Identity Research Methods for Built-Up and Unbuilded Territories of the Leningrad Region

The Leningrad Region is a region with a rich yet internally diverse heritage, where a common identity is collective and requires detailed development. It represents a unique territorial complex, home to numerous cultural heritage sites, a distinctive cultural environment, and rich natural landscapes. These elements are widely known in Russia and are in demand in various fields, from tourism to cultural education and territorial branding. Their development creates the preconditions for the formation of a sustainable regional identity, which nevertheless requires detailed development at the level of local settlements. This study examines the characteristics of the Leningrad Region's regional identity. Methods for identifying identity for developed and undeveloped areas of the Leningrad Region, using different algorithms, are proposed. The method for identifying identity for newly developed (undeveloped) areas involves studying the territory across three groups of factors (natural, historical, and socio-cultural) and identifying their indicators with an assessment according to an established scale. The method for identifying the identity of the architectural environment of settlements in the Leningrad Region with historical buildings is based on three levels of morphological analysis—urban planning, architectural, and design—which will allow for the identification of the key identifying markers that shape its uniqueness.