Urban space regeneration of industrial heritage cities – the comparative study of textile manufacturing in Lodz and Yazd

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the role of industrial heritage in shaping urban regeneration, sociocultural identity, and heritage tourism, with a comparative focus on Łódź, Poland, and Yazd, Iran—two cities with historically significant textile manufacturing sectors. Drawing upon critical heritage studies and the Historic Urban Landscape approach, the research explores the multifaceted values of industrial heritage, including social, cultural, economic, and spatial dimensions, and examines strategies for its sustainable integration into contemporary urban development. The dissertation is structured around six empirical and conceptual studies. The first study develops a conceptual framework for applying the Historic Urban Landscape principles to industrial heritage regeneration, emphasizing recognition, partnership, diagnosis, and intervention to operationalize stakeholder-inclusive planning. Subsequent studies investigate the socio-economic and cultural significance of textile heritage sites in Yazd, highlighting that adaptive reuse can generate economic value, enhance collective memory through community involvement, and facilitate phased restoration strategies. Parallel research in Łódź examines local communities’ construction of memory and identity related to textile heritage, revealing complex, generationally and class-informed perceptions shaped by nostalgia, economic decline, and urban transformation. Further studies evaluate stakeholders’ perspectives on integrating Łódź’s industrial heritage into tourism, identifying gaps and opportunities for inclusive, sustainable, and culturally resonant tourism practices. Complementary analyses in Yazd develop a model for promoting industrial heritage tourism by leveraging abandoned textile factories’ potential for adaptive reuse, event hosting, and socio-economic revitalization. The dissertation concludes with a comparative investigation of urban regeneration strategies in Łódź and Yazd, emphasizing the importance of balancing public-private investment, enhancing accessibility, and preserving cultural heritage values while achieving socio-economic and social outcomes. Collectively, these studies advance understanding of industrial heritage as a dynamic agent of urban regeneration and community identity formation. The dissertation contributes theoretical and practical insights into stakeholder-driven planning, adaptive reuse, and the operationalization of the Historic Urban Landscape framework in industrial heritage contexts. By integrating comparative perspectives across European and Middle Eastern contexts, the research offers transferable strategies for policymakers, urban planners, and heritage managers to promote equitable, culturally informed, and sustainable urban transformation within industrial districts.