| Title |
Urban Monument Preservation,Stadtebaulicher Denkmalschutz, as a Strategy for Historic City Regeneration after German unification |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2025.41.9.81 |
| Keywords |
Decline; Urban Regeneration; Historic City; Urban Development Support Programme(Stadtebauforderung); Urban Monument Protection(Stadtebaulicher Denkmalschutz) |
| Abstract |
This study examines the Stadtebaulicher Denkmalschutz program, part of the broader Stadtebauforderung initiative, as a method for historical urban regeneration. The analysis focuses on its implementation in Zittau, a former East German city, following reunification. After reunification, East German cities like Zittau faced major challenges, including social instability and inequality compared to their western counterparts. In response, several urban development programs were introduced in Zittau. Among them, the Stadtebaulicher Denkmalschutz, proved most impactful. The program achieved notable outcomes: it helped stabilize social life, curb population decline, restore the historical identity of the city center, and boost the local tourism sector. Its strength lay in a comprehensive approach that combined physical restoration with socioeconomic revitalization. By preserving historic architecture while adapting spaces for modern use, the program reconnected residents with cultural values that had been overlooked during the socialist era. The Zittau case highlights the potential of targeted urban regeneration strategies to promote social integration and economic renewal in post-socialist contexts. The success of the St?dtebaulicher Denkmalschutz demonstrates how heritage preservation, when aligned with strategic development, can address the complex challenges of transition-era cities. This research offers insights for regions undergoing similar transformations worldwide. |