A structural project： Redevelopment of the historic center of Wuhu

Restoration and redevelopment are difficult when traces of things that require preservation have been minimized. Such operations are even more complex whenever a portion of an ancient city is involved. This essay describes the redevelopment project of the historic center of Wuhu through the different themes raised during the drafting of the project： from the cultural opportunity of a wide reconstruction work, to the definition of the main design strategies, and the question of memory and identity. The results show that the field of intervention in this project is broader than that of most restoration projects, that is, an evolving city center, which is impossible to consider with traditional restoration parameters or with pure conservation. The only possibility of interven- tion is on the city structure, which allows the city to develop itself continuously within a welt- defined system of rules.

Exploration of spatial design issues at backpacker hostels in Budapest＇s historic center： Informality, density, and adaptability

This paper presents a practice-based research to achieve a deeper understanding of the spatial issues related to backpacker tourism, a booming industry in Budapest. The authors designed six backpacker hostels between 2013 and 2015, and of these, four are presently in operation. Hostels are the main infrastructures within the global network of backpacker tourism. Results from the design process revealed that the creation and operation of hostels are significantly influenced by three issues, namely, informality, density, and adaptability. These issues are negotiated on three interconnected tevels： the city, the building, and the interior. The authors developed an experimental structure for dormitory spaces as a conscious reaction to these issues. This experimental structure is presented and evaluated, and further paths of development are formulated based on the results.

Pedestrian street and its effect on economic sustainability of a historical Middle Eastern city:The case of Chaharbagh Abbasi in Isfahan,Iran

Pedestrianization is an urban revitalization strategy to enhance sustainability and livability in car-oriented cities.Despite many studies in this research field,the effects of pedestrianization on the economy of cities in developing countries still need further investigation.Additionally,the impact of this strategy on the tenant mix of com-mercial and historical areas in Middle East countries is nebulous.To address these inadequacies,we considered Chaharbagh Abbasi street,located in the heart of Isfahan,Iran,and investigated the impact of a pedestrianization project with particular emphasis on how it affects the economic sustainability of existent commercial fabric.Pre-and post-project data along with field observations and quantifications used to assess structural replacements in trade,were analyzed with SPSS and ArcGIS software.The results revealed unexpected outcomes,such as the closure of some traditional businesses(27.5%),a stagnation in sales(69%)and a decrease in job offers(84%)leading the local economy to a fragile situation.Conversely,it was found that the footfall volume increased by 64% and 73% from the retailers’and pedestrians’viewpoints.This evolution along with a wide opening of food and beverage stores(approximately 60%)makes the post-pedestrianization results more promising than earlier predictions.In conclusion,these findings reinforce the importance of pedestrian streets in revitalizing economic activities in historical and commercial areas from the perspective of economic sustainability.Due to the lack of similar investigations in Middle East countries,these findings can support decision-makers and urban planners to take preventive measures in preserving the diversity of individual small shops for upcoming urban rehabilitation projects in terms of pedestrianization.

The transformation of the inherited historical urban and architectural characteristics of Al-Najaf's Old City and possible preservation insights

This paper focuses on the dramatic transformation of the inherited historical urban and architectural characteristics of the city of Al-Najafin Iraq,seeking new ways of seeing the possibilities of preserving and revitalizing the historical center of the city.In addition to being one of the most sacred centers for Shia Muslims,Al-Najaf has a rich cultural and architectural heritage.Its architectural characteristics and urban structure not only reflect the history of the city but also stand as evidence of the most important junctures in Islamic history:the martyrdom of Imam AU ibn Abi Talib,who is a central Islamic spiritual personality and the second most important figure after the Prophet Muhammad.Since its estab-Ushment in 750 AD,the formation of Al-Najaf has never separated from its sociopolitical context and Islamic principles,particularly Shia Muslims'beliefs.Today,the city is a destination for more than million Shia Muslim pilgrims each year,and the number is rapidly increasing.However,as the city continues to develop,its architecture and unique urban structure transform dramatically.The cultural and architectural heritage of the city is seriously threatened.Several factors played a crucial role in the formation and the transformation of the city's specific architectural and urban structures.The most influential factors were mainly related to religion,environment,and politics.This paper introduces the main forces behind the transformation of the deep organizational structures of the architecture and urban fabric in Al-Najaf.The question of whether it is still possible to protect and preserve the remaining parts and revitalize the Old City center is also examined.The goal is to identify the major preservation issues and provide possible insights based on successful preservation experiences that address similar issues indifferent contexts.

Building health monitoring in the old town of Madrid:applicability of SAR Imagery to the monitoring of underground works through classification indexes

The old city centers of many major cities represent a great challenge from a constructive point of view since the foundations of the buildings consist of an aggregation of previous constructions.This endorses thorough monitoring activities during any underground construction.The capabilities of the persistent scatterer interferometry(PSI)can be exploited to cope with these monitoring needs.However,the old city centers represent a very challenging urban scenario since the rooftops are usually filled with air conditioning systems and due to the fact that the streets are usually crowded.This work assesses the applicability of the PSI technique under this challenging scenario.Moreover,it proposes a set of novel classification indexes that allow an objective assessment of the building’s health and the impact derived from any activity.They can be applied in deformation monitoring and risk evaluation in urban areas.The applicability of the technique and the proposed indexes is validated in the monitoring of underground construction works in the old city center of Madrid comparing the results against on-ground measurements and identifying the potential and the limitation of the technique.