In this paper it is argued that high profile buildings hold a potential to
Upgrade the physical environment in neglected parts of cities and thus to make the urban space more attractive not only for business enterprises but also for residents and visitors.

A presence of high profile buildings may help to increase the gravity of a neighbourhood and bring along the physical upgrading of a wider area. Hereby a placement of high profile building to certain locations may help to set incentives as well.

This research report emphasizes that the agency of high profile building is strongly undermined by a variety of local conditions in general and by the institutional context in particular.

The aim of this paper was to discuss whether and how a presence of high profile buildings may affect certain urban neighbourhoods particularly in terms of local attractiveness and quality of urban physical  environment

In Finland unlike in the Czech Republic development schemes are firmly controlled by planning authorities. Therefore the facilitating and regulating role of public bodies in physical development is much more established in Helsinki compared to Prague. A strong involvement of local authorities in redevelopment initiatives to a great extent promises more complex and better locally targeted benefits. On the other hand a strictly planned and controlled redevelopment leaves only little space for radiation effect of high profile buildings since the physical outcomes tend to be defined beforehand.

College of Urban planning & public affairs
Jana Temelova

01/05/2004

Jana Temelova

research

Urban Policy > Urban environment

Cultural heritage