Abstract
Urban areas are complex systems that support civic life and contain various elements, including intricate economic networks and social interactions. However, urban areas are susceptible to issues related to urban decline and degeneration, and scholars (Wansborough & Mageean 2000:189) have long been fascinated by the idea that culture can be used as a tool for urban regeneration. Local governments are increasingly promoting cultural and creative industries as instruments to revitalise areas experiencing urban decline, and culture-led strategies are actively being integrated into urban development policies and frameworks to stimulate social and economic benefits.
The aim of culture-led urban regeneration is to promote economic and social revitalisation by incorporating cultural elements into the urban environment and using creative and cultural industries as catalysts for urban regeneration. Culture-led urban regeneration initiatives typically use design strategies that include cultural heritage preservation, creative placemaking, and the seamless integration of buildings into existing cultural environments. Redeveloping existing infrastructure while being sensitive to surrounding urban environment suggests that built environment professionals, particularly interior designers, can make a meaningful contribution to the success of culture-led urban regeneration projects. These professionals have the expertise to integrate the unique characteristics of locations into cultural spaces and have the ability to create environments that effectively facilitate cultural activities.
The study aims to understand the contributions made by interior designers and other design professionals in the built-environment’ to culture-led urban regeneration projects executed in Johannesburg. A multiple-case study methodology was used to conduct case studies that show and describe a culture-led urban regeneration approach in Johannesburg to achieve the research aim. The study reveals that interior designers and other design professionals in the built-environment can make a meaningful contribution to culture-led urban regeneration through their expertise in creating functional spaces that facilitate cultural activities and enable the expression of local cultural identities. Interior designers enhance user interactions in cultural spaces and, when collaborating with other built environment professionals using urban design principles, help ensure buildings effectively integrate into cultural environments.