Integrating Inner-City Historic Neighbourhood in Urban Redevelopment Programs of Addis Ababa: The case of “Serategna Sefer” (Labourers Camp), Addis Ababa
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Date
2014-05
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Addis Ababauniversity
Abstract
Historic resources are key ingredients in neighbourhood liveability, and quality of life. In an
increasingly fast-paced and ‘placeless’ form of urban development, the historic and architectural
characters are essential to the identity and uniqueness of a community. This identity helps to
create a sense of stability and enables an understanding of how this unique character, itself a
product of incremental development over time, can provide a direction and inspiration for the
form of future development. In the contrary inner-city historic resources become increasingly
neglected, misused and deteriorated as a result it lost its significance to a complete renewal.
This study, therefore, aims to assess the ongoing neglect and decay of historic inner-city
centres and the comprehensive redevelopment or urban renewal programs being undertaken in
the city of Addis Ababa by taking “Serategna Sefer” as a case study. Hence, the methodology
used for the research is a case study method and employed in an in-depth interview, structured
questionnaire, interviews and field observation to collect primary and secondary data.
Integrating the physical, social and cultural fabric of the inner-city centres in the current
comprehensive redevelopment program undertaken in the historic neighbourhood of Addis
Ababa and revitalizing the tangible (physical character) and the intangible (social and economic)
values of such inner-city centres is the main objective of the study, therefore, it focuses on how
the physical, socio-economic and cultural aspects can best be integrated in current urban
redevelopment programs by taking a case study of one of the oldest and indeed, well-known,
historic inner-city centres of Addis Ababa: “Seratagna Sefer”.
The findings of study show that there are ample opportunities and strengths for revitalizing the
urban pattern, socio-economic vibrancy, distinct character and architectural heritage of the
study area. Accordingly, the study proposes that due consideration be made on rehabilitating
the tangible and intangible heritage of the historic neighbourhood as well as the resident’s
participation in the design and execution of the inner-city improvement programs. Furthermore,
the study provides some solutions as to how the original community can be maintained as far as
possible and how low-income residents could be protected from the impact of relocation
including gentrification. Finally, the study focuses on improving the urban pattern and tissue of
this inner-city area which can enhance the historic quality of the mixed-use environment
adapted to modern conditions and requirements
Keywords: Inner-city historic neighbourhood; rehabilitation and revitalization; Incremental
development; participation
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Keywords
Inner-city historic neighbourhood, rehabilitation and revitalization, Incremental, development; participation