Protection and Utilization Paths of Historic Architectural Heritage Under the Background of Urban Renewal

Abstract

Urban renewal has brought significant changes to the spatial structure, functional organization, and social environment of cities. In this process, historic architectural heritage is not only a physical record of urban development but also an important carrier of collective memory, cultural identity, and local characteristics. Traditional conservation approaches that mainly focus on static preservation are increasingly unable to respond to the practical demands of contemporary urban development. The protection of historic buildings needs to achieve a balance between maintaining historical values and meeting modern functional requirements. This paper discusses the relationship between urban renewal and historic architectural heritage conservation, analyzes the major problems existing in current protection and utilization practices, and explores possible paths from the perspectives of heritage value recognition, adaptive reuse, digital technology application, and multi-subject participation. The study argues that historic architectural heritage should not be regarded as isolated historical objects, but as active components of urban systems. Through appropriate renewal, functional transformation, and cultural interpretation, historic buildings can continue to contribute to contemporary urban life while preserving their historical significance.