A Holistic Overview of Qatar’s (Built) Cultural Heritage; Towards an Integrated Sustainable Conservation Strategy

Fodil Fadli,Mahmoud Alsaeed

doi:10.3390/su11082277

Abstract

Historic urban cores are the backbone of a city’s cultural identity. Maintaining and preserving the socio-cultural, environmental and economic characteristics of the built heritage is vital for cultural identity survival. The Gulf region gathered important architectural and urban richness observed through the massive military towers, mosques, houses, palaces and grand souks. The state of Qatar is under huge pressure to preserve its cultural identity, which resulted from the rapid development, population growth, urban expansion and economic boom since the 1970s. The cities of Qatar are facing difficult challenges to preserve the cultural identity and built heritage without compromising the need for development. Consequently, this study aims to define a set of heritage restoration-preservation tools and an integrated sustainable conservation strategy as part of deliberate planning and design processes. This, certainly, will help achieve sustainable future scenarios for the survival of vernacular architecture and historic buildings in Qatar through their sustained adaptive (re)use.

Highlights

Urban historic cores form the backbone of any city’s cultural identity
UNESCO World Heritage Convention defines “Cultural Heritage” (CH) as an outstanding universal value assigned to architectural works directed towards historical, aesthetic, ethnological or Sustainability 2019, 11, 2277 anthropological points of view [7]
The current approaches and strategies adopted by the authorities dealing with built heritage in Qatar, are aimed to respond to the needs of a sustainable heritage preservation strategy

Summary

Introduction

Urban historic cores form the backbone of any city’s cultural identity. The Islamic world’s wealth of historic centers are valuable inheritances for the local population. Besides representing the “collective memories” of local inhabitants, they influence the present urban development of the cities emerging as major regional and global attractions [1]. Cultural heritage of the inhabited traditional Arab world heritage cities of Sana’a (Yemen), Fez (Morocco) and Tunis (Tunisia), portray a balance between cultural heritage needs and those of its users. Physical, aesthetic, cultural and socio-economic aspects of the monuments have been preserved, maintained or revitalized by integrating into the strategic design and planning process. Urban planners, designers and architects are involved in the protection of urban heritage for preserving/enhancing its usefulness while maintaining its essence and true identity [2]

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