Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71580
Title: Continuity and change in historic contested townscapes : the case study of Mdina as a walled city
Authors: Vassallo, Melanie (2020)
Keywords: Cultural property -- Malta -- Mdina
Historic preservation -- Malta -- Mdina
Architecture -- Conservation and restoration -- Malta -- Mdina
Issue Date: 2020
Citation: Vassallo, M. (2020). Continuity and change in historic contested townscapes: the case study of Mdina as a walled city (Master's dissertation).
Abstract: The goal of this study is to present a new perspective to the notions of continuity and change in walled cities by examining the nature of past and present urban landscapes. The investigation was carried out on the walled city of Mdina which provided a paradox where, on the one hand, the city is seen as a symbol of its past history, but on the other hand it is seen as a beacon of modern urban existence and pressured by its tourism potential. Tensions and contestations are evident in Mdina between the ownership as a place to live and the ownership as a national monument. This presents considerable challenges to conserve walled cities that are simultaneously living communities. The research aims to examine the influence of contestations on the city and its characteristics, in order to address existing gaps in knowledge concerning the heritage management of walled contested cities. Through a case-study approach this dissertation seeks to investigate those characteristics that if ignored, successful conservation of historic cities will be compromised. The study reflects on three main components: old urban character, modern physical changes, and conservation management. The implementation of a character appraisal reveals the main townscape characteristics that can be used as preliminary guidelines for the conservation of the city and also the practical considerations behind managing a walled city. The work revolved around two main components: the theoretical component and the practical component. The former component included desktop analysis of both primary and secondary sources, while the latter component included on-site observations and fieldworks. Additionally, Cefai’s (1988) and Grieve’s (1999) seminal research works on Mdina’s characterization served as a baseline reference against which to compare Mdina’s present characteristics in the early 21st century as deduced from the character appraisal. A comparative analysis was then held between the three studies to prove a stronger understanding of how the characteristics of Mdina changed in the process of adapting to the forces imposed by society. This concluded that most characteristics have been either lost or changed, while a few were also acquired in this 30-year gap of study. To this end, this dissertation analyzed how the tensions, as a result of modern activities happening within the walls of a medieval city, affected the development of the city and hence its character.
Description: M.ARCH.
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/71580
Appears in Collections:Dissertations - FacBen - 2020
Dissertations - FacBenAUD - 2020

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