Open House International

Kudumovic, Lana

2020 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-05-2020-0038

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the challenges and justification of the reconstruction of built heritage in Bosnia. This paper also debates the effect of setting up a close relationship between reconstruction and reconciliation, suggesting that the reconstruction of the built environment in the period of post-war recovery provided a foundation for reconciliation.Design/methodology/approachThroughout history, in the face of various disasters, world encountered the challenge of reconstruction. In the past decade of the 20th century, just such a challenge was the war in Bosnia. After the war, reconstruction and reconciliation took place, with a focus on reestablishing a normal way of life, the return of displaced people, and the reconnection of broken bonds, as well as the rehabilitation of heritage assets.FindingsThis paper elaborates on how reconstructions were guided by the aims of reconciliation and its justifications. Regarding the technical aspects of these reconstruction projects, an overview comprising several case studies is presented to help elucidate two levels of physical intervention. The first of these levels concerns the reconstruction of single structures and the second concerns the reconstruction of historic centers. War memorials are considered to be a third level of intervention.Originality/valueThe selected cases presented here confirm the existence of the relationship between post-war reconstruction and reconciliation. This paper also assesses the efficiency of the reconstruction of Bosnia’s built heritage in terms of authenticity and overall post-war recovery.

Naji, Ammar A.; Almaimani, Ayad; Rahaman, Khan Rubayet

2020 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-05-2020-0044

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has been experiencing extensive development in the fields of architecture and planning in recent decades, which has included developing community centers in neighborhoods. These community centers have significant impacts on the social, cultural, recreational and economic lives of the inhabitants. The study has looked into the concept of modeled and non-modeled community centers among 114 neighborhoods. Moreover, the study aims to suggest that decision-makers should make efficient decisions to uphold amenities through the centers at the neighborhood level after considering the evaluation techniques included in this paper to ensure a sustainable urbanization.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected both qualitative and quantitative information through structured and un-structured interviews in the city of Jeddah. Afterward, the authors evaluated the centers with a summarized grading point based on qualitative judgments. Note that the online questionnaire survey was prepared to distribute in approximately 100 neighborhoods. However, 71 neighborhoods took part in the survey, with a total number of 402 responses. Moreover, the authors made a subjective evaluation of the studied neighborhoods to understand the quality of services offered by the community centers.FindingsThe obtained results reveal that the community centers in the city of Jeddah are playing important roles for socialization, allowing younger people to interact in a positive way, providing services to the communities and supporting volunteer work in and around the neighborhoods. Consequently, the research paper emphasizes the future needs of these important social infrastructures as part of a neighborhood design tool in the context of Jeddah city, KSA.Originality/valueThis research attempts to document the need for community centers in the city of Jeddah. Consequently, the study evaluates 26 different community centers to understand whether the improvements are required for supporting community activities. Indeed, few research works have made an effort to study community centers’ role in urban life in a unique geographic context. Through this research project, the authors have highlighted the implications of community centers in urban life in the city of Jeddah.

Fetais, Ghada H.; Gharib, Remah

2020 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-05-2020-0042

This paper aims to explore the possibilities of economic diversification in the State of Qatar through the regeneration of built heritage post the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting sustainable tourism and creating a center for cultural heritage in Qatar, thereby enhancing the sense of identity both socially and physically among the nationals and residents. In light of the strategic goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030, which is to diversify Qatar’s economy and minimize its reliance on hydrocarbon industries, if these ambitious goals are to be achieved, there is a necessity to maintain the local cultural identity, demonstrated through architecture and urbanism.Design/methodology/approachThis study is an exploratory research based on qualitative methods of data gathering and investigation. The local communities who used to live in the scattered old villages were approached with surveys. At the same time, semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals in the field in Qatar and other individuals from the public, depending on their literacy levels.FindingsThis paper examines how to revive those villages and improve their current economic level. Finally, the study proposes some recommendations for these abandoned villages in an attempt to rejuvenate their built heritage and revitalize their socioeconomic status.Originality/valueEconomic diversification needs to be engendered through the services and products of Qatari society; this is possible by exploiting current resources such as the built heritage or historic sites in areas outside the emerging metropolitan cities. This study reveals the great potential of regenerating the old villages of the Gulf States by establishing nonprofit organizations and increasing the economic benefit of the abandoned historic structures.

Kesavaperumal, Thirumaran; Kandasamy, Kiruthiga; Ramasubramanian, Renganathan

2020 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-06-2020-0062

The degradation of a town’s traditional architectural settings is a prominent issue in the historic towns that possess a rich heritage and legacies of architectural character in its urban fabric that have developed over the course of its evolution. Resident participation in built-heritage conservation can be explained in terms of deliberate acts. Thus, this study aims to analyse the attitudes of residents on the conservation of built heritage (ARCBH) in the historic town of Kanchipuram.Design/methodology/approachThe historic temple town of Kanchipuram has been surveyed and focused in this study. A questionnaire was designed to investigate the ARCBH in Kanchipuram. Data were collected and analysed with the help of structural equation modelling and AMOS software. A structural equation model was developed, and hypotheses were framed for an empirical study.FindingsThe findings indicate that the ARCBH has an effective relationship with practical issues that occur in traditional architecture, built-heritage attachment and an awareness of existing heritage schemes.Social implicationsThe study results indicate that considering resident attitude and attachment is important. In addition, the results provide useful insights for formulating practical measures relevant to built-heritage conservation.Originality/valueThere has been no attempt to come up with practical implications from the attitudes of residents on the conservation of built-heritage in the historic temple towns of Tamil Nadu, India.

Huang, Xu; Gu, Yuanyuan

2020 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-05-2020-0027

Compared to other areas in China, Chaoshan region in Guangdong province has a more developed clan system set within a rural landscape. This paper aims to explore the relationship between the social structure (family–clan) and spatial form (housing settlement) of clan-organized rural China to understand the spatial form represented by “family and clan.”Design/methodology/approachBy examining Dongli village and Huayao village, this paper outlines the typical path of spatial representation: dwelling of individual’s core family → mansion of the big family → settlement of a single clan → co-settlement of several clans. Moreover, it identifies three critical elements of the spatial representation: prototype (the spatial representation of the etiquette system); order (a hierarchical space set by the patriarchal system); and boundary (constructed on both physical and mental facts).FindingsAll elements indicate that descendants of migrants from the North maintain their self-identity and discipline clan members by planning the ideal space.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings contribute to the ongoing discussions regarding how local cultural and historical experiences can influence renewed designs of traditional settlement areas (Aksulu and Eryildiz, 2003) and how digital means can facilitate updating designs of traditional buildings (Han et al., 2017). Such planning and design should involve greater public participation, considering the impact on residents’ daily lives (Pandya, 2005).Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the understanding of the relationship between cultural values and the spatial form of residential settlements in Chinese history.

Zhong, Lingyan; Tan, Ming

2020 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-04-2020-0003

Taking the streets of an old residential area in Chengdu, China, as an example, this study aims to analyse street as a transitional space that combines adjacent heterogeneous spaces.Design/methodology/approachThe study framework of this paper consists of two parts. The first part focusses on the methods of landscape pattern analysis. The street spatial attributes are analysed, including the geometric and data characteristics of the city space. The second part involves a study of the stated preferences. The social attributes of space and the preferences of respondents regarding landscape properties are studied.FindingsThe study reports that the streets in the old residential area have characteristics of a fringe zone. The mechanisms of their edge effect improve the comprehensive quality of the urban space, stimulate a value-added effect and promote the overall development of the district economy.Originality/valueThe use of the spatial synergy of the edge effect can help us identify problems more accurately, enable streets to become suitable as public spaces, safeguard the rights of local residents to develop and eliminate the factors of instability.

Aksel, Elif; İmamoğlu, Çağrı

2020 Open House International

doi: 10.1108/ohi-05-2020-0035

This paper aims to investigate the association of neighborhood location with place attachment and residential satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachFirst, the authors reviewed the literature on place attachment and residential satisfaction, and then generated a questionnaire based on the scales from the literature. The authors surveyed 135 respondents in two neighborhoods of Ankara, a metropolitan city in Turkey: one in the city center, the other in a suburb. To analyze the data, first, factor analysis, and later, multivariate analysis of variance and correlation tests were conducted.FindingsThe results indicated that place attachment and residential satisfaction were positively correlated, in congruence with the related literature; however, neighborhood location appeared to be associated only with residential satisfaction. The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed with respect to the recent issues on housing.Originality/valueThe effects of neighborhood location on place attachment and residential satisfaction (by comparing two different residential areas of the city) have not been adequately examined in earlier studies. The study results provide an understanding of the effectiveness of residential location on improving place attachment and residential satisfaction and contribute to the existing literature. Although the study findings may not be generalized to other locations in Turkey, this study contributed to the previous studies on place attachment and residential satisfaction by providing data from Turkish residents, which is less often examined.