Vol. 16 No. 2 (2025): (Regular Issue in Progress)
Research Article

Exploring the Effectiveness of Urban Regeneration: The Comparative Study of the Industrial Heritage Sites of Łódź (Poland) and Yazd (Iran)

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Mohammadhossein Dehghan Pour Farashah
Doctoral School of Social Science, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
Zdzisława Elżbieta Niemczewska
Department of International Economics, Poznań University of Economics and Business, Poznań, Poland
Pedro Porfírio Coutinho Guimarães
Centre of Geographical Studies, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
The distribution of textile factories in Łódź
DOI: https://doi.org/10.48088/ejg.m.far.16.2.314.334
Categories

Published 2025-09-08

Keywords

  • Effective urban regeneration,
  • industrial heritage,
  • sustainability,
  • revitalization,
  • Poland,
  • Iran,
  • adaptive reuse
    • ...More
    Less

How to Cite

Dehghan Pour Farashah, Mohammadhossein, Zdzisława Elżbieta Niemczewska, and Pedro Porfírio Coutinho Guimarães. 2025. “Exploring the Effectiveness of Urban Regeneration: The Comparative Study of the Industrial Heritage Sites of Łódź (Poland) and Yazd (Iran)”. European Journal of Geography 16 (2):314-34. https://doi.org/10.48088/ejg.m.far.16.2.314.334.

Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammadhossein Dehghan Pour Farashah, Zdzisława Elżbieta Niemczewska, Pedro Porfírio Coutinho Guimarães

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Received 2025-05-14
Accepted 2025-09-06
Published 2025-09-08

Abstract

To establish appropriate strategies for the urban regeneration of districts with industrial heritage, it is essential to consider the factors that may influence the effectiveness of any regeneration. This study compares the revitalisation of industrial heritage sites in Łódź, Poland, as a European regeneration model, and Yazd, Iran, as an Asian counterpart—two cities that share similar textile manufacturing histories but possess distinct political, cultural, and socio-economic factors. The study examines the challenges associated with achieving effective urban regeneration in the setting of industrial heritage sites. The study employed semi-structured interviews with experts and professionals, complemented by fieldwork and observational analyses of textile manufacturing heritage sites, with a particular emphasis on revitalisation projects. The originality of this paper lies in the application of a synthetic approach to the analysis of qualitative data for comparing typologies of urban regeneration strategies within the contexts of two socio-culturally and economically distinct countries. The results indicate that for effective urban regeneration within industrial heritage sites it necessitates the attainment of socio-economic outcomes through a balanced approach to public-private financing, while mitigating the undue influence of private investments. Furthermore, projects that enhance accessibility and infrastructure, as well as promote the adaptive reuse of historical resources, should be prioritised. Such initiatives not only generate financial income but also yield social benefits and contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage values. The paper provides valuable insights for urban planners regarding the effectiveness of urban regeneration processes in districts characterised by industrial heritage.

Highlights:

  • The revitalisation project must be designed to align with both material and non-material values.
  • Shifts from private investments to collaboration highlight the industrial heritage in Łódź.
  • Substantial evidence underscores the impact of religious values on urban management in Yazd.
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