Urban management of heritage sites: the case of Porto

Abstract

The economic-financial crisis, in the recent times, emerged the need to promote a new approach of urban management, aiming to equate the impacts of economic globalization in the cities of developed countries. These impacts become evident since the 90s, ensuring the affirmation of local on global as a powerful strategy to reinforce the importance and the value of local characteristics through the development of a competitive, sustainable, wealthy and healthy urban footprint, aiming the well-being of the general community. In order to achieve these goals, it is recognized in the literature, the need to develop better multi-dimensional approaches in strategic and operational levels, comprising economic, ecological, social and cultural dimensions. Thus, keeping this perspective, this paper will analyze the UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape (2011), and the current Portuguese legislation and guidelines that cover the same theme, on the wide spectrum of traditional and innovative available tools, that intend to render these recommendations operational and sustainable concerning the management, safeguard and development of Historic Urban Landscapes. This approach links to the concept of regenerative cities and impacts positively on economic growth. It is applied, as a case study, to the heritage center of Porto, specifically the Alfandega's building, highlighting the potential for investment and development in this area, and thus reinforcing the local historical and cultural value and dynamics.