Urban regeneration is a broad term that refers, amongst others, to regeneration processes of decaying urban areas. These processes, which occur in historic areas such as 'city centre', industrial areas, waterfronts and exhibition areas, have extensive physical, social and economic implications.

Over the last two decades, as part of such regenerative planning processes, the built heritage and the values of the historic city center were recognized as a unique cultural resource that requires both protection and enhancement. Urban Conservation is a practice aiming to identify, protect and manage historical areas in urban context, and a set of tools driving to attain integrated and sustainable development. The theoretical background for this practice includes a vast collection of articles, international conventions and guidelines that determine standards and recommendations for the conservation of urban areas. Urban Conservation serves as a tool to enrich the urban environment, bringing forth the physical expression to local identity and Sense of Place, as well as a tool for cultural development and for the fostering of a sense of pride and of community identification. On the practical side, conservation-led regeneration is presented as a tactic for accelerating development trends and strengthening the city's center for tourism and economic activities.

The seminar will present and critically analyze different approaches for this practice through discussing local and international case studies.