The Effect of Technique-Oriented Urban Reconstruction on the Historical Texture Urban Landscape

Reza Ziyadi, Master Degree in Urban Design

Abstract:

Nowadays, cities are losing their identity for being impressed by the top-down and modernistic point of view, and they are following the rest of the modernist urbanism movement from physical to appearance aspect. After years of experience, the urban restoration has faced with two important points of view regarding the manner of behavior with historical textures in modernist urbanism. The first behavior relates to the destruction and reconstruction of historical places and pursuing the modern lifestyle in those places; what has termed as technique-oriented urban reconstruction in modernist schools. The second behavior specified as urban preservation includes historical values, aesthetic, and artistic preservation and protection of the historical textures. The urbanism experiences show that technique-oriented urban reconstruction has mostly affected the old texture of the cities in Iran and the domination has been for the first point of view in behavior with historical textures. In this essay, we are looking at the question that what are the effects of technique-oriented urban reconstruction on the historical textures and how will be the future of these textures by continuation of the current methods? The method of the research is descriptive-analytic and the data gathering took place in the manner of documentary and library search. The results indicates that the effect of technique-oriented urban reconstruction on the historical texture urban landscape leads to the chaos in urban landscape, the urban signs destruction, the local identity ruin, and at last the decrease in a sense of place (non-sense of place).

Keywords: #Urban_Landscape, #Technique-Oriented Urban #Reconstruction, #Local_Identity, #Historical_Fabric, #Urban_Restoration.

Introduction

In its early days (which was called Urban Redevelopment), urban renewal has been designed in order to eliminate central neighborhoods in the city and development of new residential units according to comprehensive plan. Except for urban renewal, another technique of planning has provided the possibility for such fundamental alteration(Carpenter, 2013). As renewal has gradually covered more public activities, in theory, a more effective means for planning has been executed. Essentially, renewal plan is of great importance because it provides a way to solve bewilderment problem that for many years it has threatened the city centers with destruction(Colantonio & Dixon, 2011). An urban renewal need more explanation and has been founded on the procedures of which base is urban planning. The urban renewal is a combination of such elements as land utilization, population, economic condition, a comprehensive plan, planning and relevant considerations of social welfare. Moreover, renewal has promoted our perception of how cities act and change in this regard accordingly(Couch, et al.,2011).

Like any planning, urban renewal faces certain disagreement. Even loyal fans of renewal planning don not present reasonable evidence as they are criticized by others. In reply to the increasingly disagreement to urban renewal in some cities, the said plan lies at lower level than its priorities(Balamir, 2005). A few countries such as Iran has changed the name of the said plan to make it be appreciated and accepted and call it as “society improvement plan”. Urban renewal is not the most costly or extensive and domestic plan of our time(Bahrainy & Aminzadeh, 2007; Aminzadeh & Dadras, 2013). However, it is regarded as the most controversial issue compared to all issues that are widely discussed. A great amount of credit is spent as subsidy for farming products and highways while we still doubt about urban renewal(Rafiee & Mahesh, 2013). Expansion of areas and increasingly development of old buildings in Iran, on the one hand and its various social, economic, technical, legal, management and environmental dimensions, on the other hand, has caused that this topic is turned to one of the serious and important concepts in national technical meetings.

The background for emergence, formation and evolution of approaches based on development and renewal in urban renewal of Iran

A. Experiences about urban renewal prior to Iran’s Revolution

In consistency with urban development during these 50 years certain progresses have been made in urban renewal(Aminzadeh, 2002). These progresses may be observed in different fields of codification of rules and regulations, establishment of organizations and organizational centers and codification of more comprehensive plans and programs. Ratification of law on land, building and equipment proprietorship to preserve the historical relics (1960), establishment of the national organization for protection of historic buildings (1965), codification of comprehensive urban plans and verifying the definition of historical and cultural buildings for all eras irrespective of their date of establishment and eventually moving from every single building toward historical and worn-out buildings are among the achievements of this era(Izadi, 2010; 2008). You may follow a summary of pre-revolution approach in the following table.

Table 1: the policies and plans for improvement and renewal projects prior to Iran’s Revolution

PeriodPrior to Iran’s revolution Type of policy in this period Modernism Main strategy and orientation Modernism with a serious dependency on western patterns- anti-traditionalism and trying for renewal of the structure of urban textures Influential practitioners and beneficiary groups Central Authoritarian government Spatial level of activity The main pivots/infrastructures and local projects Economic center Complete emphasis of governmental public budget Social concept Ignoring social organizations, habitants and owners Physical emphasis Demolition and widespread renovation/changing the existing structure and replacement of new elements/uncontrolled urban development/isolation of old centers

B. Urban Renewal Experiences after Iran’s Revolution

Post Iran’s revolution periods can be divided into two eras of 1978-1988 and 1999 afterward. During the first period, the Islamic Republic of Iran system faced such problems as development of revolution, capital flight, immigration of really efficient human resource, nationalization of many industries and banks, economic management, the 8-year imposed war and many other social and political problems(Aeini, 2010; 2007).

1. Urban Renewal Experiences from 1978 to 1999

This period is affected by political, social and economic conditions after revolution and the imposed ware and enjoys evident differences with other periods(Bahranifard, 2010). Islamic revolution was promising a new era reviving cultural values of the society, particular attention to the destitute and involvement of people in administration of their affairs. Social asset as result of this great contribution has led to attendance of people at different social, political and economic arenas(Pourahmad et al., 2010). Commencement of plans entitled “Texture Psychology” is identified as the first people-oriented measure for improvement of and organizing urban textures.

Table 2: The policies and plans of improvement and renovation projects in urban renewal experiences from 1978 to 1989

Period From 1979 to 1999 The first decade of revolution Type of policy of this period Psychology/Improvement Main strategy and orientation Modernism with serious dependency on western patterns- anti-traditionalism and trying for renewal of the structure of urban textures Influential practitioners and beneficiary groups Central authoritarian government Spatial level of activity The main pivots/substructures and local projects Economic center Complete emphasis on governmental general budget Social concept Inconsideration to social organizations, habitants and owners Physical emphasis Demolition and widespread renovations/change of existing structure and replacement of new elements/uncontrolled urban development/isolation of old centers

2. Urban Renewal Experiences from 1999 to 1993

The policies of this era have presented a more developed framework compared to the measures and plans of the last period. During this period, providing a more comprehensive policy than the previous local measures, the government managed provision of “specific detailed plans for urban centers” especially for war-stricken cities. This evolutionary process has continued through a fresh plan entitled “Cultural-historical pivots”( Porjafar et al., 2009; Porjafar and Marofi, 2006). The textures of city centers that were always been subject to local planning as a separate part of the city location, have been taken into consideration in this plan through urban structural comprehensiveness and surrounding land.

Table 3: The policies and plans of improvement and renovation projects in urban renewal from 1999 to 1993

Period From 1989 to 1993 1st Development Type of policy during this period Improvement of city centers/cultural pivots Main strategy and orientation Revival of cultural-religious values and being considering old buildings and their habitants/organizing and expediting the pivots on a local and limited basis Influential practitioners and beneficiary groups Central government and municipalities through limited local participations Spatial level of activity Local-neighborhood Economic center Limited resources of general budget/municipalitiesSocial concept Considering life quality of habitants in old neighborhoods and involvement of self-assistant social groups: Physical emphasis Expediting and local improvement of old neighborhoods simultaneous with hastily and horizontal urban development, decline of city centers and development of suburb-dwelling

3. Urban Renewal Experiences from 1994 to 1998

During this period, one may witness the return to a specific kind of “urban development and renewal” through “redevelopment”. Considering the existing executive-management structure, a new chapter of “authoritarian reconstruction” and top-down overview is put into effect(Hajipour, 2007). During this period, insufficient attention to urban inheritance as needed caused that the word “Historical texture” is a proper replacement indicating the values of the historical texture(Khaton et al, 2013). Under these conditions, the policy for using lands and real estates that lies within the historical textures of the city centers for partial compensation of the housing as needed by government through possession, purgation and collection of existing properties start a new turn in measures on urban textures that may be regarded as dominating approach of “urban development and renewal” during this period. At first, this policy was put into effect under the name of “collection” and then as “Urban problematic texture” by being inserted in the second five-year economic, social and political development plan respectively.

Table 4: The policies and plans of improvement and renewal projects in urban renewal experiences from 1994 to 1999

Period From 1994 to 1999 Second development Type of policy in this period Improvement of city centers-cultural pivots Main strategy and orientation Major attention to reconstruction of war-stricken cities and trying to establishment of a fresh balance between new and old urban structure Influential practitioners and beneficiary groups Central government and municipalities Spatial level of activity City centersEconomic center Governmental general budget/municipalities Social concept Encouragement of owners and inhabitants/development of housing cooperative companies for average and low income earning groups in the society Physical emphasisPerpetuation of uncontrolled and horizontal urban development (continuum and discrete development) and wear more city centers

4. Urban Renewal Experiences from 2000 to 2004

During this period, arrival of some fresh notions such as “sustainable development” indicates approaching to an integrated concept in the field of “urban development and renewal”. In order to achieve the concept of “harmonized and sustainable urban development”, use of all physical, economic and social capacities available inside the legal limits of cities, “balancing” the establishment of population and prevention of uncontrolled development of cities (endogenous development), and providing the possibility for a healthy and safe life meeting the standards of contemporary life for a considerable part of the urban population residing in unorganized urban textures, unofficial habitats and historical buildings is taken into consideration. During this period, one may witness an interactive approach and consideration of different cultural, social, historical, physical and economic values in “urban development and protection” or in other words “Urban Renewal” (Lotfi, 2011) where the concept of balancing among physical and social aspects and promotion of environmental qualities have been mentioned. During this period, different aspects of “Urban Rehabilitation” and “empowerment” are mentioned as well.

Table 5: The policies and plans of improvement and renewal projects in urban renewal experiences from 2000 to 2004

Period From 2000 to 2004 3rd Development Type of policy in this period Collection/Urban problematic textureMain strategy and orientation Extensive rehabilitation of old neighborhoods through possession and purgation of lands Influential practitioners and beneficiary groups Central government through collaboration of municipalities and beneficiary organizations through establishment of governmental companies Spatial level of activity Worn-out neighborhoods of city centers Economic center Governmental general budget and limited resources of other shareholders Social concept Natives and inconsideration the role of habitats and owners and planning for replacement of new habitats ejection Physical emphasis Widespread demolition of textures of target neighborhoods and intensifying the spatial-functional abnormalities in these areas

5. Urban Renewal Experiences from 2005 to 2009

During this period, “revival”, “improvement” and “renewal” of “urban disorganized” textures as a complicated and multidimensional subject have been emphasized. More emphasis has been attached on its nature not only as a physical measure but also as a process with strong social, cultural, economic and environmental process(Lotfi, 2011). During this period, the central government is the administrator of “urban development and renewal” through local brokers, municipalities, private sector, local cooperative companies and foundations.

Table 6: The policies and plans of improvement and renewal projects in urban renewal experiences from 2005 to 2009

Period From 2005 to 2009 4th Development Type of policy in this period Development and improvement Main strategy and orientation Explaining and propagating the policy of internal development and prevention of uncontrolled development of cities, organizing the past macro interventions, institutionalization and codification of urban and improvement rules Influential practitioners and beneficiary groups Central government through partnership of municipalities, cultural heritage, banks and other public, governmental and private beneficiary organizations. Spatial level of activity City-neighborhood and special limits Economic center Partnership between government and private sector and receiving grants from banks Social concept Consideration of life quality of habitats and encouraging the said habitats toward partnership and intensifying the role of housing cooperative companies in textures Physical emphasis Physical organizing and systemizing spatial-functional irregularities of planning for using existing capacities for development

Effective priorities in parallel with improvement of future renewal in the urban landscape of historical textures

In this stage, comparative analysis and evaluation of internal and external factors affecting the renewal of historical textures are used to provide different possible priorities in planning for the future of urban renewal of historical textures. These priorities are classified into four groups:

· Priorities of the first group: These priorities indicate the most desirable situation and movement from any position to an ideal condition by relying on which one can use all positive points and advantages to enjoy external opportunities for renewal of historical textures and to maximize such enjoyment. These priorities are as follows.

- Granting long term interest-free loans to the residents in order to participate in renewal of texture

- Adopting citizen-oriented supporting policies and enjoying economic and functional position in the region in order to improve life quality by emphasizing on the approach of integrated renewal of textures

- Improvement of peaceful social behavior of residents with other neighboring units based on value principles

- Increased interaction of religious centers and civil institutions aiming at providing the ground for civil partnership in the manner that renewal process is fulfilled by the assistance of people

- Providing general and leisure spaces with functions proportional to the regulations stipulated in the laws and plans for efficiency and effectiveness on integrated renewal of the textures

· Priorities of the second group: In these priorities which are concentrated on the internal advantages of the texture and external threats of texture renewal, the goal is to maximize enjoying internal advantages of the texture in order to campaign bottlenecks, threats and external harmful factors such as social, economic, cultural, skeletal, functional and environmental harmful factors and to minimize them. Priorities of this group are as follows.

- Application of executive and participatory regulations and strategies according to the realities in upstream projects and informing the people about them in order to decrease environmental and human damages in parallel with renewal

- Improvement of spatial feeling and social correlation through convergence of residents by enjoying cultural common points for renewal of historical textures

- Establishment of pedestrian axes in the communication centers between the area and historical texture in order to improve communications and consolidate spatial structure

Priorities of the third group: The goal of these priorities is to minimize disadvantages of texture and vulnerable aspects and to maximize renewal opportunities. In fact, thanks to internal weakness, the texture has failed to enjoy the obtained opportunities. Therefore, required strategic priorities such as use of modern technologies, etc. are used. These priorities are as follows.

- Enjoying necessary facilities for participation of NGOs and public organizations in the process of preparation, construction and supervision on the projects related to texture renewal

- Consideration of urban managers and programmers to the visual appearance and environmental design through establishment of a suitable design in the renewal of texture

- Increase of social dignity of people by interacting in leisure spaces and change of people's attitude to the texture through cultural procedures of renewal

- Providing the grounds for cooperation of residents in the area to use modern technology and methods in removing the skeletal, social and economic problems of the people residing in the historical texture for an integrated renewal

· Priorities of the fourth group: In these priorities, while emphasizing on removal of damaging aspects, efforts are made to minimize the external threats and bottlenecks of renewal. In this situation in which the most concerning situation in renewal of historical textures is selected, there is a strong need to reevaluation, modification and improvement of structure, function, objectives and policies of renewal. These priorities are as follows.

- Formulation of strategic document and application of viewpoints of effective social forces in review of rules and regulations for renewal of texture and requiring the organizations to observe them

- Enjoying public spaces, common programs and a skeletal and spatial connection to increase intra-neighborhood interactions and integration in renewal

- Fair distribution of services and assets by emphasizing on justice planning

- Decrease of decision making institutions and establishment of specialty workgroups in the field of issues related to historical textures to facilitate in executive and supervisory affairs of integrated renewal of historical textures

- Integrated and consistent management in urban improvement and renewal

- Execution of strengthening plans and improvement of safety of buildings against environmental and artificial accidents

- Formulation of loading control programs arising from trans-regional uses within the area in order to reduce social damages.

Conclusion

More than 60 years of experience in development based on planning in Iran indicates inefficiency of inharmonious and authoritarian single-dimensional models for development and renewal. Therefore, it is required to review the attitudes and models governing development planning and movement towards planning for a comprehensive, sustainable and national development. Like any other country, this model should be adapted to value-based cultures and criteria governing the society and it should consider international conditions, experience of other countries and economic characteristics of the country. As the final conclusion, the key challenges of renewal in Iran can be described as follow with a realistic and critical attitude.

- Expansion of textures and continuation of exhaustion and activation of the mechanisms for its continuation throughout the cities

- Complication of characteristics and factors of exhaustion because exhaustion of texture is beyond skeletal exhaustion

- A gap between stakeholders and intervening institutions in exhausted textures

- A dual view, namely partial view and comprehensive view in the planning for intervention in exhausted textures

- Inconsistency between upstream goals and renewal goals

- The problem of time management to reduce the costs for investment, construction and more enjoyment of the resources

- Disruption in the course of dwelling and life of residents in the stage of renewal and the necessity to organize that

- Control of market response in the process of property price and preservation of purchase power of owners of exhausted textures and control of economic effects of renewal in these textures

- An extensive need in financial resources and materials for an extensive construction

- Coordination of all organizations involved in progress of renewal

- Control of the level of loading and acceptance of population especially preservation of native residents in the renewal stage

- Resistance of residents of textures against changes of these regions due to different reasons

- The necessity of existence of efficient urban organization and management

- Design and production of an appropriate discussion for comprehensiveness and value-based reconstruction of renewal development and facilitation of an interactional management for life environment.

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