CASE STUDIES

Workshop Valea Hartibaciului

November 2012

THE CONTEXT

An important part of European physical cultural heritage is experienced in the context of small historic towns or vernacular settlements.

These settlements have an important contribution to make to the social and economic well being of larger regions they belong and therefore to the development and implementation of EU regional policies relating to heritage and regeneration.

Best practice case studies should convince localities and stakeholders of the benefits of HERITAGE LED REGENERATION by information on lessons learned in the process of regenerating through investment in heritage and good practice guidance, in terms of processes to be followed by local, department and national authorities.

I SISTEMI TERRITORIALI PER LA FRUIZIONE DEI BENI PATRIMONIALI

Scenari per il futuro del paesaggio regionale

Metodologie de realizare a planului de valorizare a bunurilor culturale prevede o abordare a teritoriului la scari diferite –de la scara obiectului individual la scara contextului teritorial.

Aceasta permite o viziune care merge dincolo de puncte izolate, si care pune in legatura bunuri culturale de diverse tipuri: cladiri, mestesuguri, elemente de peisaj, etc.

The role of Territory and Landscape in urban regeneration of historic centres.

prof. arch.Mariavaleria MininniDICEM Università della Basilicata

PUGLIAMATERA

ATLANTE DEL PATRIMONIO e SCENARIO STRATEGICO / ambiti paesaggistici e figure

3. IL SISTEMA INFRASTRUTTURALE PER LA MOBILITA’ DOLCE

Scenari per il futuro del paesaggio regionale

• CHARTER ON THE BUILT VERNACULAR HERITAGE (1999, ICOMOS)“Built vernacular heritage represents the fundamental expression of the culture of community, of it’s relationships with the territory and the same time, the expression of the world’s cultural diversity.”

Ten years later, “RIMETEA DOCUMENT on the protection of the built vernacular heritage in the multicultural environment” adopted by ICOMOS Romania, Hungary and Germany (23.05.2009) agrees upon the fact that “protection and enhancement of cultural and heritage diversity should be promoted as an essential aspect of human development, solutions to vernacular heritage preservation are to be found in a BALANCED, SUSTAINABLE development of COMMUNITIES, where tradition should be through PLANNING and PROGRAMMING mechanisms”.

COMMUNITIES can establish comprehensive inventories of their vernacular assets and heritage and encourage local capacity for maintaining local tradition in BUILDING, AGRICULTURE, ECO-TOURISM and CRAFTMANSHIP.

BEAUTIFUL ROMANIA PROJECT started with 4 cities (ALBA-IULIA, BRASOV, BRAILA, MEDIAS) but the important lessons of what had been achieved had to be taken forward and developed to produce tangible and useful guidance that meets operational needs of other heritage cities.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE – meaning the main direction of development for the localities, reflecting all social, economic and infrastructure objectives – was to INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF CITIES TO REGENERATE PHYSICALLY, ECONOMICALLY and SOCIALLY, through realizing the potential of investing in heritage.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES and OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVESAmong STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES heritage regeneration supported infrastructure enhancement, creation of a competitive economy (by attracting new investors and businesses besides tourism, development of services and social inclusion).

OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES were carried on through projects corresponding to the objectives as public places enhancements, new uses in public restored buildings.

BEAUTIFUL ROMANIA PROJECT

PROJECT IDENTIFICATION

The background of the project initiation was the preservation of Romania’s historical centres, areas that urgently needed protection and revitalization - this including not only monuments/buildings but also public spaces facing neglect (squares, pedestrian areas or parks).

At the level of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development of the country, this was a necessary step to make urban historical centres competitive in a globalized economy, where culture- specific to each area, promoting and fostering the local spirit, can make the difference and make regain the “sense of belonging” to the community, to inhabitants.

Project Location / Area of InterventionAs a general rule for the initiation of the project in each locality, the location had to be in relation with the historical centre, implying not a large scale intervention but an intervention that will be a signal of good practice and a project that may become the start of a larger process of restoration and socio-economic regeneration of the area. These areas were chosen by local authorities after consultation with local communities, afterwards discussed over with National Authorities and UNDP representatives in order to be selected as priority projects to be implemented in the BR project framework.The areas of intervention were as it follows:Alba Iulia – capital of Alba County, within the Vauban type XVIII-th century Citadel - the “heart” of the city starting roman times since today – mainly public spaces and parts of the heritage represented by the fortifications were rehabilitated and revitalised, in order to bring back life to this heritage and make local community aware of it: the Itinerary of the 3 fortifications (1), the IV-th gate of Vauban fortress (2) the South gate of the Roman Castro (3) the Caponier public space (4) and a restoration project of the military storehouse (5).

Medias - second city in Sibiu County, situated at equivalent distance from Sighisoara and Blaj (both historical emblematic cities for the region), can be defined as a picturesque city, with built heritage from gothic period to Jugendstil, where two buildings of public interest were restored: the Culture House 16 Ferdinand square (1) and the interiors of the Municipal museum, part of the Franciscan Monastery (a XV-th century building) - each of them being a starting point for larger regeneration processes of the urban fabric and enhancement of the cultural city life.

Miercurea Ciuc - known as “town of the plain”, it has been attested in a privilege letter from1558, today is the capital of Harghita County and has as emblematic building the Mikó Citadel, situated in the old administrative centre and built between 1623-1631.Presently the Szekler Museum of Ciuc , the museum shelters an impressive collection of local history, natural science, traditional popular artefacts, church art and old prints- the target of the rehabilitation project being the inner courtyard of the citadel (1) – public space dedicated to cultural events and performances.

Sighisoara - being in Europe one of the few inhabited medieval citadels, the city is included on WHM list in 1999 as an important UNESCO site, which suffered from damages brought by landslides or floods in 2004.In this respect, the Rehabilitation of a part of a sliding wall with the pedestrian area along this side of the citadel (1), were a priority in the management of the city rehabilitation.Complementary, a park within the protected area was designed and realised, the existing public space becoming a quality area for the old quarter community (2).

Sulina - is a small town with a unique history, characterised by ethnic and cultural coexistence, in the XIXth century - 25 nationalities for 4889 inhabitants - being the place where the European Commission of the Danube established its headquarters. Two priority projects were initiated- the public space of Street 1 rehabilitation - as part or the historical centre and landmark for history and the architectural scenery of old Sulina (1) and restoration of traditional house belonging to the Greek community history, as community centre and public library.

Objectives / type of interventionThe main objectives of the projects aimed at:• local heritage buildings adapt to new uses in order to effectively play an important part in the modern world (restoration /revitalization of buildings opening up their internal spaces and providing also extensive information and communications facilities)• keep an adequate scale for the interventions in the historical fabric in order not to lose fragile or essential details (small and medium scale projects for parts of a larger scale heritage)• investment in the historic environment as a catalyst for wider regeneration beyond the initial building or area as well as attracting additional public and private investment• improve the quality of life for the inhabitants (new public areas for walking, for new open air cultural activities)• bring to light the cultural diversity in each selected area and use it for the benefit of today living communities (representative heritage for multicultural communities were selected and included in BR Project)

Partnership and target groups

Local authorities had a clear leadership role in this project but a successful heritage led regeneration and revitalization invariably requires a partnership approach.Partnerships refer to public, private but also at local community involvement: public partnerships were crucial to achieving the project objectives (being allocated funds at national, regional and local level) and private sector involvement required a creative approach where new ways were explored to attract necessary funding while delivering public benefit.The importance of involving local communities has emerged repeatedly as heritage regeneration projects underpins their sense of identity and pride of place also affecting their life by changes induced from re-use of landmark buildings to rehabilitation of historic public spaces.

Strategic Intervention Framework

The strategic level for these heritage led regeneration/restoration/revitalization projects in historic centres was to find the suitable scale of intervention in order to realise wider social, economic and environmental benefits.The framework for action provided during these interventions in heritage sites included:• Value local heritage, by recognizing its potential as driver of urban regeneration and key contributor to sustainable development of the area and the city as a whole• Understand what constitutes the character and identity of the city and specific of the area of intervention• Central leadership role assumed by Local authority• Ensure specific skills training for restoration and regeneration of historic buildings and public places• Monitoring of the project development on each site and of final results/quantifying of socio-economic, environmental and cultural benefits of heritage regeneration projects.

The measures taken during the implementation timeframe promoted:

• an integrated development of projects and public areas rehabilitation in connection to a general plan of development for the entire city/town - taking into consideration socio-economic but also environmental sustainability• change in local communities attitude towards historic areas (perceived as safe, quality spaces)• work in partnership for public, private and local community to achieve larger objectives related to heritage enhancement• social equity for members of vulnerable groups by employment on heritage objective sites

SUSTAINABILITY

Preserving and enhancing existing heritage buildings and public historic spaces represents an economy of energy in terms of using existing materials. The use of traditional building techniques by specialised construction enterprises was complemented by the insertion of modern technologies in order to upgrade the buildings and the pedestrian areas.

This way of acting created quality public spaces by restoring a community life and new cultural spaces enforcing the “spirit of place” and the feeling of belonging to that place, area, city for the inhabitants.

From the administrative and institutional point of view, the sustainability of the project consist in the framework realised for the cooperation between all levels (international, national, local, public, private) made possible through general agreements and partnerships, a mission that would have been impossible to be carried on only by one of the interested parts.

LESSONS LEARNED

• The importance of a complex/strategic approach to heritage led regeneration, in order to create a replicable success story and determine future qualitative similar interventions, with significant impact on the city’s territory.

• The crucial role played by public authorities (at national and local level), enabling the project through financial support but also local leadership.

• The opportunity restored heritage buildings and public spaces can bring to the quality of life for inhabitants but also for members of vulnerable groups, benefitting from social-inclusion by working in similar projects.

• The good finalised works act as catalysts for regeneration of the historic centres and are examples that can be replicated on the territory of the same locality but also all over the country.

• The message of confidence at the level of local communities to ensure their support and involvement in future heritage rehabilitation projects, having also a strong social component.

Thank you for your attentionArch. Catalina PREDA

International Expert