UNESCO’s HUL Approach

UNESCO’s approach to managing Historic Urban Landscapes (HUL) is rooted in a holistic and interdisciplinary perspective. It recognizes the integration of urban heritage conservation with the goals of social and economic development, viewing urban heritage as a valuable asset for the progress of cities. The HUL approach goes beyond preserving physical structures and emphasises the entire human environment, including tangible and intangible aspects.

This approach seeks to enhance the sustainability of planning and design interventions by considering the existing built environment, intangible heritage, cultural diversity, socio-economic conditions, and environmental elements while respecting local community values. It calls for active engagement from public, private, and civic sectors to foster greater involvement in preservation efforts, raise awareness, and explore innovative schemes. By involving a wide range of stakeholders, the city’s historical and contemporary aspects can be better preserved and celebrated. The HUL is both an approach and a new way of understanding cities. It integrates urban conservation within a sustainable development framework, utilizing traditional and innovative tools tailored to the local context. This helps expand one’s understanding of the historic environment and allows for identifying the complex elements contributing to a city’s distinctiveness, sense of place, and identity. Recognizing and enhancing these cultural and natural values layers is essential in shaping conservation strategies and city development plans.

To implement the HUL approach effectively, UNESCO recommends six critical steps. These steps include-

1. Conducting comprehensive surveys and mapping of the city’s resources.

2. Engaging in participatory planning and stakeholder consultations to determine the values worth protecting for future generations.

3. Assessing the vulnerability of these values to socio-economic stresses and climate change.

4. Integrating heritage values into broader city development frameworks.

5. Prioritizing actions for conservation and development.

6. Establishing partnerships and local management frameworks for identified projects.

By following these steps and adopting the HUL approach, cities can effectively manage their historic urban landscapes, ensuring heritage preservation while accommodating the evolving needs of communities. This approach acknowledges the dynamic nature of cities and the need for adaptive strategies to balance heritage conservation and sustainable development.

Steps of HUL Approach

Source: UNESCO