Summary

Considering impressive cultural, religious and tourism impacts of the Historical Texture of Sultan Amir Ahmad District, this project was launched in order to organize, upgrade, revival and equip this district along with creating a tourism network inside the area.Starting from Alavi street and passing to Sang e Poloei district, Ziarat alley, and Boroujerdi Sabats, the district leads to Seljuk old city wall and fortress.

Background and Objective

The low social status of some parts of the worn tissues due to the urban location, the social class and combination of the inhabitants, the security problems and various kinds of crimes etc, caused that the residents feel a lack of sense of belonging to the texture and not investment in this district. As a result, the immigration and the abandonment of the inhabitants or renting the estates to the poor can be mentioned from the most prominent issues in the worn-out tissues

Actions and Implementation

Despite the existence of some of the most valuable historical places, the shortage or lack of proper services for tourists and residents, lack of infrastructure, environmental degradation and, to a certain extent, stagnation of job activities (handicrafts, artwork, products and cultural products), lack of spaces and activities for night life and the existence of abandoned and useless spaces have reduced the sense of security in parts of the area, especially at night. These problems prove the necessity of the redevelopment of this area and equipping it in order to "play the sustainable role of the city's cultural and tourism center" in the future. Hence, the cultural accreditation, the promotion of entrepreneurship and economic activities, supporting industrialists , crafts actors, and artists, encouraging them to participate in the urban projects (from decision making to implementation) and recreating the cohesiveness and the organic relationship between the valuable elements of the texture are considered as the main necessities for the revitalization of this historical center. Among the obstacles and problems that we've encountered during implementation of the project, the following items are more considerable: - The structural limitations of the texture to define more infrastructures - Lack of cooperation from some residents and their insistence on using modern architecture - The presence of non-indigenous people with different cultures in the historical texture - The problem of passing vehicles due to the existence of narrow alleys and streets in the district - The weak participation of some other public organization in civil investment of traditional texture Most of the problems were resolved, considering a wide call on and using the intellectual investments including university professors, university students majoring in art and architectures, NGOs, and some of elder and experienced residents of the district. More importantly, according to a joint measure taken by Municipality and University of Kashan, the first National Conference on Rehabilitation and Revival of Old Urban Textures was held on May, 29, 2015 in Kashan.The main advantages of this conference were a gathering of thinkers, scholars, managers, experts and urban planners to discuss and provide the scientific platform for Iranian-Islamic progress of urban worn tissues and as a result, defining the principles and methods for managing Urban Worn Textures at the National and especially Kashan region, and analysis of opportunities and challenges of urban texture.

Outcomes and Impacts

The following examples can be considered the main measures taken in order to achieve sustainability in different aspects. 1. Cultural – Historical aspect - To identify valuable sites that have the potential to be restored and attract more tourists - To strengthen the relationship with the University of Art and Architecture in order to design face and view of the city based on the historical architecture of the city - To create the context for using the experiences of experts of historical architecture - To do the utmost effort to put the distinguished texture in the list of UNESCO - To take necessary measures to preserve the ancient arts through the establishment of museums - To establish the integrated tourism companies in the region to revive the tangible and intangible heritage 3. Social- environmental aspects - To change the name of districts and alleys to their previous names - To present the plan of green environments in wastelands along the axis - To make native population turn back to the district through financial supports - To prepare the primary plans and present to land owners in order to change the facade of their building 4. Economical measures - To plan the restoration of abandoned shops in the district - To realize the creative tourism by supporting the producers of handicrafts, the promotion of boutique hotels, etc and, as a result, taking a step toward the young people employment

Gender and Social Inclusivity

Due to the rich and unique architecture, the historical texture of Kashan has applied marvelous methods in the construction and used elements such as wind towers, pit garden yards, etc, all of which include valuable architecture measures transferable to the warm and dry climates of other cities all around the world.

Innovative Initiative

The project included valuable experiences and lessons, the most important of which can be mentioned as follow: - To pay attention to promotion of sustainable development through revival of historic identity and architecture values of the urban worn textures - To learn that restoration of worn out textiles, along with the provision of local services, will increase the inhabitants tendency to stay in historical textures - To notice the impressive and incredible advantages of citizens participation in great urban projects

Resources devoted to delivery

No. Title Source Author Publication Title Volume Number Date Page Number 1 To Implement More Than 10 Constructional Project in the Historic Texture of Kashan Sialk Journal H. Motevalli Sialk 10 April-May 2016 3

Conclusion

Some of the main policy changes enacted as a result of this practice can be mentioned as follow: -The support of urban management from the private sector in terms of tax- free, construction, and renovation facilities in historical context - Policy development in creative tourism development - Providing a platform for expanding cultural activities in the historic textures, aimed at promoting social participation - Applying the patterns and symbols of ancient architecture in urban facades and landscape (such as murals, urban elements, etc)