Dear Researchers,
Representing a coalition of cultural/scientific subjects from Poland I would like to present a project proposal:

ARCHITECTURAL METHODS OF INTERPRETING THE HERITAGE OF EUROPEAN SMALL TOWNS.

or:
How to design architecture in a fragile environment of small town to creatively approach to its heritage. To strengthen its values without falling into conservative stagnation.

This projects main field is ARCHITECTURE understood as "methodology of architectural design”.

Description:
European small towns has their own unique character resulting from their history and scale. Spatial structure of most European small towns is inseparably connected with the process of developing of civil rights in medieval period.
But later, in the industrial age, towns were too small to meet the demands of developing industry, and their importance declined.
Now, in so called "information era" which brought transformation of many economical, social and cultural processes, small towns are becoming attractive again. In this situation we are facing a challenge:
How to build? How to design in a small town, not to damage their uniqueness? How to develop their heritage and creatively move it toward future? It seems that relying just on the talent of single architect may bring controversial effects.
It would be desirable to find good methods of dealing with this subject. The research should focus on looking for appropriate tools, typologies, strategies etc that could be useful in architects job in small town.

Why should we concern on architects and not urban planners, governments and others?
Because the unique spatial phenomenon that is connected with European small town, its atmosphere and structure is a result of many bottom-up decisions rather than top-down regulations (which were more common in large cities). To sustain this character we should act in similar manner.

We are waiting for Your opinions, comments and applications. We address this call to research teams such as Universities/Politecnics. Heritage Preservation Institutes, Think-Tanks and others.
Regards,
Paweł Pedrycz