Cite this article
Mohamed, A. (2025) ‘A new comprehensive approach for architectural heritage conservation: The case of Al-Alami house in Gaza’, Architecture Papers of the Faculty of Architecture and Design STU, 30(1), pp. 54-63. https://www.doi.org/10.2478/alfa-2025-0006
SUMMARY
The architectural heritage of historical cities is a manifestation of the relationships between the environment, society, and culture. The preservation of this heritage depends on how conservation projects respect these relationships. Not only the architectural visual value is unique and distinguished, but also their symbolic social, political, and economic contexts extraordinarily shape the history of their countries (Doratli et al., 2004). Doratli et al. (2004) argue that conventional planning approaches to conservation cannot provide suitable solutions for these problems. They are straightforward protection approaches that mainly address technical-scientific issues concerning material aspects of historic centres. At the same time, new approaches tried to bypass these old-fashioned ones by using separated individualised concepts mainly concentrating on adaptive reuse (Hekim, 2007), and participatory conservation stimulating the public participation in the conservation process (Steinberg, 2009). Fister (2001) denoted to the concept of the Granada Convention in the 1970s: “integral protection” highlighted the role of the built heritage not only as document of history but also as a quality part of the human environment. Each one of conservation concepts concentrated on certain aspects of architectural conservation. Despite the recognised importance of each of them, it fails to sufficiently fulfil the required needs of historic buildings and their long list of complex challenges. Generative revitalisation by virtue implies the continuous adaptation of the built environment to the ever-changing activities of the community. The adaptive reuse will never succeed without the full participation of the community in financing, managing and administering the conservation process. And only if all these factors respond to the actual needs and aspirations of the community, not the dreams of the planners nor the whims of the decision makers, it can be said that real goals of architectural conservation can be achieved. Needless to say that concept of sustainability is an original component of architectural heritage development. Finally, the concept of peaceful reconciliation might be the most needed these days where the conflicts and instability are affecting many communities around the world and have been seriously affecting architectural heritage.
This research provides a new concept for a comprehensive approach for conservation which includes the following elements:
- Generative
- Responsive
- Adaptive
- Sustainable
- Participatory
- Conciliatory
These elements are explained and examined in each component of urban development which include society-culture, economy, sustainability, and urban fabric. The research also provides a case study analysis for one of the distinguished conservation projects in Gaza, Palestine. It is Al-Alami Historical House.
Architectural heritage in Gaza Old Town (GOT) dates to the Ottoman period although it is believed that some structures are Ayobid or Mamlok. By the turn of the 20th century, it had a beautiful traditional Mediterranean townscape. Since 7 October 2023, Gaza Old Town as well as the whole Gaza Strip came under unstopping fierce bombardment that left the built environment devastated in destruction. Complete neighbourhood were erased, and all historical buildings and sites were destroyed. In 2000, the IWAN Centre for Architectural Heritage Conservation was established in the Islamic University of Gaza (IUG) as the first centre of this kind in Gaza Strip. IWAN has been struggling to rescue some of these buildings and succeeded in few attempts. One of the recognised attempts was the conservation of Al-Alami Historical House (2009–2010). Generative processes did not apply to the house as it was an individual building removed from the traditional urban structure of the historical city and the related cultural and social settings associated with it also disappeared. The project responded to the physical needs of the house itself and at the same time to the social and cultural needs of the community. This includes the needs of the schools, universities, public and private institutions, and the public. Likewise, the project responded to the Palestinian national needs for preserving national identity. Israel never thought of using Al-Alami house and similar projects to reconcile for peaceful understanding of heritage in Palestine. The Israeli jet fighters have seriously damaged Al-Alami house along with other 68 historical sites that have been destroyed after 7 October 2023. The GRASP concept of architectural heritage conservation provides a comprehensive framework for the planning and management of the conservation process and the assessment of its impacts. It has the potential future development to be more detailed and to provide indicators, sub-indicators and measures.