A framework on urban design strategies for sustainability of cultural and historical heritage in urban landscape

Abstract

Cultural heritage is the accumulation of tangible and intangible values stemming from human creativity and interaction between societies, since the beginning of human life on earth. Historical environments and historical city textures are tangible documents of cultural heritage which created and formed places. It is necessary to comprehend historical environment in which we live. Historical environments are like open space museums which exhibit their own selves. Cultural identity and cultural heritage are hidden in historical environment which is a major document demonstrating and reflecting cultural identity. It is time historical heritage should have been protected and cultural heritage should have been transmitted to the next generation. It is essential that planners, architectures, landscape architectures, and others whoever studies on urban issues should recognize the need to provide the sustainability of cultural identity. Cultural heritage should be transmitted to the next generation as it has been transmitted from past generation to the present. Both urban planning and every kind of design are the scenarios related to community or individuals. Thus, land use decisions and spatial decisions should consider current tendencies of community as much as it should take into account of transmitting of natural and cultural values to the future. Urban design is the best tool to provide sustainability of historical and cultural heritage. In this paper, a framework on urban design studies for sustainability of cultural heritage in historical environment has been presented. This framework has a systematic approach on urban design and sustainability point of view from the beginning to the end of the decision and design process.