Role of Cultural Agglomeration in Models of Urban Regeneration through Developing Cultural Strategies

For the last 30 years, the development of cultural agglomerations as a deliberate model of urban regeneration has become increasingly fashionable. Accordingly several studies have been conducted regarding this issue. Although, there is a good deal of literature concerning the interpretation of culture in urban development, they are more related to specific and finite cultural strategies and their value narrows to a comprehensive evaluation regarding the possible interpretation of cultural agglomeration in respect of urban regeneration. Accordingly, this research attempted, firstly, to reveal expose the notion of cultural agglomeration and developed a method based on modes and development approach of cultural agglomeration. Secondly, by using an interdisciplinary systemic approach based on the agglomeration of cultural carriers, which are entitled as product, process, place, people, theme and time, classified the cultural strategies under a six concepts-scheme. The study revealed that each strategy developed in urban context grounded by different modes and development approaches. Accordingly through the suggested method re-categorized the six mentioned strategies into three major categories of cultural strategies. In fact the categorization was done due to the mutual modes and development approaches of cultural strategies. Along with developing the cultural strategies, the research revealed different models of urban regeneration by considering a vast literature. The study exposed that each model of urban regeneration originated from a specific strategy. The integration between models and cultural strategies was done through comprehending their common features. Overall, the study revealed the extent of cultural agglomeration as a method of developing cultural strategies in urban regeneration. The outcomes identify the logic of modes and development approaches of cultural agglomeration, showing how an advanced organization of the cultural agglomeration can lead to a successful urban regeneration.