Continuing the Historical Context in Urban Renewal (People's Current Review)
Under the premise of strengthening protection, urban infrastructure construction should be carried out and organically integrated into modern life, in order to revitalize ancient cities and make people remember history and homesickness
In the process of urban renewal, how to protect historical and cultural relics and integrate traditional and modern development is an important issue. In Dongcheng District of Beijing, the courtyard with blue bricks and gray tiles, and the quaint and elegant alleys are shrouded in profound cultural heritage. In Chaozhou, Guangdong, the display of intangible cultural heritage techniques such as wood carving, Chao embroidery, and hand pulled clay pots has become a regular activity at Guangji Bridge. In recent years, many places have adhered to the principle of balancing protection and development in the process of renovating old cities and developing new ones, and have made beneficial explorations in continuing the historical context of cities.
The historical and cultural heritage of a city is the accumulation of wisdom from its predecessors, and is an important symbol of the city's connotation, quality, and characteristics.
By the end of 2022, the urbanization rate of China's permanent population reached 65.2%. From the perspective of urban development laws, urban development during this period often faces "urban diseases" such as aging infrastructure and poor living environment in urban villages. Implementing urban renewal, promoting the renovation of old urban communities, the construction of complete communities, and the renovation of infrastructure are inevitable requirements for adapting to the new situation of urban development and promoting high-quality urban development. It should also be noted that urban renewal does not equate to large-scale demolition and construction. In the past, some cities had situations of arbitrarily demolishing old buildings and destroying traditional styles, which not only severed the historical context of the city and cut off the nostalgic memories of residents, but also created new urban problems. In the Notice on Solidly and Orderly Promoting Urban Renewal issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Rural Development, it is explicitly required that "the traditional pattern and street texture of old urban areas should not be destroyed, and historical buildings and old buildings with protective value should not be arbitrarily relocated or demolished", which is to guide all regions to actively and prudently implement urban renewal actions.
Only by protecting well can we make good use of it. For the preservation of urban historical and cultural relics, efforts should be made to better showcase the unique features and style of the city. From the perspective of elements, what needs to be protected is not only tangible individual buildings, streets and neighborhoods, but also intangible intangible intangible cultural heritage, such as the silk weaving techniques of silkworms in Zhejiang, Kunqu and Guqin arts in Jiangsu, and Li ethnic brocade in Hainan. These intangible cultural heritages are not only cultural elements that nourish local cultural heritage, but also important resources that activate urban vitality. From a temporal perspective, we not only need to protect ancient historical and cultural heritage, but also modern historical and cultural heritage and important contemporary construction achievements. Only by achieving full coverage of space and full inclusion of elements can the historical style of a city be presented at multiple levels and in all directions, avoiding the phenomenon of "one city after another".
Activation and utilization are necessary to stimulate internal vitality. Due to its long history, many historic neighborhoods have relatively outdated supporting infrastructure and public service facilities, making it inconvenient for elderly residents to live. Strengthening the protection and inheritance of historical and cultural heritage in urban renewal can, on the one hand, be achieved through small-scale and gradual "micro renovations" to supplement the shortcomings of facilities and improve the living environment of residents while maintaining the traditional pattern and style; On the other hand, by cultivating new functions and formats, urban vitality can be enhanced. In places such as Zhongshan Road in Qingdao, Shandong and Yongqing Fang in Guangzhou, Guangdong, the introduction of museums, coffee shops, and other business formats has made old neighborhoods new internet celebrities and old street blocks catch up with new trends. This enlightens us that strengthening the protection and inheritance of historical and cultural heritage also requires adhering to the principle of using to promote preservation.
A city is a carrier of national culture and emotional memory, and historical culture is the key to its charm. By handling the relationship between tradition and modernity, inheritance and development, and integrating the protection and inheritance of historical and cultural heritage into urban renewal, the spatial quality and cultural charm of cities will continue to improve, making them healthier, safer, and more livable.
