Defining Local Heritages in Preserving Modern Shanghai Architecture

The notion that local heritage can be defined by the‘collective memory’of a city may be considered as being simplistic nowadays.Heritage is increasingly recognised as knowledge,a cultural product or even a political resource set within specific social circumstances.The local heritage underpins various ways of relating our past with our present and future,which are often much more complicated than we can imagine.The evolution of the conser­vation of Shanghai’s modern heritage architecture shows this complexity.By tracing more than 50 years’progress in historic preservation,this paper shows how historical buildings from Shanghai’s early modern period were selected as urban heritage in the changing socio-political contexts of different time periods.Starting with how the first mod­ern buildings were listed in a new Chinese narrative in the 1950s,this paper focuses on the great ideological changes and progress Shanghai achieved after China’s reform and opening policy since the 1980s.Emphasising the great significance of the establishment of local legislation for historic preservation as an extension of the national system,examples of the great enrichment of Shanghai’s local heritage are presented through multiple narratives and inter­pretations of Shanghai’s modern history.In a deeper observation of various practices and complicated contradic­tions,the historic preservation of Shanghai’s modern heritage architecture is shown to be a process of continuing to reconstruct the relationships between city and the State,the city and the world,as well as the city's past,present and future in a pluralist society.

Analyses and architectural typology of preserved traditional mosques in the old city of Herat in Afghanistan:the case of Quzzat Quarter

The study aims to analyse the architectural typology and determine the period of construction for the preserved traditional mosques of the Quzzat Quarter in the Old City of Herat(known as the Pearl of Khorasan).Twenty-nine mosques are located in the area,three of which are modern and 26 are traditional.Twelve out of the 26 traditional mosques still exist and have preserved their traditional landscape.Using analogy to analyse water cisterns and mosques,we determine when each mosque was developed and establish the period of development for each structure.Further analyses are carried out on the edifces’architectural details.Architectural analyses and mosque typologies suggest that fve buildings were built before the Timurid dynasty;two were built during the Timurid dynasty(1370−1507 CE);and one was built after the Timurid dynasty.Two mosques incorporating elements from diferent periods are counted as exceptions,and the remaining two are considered to have been built during transitional periods.

Physical features and analysis of traditional mosques:the case of Quzzat quarter of Herat Old City,Afghanistan

This study examines the physical features of traditional mosques in the Quzzat(Bardrani)quarter of Herat Old City,Afghanistan.Traditional mosques are constructed with locally available materials and are planned based on cultural and climatic conditions.Mosques are categorised as modern or traditional.Traditional mosques are divided into three subcategories:preserved,damaged(defaced),and transformed.Transformed mosques are formerly traditional mosques reconstructed with modern or industrial materials(concrete and reinforcement).This study explores the distribution of mosques and analyses their plan typology.Mosques are categorised into five plan types,and three relative case studies are described in detail to provide a better understanding and an in-depth analysis of mosque typology.