Heritage And Urban DESIGN (The Future of The Past) Page 3

By -

Globalisation: More than ever, markets appear to transcend the borders and interests of nation states, while the ability of individual countries to direct their internal economies and shape the way in Which they interact with external forces has declined. These changes reshape urban networks and rearrange the distribution of opportunities and income in cities, regardless of a City's participation in global economics.

Due to the modern-day capacity and ability of Capital to switch locations, all cities - with the exception of 'global Cities' which are decision Centres - have become interchangeable entities to be played off against one another from positions of comparative weakness for the investment of capital. In this situation, the task of urban governance has become the creation of Urban conditions attractive to lure investments.

In many places, there has been a shift in the attitudes of urban government from a managerial approach to entrepreneurialism. This entrepreneurial stance views the city as a product that needs to be marketed. This marketing approach, and the emphasis on restructuring the city so it appeals to businesses, has led to the dominance of economic interest in the decision-making process of urban planning. 'Urban regeneration' has become a growth industry in itself as a variety of options have opened up to rebuild Cities...derelict industrial sites have been converted to heritage parks, old canals have become housing or shopping areas, warehouse conversions have become something "chic" to live in.

Uses of urban design fitting into their development prospects involve redevelopment, renewal, reconstruction and revitalisation of urban space. Larger cities in economic decay, such as port Cities and old industrial Centres, have often considered reconstruction, redevelopment, renewal and revitalisation of historic centres, or declining urban areas or waterfronts, etc; as a top priority in the hierarchy of their actions to restructure the local economy. One example could be taken of Liverpool and the redevelopment of the city's docks in the 1980’s as well as Rotterdam and the waterfront redevelopment of kop Van Zuid in the 1990’s. In both cases, redesigning of urban space was focused on adding to the architectural heritage and producing at the same time new space for flourishing economic activities and lively uses such as Cultural, leisure, housing and Commerce.

 (Continues...)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (Page 1)

By -
Image
From evidences of migrant communities, presence or absences of the ethnic traces help to identify their continuity or break in tradition and culture from their place of origin through time and space. The search for ethnicity in this article is discussed with the case of the Chettiar Community in transit' in erstwhile Madras in the process of migration and establishing trade links overseas. This transient community through the establishment of 'Viduthis' on Coral Merchant Street creates social institutions in the new place of residence while preserving the ideology of the traditional 'Viduthi’ attached to temples in their hometowns. RB Mandal, in defining migration, states that "migration is known as the movement of people from one permanent residence to another permanent or temporary residence for a substantial period of time by breaking social and cultural ties''. Contrary to Mandal, in the analysis of Indonesian settlements, Waterson discusses that mi
Read more

Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (page 5)

By -
Image
When disputes between Nakarattars arose due to private misunderstanding, Nakaravitutis along with temples and Saivite monastries (matams), provided venues for extraordinary meetings of the Community to resolve disputes. These meetings Were held under the jurisdiction of a respected elder or elders in the Concerned Community and were called Panchayats - on the pan (Indian model) - although disputes were typically mediated or arbitrated by a single person. Besides Nagarathars from different places get together attemple festivities making their affiliation to the temples and the bonding to their Pangalis stronger. These Nagarathar pilgrims stay in the Viduthis by paying any minimal amount feasible to them, as Mahamai. The Viduthis hold an Undiyal (Hundi- money Collection box), in which the pilgrims deposit their Mahamais which is used for the running of the Viduthi. Spatial vocabulary of Nagaraviduthis in Chettinad: In the traditional context of Chettinadu, the edifice of Vidut
Read more

Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (Page 2)

By -
Image
Thus, in analysing the impact and consequence of migration on the tradition and culture of the migrant community, a contradiction prevails between the two notions: One states that there is a break in Cultural and traditional ties from that of the homeland, and the other, states the existence of continuity of tradition and Culture of migrant community. Historical Background: The British founded Madras in the 17th century as a trading Centre. By 1674, three distinct areas of the town of Madras was recognisable: the Inner Fort, containing the factory house; the outer Fort or white Town, the European quarter with 118 houses; and the Black Town to the north of the Fort, an Indian residential area of 750 houses already dotted with bazaars and markets. In the Course of 17th century, the East India company encouraged the Armenians and Jews, who were experienced merchants to move to Black Town from other parts of the country to assist the British in establishing trade networks." One suc
Read more