An event titled “Rethinking Cultural Heritage and Inclusive Urban Regeneration” was held on Wednesday (20 May) during WUF13 in Baku, bringing together international officials, urban planners and cultural experts to discuss how heritage preservation can support more inclusive and resilient cities.
The session focused on the role of heritage-led urban regeneration in addressing housing challenges, protecting local identity and improving living conditions without displacing communities.
Participants also examined how historic neighbourhoods can contribute to climate resilience, economic revitalisation and sustainable urban development.
Speaking at the forum, founder of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, former vice president of the World Bank and cultural expert Ismail Serageldin said policymakers must consider “what, how, and for whom” historical areas are being preserved.
According to him, conservation efforts should not focus solely on individual buildings, but must protect the broader character of cities while taking into account social, economic, environmental and physical dimensions.
He stressed the importance of community participation, investment mobilisation and minimising displacement during regeneration projects.
Morocco’s State Secretary for Housing, Adib Benbrahim, said urban redevelopment must preserve identity and historical value, warning that demolition and reconstruction require careful long-term planning.
“Of course, we sometimes see that historic neighborhoods also face unemployment-related problems. But in any case, we must not forget that cultural heritage is largely about cultural identity and cultural history,” Benbrahim said.
Meanwhile, Mexico City’s Minister of Housing, Inti Muñoz, said regeneration projects should maintain social, cultural and economic balance in order to avoid negative social consequences while strengthening urban resilience.
He noted that, in the process of urban renewal and development, this historical multilayered character is being carefully preserved.
“For visitors coming to Mexico City, this heritage is of great importance and forms a key part of the city’s cultural identity. In recent years, tourist inflows and urban life in Mexico City have increased significantly,” he added.
Speakers repeatedly underlined that regeneration should go beyond physical reconstruction and address wider social issues.
Elisabet Cirici said inclusive regeneration must be rooted in principles of social justice, with housing, employment, access to public services and the protection of vulnerable groups remaining central to planning efforts.
Anaclaudia Rossbach said cultural heritage plays a vital role in shaping the identity of future cities and cannot be separated from sustainable development.
“Cultural development remains impossible without this component; concurrently, sustainable development cannot fully materialize without the preservation of cultural heritage,” she said.
Representing Azerbaijan, Sabina Hajiyeva highlighted the experience of Icherisheher, also known as the Old City of Baku.
She said regeneration should focus on preserving the overall urban fabric rather than isolated structures, noting that Icherisheher remains a living community rather than solely a tourist destination.
According to the session organisers, the forum aimed to demonstrate how heritage-led regeneration can improve housing affordability, strengthen resilience and support climate-responsive urban transformation.
The discussion also explored financing models, partnerships and policy approaches that connect heritage conservation with tourism, housing and local economic development.
Moderated by Nazanine Moshiri, the session formed part of broader discussions at WUF13 on sustainable urban development and inclusive city planning.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. T...
The UK government has nationalised British Steel, taking full ownership of the country's only primary steelmaker from its Chinese owners to safeguard ...
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev invited Chinese technology companies to expand investment in Kazakhstan during a business roundtable in Shangha...
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
The UK government has nationalised British Steel, taking full ownership of the country's only primary steelmaker from its Chinese owners to safeguard the future of the UK's steel industry.
Two British hackers who carried out a cyberattack on Transport for London (TfL) that cost the transport authority £29 million to remediate have been jailed for a total of 11 years.
Officials from more than 20 oil-producing countries have agreed on a roadmap to strengthen international cooperation in the oil industry during a meeting in Azerbaijan. The plan aims to deepen collaboration across key areas, including markets, technology, investment and regulation.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced the reimposition of a U.S. naval blockade on all Iranian ports and warned that power plants and bridges could be targeted next week unless Tehran returns to negotiations.
The United States carried out a third consecutive night of airstrikes against Iran, targeting military capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a blockade on Iranian shipping and proposed a 20% fee on cargo passing through the strategic waterway.
The death toll from the fire at a live music pub in Bangkok has climbed to 32 after two more victims died from their injuries, according to Thailand's Police Hospital.
Ukraine and Russia exchanged fresh attacks on Tuesday, with Kyiv targeting shipping and energy infrastructure inside Russia while Moscow launched another large-scale missile and drone assault on Ukrainian cities.
The U.S. military announced that it has completed a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets under U.S. President Donald Trump's orders. The operation targeted command centres, air defence systems, missile and drone facilities, and coastal surveillance sites across multiple locations.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev invited Chinese technology companies to expand investment in Kazakhstan during a business roundtable in Shanghai on 16 July, promoting the country as a regional hub for artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.
Officials from more than 20 oil-producing countries have agreed on a roadmap to strengthen international cooperation in the oil industry during a meeting in Azerbaijan. The plan aims to deepen collaboration across key areas, including markets, technology, investment and regulation.
Peace. Prosperity. New political forces. A technology-driven economy. Following Armenia’s parliamentary election, AnewZ took to the streets of Yerevan to ask people how they imagine their country five years from now.
President Ilham Aliyev has reaffirmed Azerbaijan's support for an independent Palestinian state during talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Baku on Wednesday (15 July).
The Armenian government has advanced the ratification process for the Framework Agreement on Strategic Cooperation with the United States on the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project, taking the next formal step towards its entry into force.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment