VIRTUAL London Heritages Conference

Abstract

The search for identity and sense of belonging is a fundamental aspect for quality of life whether the person belongs to a small village or a urban metropolis. The unique character of a place is woven into its townscapes and streetscapes, shaped by spatial diversity, architectural distinctiveness, and cultural values associated with it. However, this essence is fragile and it is vulnerable to be lost. The rapid pace of urbanization, changing socio- economic values, increasing commercialization and insensitive, generic development practices are eroding the quality of urban life. Transformative interventions are essential to rejuvenate these spaces, preserving their cultural soul while ensuring long-term sustainability and vitality for thriving communities. This research aims to understand the urban cultural landscapes, their significance in shaping the city identity and factors that contribute to their degradation. The research than identifies the different approaches for preserving and revitalizing these valuable urban assets through various literature reviews. It also reviews the existing global frameworks associated to cultural landscapes. The key focus for the paper is Ayodhya, an ancient city with profound historical and spiritual significance, currently undergoing transformative urban changes. The research identifies the city’s unique challenges and proposes a strategic framework for regeneration of cultural landscapes balancing the historical preservation with contemporary needs. The findings the potential of regenerating urban cultural landscapes to create resilient, inclusive and culturally vibrant cities. The study aims to offer insights and strategies applicable to other cultural landscapes globally.