Developing a methodology for a landscape-based approach to urban conservation. The case of Maputo, Mozambique.

The broad scope of this research study is to provide a contribution and stimulate methodological as well as operational reflection and advance on the debate regarding the need to support a historic urban landscape approach to urban heritage conservation, management and planning in order to develop an urban plan able to foster the city identity and improve urban quality. In particular, this research seeks to provide deeper insights on the following specific question: “How the HUL approach can help to assess the heritage values of a city in Sub-Saharan Africa, inform decision-making and the development of a sustainable landscape-based and values-informed plan, contributing to sustain the qualitative conservation and transformation of an urban area?” The research will explore this question based on the example derived from the city of Maputo, Mozambique, with the intention to bring the theoretical discussion around this debate to a more operational perspective and level of analysis. In addition, considering the data required and given the richness and depth of the evidence required for this research, a case study has being selected and studied in detail, namely the Urban Development Plan of the Historic District (Baixa) of Maputo, which has been developed between 2013 and 2015 by the Municipality with funding from the World Bank. Based on the results of the fieldwork study and of the analysis of a real heritage conservation initiative, this research specific objective is to contribute on the design and application of the methodology needed for the HUL implementation, by developing an empirical participatory and interdisciplinary methodological process to qualify heritage cultural significance, and identify how it can be translated into policies formulation and urban conservation practices that fosters a city identity, liveability and urban quality.