architecture and tourism

Exploring the relationship between Architecture and Tourism

Tourism is a scenario to “familiarize a city for an unfamiliar audience and gain identity for the citizen”,  while Architecture “is an expression of lifestyle and spirit of the epochs and cultures in which it arises”.   Both Architecture and tourism have been inter-linked since time immemorial. Architecture has been the major aspect of crowd pull, while tourism has been helped architecture survive through the test of time (as well as money).  Both tourism and architecture work in a symbiotic manner to break the unfamiliarity of any culture and provide the original essence of the place, its culture, and its evolution through a chronological approach.

“Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves”

– Julia Morgan

Tourism is one of the most rapidly growing sectors in the world with regard to economical, technological and social transformations. The mutual relationship between architecture and tourism is obvious since ancient times where architecture, as a tourist attraction, had a very important role.  Temples have been built in honor of the gods, grand theatres, stadiums, the Colosseum and other monumental public buildings that attracted large crowds as they represented the culture and society. Architecture is a means of expression for the cultural diversity and innovative potential of a region, and tourism, as an industry, directly helps to preserve architecture.

Tourism and architecture never before were as closely connected as is the case today. There has been a huge spike in “Heritage Tourism”, which has seen sudden interests in ancient history and the heritage.

“Architecture is the prime and unquestionable source of HISTORY”

Thus, it is apparent that tourists turn to architecture to quench their thirst for the history and heritage of a place. With the outburst of the tourism industry, these places are now being identified, restored and promoted vigorously. The tourism sector is one of the main sources of income for any country. To boost tourism, the huge amount of money is invested to preserve the local heritage and architecturally prime places, to improve the infrastructure of the city and the connectivity within, to provide better leisure facilities, and thus a better experience for the tourists. This, in turn, improves the lifestyle for the locals as well.

Tourism has been one of the leading sectors as a source of employment for the citizens. Being a service sector, it needs a lot of people to manage, maintain as well as promote tourism. From providing transportation and accommodation to food, guided tours, and maintenance, tourism provides a lot of employment opportunities and has been a boon to the locals. Tourism is as important for the locals as tourists. It strengthens the identity of the citizen, makes them feel connected to the place and reassures their affinity to their land. Tourism has the potential to promote faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth. It could be used as a powerful antidote to tackle poverty. It is one of the biggest service sectors which promote the growth of both the physical and metaphysical demands of the user.  It has also helped improve the lifestyle of local craftsmen and artists and in-turn the ART itself. This again closes the circle of mutual success.

Rapid urbanization has in many cases,  destroyed the identity of cities. When a tourist enters a city, he is basically lost or is bombarded with various versions of the ‘identity of a city’ that he does not have a clear picture of the place and its roots.

Several architects and planners have been working on the reconstruction of old heritage areas of the cities. But the important question that arises is, “What kind of Reconstruction?”  Should it be in accordance with historical patterns and spirit of that area, or if it should project the new and modern shapes and layouts, with the modern framework? At first glance, the idea of restoring according to old-style may appear anti-modernist, while maintaining the original design classic, yet it could be monotonous with no element of surprise and wonder. A new concept called “Retrofitting” has surfaced, in which, a modern “Contrasting, yet complimenting” element is added to the old heritage structures, thus retaining the old, and giving it the new vibrancy it needs.

Architecture has always been the major source of attraction, be it heritage architecture or Modern architecture, as in the case of Dubai .

Dubai – “ City of Extravagance” is the best example of this scenario. It is very apparent as well as astonishing to see the transformation that this city has seen over the last few decades, to become one of the top tourist destinations in the world.  However, it is well known that today oil plays a very small role in the overall revenues of the state, while tourism and trade play the most important role. This is an example of modern branding of the city by the imposing architecture.  The building itself becomes an attraction, and thus a symbol of the city, region, country, society.

From the Pyramids, Temples of Ancient India and China, Statue of Liberty to Burj Khalifa, all have been the identity of the place and weave the story of the time they were built in.

Akshaya Murali, an architect thriving to share her stories and thoughts, one article at a time.

Gaysorn II By CL3 Architects Limited

Cultural expression through Public spaces

Related posts.

AR-Adapted Warehome for Sale

Alchemy of Architecture: How Does Architecture Impact the Daily Lives of People

Architecture in the 5th dimension

Architectural Anthropology: Understanding People for Better Designs

• Architectural Community
• Architectural Facts
• RTF Architectural Reviews
• Architectural styles
• City and Architecture
• Fun & Architecture
• History of Architecture
• Design Studio Portfolios
• Designing for typologies
• RTF Design Inspiration
• Architecture News
• Career Advice
• Case Studies
• Construction & Materials
• Covid and Architecture
• Interior Design
• Know Your Architects
• Landscape Architecture
• Materials & Construction
• Product Design
• RTF Fresh Perspectives
• Sustainable Architecture
• Top Architects
• Travel and Architecture
• Rethinking The Future Awards 2022
• RTF Awards 2021 | Results
• GADA 2021 | Results
• RTF Awards 2020 | Results
• ACD Awards 2020 | Results
• GADA 2019 | Results
• ACD Awards 2018 | Results
• GADA 2018 | Results
• RTF Awards 2017 | Results
• RTF Sustainability Awards 2017 | Results
• RTF Sustainability Awards 2016 | Results
• RTF Sustainability Awards 2015 | Results
• RTF Awards 2014 | Results
• RTF Architectural Visualization Competition 2020 – Results
• Architectural Photography Competition 2020 – Results
• Designer’s Days of Quarantine Contest – Results
• Urban Sketching Competition May 2020 – Results
• RTF Essay Writing Competition April 2020 – Results
• Architectural Photography Competition 2019 – Finalists
• The Ultimate Thesis Guide
• Introduction to Landscape Architecture
• Perfect Guide to Architecting Your Career
• How to Design Architecture Portfolio
• How to Design Streets
• Introduction to Urban Design
• Introduction to Product Design
• Complete Guide to Dissertation Writing
• Introduction to Skyscraper Design
• Educational
• Hospitality
• Institutional
• Office Buildings
• Public Building
• Residential
• Sports & Recreation
• Temporary Structure
• Commercial Interior Design
• Corporate Interior Design
• Healthcare Interior Design
• Hospitality Interior Design
• Residential Interior Design
• Sustainability
• Transportation
• Urban Design
• Host your Course with RTF
• Architectural Writing Training Programme | WFH
• Editorial Internship | In-office
• Graphic Design Internship
• Research Internship | WFH
• Research Internship | New Delhi
• RTF | About RTF
• Submit Your Story

Looking for Job/ Internship?

Rtf will connect you with right design studios.

• Even more »

Account Options

• Try the new Google Books
• Advanced Book Search
• Barnes&Noble.com
• Books-A-Million
• Find in a library
• All sellers  »

Get Textbooks on Google Play

Rent and save from the world's largest eBookstore. Read, highlight, and take notes, across web, tablet, and phone.

Go to Google Play Now »

From inside the book

Common terms and phrases, about the author  (2004), bibliographic information.

Open Access is an initiative that aims to make scientific research freely available to all. To date our community has made over 100 million downloads. It’s based on principles of collaboration, unobstructed discovery, and, most importantly, scientific progression. As PhD students, we found it difficult to access the research we needed, so we decided to create a new Open Access publisher that levels the playing field for scientists across the world. How? By making research easy to access, and puts the academic needs of the researchers before the business interests of publishers.

We are a community of more than 103,000 authors and editors from 3,291 institutions spanning 160 countries, including Nobel Prize winners and some of the world’s most-cited researchers. Publishing on IntechOpen allows authors to earn citations and find new collaborators, meaning more people see your work not only from your own field of study, but from other related fields too.

Brief introduction to this section that descibes Open Access especially from an IntechOpen perspective

Want to get in touch? Contact our London head office or media team here

Our team is growing all the time, so we’re always on the lookout for smart people who want to help us reshape the world of scientific publishing.

Home > Books > Mobilities, Tourism and Travel Behavior - Contexts and Boundaries

Energy-Efficient Architecture and Sustainable Urban Tourism: Context, Challenges and Solution

Submitted: 16 March 2017 Reviewed: 10 November 2017 Published: 17 January 2018

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.72385

Cite this chapter

There are two ways to cite this chapter:

From the Edited Volume

Mobilities, Tourism and Travel Behavior - Contexts and Boundaries

Edited by Leszek Butowski

To purchase hard copies of this book, please contact the representative in India: CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt. Ltd. www.cbspd.com | [email protected]

Chapter metrics overview

1,599 Chapter Downloads

Impact of this chapter

Total Chapter Downloads on intechopen.com

Total Chapter Views on intechopen.com

Urban tourism, as well as tourism in general, offers great economic opportunities, while at the same time, it increases the destination’s vulnerability to overcrowding and uncontrolled growth. Tourism can and should support sustainable urban development. Sustainable urban tourism and energy efficient architecture are interdependent. Increased stakeholder participation, regional cooperation, sustainable urban mobility, supporting environmental and social innovation, preventing negative social issues, resource efficiency and environmentally acceptable waste management, followed by sustainable hospitality industry architecture, are key drivers for sustainable urban tourism success. Energy-efficient architecture in sustainable urban tourism requires application of energy-efficient concepts, elements and systems. Although considerable effort has been put into raising awareness about the necessity of sustainable urban tourism development, numerous examples of “greenwashing” effect have been detected.

• sustainability
• urban tourism
• city tourism
• sustainable urban tourism
• energy-efficiency
• architecture
• urban architecture
• energy-efficient architecture
• green building

Author Information

Ksenija (née jovović) štahan *.

• Mind-Motion-Sustainability Association, Zagreb, Croatia

*Address all correspondence to: [email protected]

1. Introduction

Negative effects of human activities to the environment are visible almost on the entire planet.

The tourism sector accounts for an increasingly large share of the global economy. Growth of tourism makes the destination, as the basic resource, more vulnerable. The share of tourism sector’s energy consumption is growing significantly on a daily basis. The analyses of global tourism growth indicate increasing growth of urban tourism.

A massive influx of tourists into the cities poses considerable challenges, including the preservation of cultural resources and the built environment, the sustainability of social interaction between local citizens and tourists, waste management, increased energy consumption and other.

2. Urban tourism and sustainability

Sustainable development is a ‘sine qua non’ for building a sustainable future. Preservation and protection of natural, cultural and social resources are an unconditional necessity to us and future generations. Unfortunately, despite all the strategies, scientific and research activities, the increasingly frequent statements made by experts and quite homogeneous position of profession (economists, sociologists, architects and urban planners), we are still witnessing tourism development mainly going in the wrong direction towards the unsustainable mass tourism. Mass tourism strongly affects the recourses it is dependent on, ruining its own existence like cutting off the branch one is standing on.

European Travel Commission (ETC) authors of Global Development Tourism Analysis [ 1 ] point out that urban tourism is a constantly growing segment. Urban centres have become tourist destinations. In that respect, it is crucial to understand the specificity of the city in relation to other tourist destinations.

2.1. Urbanisation and urban tourism

Urbanisation has had important consequences for many aspects of social, political and economic life [ 2 ].

Urbanisation and, consequently, greater concentration of citizens as well as people in general (travellers, traders, residents of nearby places, etc.) enabled exchange of ideas, goods and objects, focusing on products of human creativity such as the literature and poetry, philosophy, architecture, art, craftsmanship, trade, law, administration and other achievements.

Since the archaeological evidence is fragmentary, we still cannot define the exact moment when the process of urbanisation started. Furthermore, there are different definitions of urban structures identified as cities. In the study of the ancient world, the city is generally defined as a large populated urban centre of commerce and administration with sanitation and sewerage system [ 3 ].

Bearing in mind the complexity of defining the term city, we can conclude that in this process the following factors should be considered: population (number and density), spatial structure and organisation, buildings (number, height, function and complexity), sewer and sanitation system and defence system (walls and/or fortifications).

Settlements preceded the development of cities and their establishment coincided with mankind’s abandonment of nomadic living and beginning of organised dwelling in specific locations. Cities had most commonly developed at the intersection of ancient trade routes.

The origin of urbanisation can be traced to Sumer and Mesopotamia. The first Sumerian city was Eridu (present day Abu Shahrein, Iraq), founded in 5400 BCE. Uruk was the earliest city in Mesopotamia region dated around 4500 BCE and then Ur around 3800 BCE. Both Uruk and Ur were situated in proximity to the banks of the Euphrates River. After Sumer and Mesopotamia, urbanisation spread to Egypt. Some cities in ancient Egypt grew out of the agricultural developments and other settlements as a result of the state’s need to organise its unifying political centres. While two most powerful city-states in ancient Greece were Athens and Sparta, other influential city-states were Corinth, Thebes, Argos, Delphi and Rhodos. The largest cities during the Roman Empire were Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, Carthage, Ephesus, Constantinople, Smyrna, Pergamon, Jerusalem and Leptis Magna.

For several millennia, cities appeared in more and more regions across the world, but the size of the largest cities did not substantially exceed 10,000 inhabitants.

This changed only from 1500 BC onwards when Thebes in Egypt might have exceeded 100,000 inhabitants and Babylon reached 200,000 inhabitants in 600 BC [ 4 ].

During the eighth and ninth century AD many cities in Europe, Asia and Middle East, such as Bagdad, reached population of several hundred thousand inhabitants. Water supply, waste management and sanitation were most important limiting factors for further development. Furthermore, the urbanisation level, also, depended on the quantity of food production and resources coming from peripheral areas, as well as the possibility of delivery to the city region.

After the decline of the Roman Empire, cities spread further across the world, but no region reached comparable urbanisation levels until the eighteenth century [ 5 ].

The proximity of trade routes, food sources and other vital resources has significantly contributed to the speed of urbanisation and city development, but they pale in comparison to the effect of the Industrial Revolution beginning in the second half of the eighteenth century in Great Britain.

Great Britain was the global leader of urbanisation happening all over the world at that time.

Industrial revolution has led to increased labour demand at particular location, and that was the primary driver of the fast-paced urbanisation. As a larger population could be sustained from farming the same amount of land, the number of people that could live in cities increased strongly [ 6 ].

London population continued to grow, and at the beginning of the nineteenth century, it reached 3 million inhabitants. In 1863, the first underground railway line was opened. Initially, it was operated on steam and then electrified from 1890 onwards. The underground lines with the horse-drawn omnibus were the first comprehensive urban mass transport system in the world. This resulted in further growth of the city and the number of inhabitants, which increased to 6.5 million in 1900.

By the turn of the twentieth century, steel frame construction structures were one of the most important technological innovations that contributed significantly to the transformation of city and city views. At that time, and for most of the past millennium, churches were always the peaks of city skylines. Their construction had a little weight and provided with none or small usable space. At the same time, the tallest office or residential buildings reached heights of only a few dozen metres. Steel-framed construction and reinforced concrete increased heights for residential and office buildings tenfold and exceeded 300 m. This building structure technological innovation contributed to increased population density.

In the first half of the twentieth century, labour-saving innovation slowed down the growth of employment in manufacturing. Jobs were created in the service sector and in knowledge-intensive professions. Although expected, the shift away from manufacturing did not entail de-urbanisation trends. The urbanisation continued and reasons for that can be found in the amenities that cities offer, such as various types of entertainment places (pub concert rooms, cinemas, theatres, restaurants and concert halls), better healthcare, education facilities and specialised shopping opportunities. Agglomeration effects ensured advantage for businesses located in cities.

New technological innovation played a crucial role in shaping post-industrial urbanisation: electric trolley line (1888, Richmond, Virginia), automobile (1890s European and North American cities) and construction of freeways or highways (1950s onward).

From the 1920s onwards, automobiles became more common due to lower prices made possible by Henry Ford’s revolutionary assembly-line production techniques. The affordable automobile price, city trolley line network and high-quality sub-urban and inter-urban roads allowed the increase of distance between working and place of residence for the majority of the population.

It is important to emphasise that in 1800 only 3% of the world’s population lived in cities. For example, the three largest cities in population size were Boston (18,230 citizens), Philadelphia (28,522 citizens) and New York (33,131 citizens) [ 7 ].

Since the 1800s, the process of urbanisation has moved rapidly in the entire world. In 1950, about two-third of the population worldwide lived in rural settlements and one-third in urban settlements [ 8 ].

Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, and the number of cities over 1 million stands at more than 400. By 2030, almost two-thirds of the world’s population is projected to live in urban areas. The number of megacities (cities with populations over 10 million) rose from 3 in 1975 to 16 in 2000 and is expected to reach 27 by 2025 [ 9 ].

According to the Sustainable Urbanisation Policy Brief, urban centres currently occupy less than 5% of the world’s landmass. Nevertheless, they account for around 70% of both global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission [ 10 ].

2.2. Urban areas and environmental impact

According to Demographia World Urban Areas 13th Annual Edition 2017, a slight majority (51.4%) of the large urban area population lives in built-up urban areas between 4000 and 10,000 persons per square kilometre. Approximately one-quarter (0.9%: 40,000 and over; 4.8%: 20,000–40,000; 18.3%: 10,000–20,000) lives at higher densities and one-quarter (15.2%: 2000–4000; 9.4% under 2000) lives at lower urban area densities.

There are 37 megacities in the world (urban areas over 10 million population). A total of 84 urban areas are indicated with 5,000,000 or more population [ 11 ].

Urban population accounted for 34% in 1960 will continue to grow approximately 1.84% per year between 2015 and 2020, 1.63% per year between 2020 and 2025, and 1.44% per year between 2025 and 2030 [ 12 ].

The World Cities Report 2016, Urbanization and Development: Emerging Futures, projects that by 2030, the urban population of developing countries will double, while the area covered by cites could triple [ 13 ].

Such concentration of people and their activity creates increased demands on the environment. In order to reduce the effects of the urban areas to an ecologically acceptable level, planning and design processes should take into consideration the assessment of the ecological footprint and ecological deficit, urban heat islands, construction activities’ impact, urban aerodynamic influence, the land use, traffic, w aste management, urban dust and air quality and clear water demand.

Ecological footprint is the sustainability indicator that measures the impact of the population on the planet. An urban “ecological footprint” is the total amount of the earth’s surface needed to support a given city’s level of resource consumption and absorption of its waste products [ 14 ].

The surface area that makes up a footprint is a sum of all land required to supply resources and absorb wastes, wherever that land may be on earth. Throughout history, areas with rich agricultural hinterlands have enabled the growth of cities. Nowadays, cities may draw on resources travelling great distances from where they are located. When urban areas use resources above their regeneration boundaries, an ecological deficit occurs. This situation can be improved with importing bio-capacity through trade or liquidating regional ecological assets.

Today, among first 20 built-up urban areas, with 500,000 and over population and with occupied land area from 11,875 to 3212 square kilometres, 11 cities are from the United States, 3 from Japan, 3 from China, 1 from Russia, 1 from Indonesia and 1 from Argentina. When we increase the number analysing the top 50 urban areas with occupied land from 11,875 to 1917 square miles, we have again United States on the 1st place with 22 cities, followed by China with 5 cities, Japan and Australia sharing the 3rd place with 3 cities and all other countries with 1 city. Those countries are Russia, Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, Thailand, France, South Korea, Germany, South Africa, Mexico, Canada, US Puerto Rico, India, Malaysia, Nigeria and Egypt [ 15 ].

Above-mentioned data underline that the wealthier the cities are, the greater the ecological footprint they create.

Urban heat islands are built-up areas of higher temperature than those in the natural environment caused by increased sunlight absorption of materials with higher thermal capacity, such as asphalt and concrete, air pollution, air flow reduction, air humidity increase, etc. The density of population in cities is proportional to the intensity of the influence of thermal islands. High temperatures in urban areas during the warmer months of the year increase the need for electricity needed for cooling and air conditioning, which results in increased carbon dioxide production and other pollutants. Urban heat island effect raises the temperature by 1–3°C [ 16 ].

Construction activities , in course of the development life cycle, create impact during initial on-site work, throughout the construction and operational period up to final demolition. Potential impacts of construction activities are noise and vibration generation; atmospheric emissions; impacts to cultural resources; transport issues; solid, industrial and hazardous waste generation; potential impacts to workers’ and public health and safety like earthmoving, large equipment transportation, the danger of potential accidents and incidents, geological hazard activation (earthquakes and landslides) by excavation, altering natural drainage patterns, etc.; soil alternation and other land use impacts; impact to paleontological resources, such as complete destruction of the resources if present in areas undergoing surface or excavation; water consumption and quality; flow alternation of surface and groundwater systems; increased energy consumption and dust generation.

Additional impacts include short-term increased transportation density; road and bridge modification due to shipments of heavy, oversized and hazardous loads; new roads or expansion of existing roads and parking area development; limited access to the urban area of significant interest to residents and tourists and potential urban visual identity deterioration.

The complex aerodynamic interaction within the built environment will continue to influence sustainable urban development significantly, today and in the future.

In the cities, the wind speeds are generally lower compared to those in the natural environment because of the buildings obstructing the airflow. This urban aerodynamics influences the temperature and evaporation processes and is therefore an important factor at the microclimatic level. High-rise buildings can cause complex streams of airflow, which often result in wind turbulence in some areas or concentric pollution due to impending airflow in other areas. “With the change in urban topology, an individual building immersed in a complex surrounding can experience different flow mechanisms, such as wake effects and channelling. These flow mechanisms depend on the shape, height and location of the surrounding structures, which alter with the city development.” [ 17 ].

The land used for built-up area construction is a scarce, limited resource that is often used improperly and harshly. Urban form, urban development density and characteristics of land use in general, all undoubtedly strongly influence the urban environment. Low-density cities use significantly more energy compared to high-density cities. Changes such as of city shape, layout, size, residential density and location of city attractiveness could yield energy savings up to 150% [ 18 ].

The urban land use is interrelated with transport, CO 2 emissions, etc. It could be said that the city is an organism in which population density, transport organisation, both public and individual, air pollution and the health and safety of citizens interact with one another. Therefore, the organisation of life in the city and the possible problem resolution should take this into account.

Traffic congestion decreases the quality of life in cities, consumes energy and increases environmental degradation. Excessive amount of land used for traffic circulation, inadequately functioning public transportation and lack of walkways and cycle paths, in addition to other poorly functioning solutions, can create pollution, problems with drainage, limited absorption and flooding. Urban concepts and design largely determine traffic solutions.

Waste management of household, industrial or commercial waste produces valuable raw materials, but also a major source of environmental pollution. Waste, resulting from an urban lifestyle and all other activities taking place in the city, should be at the centre of attention of local authorities and urban residents. Waste reduction, separation, recycling and reuse are feasible, low-cost alternatives to open incineration of solid waste commonly used in developing cities. Sustainable urban waste management strategies can result in multiple improvements of both climate and health. Anaerobic bio-solid digestion systems can produce gas composed of up to 70% methane, a fuel for cooking, heating or other power needs, making an added value in the form of alternative energy source.

Human activity, especially in more developed economies, is increasingly leading to endangered air quality , ozone depletion, increase of greenhouse gas emissions and reduction of positive effects of sunlight, especially during the colder days, generally changing dynamic processes in the atmosphere. Furthermore, indoor air pollution is of particular concern in developing cities, possibly contributing to respiratory infections and other serious human health conditions.

In addition to all these, there is the so-called urban dust phenomenon. The airborne dust particles in the cities are by-products of construction works, exhaust gases from buildings, street traffic, production and other processes. The particles cling to porous surfaces such as stone, brick or concrete.

Air pollution in cities can be reduced and combined solutions should be applied simultaneously. To improve air quality, the city administrations should be working actively on reducing traffic by promoting walking and cycling, eliminating polluting vehicles with limited access zones, issuing permits exclusively to developers and contractors of building planed and design according to the sustainable architecture principles, decreasing unnecessary road building and freeing up city surface capacity, as well as improving air quality and reclaiming space for public parks, pedestrians and cyclists. Additionally, the city administration should introduce incentives to retrofit polluting vehicles and green the city by maintaining and increasing green urban areas that could enhance air quality.

Unsustainable city lifestyle and conventional urban water management create increasing barriers for efficient management, faced by the city’s administration and residents, of scarcer and less reliable water resources. To minimise environmental degradation, the sustainable city development plans and design integrate the urban water cycle, including storm water, groundwater and wastewater management and water supply. For example, very often dust, dirt and other solid waste go into drains with rainwater or other unregulated watercourses. By increasing the area of hard, impermeable surfaces in cities, appropriate and more efficient collection and drainage of rainwater are possible.

Sustainable water management develops effective storm water management options, provides effective water supply services for all at minimum impact on water resources and the environment at large, develops effective sanitation and waste management options and integrates urban water systems into ecological and other productive functions of water at city level [ 19 ].

2.3. Urban tourism and sustainability

Urban tourism has been present since the beginnings of Mesopotamia and Sumer. Old Romans travelled to Greek cities, especially to Alexandria and Athens. Cities were then the centres of music, art, literature, architecture and places of encounter of different cultures. In the Middle Ages, long trips were recorded when young aristocrats visited several European cities [ 20 ].

The most significant tourist trips to cities date back to the end of the nineteenth century. At the end of the 1970s, tourism has become an increasingly important part of the economy of European cities. Trends, statistical indicators of the number of overnight stays, tourist consumption and total tourist traffic in the first decade of the twenty-first century show that the share of urban tourism in the overall European economy is becoming more and more significant [ 21 ].

Urban tourism and its definitions are based on the city as a complex social and economic system as well as the city as the destination with many tourist attractions and valuable resources. The national conference on urban tourism (Rennes, 1988) concluded that urban tourism is a set of tourist resources or activities located in towns and cities and offered to visitors from elsewhere [ 22 ].

Many researchers attempted to define the term urban tourism, as Ashwoth [ 23 ], Law [ 24 ], Howie [ 25 ].

Considering the definitions of the aforementioned authors, it is possible to state that urban tourism is a multi-layered complex of activities arising as a consequence of many resource attractions in a town or a city.

Urban tourism has been developed especially in cities with open urban spaces, landscaped parks, unique urban and architectural design solutions, attractive material and intangible cultural heritage, efficient traffic solution, well-known universities and scientific research centres, concentration of well-equipped shops and shopping centres, restaurants with quality gastronomic offer and dynamic street life. Furthermore, urban tourism is well developed in cities that are the base of tourists who have recognised the entire region as a worthwhile tour destination. Some authors point out the attraction of the city as a tourist destination [ 26 ] or specific elements of urban tourism products, i.e. city tourism resources that determine the city’s attractiveness to its visitors [ 27 ].

The contents of the attractions are divided into three main groups: I. ambience attractions (climate, landscape, culture and hospitality); II. material attractions (cultural and historical heritage, architecture, city squares, streets, parks, fairs, exhibitions, business-congress centres, sanctuaries and sacred objects, etc.); III. happenings (permanent attractions, business, sports, religious, political gatherings and events, local festivals; events of special local and regional significance, etc.).

2.3.1. Challenges of urban tourism development

Urban tourism integrates with urban development. Urban development and the city are in constant interaction. The city as a tourist destination is a complex social and economic system. On architectural-urban level, the city is a dynamic structure subject to constant change and development.

Cities, where national cultural institutions, university and science centres, religious architecture, museums, galleries and other valuable buildings are located, are subject to the influence of an increasing number of tourists. This pressure on historic cities results in ever greater challenges for the city, population and city administration.

The main challenges are certainly the preservation of cultural resources; the built environment and social interaction of the local population and visitors.

UN Expert Group meeting on Sustainable Tourism in 2013, New York, emphasised the following challenges for the sustainability of EU tourism: (1) reducing the seasonality of demand; (2) addressing the impact of tourism transport; (3) improving the quality of tourism jobs; (4) maintaining and enhancing the community prosperity and quality of life, in the face of change; (5) minimising resource use and production of waste; (6) conserving and giving value to natural/cultural heritage; (7) making holidays available to all; (8) tourism as a tool in global sustainable development [ 28 ].

Additionally, research of urban tourism and sustainability should certainly consider the following challenges: increased energy demand and CO 2 emissions; pollution of air, water and land; noise pollution; potential increase of blight and crime; land value overvaluation and speculations; decreasing or excluding less profitable but still significant business for the local economy; overcrowding the city with increased number of visitors causing the phenomenon of automobile congestion; facilities, services and infrastructure pressure: place saturation; and uncontrolled growth of the tourism industry.

Overall, tourism growth is often faster than adoption of environmental friendly solution.

The lifestyle incoherence of city residents on one side and tourists on the other, in an unquenchable number of cases and examples, ends with sacrificing the needs of city residents.

Furthermore, another significant challenge is globalisation. Although an important development factor that creates opportunities such as access to knowledge, expansion of partnership, cross-fertilisation of cultures etc., globalisation also affects the intangible and tangible cultural heritage eminently.

And the last challenge, but not the least, would be the issue of tourism and urban tourism in many developing countries with no alternative. It might be said that their government and other shareholders are encouraging uncontrolled and rapid tourism growth as completely legitimate and appropriate way of creating jobs and foreign currency earnings for the rapidly growing unemployed working-age population.

2.3.2. Indicators and principles of sustainable urban tourism

At the beginning of the 1990s, more efforts were made to develop the sustainability indicators of economic and tourist development. Indicative systems for assessing and monitoring sustainability of tourism were created by international organisations, academic institutions and government agencies such as United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), European Environment Agency (EEA), Eurostat and Tourism SustainabilityGroup (TSG).

The UNWTO methodology consists of 12 key steps grouped into three levels (initial level, benchmark development and implementation level) with the aim to develop a system of tourism sustainability indicators for a particular destination, which may be applied to a particular tourist location, but also the region or country as a whole.

Special attention was paid to indicators relating to the following issues: tourism volume and value, including seasonality; employment in tourism; the development impact on the environment and communities; the conservation and valorisation of cultural heritage; solid waste management; visitor and resident satisfaction; other indicators (energy use, water use and pollution of air and water) [ 29 ].

Eurostat and the European Tourism Sustainability Group (TSG) have published their lists of tourism sustainability indicators in the mid-2000s. To a large extent, both lists rely on the European Environmental Agency’s methodology (Drivers-Pressures-State-Impact-Responses).

In the conference on ‘Responsible Tourism in Destination’ held in 2002, Cape Town, a consensus was reached among most of the 208 representatives of all tourism sectors, coming from 20 countries resulting with a declaration. The main purpose of the declaration was to call upon country representatives, multilateral agencies, destination representatives and enterprises to develop similar practical guidelines and to encourage planning authorities, tourism businesses, tourists and local communities—to take responsibility for achieving sustainable tourism and to create better places for people to live in and for people to visit.

According to the conference participants, responsible tourism has the following characteristics: it minimises negative economic, environmental and social impacts; generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry; involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances; makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage and to the maintenance of the world’s diversity; provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues; provides access for physically challenged people; and is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence.

The declaration guiding principles are as decided in three fundamental groups: guiding principles for economic responsibility; guiding principles for social responsibility and guiding principles for environmental responsibility. For detailed description, see [ 30 ].

In 2004, UNWTO defined the following baseline sustainable tourism indicators: local satisfaction with tourism; effects of tourism on communities; sustaining tourist satisfaction; tourism seasonality; economic benefits of tourism; energy management; water availability and conservation; drinking water quality; sewage treatment; solid waste management; development control and controlling use intensity [ 31 ].

In 2005, UNWTO and UNEP, in the publication ‘Making Tourism More Sustainable: A Guide for Policy Makers’ [ 32 ], presented the study results addressed to the development and the implementation of sustainable tourism policies, strategies and tools. The guide sets 12 aims for sustainable tourism: economic viability; local prosperity; employment quality; social equity; visitor fulfilment; local control; community well-being; cultural richness; physical integrity; biological diversity; resource efficiency and environmental purity.

EU’s policies and measures in support of a quality urban environment are continuously evolving; therefore, additional policies and programmes are being developed. In 2010, the publication ‘Making Our Cities Attractive and Sustainable’ [ 33 ] defines the basic principles of sustainable city development as foundation for sustainable urban tourism development.

The above-mentioned principles, their basic groups and subgroups, are as follows: clean and healthy: safe water to drink, clean air to breathe, collection and disposal of solid waste, toxic free; green and pleasant: green urban areas, biodiversity-friendly, quiet places, respect for urban heritage, sustainable land use; efficient and sustainable: resource efficiency, energy efficiency, green mobility, local actions on climate change, technological innovations and green jobs; well-managed and democratic: integrated environmental management systems, green public procurement, participatory urban planning, assessing environmental impacts and tracking progress.

Urban development and urban tourism are in constant interaction. Sustainable development of cities simultaneously provides numerous solutions, but it also presents challenges for all stakeholders in the process, from government representatives to local people. Cities that are attractive tourist destinations unfortunately often get the negative consequences of irresponsible and unsustainable urban tourism. Urban tourism, on the one hand, offers the possibility of economic growth, while on the other hand, it shows the vulnerability of the destination, which is the result of over-excitation and excessive and unplanned growth.

Sustainable cities are those that have transport systems that enable rapid and efficient movement, provide a supply of clean and accessible water, provide quality health care and employment and provide friendly economic environments. In sustainable cities, waste management is solved in a way that protects the environment from pollution. Governing structures of the city and city institutions work predictably in predetermined terms. Sustainable cities have pre-established security measures and protection plans in case of natural disasters and major accidents.

Sustainable urban tourism is responsible tourism. Following the above-mentioned principles and indicators of sustainable urban tourism, it is possible to conclude that sustainable tourism and sustainable city can and should support each other’s development.

3. Energy-efficient architecture in sustainable urban tourism

Architecture and spatial planning are important elements of urban tourism. Recognition of the existing architectural heritage and responsible planning and design of architecture and urban space according to the sustainable development principles contribute significantly to the development of sustainable urban tourism, as well as tourism in general.

Tourism is the fastest growing economic sector in the world [ 34 ], with urban tourism among the fastest growing segments [ 35 ].

Tourists are drawn to the cities attracted by the diversity on offer in cities worldwide. It is unquestionable that their arrivals contribute to the local economy making a strong socio-economic impact. All participants involved in tourism planning and development today should clearly be aware of the necessity to reduce the environmental impact.

This certainly applies to the architecture in tourism, since hospitality industry is among the largest polluters and resource consumers.

Sustainable urban planning and sustainable architecture are prerequisite to sustainable urban tourism development. All relevant stakeholders should consider the environmental, social and economic impacts, highlighting the conscientious use of resources especially the non-renewable energy and water, waste minimisation and application of energy-efficient systems and optimisation of technology solution.

Hotels, directly and indirectly, affect the environment. Energy, water and raw materials are consumed during construction, building use, maintenance, renewal and destruction. In addition, waste is generated and harmful substances are released into the atmosphere during those processes. These facts prompted the creation of standards and certification systems aimed to mitigate environmental impact in accordance to the principles of sustainable development.

In the 1990s, the first so-called green building was certified in the United States by the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). In 2000, the US Green Building Council (USGBC) defined the certification criteria to improve energy efficiency and environmental protection and set up a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Under the influence of BREEAM and LEED systems, other systems have been developed, tailored to national priorities and needs and some of them coming out as the usual framework of building practice and existing legislation, applying the principles of sustainable development and concepts such as building of nearly-zero energy use or passive-solar buildings.

Hotel certification systems were initiated with the aim to manage the hotel’s environmental impacts, both globally and locally. Those systems were focused on: reduction of water and non-renewable energy consumption; environmentally sound waste management; protection and preservation of natural habitats; sustainable building and operational practices; responsible resource response with zero-waste strategies; effective damage and accident control at the construction site; self-sustainability with the utmost utilisation of renewable energy sources and passive solar systems; sustainability of all phases of the construction process; the use of environment-friendly materials; indoor air quality; promoting the concepts of sustainability among hotel guests, employees, suppliers and business partners with implementation of positive operational procedures; responsible attitude towards cultural heritage and biodiversity; partnerships with non-governmental organisations and the local community; socially responsible behaviour with the inclusion of community members.

Furthermore, the necessity for the high-quality hotel certification systems is the ‘Greenwash’ prevention. The most widespread and most common form of ‘greenwash’ is a hidden trade, lack of evidence, inaccuracy, irrelevance, inaccurate data on origin and content of recycled materials, possession of internationally recognised certificates, false labels on materials (such as, ‘ecologically’ on products containing pesticides and other toxins) and the alike.

In addition to the above-mentioned BREEAM and LEED systems, the following systems should be highlighted: Certified Passive House Building (by International Passive House Association [iPHA]), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen (DGNB), Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (EDGE), Energy Star, Green Building Evaluation Label (NR China) and nearly Zero Energy Hotel (neZEH, UK).

In 2016, the web site greenhotelworld.com announced the results of ‘Certified Global Green-Hotel Density’ research. The research was based on just over 130,000 hotels worldwide certified by a total of 50 hotel certification systems, in accordance with the standards set by the Global Sustainable Travel Council (GSTC). The established standards wanted to objectify green-hotel certification systems globally, as a support and incentive for sustainable tourism development. According to the research results, global density is 6.2%, while densities per continents are North America, 10.1%; South America, 2.7%; Europe, 6.1%; Oceania, 4.8%; Africa, 3.7% and Asia, 0.9%. Data show insufficient density of green hotels, both globally and regionally [ 36 ].

3.1. Energy-efficient concepts, elements and systems

In the past, climate adaptability was of fundamental importance to the planning and construction of traditional settlements. The vernacular and urban architecture often contain and still embody the extraordinary knowledge of local climatic and geographic potential for sustainable development. Much before Vitruvius wrote his work ‘Ten Books of Architecture’, builders were forced to optimise their life environment, organise the land and surroundings and design the interior space and external parts of the building. During the industrial revolution, in the mid-nineteenth century, architecture was less dependent on local energy sources, relying more and more on abundant—as it seemed—fossil fuels. Trends in architecture and urbanism too often continue to ignore environment-friendly and sustainable design principles.

Application of sustainable development strategies and sustainable design principles should enable the fulfilment of maximum human requirements with minimum environmental loads. Hospitality industry facility architects’ and urban planners’ continuous task in designing processes is to incorporate the globally important fact that energy and raw material resource are limited, as well as the capacity of the ecosystem to absorb waste.

This important task is best achieved by pollution suppression and by implementation of energy-efficient concepts, elements and systems, and they are as follows:

3.1.1. Sustainable urban design

A sustainable urban design, spatial planning for sustainable tourism development, should promote the diversity of architectural solutions complementary to the activities of potential users, the diversity of green areas and the diversity of renewable energy sources, thus reducing dependence on one non-renewable resource.

Furthermore, building construction should consist of integrated systems, self-sufficient energy production and water supply, sustainable waste management and reduced raw-material use. Planning and design should contribute to the mitigation of climatic extremes and be harmonised with the bio-climatic and ecological principles or the principles of sustainable development.

3.1.2. Evaluation and site selection

Analysis of carrying capacity is crucial for assessing the location, site and land use of energy-efficient architecture and sustainable tourism development. The renovation and reconstruction of existing building will encourage the greatest savings of energy, materials, land and technical and social infrastructure.

3.1.3. Land-use planning

The land-use planning will ensure that users meet their vital needs in a sustainable way by reducing energy consumption and CO 2 emissions, reducing the use of environmentally unacceptable construction materials and more heavily relying on local resources. Pre-planning scheduled development process prevents irreparable damages.

3.1.4. Sustainable architectural design

The best project solution will come as a result of a well-organised design process, a carefully selected design team, a precisely defined end goal, a study of applicable principles and model testing.

3.1.5. Application of the principles of passive solar architecture

Appropriate location, selection of a site with good solar access, proper orientation with building’s position towards solar gain during winter and limited western exposure in the summer, compact spatial concept, natural lighting, shading (natural and architectural), thermal mass, preheating, double envelope, well-dimensioned thermal insulation made of environment-friendly materials, air permeability, natural ventilation, solar chimneys and solar walls and system optimisation are the basic principles of passive solar architecture.

3.1.6. Application of other energy-efficient concepts, elements and systems

This primarily refers to wind generators, biomass plants, photovoltaic solar systems, solar heating and hot water systems, split solar systems, heat pumps, active facades, energy-efficient building elements (structures, materials, building openings, thermal insulation and minimising thermal bridges) and energy-efficient Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system.

3.1.7. Sustainable waste management

Waste analysis is the foundation of any zero waste and nearly-zero waste programme. Sustainable design will respect the waste management hierarchy before the final disposal of potential residual waste.

3.1.8. Involvement of residents, guests and users

Responsible occupants’ behaviour has a significant impact on the thermal balance and energy-efficiency, water consumption, as well as on waste management of the facility. These facts raise importance of informing and educating the hospitality industry participants, guests, visitors and employees on how technology and occupant behaviour can be integrated into realising the sustainable lifestyle.

The hospitality industry sector is energy intensively demanding. The use of renewable energy sources reduces operational costs, increases competitiveness and strengthens the green-building identity. In addition to reducing energy consumption from non-renewable sources, the application of the principles of energy-efficient architecture in tourism, such as energy-efficient concepts, elements and systems, brings many significant benefits such as reducing CO 2 emissions, improving guest comfort and reducing the possibility of the ‘sick building syndrome’.

4. Conclusion

Tourism is the fastest growing economic sector in the world, with urban tourism among its fastest growing segments. It is crucial to understand the specificity of the city in relation to other tourist destinations. Urban tourism, undoubtedly, needs to preserve the resource that allows its existence according to the three pillars of sustainable development. Urban tourism can and should support sustainable urban development.

Urban tourism, on the one hand, offers the possibility of economic growth, while on the other hand, it exposes the vulnerability of the destination, which is the result of over-excitation and excessive and unplanned growth.

Sustainable urban planning and sustainable architecture are prerequisite to the sustainable urban tourism development.

Sustainable urban tourism and energy-efficient architecture are interdependent. All relevant stakeholders should take into account the environmental, social and economic impacts by highlighting the conscientious use of resources especially the non-renewable energy and water, waste minimisation and application of energy-efficient systems and optimisation of technology solution.

Green building certification programs (e.g. USGBC, LEED, BREEAM, etc.) promote costefficient and resource-saving framework as well as integration of sustainable development strategies during construction, use, maintenance, renewal and destruction of architecture in tourism. In addition, waste is generated and harmful substances are released into the atmosphere during those processes. These facts prompted the creation of standards and certification systems aimed to mitigate environmental impact in accordance to the principles of sustainable development.

The hospitality industry sector is energy intensively demanding. The use of renewable energy sources reduces operational costs, increases competitiveness and strengthens the green-building identity. In addition to reducing energy consumption from non-renewable sources, the application of the principles of energy-efficient architecture in tourism brings many significant benefits such as reduction of energy consumption, CO 2 emissions, improvement of guest comfort and reduction of the possibility for the occurrence of the ‘sick building syndrome’.

Unfortunately, most hotels all around the world are energy in-efficient and have negative impact on the environment [ 37 ].

However, hotel companies’ owners are reacting to positive ecological trends. Investing in sustainable architecture in tourism is often perceived as an obstacle to ambiguity about the ultimate goal. As Rincones notes [ 38 ], despite the usual assumption that initial investment is considerably higher for a sustainable, energy-efficient hotel, practice shows that if the holistic approach to a project that has integrated all the necessary strategies and principle into the planning stage, the total investment will be slightly increased, or in some examples (for the time being rare), zero-rise and even the reduction of the initial investment has been achieved.

Architecture in urban tourism, with its design and spatial solutions, is playing an important role for the identity and tourism development of a city. Although initially potentially higher, but certainly varying low-risk investments subjected to numerous external and internal factors will, in a relatively short period of time, result in faster revenue returns, lower costs, financial growth and positive cash flow.

Finally, and most importantly, consistent application of energy-efficient principles contributes significantly to the sustainability of urban tourism.

• 1. Tourism E. Trends and Prospects. Bruxelles: European Travel Commission; 2011. 4pp. Available from: http://www.etc-corporate.org/reports/european-tourism-2012-trends-and-prospects-(q1-2012)?page=download-report&report_id=19 Accessed: 2017-05-22
• 2. Kleniewski N, Thomas AR. Cities, Change, and Conflict. 4th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth; 2011. 75 pp. ISBN-10: 0495812226
• 3. Mark JJ. The Ancient City; 2014. Available from: http://www.ancient.eu/city/ [Accessed: 2017-06-11]
• 4. Chandler T. Four Thousand Years of Urban Growth: An Historical Census. 2nd ed. Lewiston, N.Y., USA: St. David’s University Press; 1987. ISBN: 9780889462076
• 5. A Short History of Urbanisation: Understanding Urbanisation and its Consequences. Paris: OECD Publishing; 2015. pp. 19-33. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264228733-5-en . [Accessed: 2017-07-20]
• 6. Allen RC. The British Industrial Revolution in Global Perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2009
• 7. Gibson C. Population of the 100 Largest Cities and Other Urban Places in the United States: 1790-1990. Washington, DC: US Census Bureau; 1998. Available from: https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0027/twps0027.html [Accessed: 2017-05-22]
• 8. Percentage of urban settlements and location of urban agglomerations with at least 500,000 inhabitants. Global Trends of Urbanisation. Morphcode: 2014. Available from: https://morphocode. com/global-trendsurbanisation/ [Accessed: 2017-06-12]
• 9. World Urbanization Prospects - The 2007 Revision. UN, New York: 2007. 180 p. Available from: http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wup2007/2007WUP_Highlights_web.pdf [Accessed: 2017-07-13]
• 10. Sustainable Urbanisation Policy Brief: Proliferation of Urban Centres, Their Impact on the World’s Environment and the Potential Role of the GEF; GEF STAP. 2014. 2 p. Available from: http://www.stapgef.org/sites/default/files/publications/Sustainable-Urbanization-Policy-Brief.pdf [Accessed: 2017-07-22]
• 11. Demographia World Urban Areas. 13th annual ed. 2017. 4 pp. Available from: http://www.demographia.com/db-worldua.pdf . [Accessed: 2017-06-21]
• 12. Global Health Observatory Data. Urban Population Growth. Available from: http://www.who.int/gho/urban_health/situation_trends/urban_population_growth_text/en/ [Accessed: 2017-07-29]
• 13. Urbanization and development: Emerging futures. World Cities Report 2016. UN HABITAT; 7 pp. Available from: http://wcr.unhabitat.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/WCR-2016-Full-Report.pdf . [Accessed: 2017-06-27]
• 14. Leitmann J. Sustaining Cities: Environmental Planning and Management in Urban Design. 1st ed. London: McGraw-Hill; c1999. 106 p. ISBN-10: 0070383162
• 15. Demographia World Urban Areas. 13th annual ed. www.demographia.com : Demographia; 2017. 35 p. Available from: http://www.demographia.com/dbworldua.pdf . [Accessed: 2017-06-21]
• 16. Well H. Temperature Difference Between Urban and Vegetated Land Due to Impervious Surface Area. NASA’s Earth Observatory. 2015. Available from: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/vegetation-essential-for-limiting-city-warming-effects [Accessed: 2017-07-01]
• 17. Eishaer A, Gairola A, Adamek K, Bitsuamlak G. Variations in wind load on tall buildings due to urban development. Sustainable Cities and Society 34; 2017. p. 264-277. Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210670716307399?via%3Dihub [Accessed: 2017-07-03]
• 18. Leitmann J. Sustaining Cities: Environmental Planning and Management in Urban Design. 1st ed. London: McGraw-Hill; c1999. 83 p. ISBN-10: 0070383162
• 19. Howe CA, Butterworth J, Smout IK, Duffy AM, Vairavamoorthy K, Sustainable Water Management in the City of the Future. SWITCH Project. Available from: http://www.switchurbanwater.eu/outputs/pdfs/Switch_-_Final_Report.pdf [Accessed: 2017-06-02]
• 20. Edwards D, Griffin T, Hayllar B. Urban tourism research: Developing an agenda. Annals of Tourism Research Sydney. 2008; 35 (4):1032-1052
• 21. European Tourism 2011—Trends and Prospects. Bruxelles: European Travel Commission; 2011. pp. 2-5. Available from: http://www.etc-corporate.org/reports/european-tourism-2012-trends-and-prospects-(q1-2012)?page=download-report&report_id=19 . [Accessed: 2017-06-16]
• 22. Towards Quality Urban Tourism. Bruxelles: European Commission; 2000. 21 p
• 23. Ashworth GJ. Urban tourism: An imbalance in attention. Progress in Tourism, Recreation and Hospitality Research, Vol. 1. London: Behaven; 1989. pp. 33-54
• 24. Law CM. Urban Tourism—The Visitor Economy and the Growth of Large Cities. 2nd ed. London: EMEA. Thomson Learning; 2002. 4 pp. ISBN: 0-8264-4926-3
• 25. Howie F. Managing the Tourist Destination. 3rd ed. London: EMEA. Thomson Learning. 2003. 93 pp. ISBN-10: 1-84480-097-0
• 26. Gartner WC. Tourism Development: Principles, Processes and Policies. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold; 1996. 353 pp
• 27. Pavlić D, Nikolić D. Urban Tourism. [Research Paper]. Osijek: Faculty of Economics; 2013. 8 pp. Available from: https://docslide.com.br/documents/urbani-turizam-56290a72c07b8.html [Accessed: 2017-05-25]
• 28. Lelonek HI. The European Commission’s actions to enhance sustainable tourism. In: UN Expert Group meeting on Sustainable Tourism; 29-30 October 2013; New York. Available from: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/4119I.LELONEK_HUSTING_UN%20Expert%20meeting_Final.pdf [Accessed: 2017-31-07]
• 29. Sustainable tourism indicators and destination management. Final Report of the National Workshop; 15-18 October 2007; Tagbilaran City Bohol Philippines: WTO; 2007. 58 p. Available from: http://sdt.unwto.org/sites/all/files/pdf/finrep.pdf ; [Accessed: 2017-07-13]
• 30. 1st International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations; Declaration on Responsible Tourism; August 2002; Cape Town. Available from: http://responsibletourismpartnership.org/cape-town-declaration-onresponsible-tourism/ [Accessed: 2017-06-19]
• 31. Indicators of Sustainable Development for Tourism Destinations - A Guidebook; Madrid: WTO; 2004. 60 p. eISBN: 978-92-844-0726-2; Available from: http://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10. 18111/9789284407262 [Accessed: 30-06-2017]
• 32. Making Tourism More Sustainable: A Guide for Policy Makers. UNWTO and UNEP. Available from: http://www.unep.fr/scp/publications/details.asp?id=DTI/0592/PA [Accessed: 2017-07-13]
• 33. Making Our Cities Attractive and Sustainable. EU; 2010. DOI: 10.2779/42720. Available from: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Making-our-cities-attractive-and-sustainable.pdf [Accessed: 2017-07-01]
• 34. Compendium of Tourism Statistics, Data 2010-2014. 2016 ed. UNWTO. ISBN: 978-92-844-1763-6
• 35. Global Report on City Tourism. AM Reports: Volume 6. Madrid: UNWTO; 2012. Available from: http://cf.cdn.unwto.org/sites/all/files/pdf/am6_city_platma.pdf [Accessed: 2017-07-21]
• 36. Global Certified Green Hotel Density, Green Hotel Density. Available from: https://www.greenhotelworld.com/2016/06/24/green-hotel-density/ [Accessed: 2017-07-14]
• 37. Štahan K. Energy-efficient architecture in sustainable urban tourism. Prostor. 2014; 2 (48):278-289. UDC 72.023:711.4:379.8:910.4
• 38. Rincones D. The Green Building Resource Guide. U.S. EPA Region 5, Chicago; 2000

© 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Continue reading from the same book

Mobilities, tourism and travel behavior.

Published: 17 January 2018

By Mohamed Battour

4165 downloads

By Aleksandra Krajnović and Ivana Paula Gortan-Carlin

1525 downloads

By Enrique Marinao

2599 downloads

Architecture, tourism

• Living reference work entry
• First Online: 01 January 2015
• Cite this living reference work entry

• Lars Strannegård 3  

74 Accesses

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

Gunn, C., and T. Var 2002 Tourism Planning: Basics, Concepts, Cases. London: Routledge.

Google Scholar  

McLaren, B., and D. Lasansky, eds. 2004 Architecture and Tourism: Perception, Performance and Place. Oxford: Berg.

Nuryanti, W. 1996 Heritage and Postmodern Tourism. Annals of Tourism Research 23:249-260.

Article   Google Scholar  

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Department of Management and Organization, Stockholm School of Economics, P.O. Box 6501, SE-113 83, Stockholm, Sweden

Lars Strannegård

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lars Strannegård .

Editor information

Editors and affiliations.

School of Hospitality Leadership, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, Wisconsin, USA

Jafar Jafari

School of Hotel and Tourism Management, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR

Honggen Xiao

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this entry

Cite this entry.

Strannegård, L. (2014). Architecture, tourism. In: Jafari, J., Xiao, H. (eds) Encyclopedia of Tourism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_9-1

Download citation

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01669-6_9-1

Received : 30 September 2014

Accepted : 30 September 2014

Published : 18 September 2015

Publisher Name : Springer, Cham

Online ISBN : 978-3-319-01669-6

eBook Packages : Springer Reference Business and Management Reference Module Humanities and Social Sciences Reference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

• Publish with us

Policies and ethics

• Find a journal
• Track your research

• Faculty Voices Podcast

• Current Issue
• Spotlight: Costa Rica
• Perspectives in Times of Change
• Past Issues
• Student Views
• Student ReViews
• Book Reviews

Select Page

Architecture and Tourism

by Lee Cott | Dec 17, 2002

As tourism and foreign business continue to grow and prosper in Havana, the rush is on to build new hotels throughout the city as quickly as possible. During my last trip to Havana, I saw three large hotel structures under construction, the result of Chinese, Spanish, and French joint ventures with the Cuban government. Undoubtedly more are underway, or at least on the drawing boards. Havana has a hot tourist trade, and the Cubans know that in order to satisfy the increasing demand for high-quality accommodations, more rooms must be built. Prior to this period of hotel expansion, it was the 1950s that saw the greatest number of new hotels constructed to accommodate the rapid growth in tourism, primarily due to the casino industry. During that period, three hotels of architectural note were built. Each are icons of mid-20th century Havana. All remain standing today as evidence of the triumphs and failures of international modernism. All three bear a strong resemblance to their Miami precedents and are on the “must see” list for any American tourist in Cuba.

The Havana Hilton, renamed the Havana Libre after the 1959 revolution, is the largest and, at first glance, the most garish of the group. Yet more careful consideration reveals there is much to be learned from the placement of this large building into the 19th century Havana neighborhood. The Capri Hotel is located two blocks from the Havana Libre and is about one-third its size, yet is far more disruptive to its immediate environment. The third hotel, the Riviera, is located away from the downtown on the Malecón, Havana’s equivalent of the Corniche, and is the most elegant of the group. Even in the world of Socialist Cuba, these hotels function as everyday tourist destinations and apparently are no longer thought of as being decadent or as representative of the excesses of pre-revolutionary Cuba.

As concerned Cuban architects and urban designers ponder the future of the central Havana urban fabric, currently threatened with high-rise tourist-related development, they need not look too much further then these three hotels for a list of dos and don’ts for future development. While these three buildings are at first glance a catalog of mediocre American inspired modernism, easily dismissed as the worst America had to offer, each contains valuable lessons in how the Cuban government might think about design review of larger scale developments.

Shortly after his triumphant march into Havana in early January 1959, Fidel Castro chose the one-year old Havana Hilton as the temporary headquarters of his revolutionary government. Castro, always politically savvy, knew well the irony and wisdom of such a move. This towering symbol of years of American intervention in Latin America was constructed in the final hours of the regime of the American supported dictator, Fulgencio Batista, and in those early months of “Patria o Muerte,” was the most important place in all Havana.

The Havana Libre, designed by Welton Beckett & Associates in the late 1950’s with the Cuban firm of Arroyo y Menendez, remains at the spiritual heart of much of the action in present day Havana. Its location on a hillside at the boundary of central Havana and the Vedado district guarantees physical prominence and high visibility from nearly all of Western Havana. This 630-room, 27-story slab tower has a surprisingly minimal impact on its immediate context despite being one of the city’s largest built projects. Urbanistically it is highly successful at the neighborhood scale. Its designers were clearly cognizant of the surrounding context with its conflicting urban design scales. The presence of the late 19th and early 20th century three-story buildings surrounding the site demanded a sympathetic low-rise architectural response, but the program demanded a high-rise solution. While this is not too different from a great deal of program-vs.-site-related conflict of 20th century urban America, it is frighteningly true of present day Havana.

To further complicate the matter, the Havana Libre sits astride La Rampa, the major street of mid-20th century Havana. La Rampa is a wide, sloping boulevard that was once the action center of the casino gambling and prostitution-filled days of the 1940s and 1950s. It appears that the designers of the Havana Hilton were well aware of their challenge. The result is a building complex that works surprisingly well at the level of urban design. The building occupies a full city block and is three stories taller at one end due to its sloping site. The architects chose to place the structure on a wide plinth to provide a level platform, an organizing datum line, on which to build their tower and to place shops at the street level below the plinth, thus providing a nearly continuous retail space at the base below the entry level to the hotel. The car/pedestrian entry is the built continuation of La Rampa onto the site, a brilliant urban design maneuver that intelligently connects the building with its pedestrian and vehicular surroundings.

By setting the tower back and above the plinth, the architects were able to provide a dramatic series of cantilevered roof structures at the two and three story level that align with the two and three story parapets of the neighboring structures across the street from the main entry. In fact, on this level, as well as at the level of the surrounding streets, one is hardly aware of the 27-story tower that is set back at another upper level far behind the actual entrance from the porte cochere. In this regard, the Havana Hilton provides a valuable lesson for the future large scale architectural interventions in Havana.

The second 1950s modernist hotel in downtown Havana is the Hotel Capri. It is located two blocks from the Havana Libre and was built in 1958 by New York mobster Santo Traficante. If the Havana Libre contains lessons of “what to do,” then the Hotel Capri, designed by the Cuban architect Jose Canaves Ugalde, is a primer on “what not to do.” The Capri contains a mere 216 rooms but is very cramped on its site. It is evident there is just too much program on too small a site. This alone should be a valuable lesson for present day urban designers and planners thinking about tourism in Havana. Even though the Hotel Capri is located on a corner site, it does not take full enough advantage of its street façade exposure on two sides. Instead the entries to its front lobby and nightclub are adjacent to each other on the same side. Furthermore, the Capri was built with no regard for its context and rubs against its neighbors most inelegantly. Where the Havana Libre is nearly brilliant in relating to its context, the Capri is an architectural bull in a china shop, out of place and out of scale.

On the other hand, and quite another matter, is the Hotel Riviera a few kilometers away along the Malecón, Havana’s equivalent of the Corniche. Opened in 1958 by Miami mobster Meyer Lansky, the Riviera caused quite a stir. Visitors gawked at its egg-shaped gold leafed casino while watching Ginger Rodgers in the nightclub’s opening act. It’s said that New York architect Philip Johnson proposed the original building design to his client, but that Johnson walked out on Meyer Lansky when his would-be client requested a taller building. As constructed, The Riviera is a stunning example of 1950s “Miami Beach” hotel architecture. It is a graceful building with cantilevered curved balconies and an articulated structural concrete frame. Its elegant green, gray, and black color motif blend well with the sea, sky, and the Malecón. The 17-story tower stands alone, very much as originally intended, on a wide traffic island adjacent to a well-to-do neighborhood. The Riviera is an object building that stands alone from its neighborhood context, and therefore, sets itself apart from its immediate urban environment. Its Miami inspired design, reminiscent of the late Morris Lapidus at his best, which alone gives the building a certain level of curiosity, fails to carry it along as a successful piece of urban design.

As Havana moves forward into the next decades, the government of Fidel Castro seems determined to develop economic joint ventures with foreign countries and businesses in support of Cuban style Caribbean tourism. The resulting construction boom has not yielded many quality hotel designs. For the most part what has been built is either too big, as is the case with the Spanish Melia Cohiba, or completely inappropriate for its site, as is the case with the Parque Central. These are buildings designed off-shore with little attention paid to their Havana sites or context. While there is a certain threat to the city inherent with this direction, Havana can learn from the design triumphs and failures of the Havana Libre, the Capri, and the Riviera. It may stand a chance yet, perhaps inspired by these three lesser known examples of 20th century modernism.

Winter 2002 ,  Volume I, Number 2

Related Articles

Editor’s Letter: Tourism

Ellen Schneider’s description of Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega in her provocative article on Nicaraguan democracy sent me scurrying to my oversized scrapbooks of newspaper articles. I wanted to show her that rather than being perceived as a caudillo

Recreating Chican@ Enclaves

Centrally located between southern Colorado and northern New Mexico, is a hundred-mile long by seventy-mile wide intermountain basin known as the San Luis Valley. Surrounded on the east …

Tourist Photography’s Fictional Conquest

Recently, while walking across the Harvard campus, I was stopped by two tourists with a camera. They asked me if I would take a picture of them beside the words “HARVARD LAW SCHOOL,” …

Harvard University | Privacy | Accessibility | Trademark Notice | Reporting Copyright Infringements Copyright © 2020 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved.

Admin Login

• For Authors
• For Partners
• Distribution and Representation
• Delivery Information
• Privacy Policy
• Renaissance and Early Modern Art
• 19th Century Art
• 20th Century Art
• Contemporary Art
• Art Business, Museums & Curating
• History of Architecture
• Architectural Structure and Design
• Architects and Interior Designers
• Planning and Urban Design
• Photography
• Surrealism Bookshelf
• Women in the Arts
• Coming Soon
• Current Bestsellers
• Architectural History of the British Isles
• Architectural Photographers
• Concise Guides to Planning
• Contemporary Painters Series
• Designing Interiors
• Designing Now
• Hot Topics in the Art World
• Illuminating Women Artists
• New Directions in Contemporary Art
• Northern Lights
• V&A 19th-Century Series
• News and Events
• Books Art by Period Renaissance and Early Modern Art 19th Century Art 20th Century Art Contemporary Art Art Business, Museums & Curating Architecture & the Built Environment History of Architecture Architectural Structure and Design Architects and Interior Designers Planning and Urban Design Design Photography Surrealism Bookshelf Women in the Arts Coming Soon Current Bestsellers

Architectural Tourism by Shelley Hornstein

Shelley Hornstein's new book, Architectural Tourism: Site-Seeing, Itineraries and Cultural Heritage , charts the relationship, and even the entanglement, between architecture and tourism. It reveals how architecture is always tied to its physical site, yet is transportable in our imagination – and into the virtual spheres of social media and armchair travel.

Read on for a teaser extract taken from the book's introduction...   

Around the world, architecture is a magnetic draw for tourists of all stripes. Since the era of pre-industrial religious pilgrimages, architecture has beckoned travellers. Religious and historic sights, or contemporary buildings designed by ‘star’ architects demonstrate that architecture has always been undeniably tied to our cultural and architectural heritage, our collective identity and perhaps above all, to the tourist industry. Think about what we remember about a city and why. Landmark buildings such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris by Gustave Eiffel or the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain by Frank Gehry, mark their place and leave an indelible memory for tourists. When we think of a place we’ve travelled to see, we usually think of the buildings or sites that linger in our memory. What is noticeably different today, and as a result of the indisputable impact the Bilbao museum has made, is that architects themselves have become celebrities. Therefore, while our identification of a place is often associated with the building and the cultural memory informed by it, now the name of the architect is a draw in itself.

Architectural Tourism charts the relationship, and even the entanglement, between architecture and tourism. Key global icons of ‘spectacular’ architectural sites, such as the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal, as well as key current ‘starchitecture’ iconic buildings beginning with the Bilbao Guggenheim are discussed, illustrating the manifold issues involved in architectural tourism. Buildings and places are used to ‘brand’ a city so that it is immediately recognisable in visual publicity. It is no coincidence that the major travel agencies such as Globus, Abercrombie & Kent, Carlson Wagonlit, or Expedia, flash images of iconic architectural sites on their website home pages. Travel is a quest of sorts: a quest for unearthing the foreign and the unfamiliar with the frisson that it might result in a mild, or even a rude, cultural awakening. A visit to the physical site is always paralleled today by digital and virtual cultural exploration across social media platforms on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, to name but a few. Some travel is accomplished by not going anywhere at all – physically – but rather by way of the imagination through photographs, postcards, films, theatre, or literature. Illustrated by studies of international architectural icons, the book looks at how these buildings feature in literature, art and design, marketing and social media and reveals how the impact of these depictions combine to build up a deeply romanticised idea of the icon, which is central to the desire to visit it.

From the earliest recordings by Westerners of architectural ruins and the material cultural triumphs of past cultures to the continuing thirst for knowledge of architectural sites today, tourists yearn for a connection to built forms, a material connection to place, and a desire to know the world. The Romans admired the Greeks, the Italian Renaissance masters reconsidered Roman antiquities, the Enlightenment period was preoccupied with archaeological ruins, and colonising nations portrayed indigenous cultures with mythologised histories. Architecture and the places in which they are located are markers of culture and cultural consumption. Yet while travel to places and architectural discovery has been an activity told and documented for centuries, the democratisation of travel as mass tourism only really developed as a leisure activity during the 19th century. Since then, tourists move in greater numbers from a familiar place (home) to a faraway place, and then return to the point of departure. The 19th century afforded a kaleidoscopic vision of the world that was mediated by the then current technologies: trains, steamships, and cameras. Each of these recorded and ‘captured’ movement and the new spaces of modernity. Suddenly the world became two dimensional, seen through the lens of the camera or panoramic images framed through train windowpanes. Suddenly, pictures of architecture and places became another form of tourism – a window onto the world – and subsequently piqued unbridled enthusiasm for unfamiliar places.

This year, however, that is the year 2020, the year I am writing this preface and completing this manuscript, is unlike any other. This year, we are in lockdown. This year follows on the heels of 2019, a year when we were unsuspecting of the dread to come, when the coronavirus began to spread across the city of Wuhan, China, and then unexpectedly almost, while the rest of the world imagined this was not ‘our’ problem, made its way at breakneck speed to various locations across the globe until it arrived in North America in February 2020. How did it make its way? Travel. Tourism. The international connections linking one city to another, one household to another, one site to another.

This uninvited visitor, this eager speed traveller with malicious intent and endless destinations, the Novel Coronavirus, otherwise known as Covid-19, has not completed its tour of the world as I write. A pandemic that has shaken the world has enforced global health specialists to order the reverse of travel: prescribe immobility and social distancing and keep a spacing of at least two metres from others, necessarily bringing the travel industry to an abrupt halt. In attempting to confront and placate this fast-moving virus that has already targeted upwards of four million people worldwide, everyone – the entire global community – has been asked to shelter-at-home in order to be isolated from one another, one of the only reliable weapons in the international health artillery. The travel industry’s collapse was anything but gradual. It hit like a bomb: flights were brought to a standstill, all shops and commercial activities normally conducted in person were shut down, and gatherings of people were reduced from groups of 50 to 20 to none in a matter of days. Cries of devastation by the tourism sector swarm on the media unprecedentedly: tourism-dependent cities have been walloped by the crisis. For example, job losses for the Indian travel industry could be close to 38 million which accounts for approximately 70 per cent of the labour workforce. This is only one sector yet the broader landscape of travel global losses tally 75 million jobs and $2.1 trillion in revenue, in effect paralysing any thought of how travel might recover. Indeed, as National Geographic writer, Elizabeth Becker puts it, ‘The technological revolution that brought us closer together by making travel and tourism easy and affordable – a revolution that fuelled one billion trips a year – is helpless in halting a virus that demands we shelter in place.’

Forecasts of the worst economic depression to rival that of 1929 is on the horizon while unemployment is already tabulating unthinkable numbers in every country. Most of all, the lives lost to this virus so far without a vaccine or any form of inoculation shocks us all. Just as with deadly pandemics of the past, the Coronavirus continues to be responsible for ratchetting up soon to be over 500,000 fatalities, and the numbers continue to creep upward. And all the while, our worlds involute. As Paul Daley chronicles in The Guardian , ‘Our geographic orbits have shrunk. Our homes have become countries, our streets worlds and our suburbs universes. Once small things like a visit to the supermarket, a chat with a neighbour, a dog walk, hold greater emotional meaning than we’d ever have dreamt a few months back.’

And yet! While some airports are using runways as aeroplane parking lots and hotels and cruise ships are being converted into intensive care hospital wards, designers are packaging lockdown playlists, travel websites are intensifying interest in dream-worthy armchair vacations and museums are staging virtual 3D tours of exhibitions without ever having to leave home. Even the house rental giant Airbnb has introduced ‘Online Experiences’ to binge on – ‘Cultural Journey through London Chinatown’, or ‘Follow a Plague Doctor Through Prague’ – in what has been referred to as The Great Lockdown. The National Trust for Canada invites the visitor to its website with the tagline: ‘Get out your virtual passport and celebrate World Heritage Day’ on 18 April, ‘. . . a perfect moment to discover wonderful heritage places that the world has to offer’. With an offer to ‘keep your spirits high during this time of social distancing . . . From inspiring architecture to beautiful pastoral scenery, take a moment to enjoy some of Canada’s great historic places without leaving home.’ 

The online email newsletter, Dezeen Daily , proposes a little escapism by showcasing ten ideal remote cabins, treehouses and retreats for the readers visual delectation. The Culture Trip website invites readers to travel with them vicariously in order to ‘stay curious, dream now, plan later’ by visiting ‘. . . the New Seven Wonders of the World from Your Living Room’. And with the hope of a future Covid-19 free, are the prospective tours being advertised during the pandemic such as the ‘Great British Telly: A Tour of England’ already postponed once and rescheduled for autumn. This Public Broadcasting Station sponsored tour visits the sites and villages of some of the most popular British television series such as Midsomer Murders , Inspector Morse , Downton Abbey and more. Architectural sites include Bletchley Park, Highclere Castle and the Chavenage House where the series Poldark was filmed in part. If for nothing else and the trip is postponed again or cancelled entirely, the escapist fantasy of experiencing these virtual sites is worthwhile. A colleague, commenting on a drawing by artist, Kera Till, ‘Commuting in Corona Times’, calls it ‘fabulous and . . . relevant – how to feel a sense of movement in all this stillness and stay-at-home-ness . . . how seemingly static spaces [are] punctured by routes and pathways’.

Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia, 2014 & Guggenheim Bilbao, by architect Frank Gehry, Bilbao, Spain, 2002. Photos by Shelley Hornstein.

So, what might all this mean for the future of architectural tourism? Perhaps the only bright spark for tourism altogether is that the extended sheltering at home imperative piques interest and fuels a desire to move, to leave the confines of isolation, and that the tangible site, the physical place, the one we cannot currently get to, will be more tantalising than ever before.

-- Extract taken from Shelley Hornstein's new book, Architectural Tourism: Site-Seeing, Itineraries and Cultural Heritage , which will be released on 20th November. Pre-order HERE .

Hardcover  •  192   Pages  •  Size:   240 × 170 mm 25 colour illustrations and 75 B&W illustrations ISBN:   9781848222274  •  Publication:   November 20, 2020

FOR MORE CONTENT ON ARCHITECTURE, ART & DESIGN  CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA:

www.facebook.com/LHArtBooks

www.instagram.com/lhartbooks

https://twitter.com/LHArtBook s

• Next departures
• Finland: Alvar Aalto
• Dutch architecture
• French Architecture
• London at the Olympics
• Basel architecture
• Danish architecture / Swedish Architecture
• France and Switzerland: Le Corbusier
• Switzerland: Peter Zumthor
• German architecture: the Bauhaus
• Glasgow And Edinburgh: Mackintosh’s modernism
• Spanish Architecture
• Tarragona: Wine trip
• La Rioja & Álava: Wine trip
• La Garrotxa: Wine trip
• Barcelona: Modernism And Gaudí
• Barcelona: Urban Planning
• Barcelona: 22@ district
• Bilbao: Urban Development
• Madrid: Social Housing
• Madrid: Interior And Design
• Madrid Urbanism
• Madrid: Architecture And Art
• Pamplona: Architecture And San Fermines
• The architecture of Pamplona
• Catalan Architecture: Antoni Gaudi, Miralles
• Seville Heritage
• Seville: Contemporary Architecture
• Santiago de Compostela
• Modernism Mackintosh
• Portugal: Alvaro Siza and the architecture of light
• Italian architecture
• Greek architecture
• New York architecture
• Brazil: Oscar Niemeyer
• Chicago architecture
• Chile: the landscape architecture
• The architecture of Peru
• Mexican architecture: Luis Barragan
• Indian architecture
• Japanese architecture
• China: Beijing and Shanghai
• Dubai and Abu Dhabi architecture
• Student trips for groups
• Architecture trips for professionals
• Tailor made
• Booking conditions
• Susbscribe to our Newsletter

Milan & Salone del Mobile 2024

Architectural trip to oslo, norway.

Let us prepare your trip and enjoy architecture around the world!

Scheduled open travel packages.

The best architectural destinations worldwide

Contact us for information on current open trips

Milan & Salone del Mobile 2024

Discover the most interesting and innovative projects in the city and visit the most influential design fair from April 17th to 21st 2024

Fascinating trip for architecture, art and nature lovers to Oslo, Norway, from July 23th-28th 2024

Venice & Biennale Arte 2024

Venice + Biennale Arte 2024, a 4 day trip between April 20th and November 24th 2024. Choose your dates!

A journey through Moroccan architecture, Casablanca & Rabat

Architectural trip to Morocco, Casablanca and Rabat, from 30 October to 3 November 2024.

Architecture trip to South Africa

Cape Town, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, from November 29th to December 8th 2024.

Architecture trip to Andalusia, an architecture of the senses

Completed trip.

Architecture trip to Japan: traditional modernity

Discover Japan's traditional modernity on this architectural trip in the middle of the SAKURA, April 2025.

Architectural trip to Seattle and Vancouver

Architectural trip to Seattle and Vancouver to come on July 2025, dates to be determined.

Architecture trip to Helsinki: Alvar Aalto

Journey to Finland: In the Footsteps of Alvar Aalto, from 1-9 of September, 2025.

Urban Workshop Venice 2023

Architectural Trip to Brazil

Architectural trip to Qatar and the Emirates

Study Trip to Copenhagen

Architecture trip to Chicago: Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe

Proposed architecture trips, brazilian architecture: oscar niemeyer.

São Paulo, Brasilia, Río de Janeiro: Find Out more about this trip

Architecture of France and Switzerland: Le Corbusier

Roman aqueducts, medieval castles, master works by Le Corbusier. His last contemporary architecture projects in France and switzerland: Find out more about this trip

The architecture of Chicago

Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies Van Der Rohe and Richard Rogers Find out more about this trip

Spanish Architecture and Catalan Modernism

Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao: Find Out more about this trip

© Artchitectours. All rights reserved.

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

Architecture and Tourism

The Top 12 Things to Do in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

Take a first-rate trip to Russia's fifth city

Ershov_Maks/Getty Images

Although it's Russia's fifth-largest city, you could be forgiven for never having heard of Nizhny Novgorod. Notwithstanding that another Russian city is simply called " Novgorod ," the current name of the city just doesn't have a memorable ring to it. (By contrast, its name during the Soviet years — Gorky, like the famous author — was much more iconic.) At any rate, this city of just over a million around six hours east of Moscow is more than worth a visit. These are just 12 reasons why!

Tour the Kremlin's 13 Towers

Like most every other city in Russia, Nizhny Novgorod is home to a Kremlin. (The word "kremlin" means "citadel" in Russian, and has nothing to do with the modern Russian government) One thing that elevated the Kremlin of Nizhny Novgorod above others in Russia (with the possible exception of the Moscow Kremlin and one or two others), however, is the fact that its wall has 13 towers. During the summer months, at least one free walking tour per day operates from the main entrance of Nizhny Novgorod's Kremlin.

Climb Russia's Longest Staircase

Named for one of the most famous Russian pilots of the early aviation age (Valery Chkalov), the Chkalov Stairs connect two of Nizhny Novgorod's public squares, which sit on the upper and lower embankments of the Volga River, respectively. Built in 1943 (during the period when Nizhny Novgorod was known as Gorky), the Chkalov Stairs currently have the distinction of being the longest staircase in Russia.

Go Wild at Limpopo Zoo

One thing that surprises many travelers to Nizhny Novgorod is how amazing its zoo, colloquially known as Limpopo is. In addition to being home to a tropical botanical garden (which, not surprisingly, is indoors), the zoo hosts a variety of reptiles, mammals and birds. There's also a small sculpture park on the grounds of Nizhny Novgorod's zoo, including both original and replica pieces.

Shop (or Just Stroll) Along a Storied High Street

Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street has been the de-facto "Main Street" of Nizhny Novgorod for more than 200 years. Well, minus the Soviet Union period, during which the cafes that once (and now) lined it became somewhat worthless, since intellectual conversations were basically forbidden. These days, you can come here for a cup of Russian tea then shop at the dozens of boutiques you'll find on either side of the street.

Sun Yourself at the Spit

Nizhny Novgorod sits at the confluence of the Oka and Volga Rivers, with the triangle of land at the point they meet being known as the Nizhny Novgorod Spit. Ignoring the unfortunate double-meaning of its name for a moment, this is actually a wonderful place to get a tan, if it's summer in the city and the sun happens to be shining. Even if not, photographers will enjoy a trip here for a view of the Kremlin and city center across the Volga.

Marvel at the Open-Air Museum of Rozhdestvenskaya Street

Like Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street, Rozhdestvenskaya Street has long been one of the most important streets in Nizhny Novgorod. However, while the former has become a primarily commercial artery in recent decades, the charm of the latter is in its well-maintained buildings, which hearken back to the mid-18th century. In fact, some locals go so far as to consider Rozhdestvenskaya Street an "open-air museum."

Ride Russia's Newest Cable Car

Russian investment in infrastructure isn't quite as dramatic as that of, say, China, but the Federation has nonetheless built a selection of interesting and modern transportation systems since the fall of the USSR. Among them is the just-opened cable car, which travels from the center of Nizhny Novgorod over the Volga River to suburban Bor. At any rate, a ride over the river and back is definitely worth inclusion on your list of things to do in Nizhny Novgorod.

Taste Traditional Shchi Soup

Shchi is one of Nizhy Novgorod's most delicious local specialties, available in most every local restaurant that serves Russian food. From above, a bowl of shchi seems incredibly complicated, with a colorful palette that suggests the inclusion of dozens of diverse ingredients. In fact, the magic of shchi is in its simplicity. Building on the traditional pan-Russian recipe of cabbage, pork fat and salt (yes, just three ingredients), locals in Nizhny Novgorod sometimes add minced meat or egg whites as bonus items, then top the tangy soup with a dollop of sour cream.

Survey Amazing Russian Orthodox Architecture

Think the only amazing Russian Orthodox churches are in Moscow and St. Petersburg? Think again. Nizhny Novgorod boasts several amazing examples of Russian Orthodox architecture. From the brilliant golde domes John the Baptist Cathedral near the Volga River, to the expansive grounds of 14th-century Pechersky Ascension Monastery, Nizhny Novgorod is an architecture buff's dream!

Take a Look Back in Time

Nizhny Novgorod's historical center is relatively large and well-preserved, but a stroll (or 10) through it isn't the only way to get a feel for the city's centuries-long past. Head to the Russian Museum of Photography, which not only showcases a variety of images of Nizhny Novgorod that date back a century or even longer, but also spotlights the equipment Russian photographers have used throughout the years, and notable figures in Russia's photography history as well.

Visit the Convent from the Movie "Salt"

You'd be forgiven if you've entirely forgotten the 2010 film "Salt." However, if you remember any destination from this spy thriller, it's likely the facade of Makaryev Convent, which is located within day-trip distance of Nizhny Novgorod. Having served as a monastery from its consecration in the early 15th century up until the beginning of the Russian Revolution, Makaryev became a convent after the fall of the Soviet Union , and is now home to 22 nuns.

Take an Excursion to a 12th-Century Tea Town

Another worthwhile day trip from Nizhny Novgorod is to the town of Gorodets, which sits about an hour to its northwest. With a history dating back to the 12th century, Gorodets boasts an interesting array of architecture and museums, including one dedicated to samovars. 

Moscow - Russian Rivers and Waterways Port of Call

25 Best Things to Do in Moscow

The Top 12 Things to Do in Novgorod, Russia

9 Things to See in Moscow's Red Square

Top 12 Things to Do in Kazan, Russia

The Top 10 Things to Do in Tver, Russia

The Top 15 Places to Visit in Russia

The Top 12 Things to Do in Astrakhan

Top 12 Things to Do in Irkutsk

The Top 11 Things to Do in Belgorod, Russia

The Top 12 Things to Do in Ethiopia

15 Top Things to Do in Lisbon, Portugal

St. Petersburg, Russia

The Top 15 Things to Do in Bordeaux, France

10 Must-Visit Palaces and Castles in Russia

The Top 12 Things to Do in Omsk

Top 10 Things To Do And See In Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

Located about 400km east of Moscow , Nizhny Novgorod is one of the most important centers of cultural, economic, and political activity in European Russia . Widely considered, after St Petersburg and Moscow, to be Russia’s ‘third city’, Nizhny is fast becoming a hot-spot for Russian and global tourists alike, attracted by the city’s up-and-coming reputation and stunning landscape.

The Kremlin

Jutting out from the cliffs that overlook the meeting point of the great Volga and Oka rivers, Nizhny Novgorod ‘s ancient Kremlin boasts of some of the best views in the city. Designed by an Italian architect, the 13 magnificent towers and the 12 meter high walls of Nizhny’s Kremlin date back to 1500. On this very spot in 1612, heroes of Russian history Kuzma Minin and Count Dmitry Pozharsky defeated the invading Polish army in extraordinary circumstances. This moment has become legend in Russian history and a statue in honor of these two lies at the foot of St Basil’s in Moscow. The Kremlin is the historic center of the city where you will find an art museum and the lovely Cathedral of the Archangel Michael, as well as a striking monument to those that fought in the Second World War and its flame eternally flickering on in their memory.

Completed in 2012, taking a ride on Nizhny Novgorod’s cablecar has fast become a favorite activity of tourists. The trip offers unparalleled opportunities to view the city’s gorgeous natural landscape from this bird’s eye position. The 3660m long gondola lift connects Nizhny to the town of Bor and stretches across the Volga River for 900 panoramic meters. The gondola acts as both a convenient means of transportation and a fantastic sight-seeing expedition – come at sunset for a golden-bathed view of the river and surrounding landscape.

The house-museum of Maxim Gorky

During the Soviet era, Nizhny Novgorod, birthplace of celebrated Russian writer Maxim Gorky , was renamed ‘Gorky’ in honor of this national hero. This home has been preserved in a state as accurate as possible to how it was left by Gorky and is so successful in this that it would seem as though the writer still lived there. The museum ‘s historic interiors and authentic furnishings will transport you back to the 1900s and the creative world of this icon of Russian literature. Come and make the most of this unique experience to delve into the childhood world of this Russian father of social realism. Museum booklets and guided tours are available in English.

Become a Culture Tripper!

Sign up to our newsletter to save up to 500$ on our unique trips..

See privacy policy .

Nizhegorodskaya Yarmarka

A yarmarka is something akin to a fair, and this historic former market place was restored in 1991, the site now playing home to a superb modern exhibition center. The city’s yarmarka plays host to international events, fairs, and conventions. In 2011, for the 20 year anniversary of the fair’s refounding, a vast array of exhibitions were organized, attended by thousands including members of the British royal family, Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Gorbachev , and Margaret Thatcher . The fair is not only a buzzing center of business and culture, it is also one of the city’s most impressive sights.

The Nizhegorodsky State Art Museum

Located inside Nizhny Novgorod’s ancient Kremlin, the building that houses this art gallery was once the home of the governor of the city. The exhibits are wide-ranging and include everything from 14th century religious icons, to work by 20th century contemporary Russian masters. Particularly dazzling is the collection by Russian painter Nicholas Roerich. There is also a large arts and crafts collection which demonstrates the exquisite handiwork of Russian artisans throughout history.

1. Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street

Bolshaya pokrovskaya street.

An excellent spot to soak up the best of the city’s atmosphere, this pedestrian street lies in the heart of Nizhny Novgorod. The beautiful Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street is constantly buzzing and provides new and exciting sights at every turn. Gorgeous buildings and fountains tower on all sides – showcasing the best of Nizhny’s architecture. Quirky shop fronts and lovely local souvenirs will have you pausing at every window while the charming cafés will draw you in with their tempting aromas. Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street transforms by night into a vibrant hub of evening activity and is the place to come for a night-out in the city. The bars of this street are favorites with Nizhny Novgorod’s student population.

The Chkalov Staircase

An idyllic spot from which to watch the sun’s rays set over the city, this monumental creation was constructed by the Soviet government and is unique to the city of Nizhny Novgorod. The staircase derives its name from pilot Valery Chkalov who, in 1937, became the first man to fly from Moscow to Vancouver through the North Pole. A monument to Chkalov stands at the top of the stairs. The construction of the staircase cost almost 8 million rubles – an immense sum at the time. Over 1,500 stairs connect the city center with the river embankment – making Chkalov’s landmark the longest flight of stairs along the Volga. Nowadays the staircase is a favorite meeting place and relaxation spot for locals.

The Rukavishnikov Estate Museum

The Rukavishnikovs were a family of immensely wealthy merchants originating from the region around Nizhny Novgorod. This superbly restored palace , their former home, has been transformed into a museum of Russian history and gives a realistic snap-shot of life for the wealthy under tsarist rule. The ornate 19th century interiors and exquisite facade are sure to dazzle with their beauty while the lush green of the surrounding natural landscape provides a tranquil getaway from the city center. Lavish furnishings, priceless antiques, and glistening gold will transport you back in time to a world of balls, carriages, banquets, and tsars. Join the world of Russian noble ladies and gentlemen for a day in this stunning palace.

The Sakharov Museum

Nizhny Novgorod’s Sakharov Museum is dedicated to dissident Russian scientist Andrei Sakharov . The nuclear physicist and human rights activist was exiled for six years to the very flat in which the museum is now housed. Sakharov’s support for civil reform and improved human rights in the Soviet Union earned him harsh persecution from the Russian government, but also, in 1975, a Nobel Peace Prize . Sakharov was incarcerated here until 1986 when a KGB officer arrived to install a phone in the flat. Just after the phone was installed it began to ring: the caller was Mikhail Gorbachev, ringing Sakharov to inform him of his release. This phone is now one of the museum’s most treasured artifacts.

The National Centre of Contemporary Art

Inside the walls of Nizhny’s Kremlin can also be found one of the best modern art galleries in Russia. Linked to galleries in both St Petersburg and Moscow, this top-ranking exhibition center houses regularly changing displays of both Russian and international art as well as interactive exhibits and a media library. Progress is also on-going of adding a concert hall, extending the exhibition areas, and creating a restaurant. These additions aim to make art contemporary, not simply a detached, unrelatable concept, but bring it closer to the Russian people.

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips limited spots..

• Post ID: 384552
• Sponsored? No
• View Payload

Districts [ edit ]

The city is divided by the River Oka into two major parts: the Upper city ( Verkhnyaya or Nagornaya chast ) on the hilly right side and the Lower city ( Nizhnyaya or Zarechnaya chast — what literally means "the part over the river") on the left bank of the river. The Upper city is the old historical part of Nizhny Novgorod, whereas the Lower city is larger, newer and consists of more industrial districts.

Understand [ edit ]

History [ edit ]

The city was founded by Grand Duke George II of Russia in 1221 at the confluence of two most important rivers of his principality, the Volga and the Oka. Its name literally means Newtown the Lower , to distinguish it from the older Novgorod . A major stronghold for border protection, Nizhny Novgorod fortress took advantage of a natural moat formed by the two rivers.

Along with Moscow and Tver, Nizhny Novgorod was among several newly founded towns that escaped Mongol devastation on account of its insignificance and grew up into important centers of Russian political life during the period of Tatar yoke. For a short period of time it was the capital of the Suzdal Principality and competed with Moscow for the power in the region. However the competition with Moscow was lost and in 1392 the city was incorporated into Muscovy. Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin was built in 1508-1511 (under supervision of the Italian fortress engineers) and became one of the strongest Russian citadels. There is a legend saying that the project was initially developed with participation of Leonardo da Vinci. However there is no documented proof of Leonardo's work for that project, the only thing the legend is based on is the striking resemblance of Leonardo's sketches and the actual Kremlin schemes. The fortress was strong enough to withstand Tatar sieges in 1520 and 1536.

In 1612, the so-called national militia , gathered by a local merchant Kuzma Minin and commanded by Knyaz Dmitry Pozharsky expelled the Polish troops from Moscow, thus putting an end to the Time of Troubles and establishing the rule of the Romanov dynasty.

In 1817, the Makaryev Monastery Fair, one of the liveliest in the world the 16th-18th centuries, was transferred to Nizhny Novgorod, which thereupon started to attract numerous visitors and by the mid-19th century it turned Nizhny Novgorod into trade capital of the Russian Empire.

Under the Soviet period, the trade connections of the city were abandoned and Nizhny Novgorod became an important industrial centre instead. During the communist time the city was closed to foreigners to safeguard the security of Soviet military research. The physicist and the Nobel laureate Andrei Sakharov was exiled there during 1980-1986 to limit his contacts with foreigners.

Climate [ edit ]

The climate in the region is humid continental and it is similar to the climate in Moscow , although colder in winter, which lasts from late November until late March with a permanent snow cover.

By car [ edit ]

Nizhny Novgorod is situated on the M7/E30 road. The road is in decent condition, although with traffic it can take anywhere from 4 to 8 hours to drive to/from Moscow .

By boat [ edit ]

Turflot [dead link] , Infoflot , and many other companies operate multi-day river cruises down the Volga from early May to the end of September.

Many companies operate passenger boat service between Moscow and Astrakhan , with stops at most cities along the Volga River.

Get around [ edit ]

By foot [ edit ].

The city centre is compact and walkable. However, there are many inclines or steps from the river banks. The bridges are not pedestrian friendly since the sidewalk is very narrow and cars drive extremely fast close to the pedestrians.

By city rail [ edit ]

The City Rail connects areas where there are no metro lines. Connects with the subway at the Moscow railway station. It has 2 lines: Sormovskaya and Priokskaya. The fare by train costs 28 rubles. According to the Citicard Transport Card, the fare is 26 rubles. Also by train you can get to the nearest suburb, or transfer to suburban trains to Dzerzhinsk, Bor, Semenov or Arzamas.

By bus and trolleybus [ edit ]

As of May 2017 in each district of the city there are several city bus routes. The number of trolleybus routes is much less. In one district of the city there are 1-2 trolleybus routes. Trolleybus routes are completely absent in the Leninsky city district. It is worth noting that trolleybuses do not connect the Lower City to the Upper. This is because the trolleybuses do not have enough power to climb the mountain.

The trolleybus network is divided into 3 parts:

• The upper trolleybus network (it unites all three districts - Nizhegorodsky, Sovetsky and Prioksky) with a turning circle on the Minin Square, near the Kremlin.
• The lower trolleybus network (connects Kanavinsky, Moskovsky and Sormovsky districts)
• The Avtozavod trolleybus network (connects all the distant sleeping microdistricts among themselves)

By tram [ edit ]

Throughout the city, land trams run. The longest route of all is 417. It connects the outskirts of Avtozavodsky district with the Moskovsky Rail Terminal. The journey takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes. The route passes through the sleeping areas (approximately 75% of the way). Also in remote neighborhoods there are routes of several more trams, but in most cases, they are in the Upper City. By the way, you can reach there by tram 27 or 10 directly from the Moscow railway station.

By marshrutka [ edit ]

Marshrutkas do not stop at every stop. To indicate your intention to exit a marshrutka, press a button and to indicate your intention to enter a marshrutka en-route, you need to wave your hand.

By bicycle [ edit ]

Nizhny Novgorod has not very developed bicycle infrastructure. Special bike paths exist only on the Upper-Volga and Lower-Volga embankments and on Rozhdestvenskaya Street.

The upper city is very hilly and full of steep inclines and even many locals will get off their bicycles and push their bikes up the hill by foot. Drivers can be reckless and pose a danger to cyclists. The roads can also be icy during the winter. City cyclists solve this problem by replacing summer tires with winter tires.

Also, in 2017 the implementation of a new integrated transport scheme of the city began. It provides for a large number of bicycle paths in the Upper City (including on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street) and in the Lower City.

See [ edit ]

Monuments [ edit ]

• Monument to Valery Chkalov, the famous test pilot of the 1930s, known for his ultra long flight from Moscow to Washington State via the North Pole.
• Maxim Gorky, at the square named after him
• Alexander Pushkin (at the entrance to the Theatre of Opera and Ballet)
• 56.327974 44.001982 26 Prince George and Saint Simon of Suzdal , The Kremlin, St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral . Monument to the founders of the city of Prince Yuri II of Vladimir (also George Vsevolodovich) and Simeon of Suzdal ( updated Jun 2017 )

Religious [ edit ]

• Pechersky Ascencion Monastery , near Sennaya Square a couple miles east of downtown, halfway down the slope to Volga. With a cathedral and several churches surrounded by a restored stone wall, the monastery is the seat of the archbishops of Nizhny Novgorod.
• A big variety of other churches and convents.

Buy [ edit ]

Sleep [ edit ]

All hotels and hostels offer free Wi-Fi and many have computer terminals. Almost all accept credit cards. Hotels and hostels will usually provide a visa invitation and registration for an additional fee.

Connect [ edit ]

Phone [ edit ].

For information on purchasing a SIM card in Russia, see Russia#Connect .

Note that Nizhny Novgorod is in the Volga region zone, and SIM cards purchased elsewhere, such as in Moscow or Saint Petersburg , may be subject to roaming charges.

There are payphones in the streets; however, you can only buy phone-cards in the post offices and in a few newspaper kiosks.

Internet [ edit ]

Free WiFi is available in most hotels, shopping malls, university buildings, restaurants and cafes, the airport as well as several metro stations. There is also free public WiFi on B. Pokrovskaya street.

Cope [ edit ]

Navigation menu

• Hispanoamérica
• Work at ArchDaily
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy

Tourism Gentrification in the United States: How Short Term Rentals Impact American Cities

• Written by Ankitha Gattupalli
• Published on April 15, 2024

Airbnb has undoubtedly disrupted the hospitality industry, inspiring an ecosystem of companies leveraging the sharing economy such as co-living startups. While these companies have achieved impressive financial success, they have been purported to produce problematic effects at the scale of the city. Airbnb , in particular, is alleged to have driven an increase in rental prices in cities already grappling with housing affordability challenges. Much like the case of Uber's impact on urban mobility , Airbnb's rapid growth has caused significant challenges for local governments, demanding comprehensive regulation and a re-evaluation of its functioning at the city scale.

In 2008, Airbnb was established to revolutionize the hospitality industry. Founded in San Francisco, the startup quickly became a global company, greatly contributing to the growth of the sharing economy. Today, over 500,000 properties are listed on Airbnb in the United States alone, creating new opportunities for the way spaces are rented out and leased. Airbnb has empowered individuals to monetize their unused living spaces while providing travelers with an authentic alternative to traditional hotels. The company's disruptive business model has also had a deep impact on ideas around the utilization of real estate assets in the modern era.

Despite its massive success, the repercussions of Airbnb's model are starting to peek through. Some landlords in New York City are prolific and have hundreds of Airbnb listings. But other New Yorkers who have listings on Airbnb are trying to make ends meet, either leasing their place while they're out of town or renting half of a duplex to help cover their mortgage costs. In September 2022, New York City set in place a ban on short-term rentals not registered with the city. The city acknowledges that short-term rentals can bring noise, trash, and danger, and can price residents out of their own neighborhoods .

Related Article

Supporters of the rule argued it would free up apartments for New Yorkers , who pay high rent prices and face housing shortages and insecurity. Six months after New York City's ban, the number of short-term listings on Airbnb has fallen by more than 80 percent. This highlights the contentious relationship between the short-term rental industry and the communities in which it operates. While Airbnb has revolutionized travel, its impacts on local housing markets have prompted cities to take legislative action to mitigate the potential downsides of its model.

The rising number of short-term rentals in inner-city neighborhoods, in addition to being one of the driving forces of tourism gentrification, also concerns housing affordability. These troubles depict how the growth of the short-term rental market has complex social and economic implications for local communities . While providing new income opportunities for some, the reduction in long-term housing stock and the influx of transient visitors can disrupt the fabric of established neighborhoods. As cities continue to grapple with these trade-offs, the long-term sustainability of platforms like Airbnb remains an open question.

When homeowners convert their properties into Airbnb rentals, it may reduce the long-term rental supply in their neighborhoods. This could increase rental prices, stretching the budget of lower-income families. Additionally, the offer of long-term rentals is reduced, encouraging the relocation of residents to another district and thus encouraging gentrification and segregation processes. Residents struggle to find long-term rentals or affordable housing solutions, and in addition, they clash with a significant increase in the cost of services, due to the growing presence of tourists that push business owners to raise prices.

Besides these effects of gentrification, Monica Bernardi observes the "Disneyfication effect" of the short-term rental market. Massive tourist flows, nowadays favored by short-term rentals, risk transforming the historical centers from key places of local cultural and political life, into real consumption citadels. Furthermore, the uncontrolled flow of tourists can affect the identity of the city, reinforcing the risk of social desertification of historic centers. The influx of transient visitors and the commercialization of local culture can undermine the authentic character of historic urban centers, contributing to a homogenization of experience that erodes the very essence of what makes these places unique. In this process, the local life is marketed and sold as an added value to the rental of the accommodation.

Airbnb has, without a doubt, helped countless locations become more accessible to tourists, contributing to the locations' growth of tourism and income . Taking into account the issue of making cities richer, expressed by Airbnb , many scholars affirm that the arrival of more tourists due to Airbnb's lower accommodation cost is generating more jobs in the tourism industry. However, due to the large flow of tourists in cities that are not prepared to receive a large amount of them, the impact on local communities can create imbalances. To follow the economic impact of short-term rentals on cities, Airbnb can generate a concentration of externalities that can cause fluctuations in property value. This can be seen as a relevant indicator of processes of gentrification that can affect specific areas of the city.

Several other cities across the world such as Barcelona and Paris have also called for regulations on short-term rentals , affecting the future of Airbnb as a business. While bans have been momentarily effective, their long-term success is yet to be seen. The main goal of local governments must be to prioritize public interest rather than capitalist entities that seek to benefit. Policymakers must strike a careful balance - leveraging tourism's economic opportunities while mitigating its negative effects on housing affordability and neighborhood character.

Innovation in real estate business models must continue to advance, however, with consideration of its systemic influences. Start-ups like Uber and Airbnb have transformed the way people access transportation and accommodations. Where these companies fall short is in their lack of a holistic understanding of their offerings and their broader implications for urban communities. While these platforms work exceptionally well at the individual user level, they have failed to adequately address the complexity they introduce at the city scale .

This challenge demands a concerted effort not just from government regulators, but from the companies themselves. By adopting a systems-thinking approach that considers the full scope of stakeholders affected by their innovations, collective benefit can be accounted for. Rather than focusing solely on optimizing the individual experience, these start-ups need to be liable for mitigating the systems-wide issues their business models can create. This can ensure their offerings truly benefit the communities in which they operate, rather than prioritizing private gain over public good. 

Image gallery

• Sustainability

世界上最受欢迎的建筑网站现已推出你的母语版本!

想浏览archdaily中国吗, you've started following your first account, did you know.

You'll now receive updates based on what you follow! Personalize your stream and start following your favorite authors, offices and users.

• Visit Our Blog about Russia to know more about Russian sights, history
• Check out our Russian cities and regions guides
• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to better understand Russia
• Info about getting Russian visa , the main airports , how to rent an apartment
• Our Expert answers your questions about Russia, some tips about sending flowers

Russian regions

• Bashkortostan republic
• Chuvashia republic
• Kirov oblast
• Mari El republic
• Mordovia republic
• Nizhegorodskaya oblast
• Orenburg oblast
• Penza oblast
• Samara oblast
• Saratov oblast
• Tatarstan republic
• Udmurt republic
• Ulyanovsk oblast
• Map of Russia
• All cities and regions
• Blog about Russia
• News from Russia
• How to get a visa
• Flights to Russia
• Russian hotels
• Renting apartments
• Russian currency
• FIFA World Cup 2018
• Submit an article
• Flowers to Russia
• Ask our Expert

Nizhny Novgorod city, Russia

The capital city of Nizhegorodskaya oblast .

Nizhny Novgorod - Overview

Nizhny Novgorod (colloquially often just “Nizhny”; from 1932 to 1990 - Gorky) is a large city located in the center of European Russia, the administrative center of the Volga Federal District and Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.

It is an important economic, industrial, scientific, educational, and cultural center of Russia, the largest transport hub of the Volga Federal District. Nizhny Novgorod is one of the main centers of river tourism in Russia. The historic part of the city is rich in sights and is a popular tourist destination.

The population of Nizhny Novgorod is about 1,234,000 (2022), the area - 411 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 831, the postal codes - 603000-603257.

Nizhny Novgorod city flag

Nizhny novgorod city coat of arms.

Nizhny Novgorod city map, Russia

Nizhny novgorod city latest news and posts from our blog:.

7 January, 2022 / Nikolai Bugrov's Summer Dacha in Volodarsk .

4 December, 2017 / Stadiums and Matches of the World Cup 2018 in Russia .

2 June, 2017 / The Most Beautiful House in Nizhny Novgorod .

13 March, 2016 / Official Look of Host Cities of World Cup 2018 in Russia .

29 September, 2015 / Nizhny Novgorod - the view from above .

More posts..

History of Nizhny Novgorod

Foundation of nizhny novgorod.

During the military campaigns of the Russian princes against the Volga Bulgaria, the place where the Oka River flows into the Volga was used as a gathering point for the Murom and Suzdal troops. In 1220, Grand Duke Yuri Vsevolodovich (the grandson of Prince Yuri Dolgoruky, the founder of Moscow) conducted a successful campaign against the Bulgars. After it, he “decided to strengthen this important place for Rus” and founded a town at the mouth of the Oka.

It was named Novgorod, which literally means “new town”. Later, the adjective “nizhny” (“lower”) was added to the name of the town in the Russian annals. This was probably done in order to distinguish it from the town of Novgorod (present Veliky Novgorod) and other Novgorods that existed at that time.

The founding of Nizhny Novgorod was the beginning of an active expansion of Russian influence in the Mordovian lands. Two white-stone churches were built in the fortress, including the Cathedral of the Archangel (1227) - evidence of the special role that the town had in the system of lands of Vladimir-Suzdal Rus. However, the Mongol invasion stopped further development.

Information about Nizhny Novgorod of the 13th century is extremely scarce. But it is known that after the invasion it revived relatively quickly. Nizhny Novgorod is constantly mentioned in Russian chronicles as a major political and economic center of North-Eastern Rus and a spiritual center of Orthodoxy in the Volga region. The town was often the object of conflicts between Moscow and Tver.

In 1392, the Moscow prince Vasily I received a jarlig for the Nizhny Novgorod Principality and captured Nizhny Novgorod. The final annexation of Nizhny Novgorod to the possessions of Moscow took place in the late 1440s.

More Historical Facts…

Nizhny Novgorod in the 16th-18th centuries

Under Ivan III and Vasily III, the town played the role of a border post and was a gathering place for military campaigns against the Kazan Khanate. In 1508-1515, the stone kremlin was built. After the capture of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible, the border role of Nizhny Novgorod became insignificant. At the same time, Nizhny Novgorod became the center of trade between Russia and the East and a large shipbuilding center.

In September 1611, during the Time of Troubles, the Second People’s Militia was organized in Nizhny Novgorod to fight the Poles who were able to establish control over Moscow. The militia consisted of detachments of townspeople, peasants of the central and northern regions of the Tsardom of Russia. The leaders were the Nizhny Novgorod merchant Kuzma Minin and Prince Dmitry Pozharsky (the monument to them is installed on Red Square in Moscow). In October 1612, the militia was able to completely liberate Moscow.

In the 17th century, a schism occurred in the Orthodox Church under Patriarch Nikon. It led to the formation of numerous settlements of Old Believers in the vicinity of Nizhny Novgorod. In 1695, during his Azov campaign, Peter I arrived in Nizhny Novgorod. In 1719, as a result of his administrative-territorial reforms, the town became the center of a separate Nizhny Novgorod Governorate. In 1722, setting off on the Persian campaign, Nizhny Novgorod was again visited by Peter I. Here he celebrated his 50th birthday.

In 1767, Nizhny Novgorod was visited by Empress Catherine II. During her stay in the town, she met the famous local mechanic and inventor Ivan Kulibin. After her visit, a new regular town plan was approved. The first town theater was built in 1798. Later, it became known as Nikolaevsky, in honor of Emperor Nicholas I.

Nizhny Novgorod in the 19th century

At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, Nizhny Novgorod became a major scientific and cultural center of the Russian Empire. In 1811, the population of Nizhny Novgorod was about 14,400 people. In 1817, the Makaryev Fair, the largest fair of the Russian Empire, was moved to the village of Kunavino (one of the districts of today’s Nizhny Novgorod). Before that, it was organized every year near the Makaryevsky Monastery, which burned down a year earlier. From that time on, it began to be called the Nizhny Novgorod Fair. Thanks to it, the rapid economic development of the town and adjacent villages began.

After Emperor Nicholas I visited the town in 1834, the large-scale reconstruction of Nizhny Novgorod began. In 1847, a water supply system appeared in the town and the first fountain was built. Private buildings in the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin were demolished and new administrative buildings appeared in their place. A lot of new buildings, streets, boulevards, and gardens were built.

In 1849, a large industrial enterprise was founded in the village of Sormovo (another district of today’s Nizhny Novgorod). Later, it became known as the Sormovo plant. It was producing river steamers, various railway cars, steam locomotives, and trams. Thanks to the plant, Sormovo soon turned into a large village of workers. In 1862, the construction of the Moscow-Nizhny Novgorod railway was completed. In 1863, the population of the city was 41,500 people.

In 1896, the city hosted the All-Russian Trade and Industrial Exhibition. The radio receiver of the engineer A.S. Popov, the hyperboloid tower of the engineer V.G. Shukhov were demonstrated at the exhibition, as well as the first Russian car of the Frese and Yakovlev factories.

Nizhny Novgorod in the first half of the 20th century

In 1914, about 111,000 people lived in Nizhny Novgorod. In 1917, during the First World War, the Warsaw Polytechnic Institute was evacuated to this city, on the basis of which the Nizhny Novgorod Polytechnic Institute was created.

On October 7, 1932, Nizhny Novgorod was renamed Gorky due to the 40th anniversary of the literary and social activities of the writer Maxim Gorky. In 1933, the first permanent bridge across the Oka River was built. The railway bridge across the Volga was constructed too. Thanks to this, it became possible to go by rail through Gorky to the Urals and Siberia.

The 1930s were a period of rapid industrialization. In 1932, the largest industrial enterprise in the city was opened - the Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ), an important object of the Soviet defense industry. In the 1930s-1940s, the city was even referred to as “Russian Detroit”. By 1939, the population of Nizhny Novgorod increased to about 644,000 people.

Every fourth resident of the Gorky region (about 822 thousand people) fought on the fronts of the Second World War. Of these, more than 350 thousand people did not return from the battlefields - they were killed, went missing or died from wounds in hospitals.

In June 1943, three large raids of German bombers were carried out on Gorky. The main target of air strikes was the Gorky Automobile Plant, which as a result was almost completely destroyed. It was rebuilt only in the middle of 1944. Over 500,000 wounded were treated in dozens of hospitals during the war years.

The city was an important center for the production of weapons. During the Second World War, every second Soviet car, every third tank and every fourth artillery piece were produced at Gorky’s plants. In total, about 38 thousand tanks, self-propelled guns, armored vehicles, 43 thousand mortars, 16 thousand aircraft, 22 submarines, 109 thousand cars, more than 85 thousand radio stations, as well as 101 thousand artillery pieces and 1,165 Katyusha multiple rocket launchers were produced in Gorky.

Nizhny Novgorod after the Second World War

In 1946, the first GAZ-M-20 “Pobeda” passenger car and the GAZ-51 truck left the assembly line of the Gorky Automobile Plant. In 1949, the construction of the monumental Chkalov Stairs connecting the Upper Volga and Lower Volga embankments was completed in the historic center of Nizhny Novgorod. On August 4, 1959, the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR “On the closure of the city of Gorky for visiting by foreigners” was issued. In 1962, the population of Gorky exceeded 1 million people.

On January 18, 1970, a radiation accident occurred at the Krasnoe Sormovo plant. During the construction of a nuclear submarine, an unauthorized launch of the reactor took place. After working at prohibitive power for about 10-15 seconds, it partially collapsed. Hundreds of workers were exposed to the radioactive release. In total, over one thousand people took part in the liquidation of the consequences of the accident and were exposed to radiation.

In 1985, a subway was opened in Gorky. In 1980-1986, Andrei Sakharov, a world famous nuclear physicist, Nobel laureate, and activist, was in exile in Gorky to prevent his contacts with foreigners. In the early 1990s, the “closed city” status was lifted and the city became accessible to foreigners. On October 22, 1990, Gorky was renamed back to Nizhny Novgorod. In 1991, the population of the city reached its maximum - 1,445,000 people.

At the end of the 20th century, the information technology sphere began to actively develop in the city. In the 2000s, a transport problem arose because of the insufficient carrying capacity of the Nizhny Novgorod bridges connecting the lower part of the city and the upper one.

In February 2012, the Nizhny Novgorod Volga Aerial Tramway was opened. This 3661-meter-long gondola lift cable car connected Nizhny Novgorod with the town of Bor. Its daily passenger traffic is about 5,000 people. In 2013, the city electric train was launched - an alternative to the subway line from Sormovo to Moskovsky railway station.

Nizhny Novgorod hosted 6 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2018 . A new stadium was built, the old river port was demolished, a new park and embankments were created. Large-scale restoration of old streets and buildings took place, new museums were opened, hotels were built, and parks were reconstructed.

Streets of Nizhny Novgorod

One sunny summer day in Nizhniy Novgorod

Author: Denis Plekhanov

Apartment buildings in Nizhny Novgorod

Author: Eugene Ivanov

On the street in Nizhny Novgorod

Author: Sergey S. Kazenyuk

Nizhny Novgorod - Features

Nizhny Novgorod is located about 425 km east of Moscow, at the confluence of the two largest waterways of the European part of Russia - the Volga and Oka rivers. The city is divided by the Oka into two parts. The length of Nizhny Novgorod along the Oka is 20 km, along the Volga - about 30 km.

The climate in Nizhny Novgorod is moderately continental, with cold, long winters and warm, relatively short summers. The average temperature in January is minus 8.9 degrees Celsius, in July - plus 19.4 degrees Celsius.

A red deer is depicted on the coat of arms and flag of Nizhny Novgorod, which is a symbol of nobility, purity, life, wisdom, and justice. The City Day is celebrated on the 3rd Saturday in August.

In January 2019, Nizhny Novgorod was recognized as the best city in Russia in terms of quality of life. It took first place among Russian cities and 109th in the world in terms of quality of life. The rating was compiled by the site numbeo.com, which specializes in statistics on the cost of living and consumer prices in different countries of the world.

When compiling the rating, the purchasing power of the population, safety, health care, the cost of living, the ratio of real estate prices to the population’s income, traffic congestion, the level of environmental pollution, and climate were taken into account.

The main branches of the local industry are the production of cars and weapons, shipbuilding. Nizhny Novgorod is also one of the IT centers of Russia.

Nizhny Novgorod is a major transport hub. The city has a railway station, a river station, a cargo port, several berths for transshipment of goods. Strigino International Airport named after V.P. Chkalov offers regular flights to such cities as Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Kaliningrad, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Samara, St. Petersburg, Sochi, and a number of others.

Public transport in Nizhny Novgorod plays a very important role in ensuring the life of the city. At the same time, its work is hampered by the distribution of its population on the city’s territory, large daily migrations, a very high concentration of passenger traffic on the bridges across the Oka River, and the lack of an all-encompassing system of high-speed transport. There are municipal buses, fixed-route minibuses, trams, trolleybuses, the city train, and subway.

The tourist potential of Nizhny Novgorod is quite high. According to UNESCO, it is one of the most valuable historical cities in the world. In total, there are more than 600 unique historical, architectural and cultural monuments in Nizhny Novgorod, a variety of museums. The best time to visit Nizhny Novgorod is summer.

One of the alternative ways to visit Nizhny Novgorod is to take a river cruise along the Volga River. Travelers will find exciting excursions and meals in traditional Russian taverns. It will also be interesting to come during one of the many fairs or ethnographic festivals that are held in the city.

Main Attractions of Nizhny Novgorod

Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin (1508-1515) - a fortress in the historic center of Nizhny Novgorod and its oldest part, the main architectural complex of the city located on the right high bank, at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers. To date, all 13 towers of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin have been preserved or have been restored. The thickness of the wall at the base reaches 5 meters. There are exhibitions in the towers of the fortress; a section of the wall is open for tourists to visit.

In the past, there were several churches on the territory of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. Today, only the Archangel Michael Cathedral has survived, built no later than the middle of the 16th century and rebuilt in 1628-1631 - the oldest surviving building in the kremlin. There is the grave of Kuzma Minin inside it.

An excellent view of the Volga River and Strelka (the confluence of the Oka and Volga) opens from the walls of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin. Here you can also see a collection of military equipment from the Second World War.

Nizhny Novgorod State Art Museum - one of the oldest museums in Russia, the largest museum of fine arts in the Nizhny Novgorod region. The Governor’s Palace on the territory of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin houses a permanent exhibition of Russian art and a collection of artistic silver.

In the House of the Merchant and Benefactor D.V. Sirotkin (Verkhnevolzhskaya Embankment, 3), an exposition of Western European art is presented and, separately, the painting by K.E. Makovsky “The appeal of Kuzma Minin to the citizens of Nizhny Novgorod” - one of the largest paintings on a historical theme in Russia (698x594 cm).

Chkalov Stairs (1943-1949) - a monumental staircase in the form of a figure eight in the historic center of Nizhny Novgorod. Connecting the Upper Volga (Verkhnevolzhskaya) and Lower Volga (Nizhnevolzhskaya) embankments, it is one of the longest stairs in Russia. It starts from the observation deck at the monument to Valery Chkalov (the famous Soviet pilot who made the first non-stop flight from the USSR to the USA via the North Pole), next to the St. George Tower of the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin.

Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street - the main street of Nizhny Novgorod built up with noble mansions of the past centuries. A large part of Bolshaya Pokrovskaya is reserved for the pedestrian zone and is analogous to the pedestrian Arbat Street in Moscow. There are a lot of historic houses, cafes, souvenir shops, boutiques, monuments, and sculptures here. The length of the street is over 2 km.

The building of the State Bank (Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street, 26), resembling a medieval palace, is an outstanding architectural monument built in the Russian Revival style in 1911-1913. In the Museum of Old Equipment and Tools (Bolshaya Pokrovskaya Street, 43), you can see unique exhibits, hear their history, and even touch them.

Fedorovsky Embankment - one of the most beautiful embankments in Nizhny Novgorod and the best observation deck in the city. Everything is perfectly visible from this embankment: the old part of the city, the river station with a park, the Kanavinsky bridge - one of the oldest in the city, and, of course, the opposite bank of the Oka River with the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the confluence of the Oka and Volga. People also come here to watch the sunset.

Nizhny Novgorod Volga Aerial Tramway . This cable car, 3661 meters long, connects the high right bank of the Volga River, where the historic part of Nizhny Novgorod is located, with the town of Bor. It has the largest unsupported span over the water surface in Europe - 861 meters.

A one way trip during which you can admire the picturesque views of Nizhny Novgorod and the Volga River takes 15 minutes. It is better to use it in good sunny weather, because in windy weather, the movement of the cabins can be stopped. Sennaya Square on Kazanskaya Embankment.

Nizhny Novgorod State Museum of History and Architecture (1875-1877). Also known as the Mansion of S.M. Rukavishnikov, it is an architectural ensemble built in the eclectic style in the historic center of Nizhny Novgorod, one of the most important and famous architectural monuments of this city. Guided tours are held in the premises, allowing you to learn about the life of the former owners of the mansion, as well as look at the historical expositions of different years. Verkhnevolzhskaya Embankment, 7.

Main Palace of Nizhny Novgorod Fair - a luxurious building constructed in the forms of Old Russian architecture of the 17th century. Today, exhibitions of various formats are held here, as well as the multimedia exposition “Russia - my history” dedicated mainly to the history of Nizhny Novgorod starting from the Finno-Ugric peoples. Sovnarkomovskaya Street, 13.

Museum of the History of the Gorky Automobile Plant . The museum houses expositions telling about the history and development of the Gorky Automobile Plant. In total, there are over 40,000 exhibits. Here you can see a collection of Soviet vintage cars, which includes “Chaika”, “Volga”, the truck “GAZ-51”, and a lot of others. Lenina Avenue, 95.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (1868-1881) - the most noticeable sight of the lower part of Nizhny Novgorod, which can be seen from all observation decks of the upper city. The church, 87 meters high, was built on the site of the Nizhny Novgorod Fair at the expense of merchants, who wanted to perpetuate the visit of Emperor Alexander II. Strelka Street, 3a.

Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1696-1719) - one of the best examples of the Stroganov Baroque, an architectural monument of federal significance. From a distance, this colorful building looks like a sugar gingerbread with “candy” domes and decorated with stone flowers, pears and apples. Rozhdestvenskaya Street, 34.

Pechersky Ascension Monastery - one of the most interesting places in Nizhny Novgorod, where you can feel the spirit of the city. Most of the monastery buildings date back to the first half of the 17th century. A lot of beautiful photographs can be taken here. Privolzhskaya Sloboda Street, 108.

Limpopo Zoo - the first private zoo in Russia. More than 270 species of animals live here, 25 of which are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. It is located on the territory of the Sormovsky Park on an area of 7.1 hectares. Yaroshenko Street, 7b.

Architectural and Ethnographic Museum-Reserve “Shcholokovskiy Khutor” . The exposition of this museum is represented by 16 objects of rural architecture: residential houses, barns, mills and churches of the 17th-19th centuries brought from the northern districts of the Nizhny Novgorod region. The facades of the houses are decorated with traditional relief carvings. In the premises of the houses, interiors with authentic items of peasant life have been restored. Gorbatovskaya Street, 41.

Nizhny Novgorod city of Russia photos

Pictures of nizhny novgorod.

Chkalov Stairs and the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin

Author: Sergey Bulanov

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Nizhny Novgorod

Author: Evgeniy Balashov

Shopping and office center Smart in Nizhny Novgorod

Author: Diman Lazarev

Sights of Nizhny Novgorod

Annunciation Monastery - the oldest monastery in Nizhny Novgorod

Nizhny Novgorod Cathedral Mosque

Church in honor of the icon of the Mother of God Joy of All Who Sorrow in Nizhny Novgorod

The comments of our visitors

• Currently 3.14/5

Rating: 3.1 /5 (250 votes cast)

Sponsored Links:

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security.

• Newsletters
• Terms of use
• Contributors

Plans filed for Stutchbury-designed Wiradjuri Tourism Centre in New South Wales

Within the Yarning Circle building, facing the Hearth.

Image: Peter Stutchbury Architecture

A development application has been filed for the Wiradjuri Tourism Centre in Dubbo, New South Wales, with plans featuring a Yarning Circle building, a bush food garden and an outdoor performance space.

The $14 million proposal has been lodged with Dubbo Regional Council. The Wiradjuri Tourism Centre would be sited at 2 Coronation Drive, within Elizabeth Park. The main architectural feature of the proposal is a central building called the Yarning Circle, which comprises a museum, and educational and event spaces.

As the name suggests, the Yarning Circle building is circular in form. Designed by Peter Stutchbury Architecture with Yerrabingin, the facility aims to provide a space for healing, storytelling, communication, visitation and respect. The circularity of the building symbolises “occupation and infinity” in reference to First Nations culture and history.

“The budget drives our elemental approach to the architecture – the desire to create a place to celebrate establishes our methodology,” said Peter Stutchbury Architecture in a design statement. “We consider the building as a collection of rooms, subdivided by occupations. The room is a place on the land, it protects and allows culture to regroup, to rekindle what is real.

“Communication around the room is efficient, branching off the central veranda. The opening to the sky is like a sundial, shifting light and shade around the internal face of the building. Planning is direct and coherent, accessible to external servicing as required or orientated to courtyards; weather is considered as a partner to the building’s energy. This project goes beyond a brief, it is a story of culture, respect and healing. An ancient footprint with a beating heart.”

A courtyard called the Hearth lies at the centre of the ring-shaped Yarning Circle building. Features of the Hearth include a fire pit and seating.

In its current condition, the site consists of turf with some exotic tree species. A recently completed adventure play space and upgraded landscape space with yarning circle is located adjacent. Under the plans, endemic plant species will be re-introduced to encompass and weave throughout the building, including a central courtyard. Where possible, natural stone materials sourced locally will be used for the outdoor environment.

A courtyard called the Hearth will lie at the centre of the ring-shaped Yarning Circle building. Features of the Hearth include a fire pit, a reflective water feature, a rock crossing and seating.

External to the Yarning Circle building, outdoor rooms have been proposed to serve as performance, reflection and ceremonial spaces. Among these outdoor rooms is the Holding Place building, a shaded building with seating for private contemplation and cultural gatherings. Another of these rooms, the Outdoor Gallery and Performance space, is open to the elements and less formal than the Holding Place.

A bush food garden accommodating edible and medicinal plants would also be established within the landscape.

Peter Stutchbury Architecture was awarded the project in 2021 . The development application is on exhibition until 9 May 2024.

Related topics

• New South Wales
• Regional Australia

More industry news

Construction has begun on a new public waterfront park on the north bank of Birrarung/Yarra river, designed by Oculus.

A 38-storey mixed-use tower has been proposed for Festival Plaza in Adelaide in lieu of an earlier approved proposal for a three-storey retail building.

PRODUCTS by

Latest on site

LATEST PRODUCTS

A courtyard called the Hearth lies at the centre of the ring-shaped Yarning Circle building. Features of the Hearth include a fire pit and seating.

The facility aims to provide a space for healing, storytelling, communication, visitation and respect.

Architecture Media acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters of Australia.

Tell us where we should send the Latest news

Join our architecture and design community for the latest news and reviews. Be first to know.

You may also like other Architecture Media network newsletters:

Tourism ‘intrinsically susceptible’ to climate shocks, political unrest, pandemic threat

Facebook Twitter Print Email

The President of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday highlighted the urgent need to boost sustainable and resilient tourism practices to protect the environment while continuing to benefit local economies.

Addressing a high-level meeting on tourism as part of the General Assembly’s first ever Sustainability Week , Dennis Francis said it was a vital driver of economic growth and empowerment .

In 2023, the sector contributed three per cent to the global gross domestic product (GDP), amounting to $3.3 trillion, and employed one in every ten people worldwide. For countries in special situations, like small island nations, tourism accounted for nearly 35 per cent of all export earnings and up to 80 per cent of national exports .

“Despite the spectacular benefits reaped across its vast supply chains – tourism is also intrinsically susceptible to a host of disruptive forces – such as climate change, pandemics, acts of terrorism, and domestic political instability,” Mr. Francis said.

Sustainable

He expressed concerns about the sector’s environmental and carbon footprint, saying sustainability must be paramount.

“We need a global tourism sector that is sustainable – one with deep local value chains that expand demand for locally made products and services in ways that also directly and positively benefit local communities,” he urged.

Moreover, he emphasized that the sector should also leverage digital technology to foster innovation and expand opportunities for jobs and economic growth, especially for women, youth, and indigenous and local communities.

“We also need a global tourism sector that is resilient,” said Mr. Francis, stressing the need to minimize its vulnerabilities and bolstering its ability to withstand external shocks.

This includes designing infrastructures that can withstand environmental disasters, fostering innovations that enhance economic and social resilience, and diversifying tourism activities to reduce recovery time after disruptive events.

Symbol of hope

Zurab Pololikashvili, head of the UN World Tourism Organization ( UNWTO ), also spoke at the General Assembly, noting that despite today’s pressing challenges, tourism offered a glimmer of hope.

Reflecting on the sector’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic – its most significant crisis in history – he observed that in 2023, international arrivals rebounded to almost 90 per cent of pre-pandemic levels , with full recovery expected by the end of 2024.

This recovery must serve as a catalyst for bold action and transformative change, he said, emphasizing, “tourism can – and must – be a part of this plan for a better future for all.”

Sustainability Week

The high-level event on tourism followed Monday’s deliberations on debt sustainability , where speakers outlined the crippling impact of debt on developing economies, and called for urgent reform of the global financial system.

Upcoming highlights of the week include dedicated discussions on sustainable transport, infrastructure and energy.

• General Assembly
• 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Bogong Village upgrade set to ease seasonal worker housing shortage this winter

The tranquil Bogong Village, nestled above a lake in Victoria's High Country, has seen better days.

Cobwebs hang. Paint peels. Nature creeps in. 

But in just a few weeks, the village will embrace a new lease on life.

The cluster of simple wooden huts — built in the 1940s to house hundreds of workers constructing and operating the Kiewa Hydroelectric Scheme — has been given a thorough makeover after years of neglect.

It is a key player in Melbourne-based property company Grollo Group's move to plug a gaping housing hole in the alpine tourist market, which struggles every ski season to accommodate staff.

The company has spent $6 million renovating the village as part of a 73-year, sub-lease deal with AGL, which owns Bogong Village.  

By May, Bogong Village will once-again boast an operating tavern, 27 refurbished cabins, and a place for 200 winter workers to call home for the season.

The village has mostly been gutted and renovated from scratch since last spring, but it's a task that Grollo Group property director Martin Ansell said would be worth the seven-decade investment.

"We first arrived and the possums pretty much ruled the place," he said.

"Basically, there's been no maintenance done on these properties for five to six years."

The site is already mostly booked out for this year's ski season by workers who will service the popular Falls Creek snowfields, including hospitality and lift staff, cleaners, and maintenance teams.

Another 100 beds could be available at Bogong Village in the near future under plans to build more housing at the site. 

Mr Ansell said the project had support from nearby communities, such as the township of Mount Beauty, which struggled to meet housing demand for workers during the busy ski season.  

"These businesses aren't maximising their ability to make their returns because they're restricted with the their ability to be able to get staff and house them," he said.

Bogong Village has a long history of housing staff, and reminders of its previous residents can still be found.

Footprints of the European migrant community that once called the site home are still evident in the established foreign gardens thriving in the thick eucalyptus forest. 

Mr Ansell said it was important to give the village the fresh start it deserved, as Grollo Group looked to bring 1,500 new beds to market across Mount Buller, Bogong Village and Mt Hotham in the next three years.

"The whole community … are really positive now, it's just a matter of making the staff happy that they are living at Bogong," he said.

"We have got to make sure that we are doing it right this season, that the staff want to be here.

"We think, for the long term, it makes sense."

More than one village needed

Residents further down the mountain say it will take more than a single village to ease the region's housing stress.

Duane Gardiner, who owns The Park at Mount Beauty, said many local businesses sought staff accommodation at his caravan park, which was usually filled with tourists.

"People are willing to come to the area but there's no rentals, there's no blocks of land, so it's a really tough situation," Mr Gardiner said. 

He is considering restructuring his park to include some staff accommodation.

"That's something we have been working on the last couple of years — providing a couple of cabins that we can offer for full-time and seasonal staff," he said.

He said it was crucial for governments to work together to help unlock more land for development.

Mansfield navigating housing squeeze 

Mansfield, in the foothills of the Alps, is no stranger to housing stress, especially during winter.

To help uncover possible solutions, the Mansfield Shire Council has hosted a series of workshops involving landholders, banks, developers and planning teams.

It has also submitted nine applications to Regional Development Victoria for grants which could create up to 400 new housing options.

"The main challenge of keeping up with demand of an increasing population is to house our key workers," Mansfield Mayor Steve Rabie said.

The average rental price in the town is $540 per week, while the average home value is $845 000, pricing out many key workers.

"A lot of businesses are struggling to find key workers and have to close down their businesses during peak demand," he said. 

Councillor Rabie said the shire was unable to manage the problem alone, and he was hoping that federal and state government representatives would join the workshops.

"It's going to take quite some time for them to come up with a solution," he said.

Solutions being examined

As one strategy to help with housing pressures, the Victorian government has introduced laws that allow a small secondary building, such as a granny flat, to be built on land without the need for a planning permit.

But not all residents can benefit. 

Indigo Shire Council has received a steady stream of inquiries about the initiative, but warned many properties in rural areas would not meet the requirements of the new legislation, particularly in Indigo where there are a number of different property overlays.

"Towns like Beechworth and Yackandandah have lots of heritage overlays and, in those heritage overlays, you do need a planning permit for building and works, including for these small second dwellings," said Steven Hawkins from Indigo Shire Council's planning team. 

The Victorian government said it had rolled out a raft of measures to help ease housing stress, including a $150 million Regional Worker Accommodation Fund announced last year.

• X (formerly Twitter)

Related Stories

Optimism in victoria's ski country as 10,000 truckloads of dirt cleared from near landslides on key road.

Ski lifts to open this weekend at Victoria's big alpine resorts

• Alpine Skiing
• Housing Construction Industry
• Mount Beauty
• Outdoor Recreational Activities
• Tourism and Leisure Industry
• Travel and Tourism (Lifestyle and Leisure)
• Winter Sports

Lok Sabha polls: Puducherry tourism sector demands better parking and traffic decongestion

Puducherry [India], April 17 (ANI): Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, stakeholders in Puducherry 's tourism sector are rallying for enhanced infrastructure and prioritising attention from lawmakers, particularly concerning parking and traffic congestion.

Puducherry , known for its French colonial heritage, attracts tourists with its charming streets, colonial architecture, and serene beaches. The tourism industry offers a mix of cultural experiences, spiritual retreats, and beachside relaxation. The tourism sector also encompasses hospitality services, eco- tourism initiatives, and cultural events to cater to the diverse interests of travellers.

As the electoral process unfolds, with voting for all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu and the Puducherry constituency scheduled for the first phase on April 19, the rallying cry for transformative change in Puducherry 's tourism landscape seems to be growing ever louder.

Antony, who works in hospitality services, said that parking is one of the key issues in Puducherry . Sharing his personal experience, he said that it is hard to find a proper place for vehicle parking . His expectation from the local candidates is to look into this issue as a priority.

A similar opinion was also shared by a taxi driver, who complained of facing challenges in securing parking amid the influx of tourists visiting popular attractions.

People operating rental bike services said that Puducherry faces various traffic issues, including congestion in urban areas, a lack of proper infrastructure, insufficient parking facilities, and inadequate public transportation options. Narrow streets in the older parts of the city contribute to traffic jams, especially during peak hours, one of the operators said.

Additionally, the increasing number of vehicles exacerbates congestion and pollution levels. Efforts to alleviate these issues include the development of better road networks, the promotion of alternative modes of transportation, and the improvement of public transport services to reduce reliance on private vehicles, Manikandan, who works in a guest house, said.

Kartik, a tourist, said that he would vote for development, adding that people who work for development should win the election. (ANI)