Strategic assessment of urban cultural heritage: the case of Old Town Square in Prague

Old Town Square has continued to be the focus of social, cultural and economic life in Prague, despite its image and physical structure changed dramatically over the centuries. Its continued vitality and viability however remain a challenge for policy makers and practitioners. This paper highlights how research techniques first developed as part of EC funded research but subsequently tested and applied within the square as part of student training and project work, sought to address some key issues. These included trying to determine the current role and function of the square in relation to the rest of the city centre and to offer innovative tools and research techniques to help decisions affecting ongoing urban formation. The paper, which represents a collaboration between the SUIT and ARCCHIP research teams, shows some of the evaluation criteria applied and measured within the square and the results which emerged. Key word