Abstract

Cities are complex urban systems with dynamic transformations in their socio-economic and environmental dimensions. Several studies have shed light on the fragility of the urban heritage and the strategies of its conservation. The historic urban landscape (HUL) approach is a new framework adopted by UNESCO to deal with urban heritage. This article aims to apply the HUL approach to the rehabilitation and management of Beirut historic neighbourhoods impacted by the massive Beirut port explosion, focusing on Armenia Street in the Mar Mikhael neighbourhood as a case study. The application of the HUL framework allows for the re-evaluation of heritage not as an individual physical form but as an urban fabric interconnected to the city, inclusive of its cultural, social, architectural, and urban layers. The article investigates the application of the four tools identified within HUL recommendations—(1) regulatory systems, (2) community engagement, (3) planning, and (4) financial tools—by proposing implementation strategies in the assessment of urban heritage to mitigate major risks. The result reveals that cooperative efforts among private and public stakeholders can play a vital role in the development of Beirut heritage, acting as catalysts for urban heritage conservation. Strategies for establishing a new legislative framework that is focused on protecting Lebanese cultural heritage and ensuring sustainable adaptation planning are highlighted.

Highlights

  • In modern conservation practice, the consideration of the “urban dimension” is essential to properly debate the limitations of the traditional architectural conser‐ vation principles

  • The historic urban landscape (HUL) approach was defined in the Vienna Memorandum 2005 and adopted by UNESCO and the World Heritage Centre in 2011 to identify new urban conservation tools that contribute to the conservation of urban heritage values through an innovative toolkit (Bandarin & van Oers, 2012)

  • This study aims to assess the potential of the implementation of the HUL frame‐ work within the context of the case study of Armenia Street in Beirut’s Mar Mikhael neighbourhood to iden‐ tify opportunities to achieve sustainable urban heritage conservation through effective community engagement

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Summary

Introduction

The consideration of the “urban dimension” is essential to properly debate the limitations of the traditional architectural conser‐ vation principles. This study aims to assess the potential of the implementation of the HUL frame‐ work within the context of the case study of Armenia Street in Beirut’s Mar Mikhael neighbourhood to iden‐ tify opportunities to achieve sustainable urban heritage conservation through effective community engagement To achieve this goal, the study objectives include the def‐ inition of HUL principles and tools, highlighting relevant local and regional examples, the analysis of the current Lebanese urban policies, their impact on the status of the city’s urban heritage, and the port blast as an inflex‐ ion event.

The Historic Urban Landscape Approach
Beirut
The Urban Heritage of Beirut and Conservation Laws
The Beirut Port Blast
Application of HUL Within the Beirut Context
The Regulatory System
Knowledge and Planning Tools
Community Engagement
Financial Tools
Challenges in Applying the HUL Framework
Application of the HUL Approach in the Armenia Street Pilot Study
Natural and Cultural Assets
C: Lots containing Heritage Buildings
Proposed Urban Intervention
Conclusions
Full Text
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