The Role of Urban Design in Cultural Regeneration

One of the techniques that has been used as a tool for urban development in recent years is that of cultural regeneration. This is seen as a means of restoring and improving the quality of urban life through the enhancement and development of the unique characteristics of a place and its people. This article argues that urban design is integral to the process of cultural regeneration, as such things as mixed-use developments, environmental improvement schemes and, in particular, public art help in the expression and development of the culture of an area. The article looks at how specific cultural quarters are developed in city centre areas, focusing on an area of Manchester known as the Northern Quarter, and outlines the ways in which urban design techniques are used as part of the process of wider cultural regeneration. It is suggested that, for improved chances of success, the adoption of a holistic approach to urban regeneration is required, with policy-makers using culture as an organizing principle for city management and urban design.