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Topic of the Conference

Protection of historic cities is a most complex conservation  issue. This is determined by a combination of many factors – such as the large scale of the operation, the diversity of historic elements and their values, the multitude of stakeholders, the complexity of urban functions, radical changes in the standards of use of objects and spaces as well as the fact that cities are, by definition, subject to constant change.

The complex structure of the historic city cannot be protected as a whole. On a practical level, conservation activities must include the individual components of the historic elements of the city. At the theoretical level, however, it is possible to determine the principles and forms of dealing with entire typological or historical groups of monuments. However,  principles and forms of conservation were first developed primarily for individual historic buildings or groups, and to a much lesser extent for public spaces and the historic urban fabric.

Public spaces – squares, streets, courtyards, public gardens and playgrounds – are intensively used; they co-create the value of a given historic city, and to a large extent determine its image and ‘spirit of place’. Their conservation must take into account technical, communication, urban and ecological aspects, acknowledging the central role of city governments in their management. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to analyze and evaluate the contemporary forms and principles that shape public spaces in historic cities and to manage how they change in response to changes of function and public need.

Broadly understood, environmental considerations have meant that in recent years the revitalization of many public spaces in historical cities has been critically reevaluated. In many countries, conservation services have developed regulations for the protection and development of public spaces. These policies and documents must be supported by a theoretical foundation and a catalogue of good practice. An international discussion on this subject is long overdue.

Objectives and thematic scope of the Conference

The aim of the conference “Public spaces in historic cities – conservation principles and good practices” is to organize a discussion and exchange of experiences amongst architects, urban planners, landscape architects and conservators, on these key issues.

The issues of the conference will be divided into three sessions.

1. Principles for conservation of public spaces in historic cities – technical, ecological, urban, landscape and formal aspects;
2. Practices: forms and constraints for the conservation of public spaces – squares, streets, courtyards, public gardens, and playgrounds – inclusive of interventions and changes to public spaces such as the introduction of greenery;
3. Interdisciplinary processes and guidelines for the responsible conservation of public spaces in historic cities; local, national, and international.

The conference will include opportunity for discussion of projects for historic public spaces, both proposed and implemented. The presentation of positive and negative examples will help the conservation community to define the principles and program necessary to inform and shape public spaces in historical cities.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE

Bogusław Szmygin President, Giora Solar Secretary General, Diane Archibald Vice-President, Calogero Bellanca Vice-President, Marko Spikic Vice-President, Susana Mora Member, Nigel Walter Member

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See also https://theophilos.icomos.org

PROGRAMME

Thursday, 9 March 2023. Day 1 Palazzo Coppini, Sala Domes in the World Room

9.30-10.00: Registration

10.00-10.30: Opening & Introduction

Carlotta Del Bianco / Italy
Welcome greetings
Recent achievements of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation’s practices for Florence heritage: “Talking Places” programme

Bogusław Szmygin / Poland
Welcome introduction
Public spaces in historic cities – conservation principles  and good practices

10.30-11.30: Session I

 Karl Kupka / The Netherlands
Practices of Conservation in Historic Cities: Redeveloping and Innovating Public Spaces

Calogero Bellanca / Italy
Susana Mora / Spain
Some Reflections across Historic Urban Context

Uģis Bratuškins & Sandra Treija / Latvia
Urban Experiments To Maintain Liveability In Historic City Centres: Diversity And Inclusivity For Public Open Spaces

11.30-12.00: Coffee break

12.30-14.00: Session II

Elif Sarihan / Hungary (on-line)
Typo-morphology and Visual Perception: Exploring Concept of Depth for the Conservation of the Public Spaces in Historic Cities 

Michal Firestone / Israel
Beware of Intervening in the Urban Public Real

Vadym Abyzov / Ukraine (on-line)
Methodological Aspects of the Development and Regeneration of Public Spaces in Historical Cities

Nóra Géczy & Daniel Osorio Arboleda/ Hungary
The Value of Nostalgia for Historical Sites

14.00-15.00: Lunch break

15.00-16.00: Session III

Nigel Walter / UK
Figure and Ground – an English view of the Conservation of Historic Public Spaces

Paola Martire / Italy
Public spaces in the city of London: the garden of St Dunstan in the East and St Alphage

Łukasz Sadowski & Aleksandra Sumorok / Poland
Contemporary revitalization of public spaces in Lodz: The role of squares, streets and courtyards in creating the genius loci based on the historical heritage 

16.00-16.30: Coffee break

16.30-17.30: Session IV

Shirley Cefai / Malta
Valletta: Gardens, Squares, and Roofscapes

Gaia Redaelli / Italy
The Patiocity: Courtyards as an Ecosocial Network of the Mediterranean Urban Heritage 

Dimitrios Zygomalas / Greece
A code of action for the responsible conservation of squares in historic cities through the experience of northern Greece

17.30-18.30: Annual meeting of the ICOMOS ISC TheoPhilos

Friday, 10 March 2023. Day 2 Palazzo Coppini, Sala Domes in the World Room

10.00-11.00: Session V

Diane Archibald / Canada (on-line)
The Historic City of Florence and its Public Spaces

Rosa Anna Genovese / Italy
Principles of Conservation of Public Spaces in the Historic Centres of Naples and Rome 

Rita Gagliardi / Italy
Role changes of public spaces in the ancient centre of Naples and the case study of the churchyard of Santa Chiara

11.00-11.30: Coffee break

11.30- 12.30: Session VI

Ruth Liberty-Shalev / Israel
Green Blocks in the White City: Rediscovering the Block Gardens of Patrick Geddes’s plan for Tel-Aviv

Hossam Mahdy / UK (on-line)
The Heritage of Shade and Light in Cairo: The missing principle for conservation in Islamic historic cities

Samir Abdulac / France
Restoring Souks in the Ancient City of Aleppo

12.30-14.00: Lunch break

14.00–15.30: Session VII

Louise Noelle Gras / Mexico
The conservation of the main public spaces of the World Heritage Mexican Cities

Poupak Pourbahador & Azadeh Arjomand Kermani / The Netherlands (on-line)
Learning from Conservation-led regeneration experiences in Iranian historic cities: Case study of Shiraz and Isfahan

Elizabeth Howard Moore / UK (on-line)
Moesat Wathan / Myanmar  (on-line)
Challenges of Public Spaces in Amarapura, 18th century capital of Myanmar 

Swapna Kothari & Shivangi Thakur  / India (on-line)
The ‘heart’ of public interventions in historic cities- reflections on the HRIDAY scheme

15.30-16.00: Coffee break

16.00-17.30: Final Discussion and closing

19.00: Farewell dinner (optional)
Alla Torre De’ Rossi Restaurant Borgo San Jacopo, 3 – Florence

Saturday, 11 March 2023. Day 3

10.00:  Meeting point at Via Cavour n. 1 Visit to the new archaeological itinerary of Palazzo Medici Riccardi (by Prof. Arch. David Palterer and Arch. Norberto Medardi)

11.00: Visit to the “Dio fluviale of Michelangelo Buonarroti at the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno (by Prof. Giorgio Bonsanti)

11.30: Visit to some recent rehabilitation works in the Oltrarno area (by Alessia Montacchini)

CONFERENCE FEES

 Those who are interested in attending the conference in presence in Florence have to write to write to icomos.theory@fondazione-delbianco.org and confirm the payment of the conference fee below by 6 March 2023.

• Registration fee for ICOMOS Members, Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation Experts or staff of the Institutional Members of the Foundation’s Life Beyond Tourism Movement (including 2 days attendance 9-10 March 2023; farewell dinner excluded, to be booked and paid separately)         € 70
• Registration fee for Non ICOMOS or Non Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation/Life Beyond Tourism Movement Affiliated Members (including 2 days attendance 9-10 March 2023); farewell dinner excluded, to be booked and paid separately) € 130
• Students Auditor Daily Fee (farewell dinner excluded, to be booked and paid separately) € 30
• Standard Auditor Daily Fee (farewell dinner excluded, to be booked and paid separately) € 70

SOME PRACTICAL DETAILS

• Farewell Dinner (optional)
  As usual there is the possibility for participants to enjoy the farewell dinner (a typical Tuscan menu: starters, main course and side dishes, dessert, wine) at the breathtaking roof terrace of the Alla Torre De’ Rossi Restaurant.

Price is 40 euro and the payment can be done at the conclusion of the dinner directly to the restaurant.
For reservations, write to icomos.theory@fondazione-delbianco.org by 6 March 2023, specifying any specific diets or intolerances.

• On-line attendance
  It is free for ICOMOS and Foundation’s Members. In order to assist the conference on-line, paste https://forms.gle/9HwN9TagLuevej597 on your url bar and fill the form up within 6^th March 2023; you will receive a Zoom Platform link before the conference starts.

NOTES

Thanks to a Memorandum of Understanding signed originally in 2013 and renewed in 2019 all the ICOMOS ISCs have the possibility to hold their annual meetings in Florence, in collaboration with the Fondazione Romualdo Del Bianco and its “Life Beyond Tourism” Movement, that prompt local communities in WHS to protect and enhance heritage for travelers inclusiveness and intercultural dialogue.
In 2014 Life Beyond Tourism has been endorsed by the ICOMOS GA Resolutions n.1 and n.42.

The Final Resolution of the 18th General Assembly in ICOMOS recognizes the operating of the Romualdo Del Bianco Foundation’s Life Beyond Tourism Model and considers the Foundation itself as a partner for promoting conferences and meetings with Foundation’s university network and ICOMOS.