Urban regeneration and the sustainability of colonial built heritage: a case study of Macau, China

This paper presents a case study of late twentieth century urban regeneration in the former Portuguese colonial territory of Macau – now designated as a Special Administrative Region of China (Macau SAR). Regeneration in this context is defined and discussed here under the headings: regeneration through reclamation; regeneration through infi-astructure investment; regeneration through preservation. The new Macau SAR Government continues to differentiate Macau fi-om its neighbors by promoting the legacy of a tourist-historic city with a unique architectural fhsion of both West and East as an integral feature of the destination’s marketing strategy. However, regeneration of urban space through reclamation has led to a proliferation of high rise buildings with arguable architectural merit which diminish the appeal of the overwhelmed heritage properties and sites. Future plans for the development of the territory are outlined, including major projects designed to enhance the tourism product through purpose-built leisure and entertainment facilities.