CULTURAL versus MATERIAL; CONSERVATION ISSUES REGARDING EARTH ARCHITECTURE IN SAUDI ARABIA: THE CASE OF AN OTTOMAN FORT: IBRAHIM PALACE IN AL-HOUFUF (original) (raw)
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2013
Middle Eastern countries are suddenly confronted with the problem of a severe loss of architectural heritage, which is the material manifestation of their own cultural inheritance and thus that of their identity, particularly under conditions of a sudden, rapid, radical and haphazard way of transformation as imposed over a society and its cultural geography by global impacts. This paper aims to argue whether the conservation issues regarding earth architecture in S audi Arabia are materially or culturally based with specific reference to Ibrahim Palace since it represents this conflict. The paper suggests that the problems regarding the architectural heritage conservation in Saudi Arabia are threefold; material, cultural and philosophical.
The process of conserving architectural heritage is a societal perquisite and a necessity for this generation, for it brings together the past, present and the future that is passed by generations to strengthen the existing civilizations. Heritage is what best portrays identity and originality, and is considered the first mark of civilizations that dominated then perished in the area of the architectural heritage across Jordan and Saudi Arabia; our study focus, their architectural heritage is found to be a distinguished art and a legacy that differ from the rest of the region by its variations as a result of the many historic eras that both countries have witnessed. This paper will address the issue of conserving architecture and urban heritage and its development within the Jordanian and Saudi experience, which is characterized by its abundance and diversity. The paper will review the concepts of development of the process of preserving architectural heritage, where not only the customary processes were approached but the community and environment were included as well. The primary research question is determined by the nature of the factors that influence the attainment of the architectural and urban preservation approach, which will be stated at the end of this study. The paper at hand presume that any city acquires its architectural character from the consistency and harmony between its components over various successive eras, hence, one of the most important and notable projects that was implemented in southern Jordan and northwestern Saudi Arabia will be examined, this project is connected to the preservation of architectural and urban heritage as well as the rehabilitation of these areas, an analysis of the steps of execution of selected models that include the most important of these areas will be conducted. The paper aims to identify the components that ensure that the preservation process is auspicious and interactive with the surrounding environment in a sustainable and satisfactory by the onlookers. This study will adopt the descriptive analytical method with which information will be collected, field visits, photographs and personal interviews with the concerned parties will be used. The acquired data will be analyzed to introduce results and recommendations.
International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 2022
This research aims to study the experience of local people in conserving architectural heritage and to benefit from that in preserving other historical sites. The need for this study is important because: Conservation of cultural and architectural heritage is not merely a government responsibility. The participation of local people in architectural conservation has many benefits. Motivating people to preserve architectural heritage is the responsibility of cultural and educational bodies. The study discusses historical architectural sites in Saudi Arabia. It concentrates on the inhabitants' and owners' role in the conservation of architectural heritage, since, nowadays most of the historical sites were taken care of by the governments. The tools of this research are better than the previous working methods, because, previous models neglect the inhabitants' and owners' role in the conservation of architectural heritage, Methods of this study include literature review,...
Preservation of built heritage: an Islamic perspective (1)
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the concept of built heritage preservation from an Islamic perspective. This study will dig out the jurisprudential principles to challenge contemporary destruction of built heritage in the Muslim contexts. Design/methodology/approach The research challenges the radicals’ opinion by revealing their evidence to destroy the various built heritage. In fact, it confronts these acts and assists the international community to understand the basic values of Islam toward the environment and built heritage specifically. This exploratory research will follow this lead and seek the objective, first, by investigating the concept of succession and the urbanization of Earth by mankind. Reassuringly, the research introduces few verses from the Holy Qur’an to support the various arguments presented and provide a qualitative understanding of the interpretations. Moreover, few speeches of the Prophet (PBUH) are added to ease synthesizing the understanding of specific principles related to the Islamic law (Shari’ah). This study provides an in-depth understanding toward the legitimacy of the act of preservation under the umbrella of the intents and objectives of the Islamic law. Findings This study confirms that preservation of the built heritage is legitimate from the Islamic law perspective; this is due to the fact that Islam mandates mankind to utilize wisely the resources available to shape a proper physical and economic environment. The preservation of the built heritage returns with benefit to the major society and assures that resources are recycled to serve humanity for longer generations. Research limitations/implications This research promotes the concepts of good/benefit and avoiding harm to support the crux of built heritage preservation from an Islamic perspective. In quest of this notion, various scholars’ work throughout the Islamic civilization has been revealed to draw some shed on the rooted arguments to highlight various concepts of Islam toward preservation. Originality/value This paper fulfills an identified need to prove that Islam is against the destruction of built heritage and historic monuments and against all acts of violence and terrorism.
2024
The historic cores in the Middle East (after this referred to as "ME") region, a fragmented and thoroughly changed region during the 19th and 20th centuries, have many identities and authenticity challenges. Unfortunately, the rapid development rate, economic and rapid urbanisation, fast population increase, conflicts, lack of appreciation and awareness, and increasing market values gradually replace urban heritage buildings with newer, higher-density identity-less structures. This paper attempts to present the features, obstacles, challenges, and opportunities facing the urban built heritage at the historical cores and the neighbourhood within their physical, cultural and social life in the ME. It analyses questions for maintaining identity and authenticity, the future of traditional physical, technical and functional architectural elements paradigms and their contemporary reinterpretation and rethinking conservation from sustainable technical culture to socio-cultural sustainability. The paper investigates several issues related to the conservation concepts of the urban and architectural heritage in the ME. Special attention is given to the decision-making framework in the conservation practice, the destruction of the traditional urban heritage, and the destruction resulting from the ME region's political changes (modernisation). The focus is to identify, discuss and analyse how to deal with the challenges of maintaining the identity and authenticity of their historic urban cores. Finally, guidelines and framework recommendations are made for possible measures that may be taken for social sustainability.
Assessment of Architectural Conservation in the Medina of Mahdia in the 21ST Century
International Journal of Architectural Research: ArchNet-IJAR
The paper deals with the architectural conservation of the Medina of Mahdia in Tunisia in the 21st century. This millenary ancient Fatimid capital offers an example of urban heritage that continues to impose rougher debates about the uncertainty and the lack of its conservation, promotion and valorisation nowadays.The research examines multiple dimensions related to actual state of the case study, proceeded conservation projects and different actors’ points of view mainly local population and involved institutions. It aims to find out if the case study is recognised as valuable heritage, and how much did the proceeded projects succeeded in ensuring urban and architectural conservation. By assessing and criticising, experimentations are displayed, faults are revealed and thus more suggestions are announced to mend the degradation and improve future projects that will be initiated on built heritage in the case study or in other Medina of the country.
Lababidi and Ravaioli 2017_Heritage Preservation in Islamic Contexts
Heritage Preservation in Islamic Contexts, 2017
This book tackles the marginalisation of Islamic heritage and materiality, and aims to reposition it at the centre of academic debate. For centuries Middle Eastern cultures have been studied and classified by foreign and fundamentally ‘Orientalising’ disciplinary traditions that have often side-lined regional Islamic contexts. Vernacular practices of valuing and caring for material culture have been equally disregarded, with limited input in heritage decision-making from local, non-expert voices. At present, the Arabian Gulf represents an area of particular interest in this debate. Countries such as Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait have a rapidly developing heritage sector, with new museums opening their doors to increasingly international audiences. This book presents the results of a two-year investigation into practices of valuation and preservation of material culture in the Islamic world, particularly in relation to archaeological, museological and architectural heritage in Qatar and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.