Culture-led Regeneration in Historical and Cultural Areas : The Case of a Historical Quarter in Mashhad, Iran

Despite extensive current literature confirming the significant contribution of culture to urban regeneration and the rise of culture-led regeneration as a key approach for developing urban areas rich in cultural heritage, a critical question remains: Which specific strategies should be prioritised and adapted within the culture-led regeneration process? This paper examines the role of culture-led regeneration in enhancing the quality of cultural and historical districts in Mashhad, Iran. Based on a critical literature review, it presents a conceptual framework for culture-led regeneration, considering different approaches and their appropriate spatial strategies: competitive-led, community-led, and creative-led. Building upon this conceptual framework and drawing on a case study methodology, the paper qualitatively evaluates the integration of culture into current development initiatives in a cultural and creative area in Mashhad. The findings indicate that current urban regeneration initiatives tend to prioritise profit-driven and competitive-led approaches, often with a limited conceptualisation of arts and culture. Subsequently, using the Delphi technique, the framework is employed to propose an alternative model for culture-led regeneration for the selected area. The findings of the Delphi technique emphasise the importance of prioritising community-led and creative-led strategies for the success of culture-led regeneration in the area. The paper concludes by discussing practical implications for the design of the area based on the proposed model of culture-led regeneration.