Infrastructure integration in Historic Places: Case of Shonke Village, Ethiopia
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Date
2025-07-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Historic urban development presents unique challenges, the risks of neglect on one hand and over-commercialization on the other, making preservation and modernization a complex task. This study explores how to manage this balance through infrastructure integration in the historic place of Shonke Village. The research employed a single case study design and a mixed-methods approach, utilizing qualitative and quantitative research methods. Primary data were collected through survey, key informant interview, focus group discussion, and transect walks, while secondary data were collected from published and unpublished sources. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select 89 household heads, 10 key informants, and 7 Focus group discussion participants, ensuring diverse perspectives and representation. Transect walks along four routes provided valuable observations on the village's infrastructure, historic features, and land use patterns, offering insights into the unique opportunities and challenges of the places. The collected data is analyzed using spatial, thematic, statistical, and comparative methods. The study highlights that Shonke Village possesses a rich tangible and intangible cultural heritage with sustainable development potential. However, inadequate infrastructure like water, sanitation, energy, transportation, and ICT threatens heritage and drives resident relocation. Notably, it proposes hybrid renewable energy, eco toilets, and sustainable transportation. Focusing on small targeted interventions that generate ripple effects across social, cultural, environmental, and economic domains, the proposed solutions aim to improve essential services, foster economic growth, attract tourism, and preserve Shonke’s cultural heritage. The findings underscore that strategic infrastructure improvement is grounded in a nuanced understanding of a place's cultural values, social needs, physical context, economic vitalities, and environmental considerations. This research contributes to the broader discourse on urban planning in heritage-rich cities, offering a model for harmonizing development with preservation through locally rooted, context-sensitive infrastructure solutions.
Keywords: Integrated infrastructure, Urban Planning, Heritage Preservation, Shonke Village