible to design settlements which are influenced by vernacular settlements and can even defeat them by following the general guidelines of the vernacular passive design characteristics in addition to modern tools and innovative methods. These guidelines can be reflected in a handbook and rating system which can become a simple step by step guide for architects and planners to design sustainable settlements without the need for expensive and complicated rating systems and consultants.
The global regulations and policies of the foundational UNESCO World Heritage (WH) are by far unable to solve the management threefold relationship conflicts between Heritage, Tourism activities, and urban needs as integral components of a Heritage site. Besides, fundamental scholars as well have not explored this existing relationship comprehensively. Instead, the conflict is discussed in a twofold manner. So, both existing international regulations and latest literature contributions have failed to understand the obstacles to bring out applicable on-site approaches for Heritage site management.
This research provides a novel lens with which to understand the conflicting demands of Heritage sites management. It does not only delve into bringing forward the predominant reasons for failure particularly for Luxor city in Egypt as an overarching question, but also the long-term impact on Tourism management and society overall from an urban perspective. The key research questions are: (1) how definitions and conceptions of Heritage Value by foundational resources are reflected in the Tourism field; (2) how the Egyptian Heritage protection laws regulate the stated conflict; and (3) focusing on Luxor city, how the history of Tourism, Heritage policies, and urban planning in Egypt, which favoured tourism-oriented projects, impacted the morphology of the city and its urban and social networks.
The investigation of Heritage Value definitions revealed a broad spectrum of views and even contradicting notions. The quandary nature of Value is evident in the Egyptian Heritage protection regulations. Additionally, they are not on the same pace as the international discourse about the complexity of Heritage protection. It viewed Value resources of Luxor city that were destinated for tourism-oriented development plans from the Heritage and Tourism points of view to come up with increasing concerns and unsolved plights.
For realistic and sustainable Heritage management, the UNESCO WH Centre's insufficient relation to WH sites needs local community representatives as an equal third party instead of maintaining it primarily through experts from its Advisory Bodies and State Parties. Egyptian Heritage protection laws should be reformed to identify the urban context as an integral component of Heritage sites, provide the local communities with technical and financial incentives, and integrate Historic Urban Landscapes recommendations. Heritage sites management and urban planning of cities of Heritage Value in Egypt should be restructured to be on the local level, where the power and interest landscape of stakeholders are the most balanced. The regulatory reorganisations that acknowledge the broader urban milieu at the international, national and local levels are a chief factor for sustainable Heritage site management.