In order to respect cultural identity (i.e. to preserve the existing identity and to reveal its potential) the information regarding the particular identity should be considered during the preparation of a particular project. However, as the estimation of the present situation shows, in urban design, the information about the individual characteristics has not yet been formalized to a necessary degree. Architects should consider the possibilities offered by new information technologies (i.e. digital models of localities and database included into the so-called GIS – Geographical Information Systems) both for the determination of the locus’ cultural identity and for its respectation. Obviously, the orientation toward the application of the formalized information models of locus is purposeful. Although the majority of the authors claim that the environmental design should necessarily involve the estimation of the context and consideration of the local factors affecting the structural intention, they do not introduce clear instrumental tools and do not reveal sufficiently how to embody it in practice. The term identity is often employed to define the essential features of localities and architectural objects, which should be preserved and protected, in a word, respected. Locality is the concept pointing to both natural and relative territorial units of various types that are significant in relevant architectural contexts. The term identity is accompanied by the word cultural in... [to full text]

In order to respect cultural identity (i.e. to preserve the existing identity and to reveal its potential) the information regarding the particular identity should be considered during the preparation of a particular project. However, as the estimation of the present situation shows, in urban design, the information about the individual characteristics has not yet been formalized to a necessary degree. Architects should consider the possibilities offered by new information technologies (i.e. digital models of localities and database included into the so-called GIS – Geographical Information Systems) both for the determination of the locus’ cultural identity and for its respectation. Obviously, the orientation toward the application of the formalized information models of locus is purposeful. Although the majority of the authors claim that the environmental design should necessarily involve the estimation of the context and consideration of the local factors affecting the structural intention, they do not introduce clear instrumental tools and do not reveal sufficiently how to embody it in practice. The term identity is often employed to define the essential features of localities and architectural objects, which should be preserved and protected, in a word, respected. Locality is the concept pointing to both natural and relative territorial units of various types that are significant in relevant architectural contexts. The term identity is accompanied by the word cultural in... [to full text]