https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi
volume 4, issue 5, 2025
302
PRESERVATION AND MODERNIZATION OF HISTORIC URBAN AREAS
Islamоva Dilnоza Gayratоvna
is a seniоur teacher
Samarkand State оf Architecture and
Civil Engineering University,
Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Аbstrаct:
This article explores the issues related to the preservation of historical urban squares,
their significance as cultural heritage, and their modernization in accordance with contemporary
urban planning requirements. The study analyzes the architectural, cultural, and functional value
of historical spaces and outlines the principles for their development within the context of
modern urbanization processes.
Furthermore, the importance of maintaining ecological, social, and aesthetic balance in historical
squares based on the concept of sustainable development is emphasized. The article also presents
proposals and recommendations grounded in both local and international experience.
Keywords
: square, protected area, central square, historical cities, modern urban planning,
functional center, historical cities, compositional harmony, street, Main Square.
СОХРАНЕНИЕ И МОДЕРНИЗАЦИЯ ИСТОРИЧЕСКИХ ГОРОДСКИХ
ПЛОЩАДЕЙ
Аннотация:
В данной статье рассматриваются вопросы сохранения исторических
городских площадей, их значение как культурного наследия и модернизация в
соответствии с современными урбанистическими требованиями. В процессе исследования
проанализированы архитектурная, культурная и функциональная ценность исторических
пространств, а также освещены принципы их развития в контексте современных
процессов урбанизации.
Кроме того, подчеркивается важность сохранения экологического, социального и
эстетического баланса на исторических площадях на основе концепции устойчивого
развития. В статье также приведены предложения и рекомендации, основанные на
местном и зарубежном опыте.
Ключевые слова:
площадь, охраняемая территория, центральная площадь, исторические
города, современное городское планирование, функциональный центр, исторические
города, композиционная гармония, улица, Главная площадь.
TARIXIY SHAHAR MAYDONLARINING SAQLANISHI VA MODERNIZATSIYASI
Аnnotаtsiyа:
Mazkur maqolada tarixiy shahar maydonlarining saqlanishi, ularning madaniy
meros sifatidagi o‘rni va zamonaviy urbanistik talablar asosida modernizatsiya qilish masalalari
ko‘rib chiqilgan. Tadqiqot davomida tarixiy makonlarning me’moriy, madaniy va funksional
qiymati tahlil qilinib, ularni zamonaviy shaharlashuv jarayoniga uyg‘un holda rivojlantirish
tamoyillari yoritiladi. Shuningdek, barqaror rivojlanish konsepsiyasi asosida tarixiy maydonlarda
ekologik, ijtimoiy va estetik muvozanatni saqlab qolishning ahamiyati ta’kidlanadi. Maqolada
mahalliy va xorijiy tajribalarga asoslangan taklif va tavsiyalar ham bayon etilgan.
Kаlit so'zlаr:
Mаydon, muhofaza xududlar, mаrkаziy mаydon, tarixiy shaharlar, zаmonаviy
https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi
volume 4, issue 5, 2025
303
shаhаrsozlik, funksionаl mаrkаz, tаrixiy shаhаrlаr, kompozitsion uyg'unlik, ko'chа, bosh
mаydon.
Introduction.
Historical city squares are central, historical, cultural, and socially significant
public spaces of a city. These spaces are often surrounded by architectural monuments, bear
witness to historical events, and have traditionally served as centers for communal gatherings,
trade, religious, and administrative activities. Their importance lies in being carriers of urban
memory and historical identity, as well as sources of tourism, economic activity, and urban value.
In the process of reconstructing historical cities and their centers, a differentiated approach is
necessary, taking into account the historical and cultural value of each area. This approach
should not only vary from one city to another but also be planned with attention to differences in
architectural heritage, levels of urban formation, and historical layering within different areas of
the same city.
In modern urban planning practices, the preservation of historic squares and centers is carried out
in stages, based on the regional significance of the area. First, historically valuable central areas
are identified, and surrounding mixed zones -where historical and modern construction merge -
are considered separately.
In the reconstruction of centers of small and medium-sized historic towns, the following
elements are essential: construction that harmonizes with historical monuments, territorial-
functional zoning, the establishment of “orderly urban zoning,” and achieving sustainable urban
development through the restoration of the historical environment. This process involves not
only restoring architectural monuments but also revitalizing the surrounding social, economic,
and cultural environment, integrating it with modern urban life based on existing resources.
Materials and Methods.
In Uzbekistan, landscape planning is part of the district planning
scheme. HowevThe reconstruction or restoration of historic buildings and squares should renew
them while preserving their original appearance. It must be based on legislation and legal
frameworks, recommendations from international heritage organizations like UNESCO and
ICOMOS, national and local laws on cultural heritage preservation, and be guided by research
and documentation. This includes analyzing historical, cultural, and architectural value through
archival materials, old maps, and photographs.
Modernization principles
involve preserving the historical environment while adapting it to the
demands of modern life. Key approaches include: Adaptive reuse: giving old buildings and
squares new functions, Landscape integration: harmonizing new constructions with the
environment, Use of smart technologies, Lighting, information panels, security systems,
accessibility for disabled people, Designing modern transport and pedestrian pathways.
Since the industrial era, the development of cities has gradually moved away from traditional
practices and local needs, becoming increasingly influenced by professionals - urban planners,
engineers, and transportation designers. In this shift, architectural traditions were replaced by
theories, concepts, and ideological approaches. One example is
modernist urban planning
,
which emerged as a dominant influence from the mid-20th century and treated cities as
mechanisms divided into functional zones.
In this approach, lifestyle, social interaction, and personal needs were secondary to
organizational efficiency and transport logistics. A new class of professionals - transport
engineers - emerged. Their main objective was not to consider pedestrian or public use
perspectives, but to ensure and optimize vehicular traffic. The projects and schemes they
proposed began to embed technical automatism into the urban environment rather than human-
centered values. As a result, human activity, interaction, and needs were pushed into the
background. There was insufficient knowledge about how the physical structure of urban squares
affects daily life, mental state, and social interactions. The negative consequences of neglecting
the human factor in planning were only realized later through new research in urban studies.
https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi
volume 4, issue 5, 2025
304
Overall, urban development over the last 50 years has been problematic. City life became
detached from traditions and was not widely recognized as a vital function requiring careful
professional planning. Only now, after many years, has significant data been gathered about the
relationship between physical form and human behavior. We now better understand what should
and can be done. Simultaneously, cities and their inhabitants have started to demand more
human-centered urban planning. In recent years, many cities around the world have made serious
efforts to realize the dream of creating better cities for people. Inspiring projects and noble city
strategies point towards new directions after years of neglect.
Today, it is widely accepted that care and respect for people in urban life and planning must play
a key role in shaping cities and built environments. Although this area was not sufficiently
prioritized for many years, it is now recognized that caring for people in cities is a vital key to
creating lively, safe, sustainable, and healthy cities in the 21st century.
Furthermore, market forces and related architectural trends have begun to reshape reality: the
focus shifted from interconnectedness and public spaces to isolated individual buildings. Over
time, these buildings became more closed-off and indifferent to their surroundings. A common
situation in almost all cities — regardless of location, economic condition, or development level
- is that people who continue to use public spaces increasingly face poor conditions. Street space
is limited, obstructed by various barriers, noise, pollution, and accident risks, resulting in
generally unsuitable conditions becoming the norm for many city dwellers. These changes not
only limited walking as a form of transportation but also endangered the social and cultural
functions of urban spaces. The role of the urban space as a traditional meeting and social
interaction site was diminished, threatened, or completely lost.
A sustainable city is one in which a large part of the transport system consists of “green
mobility” walking, cycling, or public transportation. These modes of transport bring significant
benefits for the economy and the environment, reducing resource consumption, limiting waste,
and lowering noise levels. Another important aspect of sustainability is increasing the
attractiveness of public transport systems, ensuring that users feel safe and comfortable while
walking or cycling to and from buses, light rail, and trains.
Good public space and a good public transport system are two sides of the same coin. The desire
for a healthy city is greatly enhanced when walking or cycling becomes a natural part of daily
activities. We are facing a rapid increase in public health issues, as large portions of the global
population are confined to seats, while cars provide door-to-door transport between home and
work. Making walking and cycling a reliable, natural, and integrated part of everyday habits
must not be seen as optional in a unified public health policy. Growing attention to human
factors in urban planning is a clear and strong demand for high-quality cities. There is a direct
link between improvements in urban spaces for people and the realization of dreams for lively,
safe, sustainable, and healthy cities.
Conclusion.
Between 1993 and 2004, the city of Melbourne, Australia, implemented a
comprehensive program to improve conditions for city life. According to a 2005 study, since
1993, the number of pedestrians increased by 39%, and the number of people pausing in the city
tripled. Quality improvement measures directly encouraged increased urban activity. Federation
Square became one of Melbourne’s new and effective city squares, integrating many previously
neglected streets and arcades as recreational areas.
In general, Melbourne made great efforts to invite residents to use their city. From 1994 to 2004,
a large number of projects were implemented to improve the city. The number of dwellings
increased tenfold, and the population grew from 1,000 in 1992 to nearly 10,000 in 2002. Student
enrollment in or near the city center rose by 67%. New public spaces, including the
architecturally significant Federation Square, were developed. In addition, small arcades, streets,
and walking paths along the Yarra River were opened for pedestrians and transformed into
https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi
volume 4, issue 5, 2025
305
recreational areas.
Conclusion.
Preserving historical squares is not only about architectural protection but also about
revitalizing the social and cultural environment. Modernization efforts must be conducted
carefully, without damaging the historical balance. Integrating local experience with
international
practices
ensures
sustainability.
It has been 20 years since the independence of our Republic. During this time, many positive
changes have taken place in our country. This relatively short historical period has laid the
groundwork for the development of a distinct new architectural direction and artistic style in the
city of Samarkand - a post-independence architectural-landscape and urban planning style
significantly different from previous eras.
References
1. “Principles for Restoring and Forming Traditional Residential Architecture Typical of Historic
City Centers” -Article by A.S. Uralov, Doctor of Architecture, Professor; J.T. Usarov, Master's
student; T.F. Fozilov, student (Samarkand State Architectural and Civil Engineering Institute),
2016, No.2
2. Lavrov V.A. Urban planning sulture of Central Asia. M., 1950
3. L.Yu. Mankovskaya "Typological foundations of the architecture of Central Asia (1X-XX)".
Tashkent: Fan, 1980.
4.Achilovna, S. I., & Bazilevich, A. M. MODERN AESTHETIC AND ECOLOGICAL
ASPECTS OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE.
5. Сафарова, И. А., & Баратова, И. (2019). СТРОИТЕЛЬНЫЕ МАТЕРИАЛЫ
ИСТОРИЧЕСКИХ ЗДАНИИ. MODERN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.
6. Makhamova, M., & Azimova, D. (2025). Forerunners of the Study and Analysis of the Basics
of the Typology of Buildings and Elements of Landscape Architecture of Modern Wellness
Centers. TATALOKA, 27(1), 95-115.
7. Rakhmanova, M. B. (2023). TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURAL FORMS IN MODERN
BUILDINGS IN UZBEKISTAN. JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING, MECHANICS AND
MODERN ARCHITECTURE,(2), 241-244.
