Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.4
3.5
Journals
Land
Special Issues
Sustaining the Past and Future: Innovative Approaches to Design, Heritage...
share announcement

Sustaining the Past and Future: Innovative Approaches to Design, Heritage and Environmental Sustainability

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Planning and Landscape Architecture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 12775

Editors

Prof. Dr. Celestina Fazia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering and Architecture, The University of Enna "Kore", Enna, Italy
Interests: urban planning; spatial planning; land and sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Dorina Camelia Ilieș

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Geography, Tourism and Territorial Planning, Faculty of Geography, Tourism and Sport, University of Oradea, 1 Universitatii Street, 410087 Oradea, Romania
Interests: spatial planning and geotourism; natural and cultural heritage; geography of tourism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Clara Stella Vicari Aversa

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Architecture and Design, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, via dell'Università, 25-89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy
Interests: architectural and urban regeneration; reuse of heritage buildings; architectural heritage and design; architectural regeneration of green areas and water edges; sustainable urban waterfronts
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Today, we face an important challenge: we need to sustain the past and look to the future by safeguarding the identity and historical value of landscapes and cultural heritage while preparing and reorganizing territories and cities to cope with new environmental stresses. A renewal of the ways in which to intervene is overdue, and it is increasingly urgent to identify innovative approaches to heritage and environmental sustainability.

It is necessary, at this point, to delve into the connections of the effects of new environmental challenges—reducing land consumption, combating climate change—to landscape and cultural heritage or the impacts of tourism (cultural tourism on land use policies).

Sustainable development and conservation are not mutually exclusive and can be harmonized through thoughtful legislation and the implementation of virtuous strategies, either those already tested or in experimental form. The benefits of integrating conservation with ecological transformation are indisputable. Therefore, the potential long-term impacts of the proposed strategies on both heritage conservation and ecological sustainability need to be explored, with reference to the economic context, that is, the practical dynamics in strategic impact areas that also produce economic externalities and through which urban landscapes are managed and enhanced.

The complementarity between “traditional” landscape and city culture, in the form of architecture and history, on the one hand, and sustainable aspects of urban ecology (parks, waterways, and the like) on the other, is an important notion, not only for urban planning, but also for architecture and all interacting disciplines.

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect papers (original research articles and review papers) to provide insights into various interrelated topics.

It seems increasingly relevant to try to join forces to jointly address heritage and sustainability issues from different perspectives. In fact, closely linked to architectural and urban design, the preservation of cultural heritage and the identity of places include topics such as cultural tourism, sustainable management, energy efficiency, culture, quality of life, sustainable development, participatory initiatives, etc. All are themes that, if reasoned together and as jointly as possible, could lead to the desired overall level of achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030 and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

Climate change and environmental degradation are among the greatest challenges of our time and threaten Europe and the entire world. The European Union (EU) is striving to become the first climate-neutral continent. This also applies to cultural heritage. Sustainability is also one of the five pillars of the Framework for Action on Cultural Heritage, which emphasizes its potential for enhancing social capital, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. The framework includes three groups of actions to regenerate cities and architecture through cultural heritage, promote and work on the adaptive reuse of cultural heritage buildings, and balance access to cultural heritage with sustainable cultural and natural tourism. Culture and cultural heritage, thanks to this project and everyone's diverse input on the topic, can contribute to inclusive and sustainable development.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link the following themes:

  • Heritage and sustainability: strategies for a resilient future;
  • Cultural heritage in the age of sustainability: challenges and innovations;
  • Regenerating cities and architecture through cultural heritage;
  • Blue and green infrastructure in architectural and urban regeneration;
  • Urban regeneration projects and strategies on the water edges: best practices for regenerating waterfronts.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Prof. Dr. Celestina Fazia
Prof. Dr. Dorina Camelia Ilieș
Prof. Dr. Clara Stella VICARI AVERSA
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • integrating conservation
  • land consumption
  • cultural heritage
  • green areas and water edges
  • architectural and urban regeneration
  • waterfront regeneration
  • architectural heritage and design
  • landscape restoration
  • green and blue infrastructure
  • sustainable cultural tourism
  • re-use of heritage building
  • regenerate cities and architecture
  • sustainable design
  • regenerative design
  • climate-resilient design

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

27 pages, 3747 KB  
Article
Reconstructing Literary Heritage Tourism Spaces Through Tourist Perception: A Multidimensional Framework for Sustainable Cultural Landscapes
by Shan Yang, Mike Robinson, Xuegang Feng and Ru Liang
Land 2026, 15(5), 777; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15050777 - 4 May 2026
Viewed by 1057
Abstract
The integration of culture and tourism has positioned literary heritage tourism as an important pathway for the sustainable development of cultural landscapes and urban regeneration. However, existing studies remain fragmented, lacking a systematic understanding of the spatial configuration, development processes, and the role [...] Read more.
The integration of culture and tourism has positioned literary heritage tourism as an important pathway for the sustainable development of cultural landscapes and urban regeneration. However, existing studies remain fragmented, lacking a systematic understanding of the spatial configuration, development processes, and the role of tourists in shaping these spaces. Addressing these gaps, this study adopts a tourist-perception perspective to examine seven types of literary heritage tourism space forms in Shanghai. Using online review data, TF–IDF and TextRank methods are applied to identify key space elements and their semantic relationships, enabling a data-driven analysis of spatial characteristics. The results identify three key dimensions, namely perceptual, conceptual, and experiential, which are further organised into 15 subcategories. A spatial analytical framework is developed to conceptualise the literary heritage tourism space as a process shaped by physical settings, symbolic interpretations, and experiential co-production. Furthermore, the findings suggest an interpretive framework of spatial reconstruction, in which tourist participation serves as a link between internal space elements and broader socio-cultural contexts. This study extends the application of spatial production theory from a perception-based perspective, combines computational text analysis with spatial interpretation, and offers practical implications for sustainable cultural landscape planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustaining the Past and Future: Innovative Approaches to Design, Heritage and Environmental Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 3765 KB  
Article
Design and Management Strategies for Ichthyological Reserves and Recreational Spaces: Lessons from the Redevelopment of the Jadro River Spring, Croatia
by Hrvoje Bartulović and Dujmo Žižić
Land 2026, 15(1), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15010040 - 24 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1006
Abstract
Urban rivers are critical ecological and cultural assets facing accelerating biodiversity loss. This study examines the integrated redevelopment of the Jadro River spring in Solin, Croatia, where a protected ichthyological reserve intersects layered heritage and urban edges to enhance conservation and public value. [...] Read more.
Urban rivers are critical ecological and cultural assets facing accelerating biodiversity loss. This study examines the integrated redevelopment of the Jadro River spring in Solin, Croatia, where a protected ichthyological reserve intersects layered heritage and urban edges to enhance conservation and public value. Using a single-case study design that combines archival project documentation, participant observation by the architect–authors, and a post-occupancy review three years after completion, the analysis synthesizes ecological, social, and design evidence across planning, delivery, and operation phases. The project delivered phased visitor and interpretation centers, accessible paths and bridges, habitat-compatible materials, and formalized access management that relocated parking from riverbanks, reduced episodic pollution sources, and prioritized inclusive, low-impact use. Governance and programming established a municipal management plan, curriculum-ready interpretation, and carrying capacity monitoring, transforming an underused picnic area into an educational, recreational, and conservation-oriented public landscape while safeguarding sensitive habitats. A transferable design protocol emerged, aligning blue green infrastructure, heritage conservation, adaptive reuse, and social–ecological system (SES)-informed placemaking to protect the endemic soft-mouth trout and strengthen a sense of place and community stewardship. The case supports SES-based riverpark renewal in which conservative interventions within protected cores are coupled with consolidated services on resilient ground, offering a replicable framework for ecologically constrained urban headwaters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustaining the Past and Future: Innovative Approaches to Design, Heritage and Environmental Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

24 pages, 7416 KB  
Article
Urban Thermal Regulation Through Cold Island Network Evolution: Patterns, Drivers, and Scenario-Based Planning Insights from Southwest China
by Yu Qiao, Zehui Yang and Yi-Xuan Li
Land 2025, 14(9), 1828; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14091828 - 8 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1897
Abstract
With the dual pressures of accelerating urbanization and global climate warming, understanding the evolution and connectivity of cold island networks has become crucial for managing urban thermal risks. This study explores the spatiotemporal dynamics, driving mechanisms, and scenario-based projections of cold island networks [...] Read more.
With the dual pressures of accelerating urbanization and global climate warming, understanding the evolution and connectivity of cold island networks has become crucial for managing urban thermal risks. This study explores the spatiotemporal dynamics, driving mechanisms, and scenario-based projections of cold island networks in a rapidly urbanizing region of Southwest China. Using multi-temporal Landsat imagery (2000–2024), ecological resistance surface modeling, and least-cost path analysis, the study evaluated historical changes and simulated future scenarios for 2035 and 2050 under both Natural Development (ND) and Park City (PC) planning interventions. The findings reveal that: (1) Between 2000 and 2024, rapid urbanization significantly expanded high-temperature areas, fragmented cooling sources, and reshaped cold island connectivity into a hierarchical corridor network centered on a dominant ventilation axis; (2) Since 2019, ecological restoration measures have notably enhanced the structural cohesion and connectivity of cooling corridors, partially mitigating previous fragmentation; (3) Scenario simulations indicate that proactive ecological planning could reduce the extent of high-temperature zones by approximately 20% by 2050, demonstrating strong potential for mitigating future thermal risks. Overall, the results emphasize the necessity of incorporating continuous cold island corridors and connectivity principles into urban spatial planning to enhance climate resilience and support sustainable development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustaining the Past and Future: Innovative Approaches to Design, Heritage and Environmental Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 4809 KB  
Article
The Construction of a Protection Network for Traditional Settlements Across Regions: A Case Study of the Chengdu–Chongqing Ancient Post Road Heritage Corridor in China
by Chunlan Du, Di Pan and Qingying Liu
Land 2025, 14(2), 327; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020327 - 6 Feb 2025
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5902
Abstract
In recent years, there appears to be a notable transition towards preserving heritage on a regional scale, aiming to promote the authenticity and integrity of traditional settlements. The complex natural topography of these settlements, along with their spread-out arrangement, poses significant challenges to [...] Read more.
In recent years, there appears to be a notable transition towards preserving heritage on a regional scale, aiming to promote the authenticity and integrity of traditional settlements. The complex natural topography of these settlements, along with their spread-out arrangement, poses significant challenges to their protection and preservation. With the acceleration of urbanization and the implementation of the national strategy of building a twin-city economic circle in the Chengdu–Chongqing region, economic, cultural, and ecological exchanges between the twin cities have become the key dimensions of their construction. In this context, the concept of the BaShu Cultural Tourism Corridor has emerged, and the traditional settlement sites in the study area have become an important node of urban–rural integration and the BaShu Cultural Tourism Corridor. The primary objective of this study is to establish a heritage corridor protection network for traditional settlements along the Chengdu–Chongqing Ancient Post Road within the Sichuan Basin of China as an example, using the minimum cost resistance model. This approach comprises several key steps: selecting traditional settlements, analyzing their distribution traits, calculating the resistance value for the spread of traditional settlement culture, identifying potential cultural corridors, identifying cultural spaces, and, thus, constructing a protection network. The results show that the spatial distribution of traditional settlements in the study area shows obvious clustering characteristics, the core ecological space in this study is located in the mountains in the north and the southwest, and the cultural spaces are located along the central and southwestern sections, creating a linear distribution pattern. In the ecological culture corridor network, the Premier Corridor is the most extensive of the three categories, connects important cultural area, and serves as a vital conduit for developing heritage tourism strategies. This research aims to bolster the comprehensive protection and application of the region’s traditional cultural heritage, fostering the integration of urban and rural zones and enhancing regional cultural tourism. Future research directions are to integrate the conservation of traditional settlements and the surrounding environment at different planning scales with local policies and to expand the role of digital technology in the data management and visualization of ecocultural corridors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustaining the Past and Future: Innovative Approaches to Design, Heritage and Environmental Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 1714 KB  
Systematic Review
Research Methodologies in Brownfield Redevelopment Studies: A Meta-Methodology Systematic Review
by Mina Ramezani, Celestina Fazia, Clara Stella Vicari Aversa and Dorina Camelia Ilieș
Land 2026, 15(5), 874; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15050874 - 19 May 2026
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 724
Abstract
Most developed countries welcome the redevelopment of brownfield sites and consider it an effective tool for urban policy. However, its adoption can be challenging initially, particularly in developing countries where these challenges are significantly greater. This research aims to answer the question, “How [...] Read more.
Most developed countries welcome the redevelopment of brownfield sites and consider it an effective tool for urban policy. However, its adoption can be challenging initially, particularly in developing countries where these challenges are significantly greater. This research aims to answer the question, “How are research methodologies applied in the field of brownfield redevelopment studies?” Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, relevant studies were identified through searches in Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Semantic Scholar. This study utilizes a meta-methodological approach to analyze and compare the methodological characteristics of brownfield redevelopment studies. After applying the predefined eligibility criteria, which included English-language peer-reviewed articles between 2018 and 2023 and articles that are directly relevant to brownfield redevelopment, 20 articles were selected for detailed examination. Based on the thematic classification of the research, the studies can be categorized into four groups: brownfield redevelopment and community participation, brownfield redevelopment and urban planning, brownfield redevelopment and environmental sustainability, and brownfield redevelopment and technology. The majority of the research relates to brownfield redevelopment and environmental sustainability. This review suggests that research in brownfield redevelopment has been dominated by quantitative research, and there is a need for more comparative, theoretically oriented, and methodologically integrated research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustaining the Past and Future: Innovative Approaches to Design, Heritage and Environmental Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop