Abstract The architectural heritage of a region reflects the identity and the civilization of that region and represents the connection between its past and future. It is also a real and obvious evidence of its originality and greatness. That architectural heritage must be looked after, conserved, rehabilitated and updated to suit Modernization. This research aims to focus attention on urban andarchitectural heritage in the Palestinian villages so that it can be protected and authenticated to find an outlet for proper solutions and patternsto conserve it, keeping in mind actions of destruction and change done continuously and intentionally, moreover, studies researches and conservation projects mainly focus on great cities. On the other hand this research does its best to face challenges and continuous attempts to demolish and change our Palestinian architectural heritage. The first chapter in this study contains the study problem, the study importance, goals, hypotheses, plan and methodology. Also it includes informationabout the study area and the previous studies about it. The theoretical material forms two chapters of this research the second chapter and the third one, the second chapter deals with the architectural heritage and conservation. However, the third chapter deals with the Palestinian village with regard to location, development, and architectural items, the factors that influence and problems. The fourth chapter deals with the area of Awarta- a village located near Nablus. The study focuses mainly on the old center of Awarta. A special study and analysis concentrates on the open spaces in Awarta until the 1950s. Moreover, this chapter deals with analytical study for old buildings, it deals with the most famous ones during the same period. Awarta was chosen because of the historical and cultural potentials in addition to the unique urban and architectural aspects. The descriptive analytical approach has been followed in chapter four depending on site survey and photography of all open spaces and old houses in the village .The survey showed problems and needs of the Village of Awarta. The fifth chapter identifies the vision of conservation in the old center in Awarta and sets several goals and specifying the strategies that can achieve them, and it provides suggestions and attempts to conserve that area in order to introduce complete prototype of detailed projects dealing with architectural and urban aspects to conserve and rehabilitate the old Palestinian villages; The goals, strategies and solutions are introduced according to the previous stages of the study. Chapter six shows the results based on all the previous study, analysis, suggestions and projects. The results show that projects of conservation and rehabilitation for the old regions should be executed according to the correct criteria that suit the architectural heritage to invest all the social, cultural, economical, and tourism potentials of these villages. General goals and strategies have been suggested to conserve Old Palestinian villages. Besides several recommendations were introduced to the authorities and related entities with regard to conservation of the old Palestinian villages and the conservation of Awarta Village in particular.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Style Analysis for Dwellings in Palestine In Ottoman Period (Case Study Nabluse City)
Abstract
Palestine considered one of the most significant countries that is full of historical and ancient sites. These sites still stand out as a vivid witness to all civilizations that passed by through history. Which assorting from the simple rural houses to the palaces stand proudly touches softly the domes of these magnificent dwellings.
This thesis deals with the traditional architecture in Palestine in the Ottoman period, domestic architecture of palaces and their development in one of the longest historical periods in the history, the Ottoman rule that lasted for four centuries.
This studied analyzed and examined these palaces to explore the planning and architectural aspects of such traditional residential buildings, and explain how these played their role and adapted their architecture and study of the interior functions and its influence on architectural and historical heritage.
To accomplish the study surveyed the liter related to the topic plus field study. The thesis also documents some of the most important palaces using architectural plans, elevations and sections. The analytical approach is used to find the connection between 'function and form' of such palaces and to compare these results with other examples in the city and other rural areas throughout Palestine.
The first chapter dealt with the Palestinian architecture styles, where the second chapter discussed the planning and architecture of Palestine especially in Ottoman period and the factors affecting it. The third chapter provided typological studies of residential buildings in the neighborhood of Palestine and region, as in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan-especially Salt and Karak .Chapter four classified the architectural style in Palestine. A detailed description was displayed in chapter five.
It dealt with the architecture of traditional residential buildings by studying the architecture, function, construction materials and planning of these buildings, and analyzing in detail the features and similarities of such dwellings and discussing the developments of their architecture through time.
Results indicated that:-
- palaces incurred many architectural developments. This was assured by the study made on living examples of the rulers' palaces in the city of Nablus, which played an important role in the development of Palestinian vernacular architecture and had shaped the Palestinian dwelling for the following history in Palestine.
- Determine the architectural and ornamental features of these palaces Recommendations:
The Activation Mechanisms of Community Participation in Architectural and urban Conservation (Case Study of the West Bank)
Absrtact
This study addressed the issue of community participation in architectural and urban conservation projects from both the conceptual and applied theme, through analyze and understand the concept of architectural conservation, the concept of community participation, and analysis of the relation between the two former concepts associated as a multi-disciplinary subject, and also analyzed the interaction of the community and such projects in varying degrees of community participation, through analyzing case studies from outside Palestine, compared with other cases in Palestine.
Among many challenges posed by the conservation projects in the theoretical and practical framework, and multiple models on the ground that each conservation project is a particular case. The study aimed to understand the nature of community participation as a relatively new method, and to shed light on the models and theories which examine the theme of community participation, and analysis of the experiences of local conservation in the light of the previous studies and cases.
The study concludes that there is a difference in the concept of community participation in conservation projects, but eventually leads to include the citizens in a positive state, and also shows that in general there is no citizen control power among the implementation of projects. Also the study concludes the diversity of the needed objectives of popular participation according to each case, and concludes that the conservation of architectural and urban heritage alive requires the activation of community participation and adopting it as a method for implementation of these projects.
Community Participation in Architectural Design (Evaluation of Al-Maageen Housing in Nablus)
This work explores the issue of participation in architectural design process. Participatory design, user participation, citizen control, making decision process and other approaches are discussed to be reflected the implication for practice when the design process involves many parties. As more and more actors are being called to participate in the design process, the roles of the participants and the boundaries of their contributions are being reframed and negotiated. What design strategies and tactics are needed to be brought up into the design process to allow fruitful participation of the users? How designers can facilitate the involvement of the users? The issue of participation seems to imply new positions that require designers to design not only the end product, but also the process that will help more people to become involved in the design process. The work presents a case study about participation in Al-Maageen housing in Nablus city, Palestine. This case study investigates the current practice of the participation process in our Palestinian community. The founding concentrates on the level of participation in this community. It was clear that the residents try to participate in their housing but it was not as they want as it began lately.
“Urban Safety”Urban design from women's perspective Study Case: Nablus
Abstract
This study is about Gender and its tight relation to the organization and planning of public spaces, and about redesigning these spaces according to women's perspective and physical and spiritual needs, and about the effect of ensuring these needs on their comfort and safety.
The study also discusses women's urban life in Nablus city as a study case, in order to recognize local women's behavior within public spaces, and whether these spaces fit women’s different needs.
The study aims basically at the importance of ensuring urban spaces that provide physical and spiritual safety for women, which can be achieved by ensuring women's different needs within urban planning polices, as a result, women become able to have a more direct experience with a place and the people within it, in other words, women will be able to have an active engagement with public spaces.
The study finds that local women in Nablus city are absent totally from local urban policies, and women’s special needs are not available within city spaces. Also, women don’t feel safe and secure spiritually or physically, specially their suffer from the lack of social safety and their constant fear about their personal safety especially at night.
About local urban policies, they are absent by heart and soul from taking women’s urban needs into consideration, but there is a gleam of hope thanks to the effort of Woman’s Issues Committee that relates to Nablus City Municipality, which is preparing now to spot lights on women’s urban needs supporting by UNFPA.
Finally, the study presents a set of recommendations according to the research results, where these recommendations include proposals for both women and decision makers, that implied the necessary cooperation between all the involved groups to raise an urban policies that consider all society members needs, especially women’s needs.
Physical and Characteristics of Palestinian Refugee Camps: A Case Study of Jenin Camp (West Bank)
Abstract
The refugee camps had passed through various stage of physical development starting with the tents, then single housing units (huts) and finally the residential quarters (neighborhoods). The physical fabric of the camps in general have transferred from a fabric imposed by the UNRWA to a fabric replicating the needs of the refugees and their cultural, social and environmental features, and to a large extent it looks like the fabric of the neighborhood units in the Arabic and Islamic city.
The major aim of this thesis is studying and analyzing the physical and planning characteristics of the refugee camps in general and of Jenin camp in particular. The study concentrates on analyzing the physical fabric of the camp in terms of its architectural features, public services and facilities and the road network through the different phases of development from its establishment in 1957 until the recent time. Also, it considers the cultural and social aspects that contributed to the formation of this physical fabric.
To achieve this aim, the historical method was followed to collect the data and information about the historical and physical development of the camp. Also, the descriptive method has been used in studying the existing situation. In addition, the analytical method was used in analyzing the physical fabric and architectural elements in the camp. Moreover, certain research tools were utilized; including the field survey of buildings and public services, interviews with residents and related institutions, and the aerial photos, maps and plans that describe the physical and planning features of the camp through various time periods.
The results of the study indicated that there is a similarity between the physical fabric of Jenin camp and that of the Arabic and Islamic city, which reflects the cultural and social aspects of the population. In addition, the study has shown the lower level of health, social and entertainment services in the camp due to the increased density of population and buildings. Consequently, the study recommended the undertaking of building measures and standards in the camp, which sustain the maintenance of the physical fabric and the provision of adequate public services and facilities that consider the needs of the population. Finally, the study emphasized the importance of the rehabilitation and upgrading of the refugee camps as being a physical environment located inside the Palestinian cities and settlements without ignoring the right of return as well as not imposing the political scenarios dealing with the refugee problem.
Reviving and developing the historical center of Deir Estia Case study for the Thorne Villages in Palestine
Abstract
Cultural heritage represents the nations, for that it's important. It includes the concept of humanity with a number of elements that are moved from forefathers to sons, meanwhile, as a spatial concept, the heritage could be the buildings and notable sites which absolutely reflects civilization and society.
The importance of the study stems from highlighting the architectural and physical fabric of the Throne Villages in particular, and seeking to have it as a part of a comprehensive data system on the national level through studying the historical center of Deir Estia, highlighting the aspects of shortage and suffering, recent attempts of development, focusing on the available factors that can support establishing a tourism track which can cooperate in keeping the center and enhancing the economic level , and to achieve building a strategy of developing that area .
Gathering information for the study depended on: personal interviews, field survey, and formal and informal sources of data.
Methodologies tracked are: the historical one for gathering information about the villages, analysis to study the center and understand the current situation, and comparative method to achieve a strategy for development by having other similar (national and regional) sites a s case studies.
The researcher concluded at the end a group of outcomes and recommendations regarding the case study of Deir Estia. The main point was that the Throne is now facing rapid change of its physical fabric as a result for political, economic, social, and planning factors, in addition to the shortage of awareness level for the Palestinian character and values. Moreover, the cultural heritage is negatively affected (directly and indirectly) by the occupation's laws.
Deir Estia is distinguished by diversity which plays a major factor in attracting tourists, for it includes historical center, debris, caves, springs, and Wadi Qana of its distinctive nature elements. Unfortunately, the sites are subjected to a large-scale settlement attack, which must motivate the country to guard what is lift.
Main recommendations concluded by the researcher are: the need to develop a plan that identifies responsibilities and administrative tasks of every concerned direction to preserve and develop the architectural heritage, define the frame work of joint coordination among them, and promote community to participate in planning and implementation as they are the main beneficiaries of such projects.
Moreover, there is an urgent need to conduct studies and analytical researches to re-define the Throne villages pointing out its position on the geographical map, as for Deir Estia, there is an urgent need to formulate a specialized committee to revive the historical center and carry out campaigns of awareness, provide maintenance and control, preparing a data base for that center , and training the vocational on restoration, tourism , and handcrafts.