Marichela Sepe and Michael Pitt
Starting from these premises, the aim of the paper is illustrating the role of experience in urban regeneration projects and to explore how the experience of high quality product…
Abstract
Purpose
Starting from these premises, the aim of the paper is illustrating the role of experience in urban regeneration projects and to explore how the experience of high quality product luxury places can be sustainable with existent place identity or new place identity to be suitably created.
Design/methodology/approach
The experience of a place may become an integral part of a product experience. The enhancement of products (Splendiani, 2013): assumes a meaning which goes beyond the simple sale of material goods. It covers the supply of complex experiences … enriched by intangible elements capable to stimulate and involve the sensory and experiential component of consumption. It deals with attracting people to the places where local products are made by inserting the products in the most extensive offers covering the entire territorial system of reference The experience may also be used for the spectacolarisation of a place and its commercialisation, as in the case of “brandscapes” (Klingman, 2007). In this case, it is important not to clone every place everywhere because they could inevitably resemble each other without be able to really engage the people who move into them (Lehtovuori, 2010). The methodology approach is based on a wide bibliography and internet research based on the main terms connected to the topics of the paper, including experience, place identity, quality product, regeneration; on case studies – even though not illustrated – concerning places of interest for the research topics, such as: Hafencity in Hamburg, the Albert Dock in Liverpool, Abondaibarra area in Bilbao.
Findings
The planning of places of quality product cannot be separated from interpretation of the territory as a cultural system resulting from an ensemble of historical, economic and social processes. In such a system, the contribution of the cultural factor must be considered propulsive, not only for its qualitative meaning but also, and especially, for the role of “trait d’union” of a number of actions taken to protect and enhance places.
Originality/value
The increasing importance of the use of experience in the urban regeneration process is leading cities to be involved in constructing suitable images and symbols of their transformed areas to meet the new trends, also according with luxurious ones. Even though globalisation is one of the main dangers in innovative itineraries, the proper planning of quality architecture and public spaces could prevent it by creating a suitable mix between innovation and culture.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to propose PlaceMaker as a method of urban analysis and design which both detects elements that do not feature in traditional mapping and which…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to propose PlaceMaker as a method of urban analysis and design which both detects elements that do not feature in traditional mapping and which constitute the contemporary identity of the places, and identifies appropriate project interventions. In order to illustrate the method's potential, the final results of experimentation carried out in the Ramblas in Barcelona are presented.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed method gathers, processes and reconstructs the data deriving from nominal, perceptual, graphic, photographic and video surveys, and compares these data with those provided by an analysis of expectations, an analysis of traditional cartography and two questionnaires administered to local inhabitants. The information collected during the phases of analysis constitutes the basis for constructing guidelines for sustainable design and planning. Two final complex maps – the first of analysis and the second of design – respectively, represent the identity of places and project interventions.
Findings
The design orientations took into account liveability, place identity, safety of this place and user preferences in order to mitigate the impact of globalization and achieve sustainable urban development. The experiment shows that the urban identity emerging in the analysis phases is not entirely sustainable: many factors are contributing to transforming it not only through changes in places, but also in habits and perceptions of the huge flow of people who use the Ramblas. The actions proposed are thus designed to enhance the identity of places, albeit not crystallizing it.
Originality/value
PlaceMaker is an original method which is intended for use as a support tool in integrated sustainable project design targeting place identity and as a tool for dynamic and complex place knowledge. The main potential beneficiaries are administrators, urban planners and designers and, in simplified form, citizens, tourists and place users.
Details
Keywords
Marichela Sepe and Giovanni Di Trapani
The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of the creative city, the factors conditioning creativity in cities and how they stimulate urban innovation and local…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of the creative city, the factors conditioning creativity in cities and how they stimulate urban innovation and local development. Furthermore, by way of examples, the paper aims to illustrate two emblematic case studies and the main elements which were considered for the sustainable urban regeneration.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper gives both a theoretical contribution on the relationship between the creative regeneration and cultural tourism, and empirically illustrates two cases for comparative study. The case studies are explained taking care to present information and figures of interest for the purposes of the work, with useful data to implement project descriptions and draw appropriate conclusions.
Findings
The research found that, in order to achieve the long‐term success of urban and cultural regeneration, the involvement and integration of the local community at all levels throughout the process, and the need to enhance and consolidate place identity, all in respect of economic, social and environmental sustainability, are critical factors.
Originality/value
The theoretical and empirical contribution of the paper is organized so as to emphasize the interdisciplinary relationships between some aspects of creative projects that are considered of particular importance to boost cultural tourism such as: place identity, sustainable development, urban regeneration and involvement of the population.