Abstract This study examines surviving French colonial residential buildings in central Da Nang using field surveys, photographic documentation, archival sources, and expert assessment. Four key criteria, including historical and urban value, architectural and artistic value, community and contextual value, and physical integrity, were developed to assess heritage value. The study proposes a multi-criteria assessment framework to guide conservation and adaptive reuse, highlighting the potential of small-scale projects for integration into urban planning in Southeast Asia.
Abstract This article examines the spatial distribution, typology, and development of Creative Industry Centres (CICs) in Latvia. CICs are understood as operational infrastructures within wider creative and urban ecosystems, supporting co-creation, prototyping, knowledge exchange, entrepreneurship, and local value creation. Using spatial analysis, case studies, expert interviews, policy review, and supplementary workshops, the study maps 27 publicly traceable CICs across seven Latvian cities and one town and classifies them as broad-spectrum CICs, prototyping laboratories, and creative business incubators. Findings show a strong concentration in Riga, while regional centres contribute to local entrepreneurship, creative collaboration, product development, community activity, and talent retention. The results indicate that CICs’ growth has been shaped by urban policy, higher education institutions, funding cycles, local initiatives, and European Capital of Culture processes. This positions CICs as instruments for strengthening creative infrastructure and supporting more balanced regional development in Latvia.
Abstract This paper presents a comparative study of late Stalinist airport terminals in Kharkiv and Vilnius, examining how a shared Soviet typology generated locally differentiated architectural expressions. Using archival sources, field survey and comparative analysis, it identifies two conservation logics, namely heritage-core preservation through load reduction and adaptive reuse under infrastructural pressure, and argues that architectural value and ideological burden are not mutually exclusive in shaping conservation strategies for dissonant heritage.
Abstract Latvia’s 1980s rural cultural centres, built as multifunctional hubs, are framed by scholars as postmodern resistance to Soviet uniformity, but rural voices are overlooked. Using archival research and oral histories from six communities, this study contrasts professional narratives with local views of pragmatism and utility. Findings show these centres as “lived” social spaces shaped by local leadership, not just “conceived” ideological ones. This repositions them as hybrid artefacts for post-Soviet heritage.
Abstract This article examines the integration of industrial design into art installations as a multidisciplinary approach that redefines urban public spaces. Drawing upon theoretical insights and case studies, the research investigates how the synergy between design and art enhances urban aesthetics and functionality. As a result, such integration positions it as a key strategy for creating vibrant and liveable cities by fostering socially responsive, sustainable, and participatory environments.
