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26 pages, 96219 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Revitalizing the Canale Maggiore in Parma: Enhancing a Rural Area Through Hydroelectric Power and Historical Preservation

by Francesca Aureli, Maria Evelina Melley and Chiara Bo

Heritage 2024, 7(12), 6566-6591; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7120304 - 23 Nov 2024

Viewed by 491

Abstract

The Canale Maggiore in Parma, originating in 493 AD in Northern Italy, was initially built for irrigation and powering paper mills. However, it is now in poor condition and faces multiple challenges that hinder its potential in shaping the local landscape. This research [...] Read more.

The Canale Maggiore in Parma, originating in 493 AD in Northern Italy, was initially built for irrigation and powering paper mills. However, it is now in poor condition and faces multiple challenges that hinder its potential in shaping the local landscape. This research paper proposes strategies to rediscover and enhance the canal’s cultural and historical value. Key ideas include revitalizing mini-hydro power plants, adding new ones, and creating connections to the nearby city of Parma, well-known for its cycling culture. To make this vision a reality, the water resource and related issues must be thoroughly evaluated, and reliable strategies should be developed to overcome challenges. Preliminary research suggests that combining technical, economic, and cultural strategies could drive regeneration, honoring the local heritage while improving living conditions and fostering sustainability education. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage as a Contributor to Territorial/Urban Resilience)

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19 pages, 5117 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Urban Transformations Derived from Railway Housing Construction in Spain During Francoism (1939–1975): An Underestimated Heritage in Use

by Aurora Martínez-Corral, Domingo Cuéllar and Tomás L. Domínguez Rodrigo

Heritage 2024, 7(11), 6480-6498; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7110301 - 20 Nov 2024

Viewed by 355

Abstract

Two essential characteristics of railway implementation are the large spaces of land occupied in the city and the need for workers. In Spain, both reasons and the post-war period led to the construction of many homes for employees throughout the country using different [...] Read more.

Two essential characteristics of railway implementation are the large spaces of land occupied in the city and the need for workers. In Spain, both reasons and the post-war period led to the construction of many homes for employees throughout the country using different typologies, ensembles, dwelling designs, free spaces, mixed uses, and a relationship with the surrounding city. The present work presents a quantitative and qualitative analysis of these aspects, concluding on their impact on the current configuration of the urban environment of the cities where they are located and the possibility of urban regeneration that these developments offer. It is a housing stock that is 95% in use and that, in some cases, given the city’s growth, occupies privileged current urban positions that have led to its revaluation despite its construction characteristics. The research carried out provides the analysis of the entire country, accounting for and observing the great variety of existing case studies related to different sizes of populations, typologies, and locations (center–periphery), among others. The main conclusions reflect the total absence of urban or architectural approaches in implementing these homes, the lack of quality of the free or community spaces generated between blocks, and the absolute disinterest in the quality of life beyond providing housing for workers close to the workplace. At the antipodes of current approaches to the design of social housing and living conditions, this situation discourages the regeneration of these homes aligned with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, making their heritage conservation difficult. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage as a Contributor to Territorial/Urban Resilience)

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22 pages, 14472 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Urban Historiography and Graphic Reconstruction of a Historic Area in Valencia, Spain

by Concepción López González, Patricio R. Orozco Carpio and Conxeta Romaní López

Heritage 2024, 7(10), 5547-5568; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7100262 - 7 Oct 2024

Viewed by 870

Abstract

The conservation of cultural heritage is a well-established fact recognized by public administrations, the scientific community, and society at large. Understanding this heritage strengthens the historical memory of communities. However, there is a type of heritage that, as it disappears or evolves over [...] Read more.

The conservation of cultural heritage is a well-established fact recognized by public administrations, the scientific community, and society at large. Understanding this heritage strengthens the historical memory of communities. However, there is a type of heritage that, as it disappears or evolves over time, cannot be physically recovered: the urban fabric of historic cores. This article aims to implement a system for integrating historical urban data into a Geographic Information System (GIS) to enable the graphic recovery of urban evolution within a territory. This system facilitates the storage of alphanumeric and graphic data in a centralized database, providing a holistic view of the transformation process of a historic center’s landscape. This case study focuses on an area in the historic center of Valencia, a territory influenced by multiple cultures since the city was founded by the Romans. Each culture has altered the spatial structures within the area. Georeferenced documents from historical archives, historical cartography, and the scientific literature were utilized for this study. The results have been integrated into the current cartography of Valencia in the GIS, producing plans of successive urban stages through the overlay of historical maps and current cartography. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage as a Contributor to Territorial/Urban Resilience)

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20 pages, 1516 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synergies of Cultural–Creative Industries and Development in Peripheral Areas: Networking, Social Capital, and Place

by Sevasti Malisiova and Stella Kostopoulou

Heritage 2024, 7(8), 4500-4519; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7080212 - 19 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1402

Abstract

Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) are widely acknowledged in academic and policy discourse as fundamental resources for local development. Nevertheless, a deeper understanding of the analysis of CCI function patterns and full potential exploitation in peripheral areas is needed in the literature on [...] Read more.

Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) are widely acknowledged in academic and policy discourse as fundamental resources for local development. Nevertheless, a deeper understanding of the analysis of CCI function patterns and full potential exploitation in peripheral areas is needed in the literature on regional and local economic development. Peripheral destinations are often characterized by specific obstacles such as geographical remoteness from dominant economic centers, poor infrastructure and amenities, limited capacity for decision-making, etc. However, they can also have characteristics that can support the sustainability and development of a place, such as rich cultural heritage, traditional cultural industries, uniqueness and authenticity, and cultural identity and social cohesion. This paper provides an overview of the main characteristics of the CCIs in peripheral areas and explores synergy patterns, a significant procedure for sustainability, exchange of knowledge and practices, development of actions, promotion of innovation and local development. More specifically, the study incorporates formal networking through entrepreneurial practices and informal networking through social capital into the network theory of the cultural sector in peripheral areas of Greece. In order to identify the key traits and factors that contribute to synergies in the cultural sector, a two-stage research design has been employed. A qualitative approach based on structured interviews and relative importance index analysis to provide an assessment framework has been used. Results indicate that CCI synergy in peripheral areas depends primarily on social capital, which is extremely important in local policies rather than just entrepreneurial practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage as a Contributor to Territorial/Urban Resilience)

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20 pages, 4138 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rural Landscapes as Cultural Heritage and Identity along a Romanian River

by Alexandru Dragan, Remus Creţan, Ioan Sebastian Jucu and Oana Andreea Oancea

Heritage 2024, 7(8), 4354-4373; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7080205 - 14 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1832

Abstract

In contemporary narratives, rural landscapes and identities, as judged by the inhabitants’ sense of belonging, continue to be important points that need to be (re)considered when discussing places as instruments for local development. This paper pushes forward these debates and explores the construction [...] Read more.

In contemporary narratives, rural landscapes and identities, as judged by the inhabitants’ sense of belonging, continue to be important points that need to be (re)considered when discussing places as instruments for local development. This paper pushes forward these debates and explores the construction of rural and regional identity in Romania with the help of a case study that focuses on perceptions of rural landscapes as cultural heritage in two rural communities situated on opposite sides of the river Mureș. Based on participant and ethnographic observation and making use of a survey and a qualitative analysis, this paper highlights the most significant features of the local cultural identities and their rural landscape heritage expressed by the two sets of people, which often coincide with the most important characteristics attributed to the regions separated by the river Mureș. The results of this study underline the dividing role of the river in the preservation of rural identity and cultural heritage. They also demonstrate that rural landscapes and the construction of identities along the river have generated both development opportunities and various risks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage as a Contributor to Territorial/Urban Resilience)

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12 pages, 1055 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multidirectional Heritage-Led Knowledge Exchange: Learning from Practice in 19 Rural Territories

by Hanna Elisabet Åberg, Irina Pavlova, Angela Santangelo, Zahra Amirzada, Katrien Heirman and Simona Tondelli

Heritage 2024, 7(3), 1689-1700; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7030079 - 17 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1503

Abstract

Rural areas are regaining attention as key resource holders. This includes the attractiveness of intact and traditional cultural elements and heritage which helps to create new opportunities. However, renewal is needed for rural areas to be competitive beyond tourism. Knowledge exchange and transfer [...] Read more.

Rural areas are regaining attention as key resource holders. This includes the attractiveness of intact and traditional cultural elements and heritage which helps to create new opportunities. However, renewal is needed for rural areas to be competitive beyond tourism. Knowledge exchange and transfer is seen as an enabling tool for regeneration and heritage valorization, although it has mostly been applied in an urban context. The aim of this paper is to explore the role of capacity building and knowledge exchange at different levels in promoting rural regeneration through heritage-led initiatives. The article describes a multi-directional knowledge transfer and exchange in 19 rural areas. The applied knowledge exchange methodology was designed to be a dynamic and vibrant exchange of capacity building and mutual learning. This exchange of knowledge enabled the local communities involved to explore new ideas and viable solutions for the regeneration of rural areas through the valorization of cultural and natural heritage. The research findings show that structuring a knowledge transfer and capacity building process that also involves key local stakeholders and the rural communities is an important milestone in the regeneration process. In addition, it can be a unique opportunity to start and build new professional long-term relationships. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage as a Contributor to Territorial/Urban Resilience)

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Review

Jump to: Research

23 pages, 15238 KiB

Open AccessReview

Water Sowing and Harvesting (WS&H) for Sustainable Management in Ecuador: A Review

by Gricelda Herrera-Franco, Fernando Morante-Carballo, Lady Bravo-Montero, Juan Valencia-Robles, Maribel Aguilar-Aguilar, Sergio Martos-Rosillo and Paúl Carrión-Mero

Heritage 2024, 7(7), 3696-3718; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7070175 - 12 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1110

Abstract

Water Sowing and Harvesting (WS&H) is an ancestral knowledge widely used as a sustainable technique in water management. This study aims to analyse the importance, promotion, and cultural heritage of WS&H techniques through a literature review in Ecuador, considering applications of ancestral techniques [...] Read more.

Water Sowing and Harvesting (WS&H) is an ancestral knowledge widely used as a sustainable technique in water management. This study aims to analyse the importance, promotion, and cultural heritage of WS&H techniques through a literature review in Ecuador, considering applications of ancestral techniques by region (coastal, Andean and insular) with a strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats (SWOTs) analysis and a focus group for a strategy proposal of the water supply. The methodology of this study includes the following: (i) an analysis of the evolution of WS&H studies in Ecuador; (ii) a presentation of WS&H techniques and their applications; and (iii) the contribution of WS&H to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), complemented by a SWOTs analysis. The results show that, in Ecuador, WS&H is a method of Nature-based Solutions (NbSs) applied to the problems of water scarcity and is affordable, ecological, and has high efficiency, improving agricultural productivity and guaranteeing water supply for human consumption. The Manglaralto coastal aquifer, a case study in the coastal region of Ecuador, involves WS&H management and artificial aquifer recharge. WS&H structures became a reference for the sustainable development of rural communities that can be replicated nationally and internationally as a resilient alternative to water scarcity and a global climate emergency, contributing to the SDGs of UNESCO. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage as a Contributor to Territorial/Urban Resilience)

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32 pages, 6952 KiB

Open AccessReview

How to Incorporate Cultural Values and Heritage in Maritime Spatial Planning: A Systematic Review

by Eirini Barianaki, Stella Sofia Kyvelou and Dimitrios G. Ierapetritis

Heritage 2024, 7(1), 380-411; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7010019 - 16 Jan 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4315

Abstract

Understanding aspects of maritime/underwater cultural heritage (MUCH) and the associated cultural values and integrating them into maritime spatial planning (MSP) processes is a new global challenge alongside the rapid increase in human activities at sea and climate change impacts on the seas and [...] Read more.

Understanding aspects of maritime/underwater cultural heritage (MUCH) and the associated cultural values and integrating them into maritime spatial planning (MSP) processes is a new global challenge alongside the rapid increase in human activities at sea and climate change impacts on the seas and the oceans. This article highlights the significance of cultural values in shaping human interactions with marine environments and how MSP can address the cultural dimensions of marine resources management. The key research question addresses the prerequisites and methods for a better incorporation of MUCH in the MSP processes. This review revealed a diversity of literature addressing the inclusion of MUCH in (a) coastal and marine management but also in (b) marine/maritime spatial planning (346 articles from the Scopus database). In the first case, there is a strong focus on cultural ecosystem services (CES) and cultural values, the role of indigenous and local communities, the transfer of traditional ecological knowledge, and participatory approaches and tools. As for the latter, this review demonstrated quite a lot of relatively recent MSP endeavors that seem to be influenced by the above approaches identified in the coastal and marine management literature. This article concludes that for MSPlans to be innovative and mainly acceptable by local communities, the “missing layer” of socio-cultural values and data is indispensable. Furthermore, a collaborative MSP between governments and regional/provincial authorities may boost sustainable blue activities while preserving ecological and cultural values. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cultural Heritage as a Contributor to Territorial/Urban Resilience)

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