IUSD Lab —
Expert and Researchers’ Workshop “Scenarios for PostWar Reconstruction in Aleppo” Workshop Documentation
IUSD Office and IUSD Lab University of Stuttgart Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning Keplerstrasse 11 70174 Stuttgart/Germany info@iusd.uni-stuttgart.de
Editors: IUSD Lab team Franziska Laue, Dr. Anette Gangler IUSD Design Concept: Studio Matthias Gรถrlich, Darmstadt MSc Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design (IUSD) Faculty of Architecture and Urban Design | University of Stuttgart Internationl Urbanism Institute of Urban Planning and Design
The IUSD Lab The IUSD Lab aims at serving as a platform for interdisciplinary and intercultural academic exchange. IUSD-Lab has been established as a joint, cross-institutional initiative at Stuttgart University and Ain Shams University, involving several faculties and departments within these universities. It is cooperating with a broad range of partners from different academic, governmental and private institutions around the world. For more information including a list with activities, see www.iusd-program. net/index.php?page_id=162
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Supported by:
December 2016
ISBN 978-3-00-055729-3
MSc Integrated Urbanism & Sustainable Design (IUSD) www.iusd-program.net
FREUNDE DER A LT S TA D T VON ALEPPO
3 —
Table of Contents
Foreword 01 — A Workshop For Aleppo Introduction Old City at a Glance
04 04 — Working Groups Introduction 07 WG 01 City Level 08 WG 02 Neighborhood Level 14 WG 02 House Level
02 — Perspectives on Post War Reconstruc05 — Outlook and Conclusions tion of Aleppo 19 06 — Participants World Cultural Heritage Site Aleppo - Planning Approaches Before the Crisis by Anette Gangler 20 07 — References and Sources Aleppo - Civil Society as a Driver Towards Rehabilitation: a Chance for Future Recovery? by Franziska Laue 26 A Methodological Approach to the Post War Reconstruction of the Aleppo Building Fabric by Giulia Annalinda Neglia 32 Different Reconstruction Strategies in the Old City in the Past - Aleppo, a Multiple Martyr City? by Thierry Grandin 40 Framework Conditions that will Shape any Discussion on Reconstruction by Robert Templer 46 Local Resources and Civic Engagement During the Conflict in Aleppo by Abdulaziz Hallaj 48 Eleven Theses for Post War Reconstruction by Christoph Wessling 50 03 — Current Research by Approaches 53 Fractal Socio-Morphological Evolutionary Techniques for Filling Urban Gaps in 3-D Models Applied in Aleppo and Cosenza by Bashar Swaid 54 A Methodological Approach to the Post War GIS Based Framework for Site Selection for Reconstruction by Nour Madi
58
The Role of Housing in Economic Development in Post-Conflict Countries - Beirut and Sarajevo, and Reflection on the Syrian / Aleppo Context Situation by Zouka Karazon 60 Housing Typologies in Farafra Case Study by C. Lella, C. Tinti, L. Renna
64
71 72 74 96 126 147 153 161
4 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Foreword Astrid Ley – Chair of International Urbanism and IUSD course director, University of Stuttgart
In order to discuss some of the challenges related to the destruction of World Heritage in areas of conflict, about thirty junior and senior researchers in the field of architecture, urban development and related fields came together to jointly work on potential interventions and scenarios for a post-war reconstruction of Aleppo. This event was funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and organized by the IUSD Lab Stuttgart, hosted at the University of Stuttgart, by the department of International Urbanism. The department of International Urbanism is part of the Institute of Urban Planning and Design and focuses on urbanisation processes in the global context and related topics such as housing, informality and governance. The Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design – in short IUSD – Laboratory is a platform for academic exchange linked to the double-degree IUSD Master’s program jointly organized by the University of Stuttgart and Ain Shams University in Cairo. Every year IUSD Lab is seeking to organize an thematic event around topics of importance. This year our theme was post-war reconstruc-
tion. About a year ago Dr. Anette Gangler and Franziska Laue – both associated to the department of International Urbanism as well as members of the association „Friends of the old city of Aleppo“ and both with long-standing links and experience about urban rehabilitation of the historic city of Aleppo raised the idea to organize a workshop around this precarious topic. At the same time we were hesitant. Some concerns and questions amongst others coming to our mind were: How can we talk about urban rehabilitation of the historic centre while people are still loosing their lives on the streets of Aleppo? And from a governance perspective: How can we touch upon the complexity of reconstruction that most probably will be another field of conflict entangled in different powerful interests? At the same time we were aware of the increasing amount of requests for conducting thesis about developing strategies for reconstruction. Also, we share the experience as regular visitors to Syria in the past and the enjoyment of the spatial quality, the cultural richness as
5 — Foreword
well as the social inclusiveness of its historic cities that are now at risk. Thanks to UNESCO we are aware of the importance of our built heritage, including the historic city of Aleppo. We felt that we as planners have to walk the difficult path and try to anticipate the future of the Aleppo neighbourhoods so hardly affected by destructions. From a built environment perspective we recognize the importance of our built heritage as a future foundation for the development of neighbourhoods that fulfil the need for identity and belonging. Thanks to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) the idea of this workshop became materiality. And thanks to the great commitment of Dr. Anette Gangler and Franziska Laue for conceptualizing, organizing and documenting this exchange. We were honoured to have with us representatives from the Aleppo Project at the Center for Conflict Negotiation and Recovery, the working group „rebuilding Aleppo“, the Syrian Heritage Archive Project at the Museum for Islamic Art in Berlin, the Politecnico di Bari, BTU Cottbus Senftenberg, the American University of Bei-
rut, the University of Calabria, the University of Stuttgart as well as a range of independent planning professionals from Syria and Germany and alumni and current students of the IUSD program. Thanks for actively contributing to the event which hopefully will be a contribution for more consideration on this topic in the future. The present booklet doesn’t claim to be a comprehensive account on the topic, but a documentation of this first careful exchange about future rehabilitation. ●
01 — A Workshop For Aleppo
8 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Introduction Dr. Anette Gangler – associate professor, University of Stuttgart Franziska Laue – IUSD course coordination, University of Stuttgart
Many historic cities are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites of special cultural and physical significance. It is considered in the interest of the international community to preserve these sites according to international standards. However, many of the World Heritage Sites are also listed as in danger due to increasing urban growth or they have been subject to destruction by armed conflicts, as it is the case, in Aleppo, Syria. The establishment of the historic center of Aleppo reaches back more than 4000 years. Moreover, it is one of the few continuously inhabited cities in the world. In 1986 Aleppo, with its cohesive 360 hectares of urban fabric, became a UNESCO world heritage site. The continuous armed conflict in Syria that has reached Aleppo in 2012 has caused severe damage and destruction to invaluable monuments and inhabited neighborhoods. Therefore the historic city has been added to the list of endangered cultural heritage. The question of how to deal with the continuous destruction of parts of Aleppo’s historic
and newer urban core requires knowledge on several levels. Firstly, it requires comprehension that acknowledges the complex and multi-layered internal and external circumstances of the status quo. Secondly, it has to take possible responses and strategies into consideration. In the light of an unstable situation, scenarios can be one tool to discuss responses of different scopes and at different points in time. This workshop with its outcomes is considered a contribution, within a larger landscape of contributions, to point out gaps of knowledge, increase and complement knowledge, structure existing knowledge. Intended perspective for this workshop
Hence, the workshop, being an academic event, aimed at benefiting from multi-disciplinary expertise, and with emphasis on the built context and its inhabitation. The aim was to discuss and elaborate scenarios for reconstruction on three different scales (city, neighborhood and house). The first part of the workshop was dedicated
9 — Introduction
to exchanging state of the art research on Aleppo’s situation as well as general technical and strategic considerations related to the discourse of rebuilding and reconstruction. In this first part, academic lectures were given by senior researchers (chapter 2) and junior researchers and Ph.D. candidates (chapter 3). Extracts of these inputs are shared in this documentation. The second part of the workshop primarily aimed at continuing the preceding discussion of part 1 into working groups (chapter 4) and fostering hands-on discussion about the current situation on site. Two inhabited sites within the historic fabric were preselected to link all reflections and discussions as close to realities on site as possible. In both cases, the emphasis was on mixed use-areas rather than on monuments. Hence, the object of the study was the historic center of Aleppo, with the aim of developing short term and long-term scenarios. Working groups look at the level of (1) the city, (2) the quarter, and (3) the house: The city level working group discussed the
strategic role of the historic city and its complex inside components linked to adjacent environments, as well as to external and anticipated dynamics. The quarter level working group focused on the mixed-used areas of Farafra/Bandara with a reference case in the neighboring Bayyada area. Both areas, located north and east of the Citadel, are partially affected by severe damage. A documentation of inhabitants’ coping strategies helped to identify priorities and points of strategic interventions. The building level working group looked into the existing building stock, assessed degrees of damage and discussed technical and strategic options to protect and re-establish functions. All working group results and scenarios were presented and discussed on the last day of the workshop. The documentation at hand summarizes this output along with additional reflections by the participants.
10 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
What contents did the workshop cover?
What contents the workshop did not aim to cover?
Revise and exchange knowledge With the workshop a glance was provided into two spheres: Firstly, it served as a forum to exchange on the realities of past work, current research, data availability and scopes. Secondly, it revealed past current coping and life in the old city of Aleppo. Understanding the situation on site The workshop furthermore aimed at looking at mixed-used, inhabited areas of the old city, taking socio-economic, socio-spatial, physical and infrastructural considerations as a reference point. Reflecting on entry points for interventions and scenarios Moreover, it aimed at serving as a discussion forum to revising and rethinking previous and current approaches for reconstruction, formulated in recommendations.
Single and prominent monuments The workshop did not discuss the rebuilding of specific historic monuments and the central bazar area. As mentioned above, it aimed at tackling the more complex setting of inhabited neighborhoods. Political affiliations and settings Furthermore, it was not the aim to have a detailed look into ethnical and political diversity layers but considered them as a factor for (strategic) planning. This would have been beyond the workshop’s scope to upscale the suggestions.
Limitations of Data
The discussion on post-war reconstruction scenarios reveals several gaps of knowledge and information. This workshop also aimed at contributing to identifying where knowledge is available and where it is needed to proceed
11 — Introduction Subject
Damage assessment, mapping inventories Communication and awareness raising Technical assistance and capacity building Legal and institutional frameworks Actors
Look closer into (workshop outcomes)
Will discuss to be part of the strategy
Make use of to understand framework conditions (no intended workshop outcomes)
x x X x x
x
x
Table. 01: Intended putcomes of the workshop, Source: based on UNESCO Roadmap considerations 2015/2016 for dealing with cultural heritage
House Quarter City Overall goal: Ensure livability of from understanding to responding in a sus- cussion of any post-war recovery. Hence, in the old city, keeping tainable away to enable urban recovery, recon- this workshop the “city level working group” the heritage socially inclusive, included intensive discussions on linkages ciliation, and to ensure resiliency. economic viable, Hence, this workshop is part of an overall between the historic site but also the sites of inhabited heritage workrespect process,tocontributing to understanding younger age. site with the historic layers. options for future reconstruc- Nevertheless, the city scope remained limited and discussing General questions What are options to engage point in time in this the scale? at this stage to ensure focus to the historic tion and rebuilding. However, reliable dataat this
city. ● availability remainsIna what challenge to date and This working group’s sectors/fields can in our professions’ knowledge and expertise the future. expertise contribute? Where does our expertise need to intersect and how can we play a role? Feasibility What is feasible considering the given insecure situation Therefore, data used has been selected as Knowledge What knowledge/data is available? as possible,What but still remained subject (Gapscareful of) knowledge knowledge/data is needed? Capacities What capacities need to be built? And for whom? to discussion. ActorsThe intention of using Whatthe actors are involved? And which actors are needed? selected data this Specific Questions What are housing How to handle a side by Discussing options to workshop was to exclusively look typologies in theinto strateside of intact and ensure (flexible) gic (planning and management) options that context? To what damaged parts of one mixed use. extent do they neighborhood? primarily come from the perspective of urban remain feasible? experts such as architects, planners, engiSequences and What needs to be What needs to be What needs to be neers and related fields. priorities prioritized? prioritized? prioritized? Cross-cutting questions How and where does How and where does the How and where does the level crosscut level crosscut with the the level crosscut Limitations of Scope with the other layers? other layers? with the other layers? destruction notRole of the quarter in Tools Aleppo is facing continuous i.e. Define the house i.e. i.e. Role of the old in the context thehistoric the context of the old city city in the overall only within the boundaries of ofthe quarter urban context city. Newer municipal districts are affected Heritage aspect i.e. Definition of the i.e. Definition of the i.e. Definition of the likewise and require as intensiveand strategic architectural disarchitectural and historic Old City’s value for historic value of the value of the quarter? In the overall urban housing typology relation to the urban context.
afterwards
Q&A
Short Presentations
09:50 - 10:00h
10.00 - 12.30h
Discussion
11:40 - 11:50h
8 Master Student group Bari
Discussion
7 Zouka Karazon (Via skype)
11:20 - 11:30h
11:30 - 11:40h
Discussion
6 Sana Kassouha
5 Nour Madi
10:50 - 11:00h
11.10 - 11.20h
4 Bashar Swaid
10:40 - 10:50h
11:00 - 11:10h
Discussion
2 Myriam Zaloum
10:30 - 10:40h
10:20 - 10:30h
10:10 - 10:20
1 Thierry Grandin
Franziska Laue (US)
09:40 - 09:50h
Input B
Christoph Wessling (BTU)
09:20 - 09:40h
10:00 - 10:10h
Introduction and Task
Anette Gangler (US)
09:00 - 09:20h
Workshop Part I
informal gathering (tbc.)
09.00 - 10.00h Input A
Fri 17.06. Day 2
on
on
on
on
on
on
on
Case study Farafra, Aleppo
The Role of Housing in Economic Development In Post Conflict Countries Beirut & Sarajevo And Reflection on Syrian / Aleppo Context
Transferring German experience in post war housing to Syria Homs/Syria
GIS based framework for site selection for reconstruction - Aleppo
Fractal evolutionary technique for filling urban Gaps in 3-D models Applied in Historical Context of Aleppo
Identifying strategic initiatives for post war reconstruction; an integrated approach based on the use of comparative case studies
Different reconstruction strategies in the Old City in the past
Working groups and sample areas
Eleven theses for post war reconstruction of historic city districts
Background on Aleppo's historic development
3 Robert Templer (CEU, Budapest, Hungary)
18:30 - 19:00h
Discussion
2 Abdelaziz Hallaj (American University Beirut)
17:45 - 18:30h
19:00 - 19:30h
1 Annalinda Neglia (Polytecnico di Bari / Italy
Guest Lectures and Discussion
17:00 - 19:30h
17:00 - 17:45h
Welcome
IUSD Lab team, SI, University of Stuttgart
Workshop & Conference
16:30 - 17:00h
Day 1
Thu 16.06.
Workshop and Conference Program: 16. -19 June 2016
K1, Room Labor 8
K1, Room Labor 8
K1, 1.08
Location
12 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Detailed Program
Lunch
Group work 01
Group work 02
13.00h
14.00h - 16.00h
16.00h - 20.00h
Individual departure
Joint dinner (tbc.)
19.30h
Afterwards
Discussion
15.30h - 18.30h
Excursion
Group work 04
13.00h - 15.00h
Stuttgart
Lunch
12.00h
Sun 19.06. Day 4 10.00h -14.00h
Group work 03
09.00h - 12.00h
Workshop Part I
Group selection
12.30 - 13.00h
Sat 18.06. Day 3
Discussion
8 Master Student group Bari
Discussion
7 Zouka Karazon (Via skype)
11:50 - 12:00h
11:40 - 11:50h
11:30 - 11:40h
11:20 - 11:30h
on
on
On-site Visit in Stuttgart Meeting Point: in front of K1 Keplerstr. 11 (alternative location tbc.)
Show & Tell Presentations and Discussion with experts & guests by Working Groups 1 / 2 / 3
Group 1: House Level / Group 2: Quarter Level / Group 3: City Level
Independent Group Work
Group 1: House Level (Labor 8)/ Group 2: Quarter Level (meeting room 8b) / Group 3: City Level (Room 7.01)
Working groups (tutored)
Independent Working Groups 1 / 2 / 3
Working groups (tutored) Group 1: House Level (Labor 8)/ Group 2: Quarter Level (meeting room 8b) / Group 3: City Level (Room 7.01)
City center near faculty
K1, Room Labor 8, Meeting room 8b, room 7.01
K1, Room Labor 8, Meeting room 8b, room 7.01
K1, Room Labor 8, Meeting room 8b, room 7.01
into Group 1: House Level (Labor 8)/ Group 2: Quarter Level (meeting K1, Room Labor 8 room 8b) / Group 3: City Level (Room 7.01)
Case study Farafra, Aleppo
The Role of Housing in Economic Development In Post Conflict Countries Beirut & Sarajevo And Reflection on Syrian / Aleppo Context
13 — Detailed Program
14 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Aleppo - The Old City at a Glance Anette Gangler
Introduction
Since 2011, the conflicts in Syria have caused more than 400,000 dead and millions of refugees. Around 40 national initiatives are involved in helping the suffering inhabitants. But, at the same time, the historic monuments and the cultural heritage are being continuously damaged as a strategic instrument to destroy the cultural identity of the Syrian population. Many international, national, and local organizations want to safeguard the cultural heritage. They are collecting and monitoring the damage and are starting initiatives to protect the cultural heritage sites in Syria. The best precondition will be to stop the armed conflict and to start the long post-war reconstruction process. Besides human help, many political, ideological, religious, ethnic and ethical aspects as well as social and economic aspects will influence this process. Nevertheless, the preservation and safeguarding of urban history is also needed, not only
for post-war reconstruction but for future restoration and urban development. Scenarios and strategies have to be developed for a time after the war to guarantee the preservation of the cultural heritage. Aleppo has been recognized as a World Heritage Site since 1986. Not only monuments have been listed – but the whole Old Town of around 360 hectares is a Heritage site. Many parts of Aleppo, a metropolis of around 2.5 million inhabitants, are destroyed. Today not only many residential neighborhoods in the whole city but also many of them in the historic center are damaged or destroyed. Moreover, many historic monuments are damaged and the Souq (historic Arab market) has been burned down. The frontline of the armed conflict between the regime forces and the free army runs through the historic center of Aleppo. Twenty-five percent of the historic buildings are damaged, 40% are partially destroyed, and many fragments have been looted.
15 — Aleppo - Focus Old City at a Glance
Aleppo
Fig. 01: Location of Aleppo inside Syria, Source: UHADCA 2010
Fig. 02: Location of the Historic City of Aleppo, Source Laue based on UHADCA 2010
Rebuilding the destroyed residential quarters and the housing stock is urgent. In addition, the urgent need to achieve rapid re-housing and accommodation for the returnees through temporary buildings has to be a priority. This is also one priority for our workshop, how we can protect, rebuild, and revitalize the residential quarters of the Old City. Focusing on the urban fabric of the Old Town beyond monuments as an integrated part of future global sustainable development should be one of our main objectives in the workshop. Aleppo
Aleppo has been continuously settled for 5000 years and is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East, located in the Fertile Crescent where the first settlements arose. The remains at the Citadel with the temple of the weather god date back to the 3rd millennium before Christ. In the early 2nd millennium before Christ, Aleppo advanced to become the capital of Yahmad. But soon, the city lost its power and periods of destruction and reconstruction followed. Throughout history the region has been a conflict zone between North and South, between East and West. Aleppo was
totally destroyed during the Persian Wars under Chosro I (531-579 A.D.) and rebuilt again under Justinian I (527-565 A.D.). In the year 636 A.D., the Arabs conquered Aleppo, and with the Ayyubid ruler Salah ad-Din (1186 – 1216) and his son Az–Zahir Ghazi, the city became rich and powerful. In the years 1260 and 1400, the Mongols demolished the city again and it was rebuilt again under the Mamluk regime. Due to the location of the city along important trade routes between Asia and the Mediterranean region, the city became a major trade center and the interaction between different cultural influences was a crucial aspect for the development of the region and the city of Aleppo. Throughout history the different historic periods created also different urban layers. In the third century BC, the Hellenistic influence was evident and can be seen today in the rectangular street network of the Western parts of the Old Town in the Souq area. In the early Islamic period, the city was extended to the east of the Citadel, dominating since this time the Old City which has existed until today within the borders of the ancient and early Is-
16 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Fig. 03: View of the gate of the Citadel, Source: Provided by A. Gangler 2009
lamic period with walls and gates. The Grand Mosque is located “intra muros” in the middle of the complex urban fabric . In the surroundings of the mosque the Souq spread out and the prosperity of the trade city is testified by the big waqfs of the Mamluk and Ottoman periods. Traditionally, this commercial area was closed off at night and separated from the traditional quarters with dead end alleys and introverted courtyard houses. These traditional courtyard houses are well adapted to the regional climate and to the constantly-changing socio-economic conditions of the residents. As a comprehensive study has shown, many of these houses were constructed in different phases. Sometimes the buildings were diminished or destroyed and partially rebuilt and extended again. This kind of self-organizing process can be used to provide housing as an urgent need in post-war reconstruction development. The inhabitants can start rebuilding their homes on their own property as a short-
term strategy. For the moment, suitable building materials from destroyed houses can also be reused. Parallel to this, long-term strategies and clear guidelines have to be developed which are adequate for the criteria for a World Heritage Site. Conclusion
Strategic planning cannot be adopted in a very simple way from one culture and transplanted into another one. The cultural, political, and economic conditions must be reflected as well as natural conditions such as climate and regional and local ecosystems. It is necessary to develop adapted planning instruments and to learn from experiments, to work into detail but to reflect its interaction with the city system in a parallel fashion. We can perhaps learn from previous experience in the old city rehabilitation project - a Syrian German Cooperation project which started in 1994 and continued until 2010. An integrative planning
17 — Aleppo - Focus Old City at a Glance
Fig. 04: Aerial Photo of Aleppo‘s Urban Fabric, Source: Provided by UHADCA (n.d.)
approach was initiated which included, for example, the Housing Fund, which was created to give financial support to inhabitants of the Old City to restore their houses so that they can stay there. In the framework of this project, this fund was also supported by the association ”Friends of the Old City of Aleppo”. Safeguarding the written and drawn (visual) urban history was another important aspect of the Syrian – German Cooperation Project. With different activities the association ”Friends of the Old City of Aleppo” has also supported the creation of an urban archive in the Old Town. In documenting the transformation process of an urban fabric from a Medieval place to a vibrant historic center of a metropolis as well as documenting the changing process of public space, single monuments and palaces have been the objective. Today, this kind of documentation seems to be a basic instrument to develop strategies to “Rebuild Aleppo” in dialogue with the new city and to
promote awareness regarding cultural heritage in the future. In this complex process, the participation of former inhabitants of Aleppo as well as the participation of those with expertise in the Old City’s rehabilitation, including urban planners, architects, archaeologists, and local craftsmen, is highly valued. Many campaigns of scenarios for post-war reconstruction have been started and also this workshop should be one of the first approaches with a focus on the urban fabric. Because the urban structure of the traditional quarters of the historic city and the typology of housing include social and economic aspects, this fabric is built by the people and used and reused by them. This heritage is also more than built structures; it includes the intangible heritage with values without material manifestation. The thousands of years of history in the Old City of Aleppo must start and end with the people. ●
02 — Perspectives on Post-War Reconstruction of Aleppo
20 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
World Cultural Heritage Site Aleppo - Planning Approaches Before the Crisis* Anette Gangler
* This text is an abstract from the workshop’s presentation
Introduction
Aleppo is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East. The Citadel and the historic center in the surroundings of the Citadel have been listed as World Cultural Heritage sites since 1986 and it is considered in the interest of the international, national, and local community to preserve these sites. Today all heritage sites in Syria are listed as in danger. Since 2011 the cultural heritage sites have been continuously exposed to massive destruction, especially in the Old City of Aleppo. Many historic buildings are now damaged or partial destroyed or fragments have been looted. The residential quarters are destroyed. Scenarios and strategies for a period after the war-related conflict have to be developed to guarantee the preservation of the cultural heritage. To rebuild Aleppo – to rebuild the historic monuments as initial projects - is one aspect. To focus on the urban fabric of the Old City and to achieve rapid rehousing and accommodations for the people as an integrated part of future urban global sustainable development should be another main objective.
In the past, many international institutions in cooperation with national institutions have been involved in the protection and revitalization of the Old City of Aleppo. To learn from previous experience in the Old City rehabilitation can be helpful to plan ahead for future preservation and urban development. Of course, many problems existed before the conflict. Because of the rapid urbanization and globalization process, demographic changes, and social segregation combined with social injustice, the Old City lost its significance for the whole city. The accessibility and interaction between the historic center and the whole town were not strengthened. There was a lack of governance, regular maintenance, and public investment in renewal measures and technical infrastructure in the Old City. The historic center was neglected as a cultural heritage and many parts of the Old City had deteriorated. But city centers are subject to change and the main task of renewal and rehabilitation may be seen not in preventing change, but in managing it in a way that retains cultural significance rather than reducing it.
21 — World Cultural Heritage Site Aleppo - Planning Approaches Before the Crisis
It was necessary to develop new planning strategies from which we can learn also for post-war urban development. But strategic planning has to be adapted to the cultural, political, and economic conditions of the local community. An integrative multi-disciplinary planning approach has to be developed. Comprehensive surveys are the basis for starting urban planning and developing management plans. The planning process should be initiated from the top down with the development of legally- binding instruments (qualitative and quantitative land use plans) on different planning levels: regional + city level / old city + quarter level / housing level). At the same time, an approach from bottom up has to be started which includes a conservation and development strategy on the basis of the classification of the economic and physical conditions of different quarters. Here, bigger and smaller urban projects should be implemented. An initial urban design project for the whole rehabilitation of the Old City of Aleppo was im-
plemented on top of the Citadel and its surroundings. The valorization of the architectural and urban heritage has been the background for such design projects completed in the Old City. After an agreement in 1999 between the Department of Antiquities and the Aga Khan Foundation, a representative public square in front of the Citadel was created. It was a recreational area of high cultural value where young and old, residents and visitors, as well as men and women had the possibility to meet. In the Syrian – German Cooperation Project “Rehabilitation of the Old City of Aleppo” between the Municipality of Aleppo and the GIZ (former GTZ) from 1994 – 2010, different important aspects were integrated into the planning process, such as the renewal of technical infrastructure, improvement of traffic, reduction of individual traffic, enhancement of the pedestrian network as well as community development, environmental aspects, and the development of local economy, which included tourism development. Socio-economic
22 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Fig. 05: Example of a Courtyard House in Banqusa, Aleppo, Source: A. Gangler 1991
development combined with physical upgrades in respect for the urban morphology and architectural typology was another important aspect. Regulations and building codes for use of appropriate materials and techniques have to be developed. Public space has often been ignored in communities because it is not perceived as essential to sustaining human life. In terms of reinforcing cultural identity, adding community amenities, enhancing regional character and civic pride, encouraging economic and political activity, and increasing recreational opportunities, public space can play an important role in urban planning. The enhancement of public open spaces and the adaptive reuse of vacant buildings for social facilities were in the focus of the rehabilitation project. The restoration of historic monuments has contributed to building awareness of cultural heritage, as well increasing the general public’s perception of it.
Based on the process of building and repairing the traditional quarters with the objective of improving living conditions and economic viability, a strategy of preservation and improvement was developed to save the urban structure from further physical, social, and economic decline. One of the main topics included the conservation of housing. For example, the Housing Fund was created to give financial support to inhabitants. Micro-credits and small grants for housing improvement (Housing Fund) for low-income groups were given to help them restore their homes. Thus, they were able to stay in their neighborhood in their residential quarters and keep the Old City alive and avoid social segregation. Documentation of historic monuments, archaeological sites, and the transformation process of the urban fabric are crucial aspects and have to be coordinated and stored in existing archives.
23 — World Cultural Heritage Site Aleppo - Planning Approaches Before the Crisis
Fig. 06: Location of Houses in Banqusa, Aleppo, Source: A. Gangler 1991
Within the framework of the Syrian-German cooperation, an Urban Historical Archive and Documentation Centre (UHADCA) was established in 2008 at the heart of Aleppo’s ancient urban city center. It was supported by the German association “Friends of the Old City of Aleppo”. The collection and preservation of plans and historic photos have been one main activity to create a digital inventory on the base of the Cadastral plans of the Old City of Aleppo. The collected data should not only be accessible for researchers and students but also for interested Aleppines. Not only historic monuments are documented, but also the urban structure of the traditional quarters of the historic city and the typology of housing. This urban fabric includes social and economic aspects and is important for the remaining cultural and intangible heritage. Protecting and documenting the
written and drawn urban history for future urban development is essential for a time after the warrelated conflict. General remarks
The following points emphasize the need and applicability of keeping an eye on sustainable urban development for the Old City of Aleppo, and what lessons can be learned from its application: • budget, • political will, • building local governance structures with specific know-how, • capacity upgrading and development of local communities for protection of heritage sites during and after the conflict, • re-establishing local technical capacities, • cooperation of international committees with
24 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Fig. 07: Sahet Al Hatab Square Before and After, Aleppo, Source: GIZ 2009
• • • • • •
local and international experts, development of adapted planning instruments and institutions (legally binding land use), data management / documentation, monitoring control of real estate development, monitoring and evaluation of the work, controlled soft gentrification, integration of stakeholders into the planning process,
• • • • •
active participation of local residents, development of guidelines + policies, definition of priorities, achievement of rapid re-housing and accommodation for the inhabitants and returnees, private ownership.
25 —
Recommendations and Conclusions
•
•
•
•
The future role of the Old City has to be defined in the context of the whole city, in the context of Syria, and in the region of the Middle East. Consciousness for the values of an historic town and the perception of socioeconomic coherence reflected in consistent urban fabric have to be enhanced. The urban structure, that is, the morphology and typology of the Old Town, also possesses spiritual values that foster the identity and memory of the residents. The intangible heritage has to be taken into consideration for the reconciliation of society. A future beyond monuments is important for the renewal process of urban cultural heritage sites. The strategies should not be focused only on a technical process of reconstructing the physical and economic environment. It also involves political, psychological, social, ideological, symbolic, and aesthetic aspects. The historic urban fabric is like a built cultural and social archive that consists of the different layers from our past while, at the same time, historic buildings or quarters are changing. Respects for the lifestyle of the people and the world cultural heritage the local community have to be involved in a participatory planning process. Social and economic policies have to be developed and socio-economic investment should be mobilized. The establishment of international coordination committees in cooperation with local and international experts is necessary to support the decision makers and involved stakeholders. Capacity building in protection of heritage sites during and after the conflict is urgent.
•
•
•
Cultural responsibilities should be recognized by all parties of the society to develop a vision for the future development on the basis of the urban history. Therefore, priorities should be established according to the vision of the whole society. Activities to save heritage must start and end with the people. Heritage is built by them and used and reused by them. Heritage is more than built structures; it is about the intangible beliefs and practices associated with them and the values assigned to them, as well as those which may have no material manifestation. The sustainable development goals of the Agenda 2030 should be the vision for all countries including their heritage sites. ●
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Aleppo - Civil Society as a Driver Towards Rehabilitation - a Chance for Future Recovery?* Franziska Laue
*This text is an abridged and updated extract of a conference contribution, 2012.
Introduction
Civic Reactions to a Master Plan
The Old City of Aleppo, a World Heritage Site the size of about 360 hectares, has been subject to rehabilitation for almost the past two decades. Whereas in the 1950s until the 1970s, urban planning contributed actively to the demolition and eradication of entire old city districts (see contributions by Thierry Grandin and Anette Gangler), national and international projects and initiatives have progressively contributed to the upgrading of buildings, support of the local economy, infrastructure, and safeguarding, etc. of the historic urban substance since the 1980s. Starting with a group of architects who were alarmed by the harsh interventions in the historic fabric, Aleppo’s society managed to successfully oppose municipal planning, which peaked in the alarming destruction of a neighborhood near Bab Al-Faraj.
In 1978, when the 1974 master plan entered its implementation phase, [again] resistance was formed by local architects and ‘conservationists‘ (Qudsi, 1984: 22), initiated by architect Adli Qudsi. Consequently, an ‘Old City Committee‘ was formed consisting of members from the private sector and other public institutions to negotiate the future development of the Bab AlFaraj site. This discussion also included controlling all future building permits in the entire Old City. The committee, together with the Department of Antiquities, contacted the UNESCO for assistance. Thereupon, a first mission analyzed the situation and concluded that the municipality’s overall master scheme was unsuitable for the Old City. This resulted in an overall revision by municipal planners; still, activities to demolish and develop continued. New civil and institutional opposition was formed when onsite excavations revealed parts of the Old City wall, whose remains were removed without the knowledge of the Department of Antiquities. The Department eventually succeeded in halting the project by declaring the site ‘non aedifi-
This contribution will discuss the local society’s dedication in Aleppo’s rehabilitation process and how essential not only involvement, but also initiation through local citizens and professionals is. [...]
27 — Aleppo - Civil Society as a Driver Towards Rehabilitation - a Chance for Future Recovery?
Fig. 08: OCA C&D Strategy, Source: GTZ 2004
candi ‘(Bianca, 1984: 24). As a consequence, no further demolition as well as no new construction was allowed - neither on skyscrapers, nor for any new adaptive architecture. Shortly thereafter, Syria’s Ministry of Culture registered the entire old city intra muros as a ‘national monument ‘. In 1980, Naji Otri, an architect, was announced as the new mayor of Aleppo. Born and raised in a traditional courtyard house, Otri promoted the preservation of the Aleppo’s remaining historic fabric. In September 1983, a symposium was held for the conservation of the Old City of Aleppo including local and international experts. According to Qudsi, it was a ‘culmination of years of effort by the conservationists to save the traditional fabric and cause the abandonment of the master plan‘ (Qudsi,1984: 20). A second mission by UNESCO suggested a new adaptive planning approach, interconnecting all surrounding areas. This obligated the municipality to begin a comprehensive analysis of the central area, eventually leading to their agreement to definitely halt the master plan. In 1986,
the Old City of Aleppo was recognized by the UNESCO as a World heritage site. After gradually gaining the interest of municipal officials, the Rehabilitation Committee was entrusted to elaborate more adaptive schemes for upgrading the historic infrastructure. In order to ensure funding and technical support, the committee, headed by Adli Qudsi, reached out for international technical support, which was subsequently provided by the German government via GIZ and financed by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD). This joint effort resulted in the Project for the Rehabilitation of Old Aleppo. A ‘Housing and Emergency Fund’ was established and supported by private associations as well as by rich families and the private sector engaging in the rehabilitation. It served as a direct tool to support the local population and their attempts to maintain the Old City’s physical and architectural substance. Since then, raising and promoting awareness among Aleppo’s population for acknowledging and keeping their heritage became one of the major goals within the process. [...]
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Fig. 09: Participation Activities with the Local Population (i.e. Kids & Colours“ workshop ), Source: GTZ 2001, 2007
From Preservation to Development Cooperation
The increased consciousness for preserving the Old City’s invaluable building heritage encouraged local and international initiatives (both private and public) to prevent any further demolition or deterioration. As a consequence of an extensive analysis (1993- 1997) undertaken by local and international experts, globally operating agencies began comprehensive involvement in the rehabilitation process in 1994, providing support to the people as well as to municipal authorities and public service providers. The overall goal was defined as ‘Improving Living Conditions and Economic Development’ which followed an integrative approach to urban conservation and development (GIZ, Toolkit, 2008). One of Aleppo’s first overall administrational steps was the setup of a ‘Directorate of the Old City’ (DOC) in 1996, located in the Farafra neighborhood. Simultaneously, a ‘Development Plan for the Old City’ was issued in 1998, laying out guidelines for comprehensive rehabilitation and urban management. Areas of interventions, so called ‘Action Areas’ ,were identified (GIZ,
Toolkit, 2008). Furthermore, a ‘Land Use Plan’ defined zones for appropriate private and commercial use in order to limit possible conflicting activities such as speculation and the transformation of historic substance. Furthermore, a building code was formulated. Agencies such as GIZ and the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development (AFSED), the Syrian-German Department Swap Agreement and the Geneva based Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) facilitated rehabilitation and socioeconomic development. GIZ, for example, supported the ‘Emergency Fund’ for the restoration of houses as well as the renewal of the old city’s infrastructure, open spaces, and buildings such as the Shibani, a former Franciscan convent. Since the year 2000, the ‘Aga Khan Development Network’ (AKDN) , with its ‘Historic Cities Support Programme’ has continuously contributed to the physical improvement of the urban heritage, starting restoration works in the Citadel of Aleppo and planning for the esplanade of the Citadel by partnering with the DOC and the GIZ. The AKTC and the GIZ employed a local team for their projects, which was headed by Adli Qudsi until 2008. These local teams accumu-
29 — Aleppo - Civil Society as a Driver Towards Rehabilitation - a Chance for Future Recovery?
lated and gained expertise and know-how from international and regional experts who used to come visiting. All this pandered the initiation of many local initiatives joining other groups of interested individuals. Besides beautification projects, capacity building and socio-economic initiatives were projected by all agencies. The AKDN’s Aleppo Socio-Economic Development Initiative (ASDI) considered capacity development and empowerment of the local community in the areas of Jalloum and Qalat Al-Sharif. The centre of these activities was the Shibani School, where other DOC-related projects, such as the LED (Local economic development with CIM) and an urban historical archive, operated and thus cooperation was also eased in spatial terms. Hence, since 1994, the rehabilitation process achieved overall strengthening of local capacities for the above mentioned subjects as well as for subjects such as improvement of environmental conditions, upgrading and development of public space, restoration of monuments, traffic management, housing funds that enable the poorer sections of society to restore their homes, local economic development (LED), sustainable tourism promotion, community development, urban archive and documentation centre, cultural events, etc. (GIZ, Toolkit, 2008). [...] Changing the Mental Image of a Historic Place
In fact, the rehabilitation process has set up several initiatives and projects aimed towards social coherence and inclusiveness through community development, in order to achieve such a goal. For example, cultural events, especially in the Old City, are aimed at promoting cultural identity and relinking both populations of the old and new city by consciously choosing places
and monuments hosting numerous cultural events. This consequently improved the general image of the heritage site as a ‘catalyst for esteem and respect’ (GIZ, Toolkit, 2008) over time. In addition to this, restored old city buildings became attractive for administrational and representative uses. In the course of the past two decades, the Old City has been promoted as a declared setting for offices, cultural institutes, cafés, etc. that attracted Aleppo’s population to get involved in volunteering activities for NGOs (cleaning and greening campaigns, etc.), work in administration or in international agencies located in the heritage site (AKTC, GIZ, etc.), take language lessons (Goethe Institute), dine at well-catered restaurants, work in hotels or shops, serve as tourist guides, lead foreign acquaintances throughout the city or conduct targeted research (at school or at university). [...] Conclusions
The case of Aleppo shows that the local popuThe case of Aleppo shows that the local population succeeded, first by forming pressure groups towards reevaluating planning policies of the city’s local administration. Their resistance caused a chain reaction that resulted in a comprehensive rehabilitation process. It showed that, despite officially ratified procedures, local resistance could succeed as a corrective measure on the level of heritage preservation. Initially, small scaled but targeted resistance led to a large scale improvement and development. It furthermore illustrated the inhabitants’ active involvement in the process of keeping their heritage site a conservable, yet livable habitat. In both respects, people managed to successfully be the main protagonists and become the major
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Fig. 10: Timeline of Activities and Actors in the Rehabilitation Processm Source: F. Laue 2012
beneficiaries throughout the development process. Yet, in order to ensure such commitment in the coming generations, raising awareness and reconnecting their relationship to heritage and history will be of the essence. Moreover, what would have happened without the described local initiatives? Further development and destruction of the Citadel would have occurred if the large-scale project had succeeded (Bianca, 1987: 28). More irreparable disruption of the urban fabric would have occurred. Most likely, the entire central part between the two major roads would have dramatically changed with larger parts of the Old City being commercialized and being evicted even more from its original residential use. The case of Aleppo demonstrates that the resistance of the local population, by forming one or more pressure groups, managed to change the planning policies of the local administration. It illustrates that, despite the municipality’s pursuit of having a modernized traffic-friendly city, the inherent qualities of the Old City eventually could not be
neglected. Inviting external experts to import a Western-style planning fashion seemed to have occurred according to a ‘Zeitgeist’, a trafficfriendly and visionary fashion that could also be observed in American or European cities at that time. However, such planning and applicability needed to be carefully discussed and reflected in each specific context. Careful and adaptive town planning should prevent harming the city on a broader scale and on an entirely different level. As the Old City’s fabric is an organism where one element cannot be changed without affecting another, drastic and lightly considered schemes can dramatically cause disruption and tend to create reverse and unintended results ending up in a non-coherent urban body (UNESCO, 1980: 24). This is dramatically visible in the development of the Bab Al-Faraj area. Therefore, inappropriate planning needs to be opposed and, if necessary, as in the case of Aleppo , counteracted with the help of corrective civil bottom-up countermeasures. According to Stefano Bianca, ‘the city, and especially the his-
31 — Aleppo - Civil Society as a Driver Towards Rehabilitation - a Chance for Future Recovery?
Fig. 11: Rubble Removal 2015/16, Source: Movie still by Halab Alyoum 2016
toric center, contains the essence or the ‘spirit’ of a culture (Bianca, 1984: 21). Planning carefully, thus, means that any intervention dealing with the Old City needs to be carefully assessed and should never take place without the inclusion of its inhabitants - neither ignoring their opinion, nor underestimating their capacities to participate in the planning and development process.
of the various roots and influences that make a society what it is (social bonds, interaction, fine arts, music, traditions, etc.). Nonetheless, it creates understanding of one’s culture and pride not only through literature and foreign praise but with physical existence. Finally, it maintains continuity (Adli Qudsi, 1984: 22). Epilogue 2016
Getting back to the initial question, whether everything stands and falls with the local’s participation and involvement: local commitment is essential as it firstly ensures the relationship with one’s own heritage; secondly, it is the basis for safeguarding and preserving the local heritage; thirdly, it critically reflects the dynamics of planning and transformation, and fourthly, it suggests and invites alternative, more appropriate approaches and can be a spark for change. Moreover, it serves as a foundation of one’s local and even national identity and represents a part of a society’s uniqueness and incomparableness as it permanently reminds inhabitants
Considering the ongoing armed conflict and its severe destruction, a complex set of actors will be needed. Civic actors and civil society will especially need to play an essential role, particularly in the short term, remaining involved mid- and long term. Their involvement will be relevant for monitoring any changes but also for initiatives during and in-conflict as well as in post-conflict times. Their role and presence will, furthermore, be essential for any reconciliation activities. Hence, any strategic planning for Aleppo will first draw from previous experiences, and secondly, need to look beyond physical and infrastructural concerns. ●
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A Methodological Approach to the Post-War Reconstruction of the Aleppo Building Fabric Morphology* Giulia Annalinda Neglia (Politecnico di Bari, Italy)
* This text is an abstract from the workshop’s presentation
The Syrian Civil War is causing extreme suffering to the civilian population; moreover, the fighting is destroying cities and landscapes bearing witness to the country’s millenary history. Damage is particularly centered in the Old City of Aleppo where the former grandeur of the urban landscape was characterized by an overlay of architectural and archaeological layers, as well as by the ‘counterpoint’ between major monuments and the fine-grained urban fabric. Under these circumstances, thoughtful and rigorous reflection on the future design strategies for the recovery of the unique cultural heritage of the urban fabric of the Old City of Aleppo, which is in grave danger, is needed. In particular, when the international debate is focused on the reconstruction of the souqs or of the Grand Mosque, it seems urgent to start talking about the reconstruction of residential and mixeduse historic neighborhoods, which represent the greatest part of the damaged built up area. In the short term, one of the most urgent needs is do-
cumenting damage and giving people shelter; in the long term, it is ensuring the inhabitants’ right to get back their homes, preparing plans for the reconstruction of destroyed or endangered buildings. In this complex scenario, which actions can be carried out for creating possible solutions? Are there methodological perspectives for the post-conflict reconstruction of the urban fabric? Is it possible to propose design solutions based on the analysis of the characteristics of the traditional urban fabric, as well as on the need to update old houses to current living standards? Could protecting the Old City building heritage also mean preserving Aleppo’s cultural identity? To give responses to future conditions in Aleppo, we need to focus on these issues. It is particularly urgent to study the urban landscape transformation processes caused by the war with the aim of preserving the cultural landscape of Aleppo’s Old City residential neighborhoods. Special attention should be given to the need to document the pre-war conditions
33 — A Methodological Approach to the Post-War Reconstruction of the Aleppo Building Fabric Morphology
of mixed-use districts of this World Heritage Site, while the post-war design of destroyed neighborhoods, such as Farafra and Bandara, could be addressed by use of a methodology based on process typology. Both in the short-term (collecting pre-war documentation, documenting damage, and promoting global awareness) and in the middle/long-term perspective (planning emergency and post-war responses) it is urgent to develop strategies to prepare for future reconstruction. If the short-term perspective has already started, the long-term is the most urgent. We need to develop strategies both to provide shelter to the inhabitants of the Old City and to face future reconstruction, keeping in mind that sheltering and reconstruction cannot be intended as separate problems. Accordingly, we should develop a methodological approach that carries the sheltering actions over into the reconstruction one, considering them as two phases of the same goal. Not
least, post-war reconstruction should be planned as a rehabilitation of Aleppo’s cultural heritage with the aim of giving back to the Syrian people their cultural identity, their homes, and their urban spaces. Even if we cannot foretell the scenario at the end of the battle within the boundaries of the World Heritage Site, we will face at least four different circumstances: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Need to restore buildings that are well documented; Need to reconstruct buildings that are well documented; Need to reconstruct buildings that are not documented; Need to plan for emergences.
While cases 1 and 2 are connected to restoration actions and to the need of a comprehensive archive of the Old City building heritage, we need to devise methodologies to face points 3 and 4.
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The questions that arise are: How do we approach, from a methodological point of view, the reconstruction of houses and neighborhoods, which are partially or not at all documented? How do we approach the reconstruction of building plots without particular architectural value? Can we provide shelters to the Old City’s inhabitants within their own houses? Is possible to think of emergency and reconstruction problems as ‘steps of the same process’? Is it possible to provide the inhabitants methodological tools to re-build their houses ‘step by step’, following the ‘logic’ that was at the basis of the formation of the Old City’s urban landscape? How should we adapt the building fabric to the new urban and housing needs? How do we update traditional courtyard houses to modern standards? Since the ‘eclipse of the memory’ is hanging over the Aleppo’s future, when the war will hopefully be over, it will be important to rebuild its urban fabric ‘in continuity’ with the past and with the traditional structure of the Old City. It will also be important to retain the uniqueness and diversity that Aleppo has always had against possible attacks of globalization given by oblivion or economic interests and which has allowed the Old City to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this framework, to approach the housing reconstruction within the UNESCO boundaries, retaining the characteristics of the listed urban fabric, we need to face inter-scalar problems between buildings and neighborhoods. In this regard, the following priorities shall be identified: •
To collect all the available data on buildings, neighborhoods, and open spaces before 2012 (including land use and functions, historic
•
•
•
•
buildings, architectural values, haras, ownership, courtyard houses, and archaeological layers), and mapping the destroyed areas under a unique inventory. To set methodological tools to prepare future plans (identifying potential actors who can be involved) aimed at restoring the original characteristics of the urban landscape. To adopt the Historic Urban Landscape Approach, focused on a dynamic cross-scale interaction between open spaces and built environment with the aim of identifying strengths and weaknesses of neighborhoods and building typologies and giving back to the haras the cultural identity they have lost during the war through extensive damage. To assess the impact factor of our actions: changing the traditional building typologies could mean eclipsing the cultural identity of the built environment; updating building typologies and neighborhoods structure to modern needs and standards could mean rebuilding the urban landscape in continuity with its cultural identity (courtyard houses vs skyscrapers). To give to the inhabitants the means to resettle in their own neighborhoods and houses. To this aim, an updated cadastral register is needed.
Needs and possible outcomes
While the major monuments of the Old City are sufficiently documented and could be restored without the need for any ‘interpretation’ of their pre-war conditions, it seems urgent, instead, to develop methodological strategies to renew and reconstruct residential and mixed-used historic
35 A continuously inhabited world heritage site facing heavy destruction — A Methodological Approach to the Post-War Reconstruction of the Aleppo Building Fabric Morphology
Fig.12xx: Aerial view to Aleppo‘s areathe the citadel 2012 and 2014, Google Fig. and 13: Aerial View to Aleppo‘scentral Central Area Citadel 2012 and 2014, Source:Source: Google Earth 2016Earth
Fig.14xx: Aerial view to Aleppo‘s aroundSaba’ Saba Bahrat andSource: 2014, Google Source: Google Fig. and 15: Aerial View to Aleppo‘sfringe Fringe around Bahrat Areaarea 20122012 and 2014, Earth 2016 Earth
Fig. and 17: Aerial View Aleppo‘sFarafra Farafra Area andand 2014, Source: Google Google Earth 2016 Fig.16xx: Aerial view to to Aleppo‘s area2012 2012 2014, Source: Earth
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Fig. 18: A Typical Neighborhood in Aleppo‘s Historic City, Source: A. Neglia (n.d.)
buildings and neighborhoods, which are partially or not at all documented in pre-2012 registers or to renew buildings that did not have any particular architectural value. Accordingly, with the aim of regaining Aleppo’s original urban landscape, we should take into account –among others – the following aspects: •
•
The need to lead the spontaneous and uncoordinated reconstruction actions that the Old City inhabitants are currently carrying on under a scientific umbrella by developing a methodology in which the ‘spontaneous consciousness’ - which has been at the basis of the formation process of Aleppo’s urban landscape – will give directives to ‘logically’ rebuild houses and neighborhoods. The need to adopt different approaches to the reconstruction of the different layers of
•
the built environment such as monuments, archeologies, and traditional courtyard houses. The latter, in particular, are the most fragile and difficult to monitor, and consequently need specific guidelines for their renewal. The need to take into account the social and economic impact of the war on the neighborhood level, such as the change of population, education, skills in traditional construction techniques, habits in living places, and so on.
Recommendations
•
To take into account all the urban layers (monuments, archeologies, courtyard houses, open spaces) related to the unique urban morphology of the Old City. Recovery plans should pay specific attention to the courtyard houses layer, which is at the basis for the lis-
37 — A Methodological Approach to the Post-War Reconstruction of the Aleppo Building Fabric Morphology
Fig. 19: Analysis of Old City Houses, Source: A. Neglia 2016 (more detailed maps, see figure 96, 97, see pages 171)
•
ting of Aleppo as a World Heritage Site, and made up the uniqueness of its urban landscape. To face cases of housing reconstruction we should embrace the typo-morphological approach, ‘interpreting’ the urban fabric and proposing design solutions that are ‘in continuity’ with the historic structure of the urban landscape. Consequently, understanding and following the ‘typical behaviors’ of the building fabric means proposing a ‘step by step’ design of ‘shelters’ for the Old City’s inhabitants inside their own houses. Accordingly, by giving them methodological tools to gradually re-build their own houses ‘from the inside’, the emergency could be interpreted as at the first step of the reconstruction process. To upgrade historic courtyard houses typology to modern living standards, while preser-
ving their main architectural and morphological characteristics. Recovery plans should include specific guidelines for a typological ‘step by step’ self-reconstruction or renewal of undocumented historic courtyard houses. Looking at the typical behaviors of the built up area inside the parcels, several different layouts for their partial or total reconstruction should be proposed according to the logics of gradual settling of rooms around the courtyard. In particular, these layouts can vary according to: parcel dimension, relationship to the street / entrance / parcel, specialization of rooms in summer living rooms (iwan), best orientation of rooms and iwan towards fresh air and lighting, increase in building height on specific sides of the courtyard, and parcel partitions. Moreover, following this logic we can develop a design
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Different Reconstruction Strategies in the Old City in the Past - Aleppo, a Multiple Martyr City?* Thierry Grandin (Architect, consultant to WMF)
* This text is structured summary from the author’s presentation
The structure of this presentation comprised the following elements. 1. The Context:
1.1. Aleppo Prior to 2011; 1.2. Aleppo After 2011; 1.3 The Case of the Perimeter of the Citadel; 1.4 The Actual Condition of the Old City; 1.5 Syria During World War I; 1.6 Aleppo Prior to World War I; 1.7 The Post-Earthquake Condition of the Old City and the Condition of the Old City During the French Mandate; 2. A Presentation on the Different Phases
In addition to the glance into the past, the current condition of the urban fabric of the Old City will be presented. Furthermore, this presentation will insist on the capacity of the Aleppines to rebuild their city from almost ruins. 01. The Context
Aleppo has been a martyr city several times in history, from the destructions of Hulagu in 1260, or Tamerlane in 1401, and those from the Ottoman period, an earthquake, wars, or its abandonment and lack of maintenance of its patrimony.
of Reconstruction in the Old City in the Past:
2.1 The Experience of the Armenian Settlements Between 1915 and the 1940s and the Evolution Toward Intrinsic Quarters of Aleppo; 2.2 Ottoman Projects in the Old City. 3. Impossible conclusion?
01.1 The Recent History of the Old City of Aleppo Prior to 2011 Until the late 20th century, the Old City of Aleppo was mainly neglected. The inscription of the Old City of Aleppo as an UNESCO World Heritage in 1986 was partially the catalyst for a change in attitudes toward the Old City. The Directorate of the Old City of Aleppo was
41 — Different Reconstruction Strategies in the Old City in the Past - Aleppo, a Several Times Martyr City?
Fig. 22 - 24: 2011, A period of hopes and dreams, followed by a bitter reality, Source: Presentation by Grandin 2016
initiated in 1991. In 1992, the GTZ (now GIZ), participated and supported these efforts. The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development and the Kuwaiti Fund for Development were also involved. Interest-free loans were available to people wishing to finance restoration of their homes, and most streets and infrastructure networks of the Old City were done. In 1999, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture joined the team and initiated the “Project for the Conservation of Citadels in Syria” in partnership with the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, including that of Aleppo. The AKTC, associating itself with the Directorate of the Old City and the GTZ, designed and executed the “Aleppo Citadel Perimeter” urban project between 2004 and 2010. Through the Directorate of the Old City, the government operated efficiently the development of service facilities, tourism, and trade. Several museums were under completion in the Old City. Several hotels had just opened and many rehabilitation projects of houses were carried
out by local or foreign owners. The Old City of Aleppo had become an example of remarkable qualitative and important urban projects, almost a model of urban and architectural integration for other cities in the region. Aleppo hosted international scientific conferences and several books on the city were published. 01.2 Aleppo After 2011 Having been an oasis of relative peace, a period of dreams and hopes, one year after the start of the Syrian revolution, the free army entered Aleppo in June 2012. More than a year and a half later, the bitter reality of the demolitions in Aleppo is dramatic. Some neighborhoods are now only a landscape of ruins: houses, hospitals and schools, mosques and churches, infrastructure and networks. Everything has been bombed and explosions from tunnels have destroyed major sections of the Old City.
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Fig. 25: Presentation slide 33: Damage Assessment of Aleppo’s Old City, Source: UNESCO, prepared by T. Grandin 2016
The Old City homes, listed as a World Heritage site, are the scenes of heavy fighting and the paths of destruction are legion. Some buildings, symbols for some, and strategic positions for others, are hotly contested. In addition to many traditional houses, alleys, souqs, gates of the city, public buildings, hotels, churches, mosques and minarets, including the one of the Grand Mosque, are targeted. The Citadel is severely damaged. 01.3 Case of the Perimeter of the Citadel Historically, until the 1900’s, the area south of the entrance of the Citadel, the former Mamluk Maydan, was an open commercial and social space until the construction of the Grand Serail in the 1920-30’s, then later of the Directorate of the Waqf as well as modern buildings.
In the 2000’s, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the GTZ and the Directorate of the Old City collaborated and developed a vast pedestrian area south of the entrance of the Citadel. Today, the whole area is severely damaged, and most of its landmark buildings have been destroyed: the Grand Serail; the al-Sultaniyya Madrassa, the al-Khosrowiyya Madrassa, and the Yalbogha Hammam. Perhaps, the original pattern, the market, could be a basis for the reconstruction of this area. 01.4 The Current Condition of the Old City The city is separated into two independent entities, so it is not possible to move from an area to another. The City of Aleppo in general, and the Old City in particular, a World Heritage Site, is the most destroyed urban struc-
43 — Different Reconstruction Strategies in the Old City in the Past - Aleppo, a Several Times Martyr City?
Fig. 26: Presentation slide 35: Plot Conditions, Source: T. Grandin 2016
ture in Syria. A series of reports from the following organizations allows us to establish an assessment on the destruction in the Old City of Aleppo: APSA (Association for the protection of the Syrian Antiquities), ASOR (The American Schools of Oriental Research), HfP (Heritage for Peace), DGAM (Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums), and SAPAH (The Syrian Association for the Preservation of Archaeology and Heritage). In addition to other reports, the evaluation of the damage is supplemented by aerial or satellite photos and films made by drones. In some areas within the Old City, the data are not sufficient to evaluate the amount of damage. (see Illustration slide 33, Fig. 25). Estimation of the damaged plots. Plots conditions: In the Old City; In the Citadel Perimeter; In A-Medineh area; And In the quarter of Jdaydeh. (Illustrations slide 35, Fig. 26). Conditions of specific buildings: souqs, mosques, khans, churches, and houses.
01.5 Syria Around the Time of World War I The Umayyad Mosque in Damascus was seriously damaged after a fire in 1893. Later, during the French Mandate, the Al-Hariqa Quarter in Damascus was completely destroyed by a fire following shelling. 01.6. Aleppo Prior to World War I World War I was not the cause of major damage, neither in Syria in general, nor in Aleppo in particular. 01.7 Post-Earthquake Condition of the Old City and Condition of the Old City During the French Mandate Meanwhile, in the 1900’s, the Old City of Aleppo, still bore the traces of the earthquake of 1822. An aerial view of Aleppo in the 1920’s shows the condition of the Old City during the French Mandate. Other views. Most of the damaged buildings were restored during the period from the French Mandate to the 1990’s.
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Fig. 27: Presentation slide 50, Source: Presentation T. Grandin 2016
02. Presentation on the Different Past Reconstruction Phases in the Old City 02.1 The Experience of the Armenian Settlements Between 1915 and 1940s and the Evolution Toward the Intrinsic Quarters of Aleppo From 1915 onward, Armenian refugees fled areas of the Ottoman Empire and settled in slums in some northern quarters of Aleppo, informal settlements named al-Barakat al-Arman at that period. Once established here, the community developed workshops of diverse handcrafts. At the end of the 1930’s, the municipality of Aleppo ordered the demolition of the Armenian settlements. In ten years, the urban landscape of the whole area completely changed towards the intrinsic quarters of Aleppo: the walls of mud bricks and wood, and the metal sheets for the double slope roofs were replaced by constructions with strong stone walls and concrete roofs, and the narrow and informal alleys were replaced by straight roads.
02.2 Ottoman Projects in the Old City Around 1535, following a vast campaign of political and commercial developments new capitulation agreements were made by Suleiman the Magnificent with Christian nations, particularly France. Capitulations of the Ottoman Empire were contracts between the Ottoman Empire and European powers conferring rights and privileges in favor of their subjects’ residents or traders within Ottoman dominions to entice and encourage commercial exchange with Western merchants. To achieve the goal of efficient commerce, major infrastructure and architectural projects were begun in the second half of the 16th century for khans and souqs, but also for mosques and coffee houses. In the Al-Medineh area, almost 60% of the space has been the subject of new projects dating back to the second half of the 16th century or later. The Old City was a vast workshop during this period large sections of the previous urban fabric were demolished, and what existed previously still
45 — Different Reconstruction Strategies in the Old City in the Past - Aleppo, a Several Times Martyr City?
Fig. 28: Presentation slide 62: A Future Scenario for Aleppo?, Source: Presentation T. Grandin 2016
remains unknown. Meanwhile, it is now an intrinsic part of the city that its inhabitants used to know. 03. Impossible Conclusion After more than 5 years of intensive conflict, no issue appears in the near future. Indeed, can a potential scenario for the post-war develop? Some concepts, the result of dreams for a future Syria or Aleppo, are presented on the internet. Are these models? The reconstruction is problematic and its subsequent process will pose major potential risks. The condition of the old construction sites as well as the previous regulations should be re-evaluated. Propositions could be based on local practices and, not only on the architectural level, the reconstruction should be a matter of appropriation by the Syrians, and essentially based on participation processes. â—?
Fig. 29: Presentation slide 55: A Satirical Vision for Aleppo After the War, Source: Presentation T. Grandin 2016
46 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Framework Conditions that Will Shape any Discussion on Reconstruction* Robert Templer (The Aleppo Project, Budapest)
* This text is an abstract from the workshop’s speech
Post-conflict reconstruction has its own po-
the purchase or seizure of land for large scale
litical economy and it is often a continuation
private development; efforts to disrupt record
of war in the impact it has on city residents.
keeping and legal processes to facilitate land
Demolition, expulsion, exclusion, and the en-
seizures; the marginalization of traditional
richment of a tiny number of people are its
economic forms in favor of international in-
defining aspects. International donors, NGOs,
vestment; the return of large numbers of rural
and others have often proved to be active par-
refugees to the city due to a lack of rural recon-
ticipants in the post-war economy of margi-
struction; a failure to develop social housing
nalization, particularly in their treatment of
leading to a surge in new informal areas; the
refugees and others. Refugees face a double
erasure of certain periods of history that do not
exclusion -- they are driven from their homes
fulfill current political needs; the domination
by violence and then they are excluded from
of the reconstruction of cultural heritage or re-
reconstruction. Women refugees often face a
ligious buildings by outside forces.
third exclusion from the public realm. Can we change these futures in Aleppo? What We have no idea what political system will
should we be thinking about it now? Are these
emerge in Aleppo when the conflict finally
processes inevitable? ●
ends. But we do know from experience elsewhere that certain processes are likely to occur, and indeed are already occurring in Syria:
47 — Framework Conditions that will Shape any Discussion on Reconstruction
48 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Local Resources And Civic Engagement During The Conflict In Aleppo* Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj (AUB, Private Consultancy, Beirut)
* This text is an abstract from the author’s presentation
The ongoing conflict in Syria has created new urban realities across the divided geographies of the war torn country. Over 75% of the population is now urban as most IDP’s have been hosted mainly in and around cities. New local governance patterns have emerged and the local political economy of cities is greatly influenced by the dynamics of the war economy. The framework of liberal peace building, adopted by the international community through Security Council resolution 2254, is unlikely to overcome conditions on the ground. Therefore, any plans for recovery and reconstruction will have to face serious challenges. Some of these challenges are inherent in the nature of the structural constraints of prewar economics and institutional capacities, while others involve the changing patterns of centrality that emerged during the war. This presentation will undertake unpacking some of these challenges and undermining the neo-
liberal discourse on post-war reconstruction already being advanced in various international and Syrian circles. The lecture will argue for the need to engage urban conditions during the conflict and not to wait until after the war, as there is not likely to be a single moment that will define the transformation from war to peace. The innate resilience of cities will have to be incorporated into the very process of peace building. Local resources, meager as they are, must be leveraged to avoid long-term dependency on humanitarian aid. Most importantly, the informal economy will be the largest available resource for stabilization; it needs to be fostered, networked, and streamlined to provide win-win outcomes as opposed to the zero-sum logic of the war. ●
49 — Framework Conditions that will Shape any Discussion on Reconstruction
Fig. 30: Presentation slide 42, Source: Presentation Hallaj 2016
50 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Eleven Theses For Post War Reconstruction Of Historic City Districts* Christoph Wessling (BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg) * This text is an abstract from the author’s presentation
1.
Reconstruction after the war must be oriented to the needs of the population, to those who stayed behind during the armed conflict and to those who come back afterwards.
dations, and technical infrastructures. These remains are very valuable and define an important basis for reconstruction. 7.
Ownership and structure of the parcels of land before the armed conflict must be respected. These and other intangible values of the historic district must be respected as tangible values.
8.
Historic urban structures and social and economic networks and structures are more relevant for the future than the image of the historic district. Areas with a specific and high archaeological value must be defined to enable deciding where interventions of the first hours are possible and which areas must be protected intensively.
2.
Reconstruction measures must support the local population to stabilize their living conditions.
3.
Reconstruction must respect and save the values of the past for the future.
4.
The urban structures of areas of daily life must get the same attention as listed monuments.
9.
Those urban structures that were permanent during historic development should have priority to be protected and define basic ‘guidelines’ for the reconstruction. Beneath destroyed, damaged, or collapsed buildings and urban ensembles still exist basements, ground floor structures, foun-
10. Even reconstruction must be handled like an iterative development of the existing historic district. Radical transformations
5.
6.
51 — Eleven Theses for Post War Reconstruction of Historic City Districts
Fig. 31: slide 21, Source: Presentation Wessling 2016
into a ‘new urban quality’ should be viewed with doubt. An organic development “cell by cell” is much better than instant large-scale interventions. 11. A system of fairness and balance of opposed interest must be established for the reconstruction process. Local governance should lead the development and decisions must be taken in a transparent way. International support and expert input must be an integrated part of local governance. ●
03 — Current Research Approaches
54 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Fractal Socio-Morphological Evolutionary Techniques for Filling Urban Gaps in 3-D Models - Applied in Aleppo and Cosenza (Italy)* Bashar Swaid (PhD Candidate, Rome, Italy) * This text is a combination of an abstract and thesummary of the author’s presentation
01. Abstract of Presentation
Filling the gaps in the historical and modern contexts has always been considered an important topic at different urban and social levels, as well as a major vector of economic development. Where many parametric and algorithmic emergence methods have been applied for evolving architecture typologies and urban morphogenesis in modern environments efficiently, they have nevertheless failed to realise the same performance in the historical ones due to their inability to meet multiple design challenges (social and morphological). Moreover, this is also because most of the urban morphology processes that are applied to the historical structures lack computational urban generative techniques involving the approach of complexity science, which based on both adaptive form-finding and space-filling mechanisms and on the role of complexity and connectivity factors as the key determinants of the morpho-
logical and social perspectives. Therefore, the traditional technologies of urban systems, which have been used in historical urban ontology, have been considered an obstacle in that they confront emerging creative processes of urban morphogenesis because they only study semi–linear urban structure, and are unable to analyse the so-called “biological” development of organic urban forms. Thus, investigation into more intelligent, scientific approaches for filling historic urban gaps is becoming an urgent need. To understand this new approach and to create a new epistemological framework for urban morphology, this research uses evolutionary techniques in order to have a set of rules for creating different genotypes of architecture and urban forms. By using computational processes, these are developed as output 3D models of urban processes, more suitable for complex adaptive systems, such as historical contexts. The focus of this research is on developing evolutionary design guidelines for filling urban gaps in both
55 — Fractal Socio-Morphological Evolutionary Technique for Filling Urban Gaps in 3-D Models
historic and modern environments with adaptive multi-fractal forms, in addressing the social and morphological design challenges, and rebalancing the urban connectivity and complexity values with self-organizing change, depending on the feedback. The research concept relies on coupling fractal analytical techniques with spatial modeling technologies, then considering the role of self-similarity and social interactions factors as agents for the optimisation process. The research develops and applies analysing tools of lacunarity and locally-connected fractal dimensions, incorporated with a bio-inspired design tool to create multi-fractal geometries for evolving two pilot case scenarios. The research then draws a comparison between two different pilot cases: the historical centre of Aleppo and the modern centre of Cosenza. Deriving the most important evolutionary design guidelines that can face multiple design challenges entails: A) definition and optimisation of building genotypes and phenotypes, B) a fill-in-thegaps approach and parameters in the historical and modern contexts, and C) urban generation techniques in spatial and complexity systems.
This research aims to: • use a series of tools, in particular, fractal and lacunarity analyses for case studies of various host environments; •
threshold the urban connection, hierarchy, and coherence by multivariate linear discriminate function analysis based on locally-connected fractal dimensions and lacunarity parameters. These invaluable local dimension analyses form the core for estimating localised morphologic changes of different urban levels;
•
create genotype models of urban development in order to generate computational 3-D cities by using evolutionary techniques that use the thresholding level of the complexity and connectivity measures as a fitness function.
•
Finally, the research utilises the results to propose evolutionary design guidelines for filling in the urban gaps in Aleppo and Cosenza. These guidelines assist in transforming the theory of geometrical emergence and urban morphogenesis as computational
56 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
processes into a practical emergent urbanism. They thereby bring new life into the evolutionary design, making it a powerful player in transforming and shaping historical and modern urban environments. ●
Fig. 32: Proposing Evolutionary Design Guidelines, Source: B. Swaid (n.d.)
57 — Fractal Socio-Morphological Evolutionary Technique for Filling Urban Gaps in 3-D Models
Fig. 33: Historical Context of Aleppo - Pareto Non Dominated Set, Source: Swaid, 2016
58 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
GIS Based Framework for Site Selection and Recycling for Reconstruction - Aleppo* Nour Madi
* This text is an abstract from the author’s workshop presentation
The aim of this research project is to develop a GIS-based framework to optimize the site selection process for the construction of recycling facilities in Syria, considering the war demolition as well as the steady-state construction and demolition waste (CDW) resulting from the major governances. Naturally, these facilities will receive loads of mixed CDW which will be followed by the sorting of cementitious elements, steel members, and other objects such as glass, wood, and aluminum. The sorted concrete is broken into smaller pieces, crushed and sieved to serve as recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) in the facilities which also function as batch plants, thus reducing the amount of natural aggregate extracted from quarries. This methodology proposes an innovative approach to quantifying the CDW from generation to final disposal. Using sequential and spatial dimensions in GIS, a strategy for CDW management is formulated and applied to the case of Syria. The outcome of this GIS model is to present the decision maker with different scenarios for the construction of recycling
facilities to process all the rubble accumulated in Syria. The design of the recycling facilities in terms of size, capacity, and long-term recycled materials production rate is important in order to determine the number of facilities needed. ●
59 — GIS based framework for site selection and recycling for reconstruction - Aleppo
Fig. 34: Proposed Flow Chart, Source: Presentation by Madi 2016
Fig. 35: Damage Points (2015), Source: Presentation Madi 2016
60 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
The Role of Housing in Economic Development in Post-Conflict Countries - Beirut, Sarajevo and Reflection on the Syrian Context (Aleppo)* Zouka Karazon
Extract from the workshop’s presentation: [...] • 35 countries have entered a post-conflict phase. • Before, housing improvement was a byproduct of economic growth • Only since the 1970s has housing investment increasingly been considered a contributor to economic growth • home-building industry was recognized as a major economic activity with large multiplier effects • External social and economic benefits •
•
•
Moving from conflict to peace, housing investment was not viewed as a realistic approach in many cases. Housing and resettlement of the displaced are one of the primary building blocks for both peace and economic recovery. The number of countries that emerged from civil conflict or natural disaster in both de-
•
•
veloping countries and the developed world has significantly increased in recent years. Roughly half of these countries fall back into crises, and among the other half, most end up highly aid dependent (Del Castillo, 2012). The term “reconstruction” in studies refers to a process that includes all necessary efforts in the transition from war to peace. The main pillars of this process are: (Task Framework 2002) • Security • Justice and Reconciliation • Social and Economic issues • Governance and participation • And cross-cutting tasks • Post-conflict reconstruction includes housing rehabilitation and rebuilding The economic impact of reconstruction is pivotal considering that the economics of reconstruction are intermediary between the economics of war (illicit, rent-seeking
61 — The Role of Housing in Economic Development In Post Conflict Countries
•
• • •
•
activities) and economics of development. Post-conflict reconstruction including housing rehabilitation and rebuilding can be divided into four phases as proposed by Scott Leckie, 2005: The first phase is about planning and policy preparation. The second phase is mostly concerned with security. The third phase is the transitional one that tackles the responsibility to set the foundation of the housing policy and programs and ensures that this foundation prevents the reoccurrence of conflict and is proper for sustainable future development. This phase is mostly concerned with stability. The last phase is mostly concerned with sustainability.
•
• •
• This research is interested in the stability phase.
•
Del Castillo argues that post-conflict re-
construction is not “development as usual.” Although developing countries and postconflict countries share similar characteristics and although the same principles may guide the development of both, there is a crucial difference. It is “development plus”. A balance between efforts and resources in responding to the security and economic challenges is a major factor. Moving from economics of war to economics of peace faces many challenges. The real challenge and critical need is to ensure that other critical long term development issues such as education, health, and physical upgrading are integrated as tools and engines for economic development and not only as burdens and objectives on their own. Regeneris Consulting has categorized the role of housing in economic development into three categories: • The role of housing that may have a direct impact on overall national eco-
62 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Fig. 36: Severity of Damage, Source: Presentation Karazon, 2016
•
nomic performance. • The role of housing in regional and local economic development. • The role of housing in terms of its external effects that, in turn, may have economic impacts (either directly or indirectly). Housing in post-conflict countries is casesensitive, therefore, understanding the cycle of housing supply and demand for each case is crucial to maximize economic development outcomes and sustain peace.
As example: • Policies and approach • Accessibility issues • Women • Building materials. • Access to affordable housing
• Remittance, Microfinance, and Others. The ultimate question is not whether housing as such is good in post-conflict settings, but what type of procedures and mechanisms are most needed. • •
•
Housing is a barometer for the state of the economy In post-conflict countries and due to massive destruction in infrastructure and housing units, housing is the first jumpstarter of economic activities and is a catalyst for economic development in the stability phase of moving from war to peace. Housing boom
63 — The Role of Housing in Economic Development In Post Conflict Countries
Fig. 37: Interconnection of Sectors Towards the Economic Role of Housing in Post Conflict Areas, Source: Presentation Karazon, 2016
A. Research Problem
It is very important to understand the characteristics and mechanisms of this period in order to maximize the impacts and guide the advantages of the housing boom to benefit the economic well-being of country inhabitants, enhance resilience, and ensure the non-recurrence of war. A. Objectives
Based on the problem definition, the objectives of this research are: 1. Objective 1: Understand the role of housing in economic development in post-conflict conditions on different levels (national and local), and adopt a new model for the relationship between housing and economics in the post-conflict condition. 2. Objective 2: Define characteristics and mechanisms using two case studies.
3. Objective 3: Reflect on the Syrian case with lessons learnt and recommendations.
B. Research Question:
1. Question 1: What are the economic challenges and opportunities for the housing sector in the stability phase of post-conflict countries? More specifically: b2. How can the pressures for rapid investments in the sector to meet the demand of resettlement be used as engines for economic development that would ensure the sustainability of the process and not just take over the temporary boom for the sake of satisfying post-conflict profiteering? [...] â—?
64 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
From an Analysis to Strategies to Rebuild and Preserve the Historical Identity of Aleppo Claudia Lella, Claudia Tinti, Luca Renna (Politecnico di Bari)
* This text is an abstract from the authors’ workshop presentation
Due to the impossibility of knowing when the war will end and the condition of the city at the end of the war, work has been directed to give a method of reconstruction instead of a fixed solution. Representative case studies of possible problems have been identified, trying to make an hypothesis on post-conflict scenarios summarizing some ex novo rules to rebuild the urban fabric: Priority has been given to the repopulation of Aleppo by its citizens and to setting up strategies to improve the quality which the urban fabric had before the war, that is, the historical and cultural identity of the city. The analysis carried out between the urban and the housing level showed the need to preserve the characteristics that enabled Aleppo to be listed as a World Heritage Site. That means keeping the courtyard house features and the traditional urban structure. Analysis of the building conditions in 2014 (Fig. 38-43), whose reference sources are the UNESCO data and satellite photographs, shows that the most serious damage concerns the buildings along the streets, instead of within the blocks. In particular, the multi-story buildings, along
As’sijn, Abdel Mounen Ryad, Souq Al-Khabie, Bab An’nasr, Al Jamaa Al Umawi, Hawl Al Qalaa, Noureddin Zinki suffered more damage. From these analyses four different case studies have been identified (Fig.43, ff.). The first refers to an ancient courtyard house (cadastral number 3578), which was documented before 2012. For this reason, its reconstruction does not interest our study. The case number 2 refers to an undocumented building plot. The case number 3 is that of an empty public site of which we made a hypothetical reconstruction of the building fabric. In order to respond to cases 2 and 3, studies on traditional houses have been done, highlighting strengths and weaknesses (Fig. 44), as well as a summary table of the typical behaviors of the courtyard house in Aleppo (following the analysis of the courtyard houses of Bab-Quinnesrin, Banqusa, Bayyada, Jdeide), arranged according to the parcel size, orientation, construction steps, and specialization of the rooms (see page 34). From these analyses, reconstruction hypothesis have been developed and classified in two categories, according to the parcel size and the orientation of the rooms (see page 34). Each table
65 — Housing Typologies in Farafra Case
Expert and Researchers' Workshop
Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo"
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo"
Focus on Al-Farafra
Focus on Al-Farafra
BUILDING CONDITIONS
BUILDING CONDITIONS
Destroyed Destroyed
Seriously damaged
Seriously damaged
Partially damaged
Partially damaged
Moderately damaged
Moderately damaged
Potentially damaged
Potentially damaged
Advisor: G. A. Neglia Advisor: G. A. Neglia
Students: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
Students: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti N N
0
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500
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DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS: DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
History of Islamic Architecture
Date: 2014 - 2016
Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Syrian Arab Republic City of Aleppo - Arab fund for Economic and Social Development
Syrian Arab Republic City of Aleppo - Arab fund for Economic and Social Development
Project for the Rehabilitation of Old Aleppo
Project for the Rehabilitation of Old Aleppo
Date: May/2001
Sheet NO: 17, 18, 19, 20
Date: May/2001
Sheet NO: 17, 18, 19, 20
Condition of the Urban Fabric and the Patrimony of Aleppo
Condition of the Urban Fabric and the Patrimony of Aleppo
Expert and Researchers' Workshop
Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo"
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo"
Focus on Al-Farafra
Focus on Al-Farafra
BUILDING CONDITIONS
BUILDING CONDITIONS
Destroyed
Destroyed
Seriously damaged
Seriously damaged
Partially damaged
Partially damaged
Moderately damaged
Moderately damaged
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Potentially damaged
Advisor: G. A. Neglia
Advisor: G. A. Neglia
Students: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
Students: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
N
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History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese,
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese,
C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Syrian Arab Republic City of Aleppo - Arab fund for Economic and Social Development
Syrian Arab Republic City of Aleppo - Arab fund for Economic and Social Development
Project for the Rehabilitation of Old Aleppo
Project for the Rehabilitation of Old Aleppo
Date: May/2001
Sheet NO: 17, 18, 19, 20
Date: May/2001
Sheet NO: 17, 18, 19, 20
Condition of the Urban Fabric and the Patrimony of Aleppo
Condition of the Urban Fabric and the Patrimony of Aleppo
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CASE STUDIES
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DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
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Project for the Rehabilitation of Old Aleppo Date: May/2001
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Syrian Arab Republic City of Aleppo - Arab fund for Economic and Social Development
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History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese,
Al Jamaa Al Umawi Street
Students: N. Bergam C. Lella, L.
Condition of the Urban Fabric and the Patrimony of Aleppo
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DATA SOURCES AND
Fig. 38-43: Analysis of the Building Conditions in 2014, Source: Lella, Tinti, Renna 2016
Professor: Giulia A
Map source: A. Ric
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68 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Fig. 47: Analysis of Housing Stock in Bayyada, Source: slide 6 of presentation by working group Politecnico di Bari 2016
AL-BANDARA and AL-FARAFRA
The study is on the spatial evolution of Al Bandara and Al Farafra neighborhoods within the context of the city of Aleppo. By analyzing its urban structure in a span time from 1932 to 2011, it is possible to notice changes along the district perimeter: turned from a dense grid of courtyard buildings without green and open spaces into a more regular border, defined by larger roadways. Studying the sources, it came out that the greater part of the inner area of the neighborhood was used as residential. Public functions, mixed use, commercial, industrial and religious buildings are mainly set along the perimeters of the neighborhood. Private, public, and Waqf ownership reflect functions distribution. Historic buildings represent the soul of the past that persists in spite of this evolution and the damage that has affected the urban fabric
of the city of Aleppo in the last ten years. Drawing up a list of the damage with reference to the UNESCO source: Condition of the Urban Fabric and the Patrimony of Aleppo of 2014, we note that the outer edges were partially damaged in the east and badly damaged in the north, south, and west, and at other nodal points along the hinges, paths are destroyed and occupied. The neighborhood has a direct connection with the historic city center and the commercial part represented by the Souq that defines an important role in it. It is a known fact that the district operates multifunctional activities: it has different elements, such as ownership, socio-economic networks, cultural and mixed use spaces. In the future perspective, we will try to keep these values, keeping the mixed use, create coordinating reconstruction utilities, and agree on buildings regulations and guidelines, respecting the original urban fabric. ●
69 — Housing Typologies in Farafra Case
Fig. 48: Analysis of Housing Stock in Bayyada, Source: slide 6 of presentation by working group Politecnico di Bari 2016
04 — Working Groups
72 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
All Working Groups Guiding Questions on How to Look into Possible Solutions and Scenarios
Before the start of each working group, an overall vision was shared: “Future rehabilitation of habitability in the Old City of Aleppo ensures that the heritage site will become inhabited again, socially inclusive, and economically viable and, at the same time, respects the historic layers” Against this background the working groups were invited to look at different aspects at the level of the house unit, the neighbourhood and the level of the whole old city taking into consideration: 1.
Past realities in terms of the built environment and cohabitation
2.
Current situation in the areas (as far as data /information is available)
3.
Possible current and future scenarios for intervention on each scale
General guiding questions were formulated for all levels (selection): • What can be discussed at this point in time on this scale? What preparations are feasible now to prepare for a zero hour (strategic scenarios)? • In what sectors/fields can our professional knowledge and expertise contribute? • Where does our expertise need to intersect and how can we play a role? • What is feasible considering the given insecure situation • What knowledge/data is available? • What knowledge/data is needed? • What capacities need to be built and for whom? • What actors are involved and which actors are needed ? ●
73 — All Working Groups - Guiding Questions
The following tools were used to visualize working group outcomes: 1) Tools of strategic planning and scenario dedevelopment were: SWOT: Strengths and Opportunities on each scale to ensure the overall goal? Weaknesses that need to be tackled (includ(including gaps of knowledge). Threats that need to be considered - what are preventive or coping measures? Actors’ analysis: What is the needed constellation of stakeholdstakeholders for which measures? Timeline: What are possible milestones? What scenarios are possible? and or Impact chain: What measures, capacities, expertise, knowlknowledge, and actors are needed in what sequence to reach the overall objective?
2) 2) Idea-based outputs were: Sketches and Plans on different scales and themes Texts
74 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Working Group 03 City Level
Since late summer 2012, urban Aleppo has been a location for armed conflict. The first areas to be strongly affected were in the eastern parts of Aleppo’s inhabited urban areas. During the past weeks and months, western Aleppo has become subject to shelling and bombing as well. Throughout the past five years, the battle line has been drawn right through the historic core and has changed dynamically within Old City boundaries. This puts a world heritage site immediately in the center of a conflict and continuous destruction and dramatic transformation in all concerns. Hence, the first working group discussed the situation and optional entry points of strategic actions on the city level. This level helps to look into the Old City of Aleppo, including its multitude of functions,
zones, infrastructures, etc. It provides a scale for discussions on a larger strategic level with a broadened set of actors, particularly looking at the role of the old city as a whole within the urban fabric of Aleppo’s municipal boundaries. On that scale, the current ww conflict lines become apparent. Any decision or discussion on this level can reflect down to the lower scales. During the past decades, the Old City has been subject to action planning and overall conservation planning including strategic zones. Local municipal entities as well as international agencies such as the AKDN, GIZ, etc. have actively joined the rehabilitation process.
75 — Working Group 01: City Level - Description and Guiding Questions
Guiding Questions on the City Level
•
The following questions for this group were a suggestion to steer a structured and focused workshop discussion and elaboration of outputs. The working groups were welcome to add, adjust, and prioritize.
•
Initially helpful guiding questions for that scale were: • What is the role of the old city in the overall urban context • What is the definition of the Old City’s value for the overall urban context. • How should one define and redefine access points and buffer zones between the historic city and the overall city? • What are past/current (management/ administrative) mechanisms? What is transferable in the future? • Are protected zones needed? • Are areas with special emphasis needed? • Who was, is, and needs to be involved in providing an inclusive development of the historic city with the overall city?
What are overall economic considerations for the Old City in relation to the city? What happens in the buffer zones?
Specific questions raised by participants prior to the workshop: • How will the inter-city and intra-city infrastructure be addressed? Will a sustainable approach to transportation be adopted in the new plan? • What is the planned strategy and predicted time frame for the reconstruction of Aleppo and the other cities? • What does it mean to re-build a city in the 21st century with more than 4000 years of history? • What were the pre-war problems of the city that led to its “deformation” and “deterioration” even before the conflict started and how should these problems be dealt with in the post-conflict phase? • What are the best strategies, processes, and tools to sustain the participation of all? ●
76 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Workshop Study areas: Farafra/Bandara; Qasilah, reference case Bayyada - Aleppo, Syria
DESTRUCTION AND DAMAGE
(Source: UNITAR UNOSAT)
© Expert and Researchers’ Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” 16.06. – 19.06.2016 at University of Stuttgart, Institute of Urban Planning and Design, Department of International Urbanism and IUSD Lab Stuttgart
This data is for internal workshop purposes only
17 —
MSc Integrated Urbanism & Sustainable Design (IUSD)
Fig. 49: Destruction and Damage Map, Source: UNOSAT 2015 www.iusd-program.net
Workshop Study areas: Farafra/Bandara; Qasilah, reference case Bayyada - Aleppo, Syria (Source: UNITAR UNOSAT)
Analysis with Pleiades Data Acquired 01 May 2015, 26 April 2015 and WorldView-2 Data Acquired 23 May 2014, 23 September 2013, and 21 November 2010 37°2'30"E
32.99
Ibn Yaqoub
28.65
Souq Al Hal
26.42
Al `Urqub
26.26
National Hospital
25.81
Handarat
25.32
37°12'30"E
23.00 22.17
Almaji
20.44
Al Jalloum
19.82
Agyul
18.62
Al Hazzazeh
18.44
As-Sukkari
18.21
Hamidiyeh
16.67
Beit Muhib / al Jdeydeh
16.37
Bab Alfaraj
15.67
Hanano
15.52
Tal Az-Zarazi (Al-Ameria)
15.45
al Mishatiyah
15.29
Bab Antakia Park
15.05
" !
Version 1.0 Activation Number: CE20130604SYR
TURKEY
37°15'0"E
Aleppo
F
Map Location
SYRIA
Handarat
IRAQ
Beirut Damascus
¬ ¦ ¥
Baghdad
¬ ¦ ¥
¬ ¦ ¥
¬ ¦ ¬¥ ¦ ¥
LEGEND
24.56
Qastal Mosht Al Myassar Jazmati
Production Date: 18/02/2016
Complex Emergency
Highway / Primary Road
36°15'0"N
36.82
Karam al-Jabal
Secondary Road > 40 % 30-39 % 20-29 % 10-19 %
Hanano
1-9 % 0%
! I
Hamidiyeh Al `Urqub
Al Hazzazeh
36°12'30"N
36°15'0"N
37°10'0"E
Percentage of Damage 42.53
Farafira
Al Aajam
37°7'30"E
DESTRUCTION AND DAMAGE pre-conflict satellite image collected in 2009 to determine the percentage of damaged buildings across the city. Based on this analysis, in 12 neighborhoods the number of damaged buildings is more than 20%, and the neighborhood with the most damage is al Aqabeh, with 42,53% of buildings damaged. This is a preliminary analysis and has not yet been validated in the field. Please send ground feedback to UNITAR - UNOSAT.
Karam al-Jabal
Almaji
Beit Muhib / Al Jdeydeh
Agyul
Bab Alfaraj
Bab Antakia Park
Al Mishatiyah Ibn Yaqoub
Al Aqabeh Souq Al Hal
36°12'30"N
Neighbourhood Al Aqabeh
37°5'0"E
This map illustrates the percentages of buildings damaged in the city of Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic, as determined by satellite imagery analysis. Using satellite imagery acquired 01 May 2015, 26 April 2015, 23 May 2014, 23 September 2013, and 21 November 2010, UNITAR - UNOSAT identified a total of 12,065 damaged structures within the extent of this map. These damaged structures are compared with total numbers of buildings found in a
Al Jalloum
Farafira
Qastal Mosht National Hospital
Al Aajam
Al Myassar Jazmati
Map Scale for A3: 1:60,000 0
500
1,000
Meters
2,000
Satellite Data (1): Pleiades Imagery Dates: 01 May 2015 & 26 April 2015 Resolution: 50 cm Copyright: © CNES (2015), Distribution AIRBUS DS Source: Airbus Defense and Space Satellite Data (2): WorldView-2 Imagery Date: 23 May 2014, 23 September 2013 & 21 November 2010 Resolution: 50 cm Copyright: DigitalGlobe Source: European Space Imaging Road Data : Open Street Map Pre-Conflict Buildings: EastView Geospatial Other Data: USGS, UNCS, NASA, NGA Analysis : UNITAR / UNOSAT Production: UNITAR / UNOSAT Analysis conducted with ArcGIS v10.3 Coordinate System: WGS 1984 UTM Zone 37N Projection: Transverse Mercator Datum: WGS 1984 Units: Meter
As-Sukkari
36°10'0"N
36°10'0"N
Tal Az-Zarazi (Al-Ameria)
37°2'30"E
37°5'0"E
37°7'30"E
37°10'0"E
© Expert and Researchers’ Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” 16.06. – 19.06.2016 at University of Stuttgart, Institute of Urban Planning and Design, Department of International Urbanism and IUSD Lab Stuttgart
37°12'30"E
37°15'0"E
The depiction and use of boundaries, geographic names and related data shown here are not warranted to be error-free nor do they imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. UNOSAT is a program of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), providing satellite imagery and related geographic information, research and analysis to UN humanitarian and development agencies and their implementing partners. This work by UNITAR/UNOSAT is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercialShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
Co n t act I n f or m at i o n : u n o sat @u n i t ar. o r g 24/ 7 H o t li n e: + 41 76 487 49 98 ww w. u ni t ar.o r g /u n o sat
This data is for internal workshop purposes only MSc Integrated Urbanism & Sustainable Design (IUSD) www.iusd-program.net
Fig. 50: Destruction and Damage Map, Source: UNOSAT 2015
18 —
77 — City Level - Guiding Questions
Workshop Study areas: Farafra/Bandara - Aleppo, Syria
ACTION AREAS
(Source: GIZ and DOC)
Fig. 51: Action Areas, Source: GIZ/DOC 2006 © Expert and Researchers’ Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” 16.06. – 19.06.2016 at University of Stuttgart, Institute of Urban Planning and Design, Department of International Urbanism and IUSD Lab Stuttgart
This data is for internal workshop purposes only MSc Integrated Urbanism & Sustainable Design (IUSD) www.iusd-program.net
Fig. 52: Old Aleppo in the center of an armed conflict, Source: Wikipedia mapping 2014
25 —
78 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Work Results and Findings on the City Level Documentation by IUSD students* in the working group
Working group participants:
4.2 Introduction
*Bassel Alhaffar
The citly level working group worked in sever-
*Rowa Elzain
al sub groups, ranging from an urban vision to
Dr. Anette Gangler
feasibility analyses on site.
Nour Madi Maram Shaban
4.2.1 The City of Aleppo, 2050
Robert Templer
In order to anticipate a future plan for urban
Lena Wimmer
development of the city of Aleppo, we dis-
Myriam Zaloum
cussed various challenges that the city cur-
Zeido Zeido
rently faces with a focus on non-war related issues which have developed throughout the cities development period. In addition, the un-
During the workshop’s final session, its mem-
derstanding of the fact that this city has faced
bers presented the working groups’ summa-
many prior war-related challenges and mana-
rized and visualized results as documented in
ged to overcome them in the past.
the following chapter.
The team analyzed the current situation with a predication to which aspects would serve as a threat or potential in the future of the city. As a result, a list of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats were outlined.
79 — Work Results and Findings on City Level
SWOT: defining the potentials and their chal-
turning to their homeland in the near or
lenges
distant future, water and energy shorta-
As part of the analysis, we looked at the short
ges, the current climatic conditions of the
and long-term risks that the city will face in
country are arid and dry and it will only
terms of economy, environment, and social as-
continue getting even more arid as gas
pects. Looking at the short term risk with the
supply declines, generational education
current conditions that the city is facing and
collapse, the loss of an interior generation
might continue to face for the coming years,
and the lack of people who will be quali-
the resumption of conflict and terrorism is the main and visible risk that the city is current-
fied to teach for the next generation. •
For example, we can look at what has hap-
ly encountering. In addition, it faces a lack of
pened to Afghanistan because of their civil
investment and governance failure as a result
war. Another long-term risk is the influ-
of coherence in planning. Overlooking these short-term risks and looking at what the city
ence of money from the Gulf states. •
Whether it is Saudi Arabia or Qatar, brin-
will have to overcome in the future, we listed
ging their religious modules and back-
the long-term risks which the city might have
ground money into the city might create
to deal with in the future as the following: •
climate change, as a natural phenomenon
tension and •
affecting the globe, insurgency, in search for good governance, population decline, as inhabitants leaving the city are not re-
promote modules that are unsustainable for the country of Syria.
•
Another long-term risk is loss of diversity. As the youth and families are fleeing the
80 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Fig. 53: Greater Aleppo 2050, Source: Working Group 2016
Fig. 54: Authenticity of the City, Source: Working Group 2016
country, the difference in age groups that remain in the city will soon be narrowed
main agenda of the country’s government. •
down to elderly and young adults, thus
conditions for the population in terms of
lack of diversity in age groups, but also
opportunities and facilities.
in social backgrounds, will be the visible
•
phenomenon. •
As a result, the city will offer better living
Pressure of rural migration is also a long-
functioning of the city, as the city requires •
term risk. With the current conditions of
people living together in peace and tolerance; hence, this might diminish as pro-
the overall country situation, more pressure in developing the cities will be on the
Rising social intolerance threatens the
blems arise for the various social classes. •
Tourism related to the historic city is a
81 — Work Results and Findings on City Level
•
long-term risk. As long as the ruins of the
it created throughout the past, as it holds the
historic city remain, pressure on tourism
largest historic and traditionally exhibited
will rise similar to the case of Venice, whe-
Arab city. In addition, education facilities and
re they had to limit the number of people
universities serve the education sector with
that visit in order to preserve whatever is
great-embedded knowledge and collections of
left of the city.
documentations.
Traffic remains a long-term risk. With the
Furthermore, the city was a trade center as
current infrastructure of the city, manage-
seen in its history connecting the hinterlands
ment of the infrastructure will be a great
but also having an agricultural industry that
challenge.
served the food culture within the city and outwards. Other small-scale industries also fill
Vision: Greater Aleppo 2050
the city such as bakeries, metal smiths, carpen-
As a result of the analysis discussed, we deve-
ters, and many other kinds of artisanal crafts-
loped a vision for the development plan pro-
manship and production.
posal called “A Sustainable Aleppo, Aleppo
Additional future potential assets include:
for Aleppines” which is a vision for the city in
•
human scale authenticity for the future
2050. The aspects covered in the proposal are
of the Old City, inclusiveness of the soci-
oriented towards four themes: authenticity,
al communities and social connections,
future environmental development
Aleppo’s identity and uniqueness, intan-
for greater Aleppo in terms of infrastructure,
gible archaeology and culture heritage,
energy, and mobility, and from the perspecti-
•
spatial connection through urban struc-
ves and concepts before the war such as wind,
ture, tourist attraction & branding, rene-
water, waste, renewable energy resources. In
wal of the urban fabric, improvement of
addition, rehabilitation must be done in terms
residential areas & housing situation.
of zoning and resettlement patterns of mo-
•
vement for settling. Finally, new uses of old and damaged spaces in the old city should be
found that it is too dense in the old city. •
found, looking at public spaces, amenities, facilities, and infrastructure.
As a result of a critical discussion, we Future assets also included are: mobility enhancement of the infrastructure in
•
terms of public transportation similar to
For these themes we looked at potentials for
the traditional system, current and fu-
Aleppo that should be considered for at least
ture urban open spaces, and public, semi-
one of these themes. The potentials that could
public, and private recycling construction
be thought of as additives from past conditions
material from the rubble that is available
are the history and the tourism attraction that
on the site.
82 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
through the morphology of the city from the 4.2.2 Authenticity of the Old City
compact root and building arrangements to the
The United Nations Educational, Scientific
typologies looking at the courtyards and room
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has in-
configurations. Hence, the proposal should not
cluded authenticity and integrity as part of its
imitate the previous morphologies and typo-
agreement in the ‘World Heritage Convention’
logies; however, it should consider and respect
(Alberts and Hazen, 2010). The role of main-
the context limitations and authenticity.
taining authenticity in the Old City of Aleppo
Therefore, after evaluation of the damage done
is therefore highly relevant as it is also about
by the current war on the city physical structu-
preserving and presenting the identity and
res and spaces, we looked at zoning laws that
history of the city. During the formulation of
consider authenticity of the city of Aleppo for
our development plan for the city, we conside-
the reconstruction of the city, which consisted
red strategies for maintaining the authenticity
of:
through understanding initially what makes the city unique followed by recommendations
Building Heights
for maintaining it.
The traditional residential building consists of a two/three level floor; therefore, for future
In order to develop zoning laws focusing on the
residential expansion and requirements, the-
authenticity of the old city of Aleppo, under-
se heights and levels of floors should be con-
standing how to build considering authenticity
sidered in order to maintain coherence in the
should be defined. The concept of authenticity
building typologies and preserving the const-
is not a static figure or monument, it cannot be
ruction tradition.
defined solely with a building or an open space; instead, it is the
Streets
continuous process of shaping the city in terms
As pedestrian or mobility paths are shaped
of its urban tradition. Thus, in the setting of
and confined by the buildings surrounding
a development and management scheme for
them, in addition, the formation of these
such topics, a series of negotiations and dis-
paths in the Old City was a result of pre-
cussion should take place in identifying what
conditions that were considered such as
is authentic and what the steps are for imple-
requirements for shade and ventilation. The
mentation in terms of activities and actions.
preservation of a narrow pedestrian street in the Old City must be considered in the overall
Taking the case of the eastern part of the city
planning, as it exhibits a thinking process for
of Aleppo, we can identify general aspects
urban planning.
83 — Work Results and Findings on City Level
At the heart of the matrix and exactly midway
residents. It is very difficult to tackle this issue
between the city and the house levels lie the so-
as the future residents are unknown, whether
cio-economic issues. This is especially crucial
original residents will return or other residents
for the Farafra and Bandara districts because
will inhabit the place.
of their proximity to the Souq. There is also the mixed-use value of the area that keeps the dis-
4.2.3 Environmental Development: Mo-
trict vibrant and self-sufficient. This needs to
bility and Renewable Resources
be largely considered and kept especially due
In the process of investigating values that need
to the effects of these socio-economic issues on
to be preserved on the neighborhood level,
the social relations among the inhabitants of
participants showed the urge to explore the
the districts. Keeping the mix of socio-econo-
importance of cultural value. This cultural
mic aspects also affects the land value of the
value needs to be preserved and emphasized
districts.
during the post-war reconstruction phase and through its plans.
Sense of Ownership Probably the most ambiguous issue due to the
In order to do that, a team from the neighbor-
conflict period which will probably continue to
hood level dedicated their efforts to exploring
the post-conflict period is the ownership issue.
the definition of “cultural value� and exploring
Shifting ownership and a change in the demo-
the specific aspects and elements which con-
graphics of the area will affect all the previous-
stitute this cultural value. A matrix was de-
ly mentioned points. Physical ownership and a
veloped to gather and brainstorm about the
preserved or lost cultural value of the district
different elements that contribute to or hold
will determine the sense of ownership of the
cultural value.
84 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Aleppo. The cultural value of this proximity comes from the relation between this neighborhood and the Souq (market),as it provides it with the essential goods and supplies, especially for the traditional crafts. Another variable is the walking distance to the city center. This proximity to the city center contributes another cultural value aspect, the touristic value. Cultural, Historic, and Religious Values The cultural value of the neighborhood relies very heavily on the religious and historic value of the area of the neighborhood and its surrounding. The area includes a number of significant buildings of historic and religious values currently threatened because of the conflict and which will probably remain so during the post-conflict period. These religious buildings include a number Waqf buildings and buildings belonging to the Jewish community. Fig. 55: Environmental Development, Source: Working Group 2016
Historic Layers and Architectural Value
The matrix spreads in two directions. On the
These historical buildings present a number of
vertical axis, the matrix involves cultural valu-
historic layers that make up the city. The his-
es that spread from the city level to the house
toric buildings also hold significant architec-
level. On the x-axis, the matrix involves ele-
tural value due to the special typologies and
ments of cultural value that concern the gene-
the architectural styles. These architectures
ral public as well as more personal/ individual
trigger the discussion about how these typolo-
cultural values.
gies and styles shall be preserved. It has been considered granting the monuments that have
Location Within the Old City of Aleppo
religious importance the privilege of having
At the top of the matrix lies the location of the
secured ownership as well as allowing them to
neighborhood in proximity to the Old City of
be main attractors for donor funds during the
85 — Work Results and Findings on City Level
post-conflict period. Although rebuilding the
inhabitants of the districts. Keeping the mix of
important monuments is a great contribution
socio-economic aspects also affects the land
to preserving the cultural value in the neigh-
value of the districts.
borhood, this should also be considered in the guidelines and regulations of rebuilding resi-
Sense of Ownership
dential buildings as well.
Probably the most ambiguous issue due to the
While maintaining the architectural style is
conflict period which will probably continue to
very important, but challenging, preserving
the post-conflict period is the ownership issue.
the urban layout is the aspect that will keep the
Shifting ownership and a change in the demo-
original fabric and identity of the area. Kee-
graphics of the area will affect all the previous-
ping the reconstruction along the original ur-
ly mentioned points. Physical ownership and a
ban layout will save the original urban fabric as
preserved or lost cultural value of the district
well as the internal logic of the neighborhood.
will determine the sense of ownership of the
This shall not be done in disconnection with
residents. It is very difficult to tackle this issue
critically rethinking layers of planning practi-
as the future residents are unknown, whether
ces that have affected the neighborhood. One
original residents will return or other residents
of the major threats facing the preservation of
will inhabit the place.
the internal logic of the quarter is the current territorial front lines that are separating the
4.2.4 Zoning and Resettlements of Gre-
neighborhood from its surroundings. These
ater Aleppo
territories are expected to still exist during the
One of the urgent matters facing Aleppo’s post-
post-conflict period.
war reconstruction process is the settlement of people during the recovery era and after. This
Socio-economic Values
is due to the large numbers of nearby refugees
At the heart of the matrix and exactly midway
living in the camps at the Turkish borders as
between the city and the house level lie the so-
well as internally displaced people in other Sy-
cio-economic issues. This is especially crucial
rian cities.
for the Farafra and Bandara districts because
Aleppo is a diverse city of residents with diffe-
of their proximity to the Souq. There is also the
rent social, ethnic, and economic backgrounds,
mixed-use value of the area that keeps the dis-
who have fled the city or are still currently li-
trict vibrant and self-sufficient.
ving in it. However, a survey conducted by the
This needs to be largely considered and kept
Aleppo project initiative showed that 72% of
especially due to the effects of these socio-eco-
the participants are willing to return after the
nomic issues on the social relations among the
war ends; these will be in great need of basic
86 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Fig. 56: Urban Development Greater Aleppo, Source: Working Group 2016
life needs such as food, shelter, and basic in-
People who left the city fled to different desti-
frastructure.
nations according to financial & social background, which results in the following scena-
Location of the Study
rios:
The scenario shall cover the entire region of Aleppo including the old and new parts with
I.
City Inhabitants
future consideration within a 25-year post-war
a.
Old Extended Families
period. The idea is to start the discussion about
b.
Newcomers (>50 Years)
huge amount of people coming in after the war
II.
Internally Displaced People
ends.
a.
Same City
Policy & Scenarios of Return
b.
Rural Area Cities
Resettlement policies vary according to post-
c.
Other Cities
it, and what is needed to accommodate people
III.
Refugees
again. There are many scenarios for resettle-
a.
Neighboring Countries
ment schemes based on the place of arrival,
b.
EU + Others
the potential the city has to accommodate the
war situation, the amount of damage following
previous residence, temporary residence, and future accommodation.
87 — Work Results and Findings on City Level
2.
Zone B: This zone is a place of controversy as some scholars think it should be included with the Old City on the world heritage sites. However, it’s a mid-historic place to the west of the Old City which has mixused area with a park.
3.
Zone C: The new development in the far west of the city is characterized as the new Aleppo with more open spaces, private housing, university, and large streets. This zone is mainly for high income people who left the Old City due to low maintenance, increase of informalities, and the attraction of lower-class people.
4.
Zone D: This includes informal settlements in the east and north of the city inhabited by middle- and low-income people and suffers from bad infrastructure
5.
Zone E: Predicted to be in the far north, northeast, and southwest of the city, which will be the expansion of the city in long-term planning. This area will be an attraction for new developers.
Fig. 57: Estimated Degree of Damage, Source: Working Group 2016
Resettlement Schemes
City Zones
The resettlement scheme of each category
A zoning proposal for the city could be made
can be reconsidered according to the diffe-
according to damage assessment and histori-
rent parameters of each zone. Some of these
cal value, which could give us a rough division
parameters could be density, heritage values,
as follows:
structure quality, socio-economic, emotional
1.
Zone A: This zone includes the bounda-
attachment, infrastructure, etc.
ries of the Old City of Aleppo defined by
A matrix of the previous zones with the listed
UNESCO, which is one of the most dama-
parameters could help in the initial steps of
ged zones during the current events.
identifying which zone to reconstruct first.
88 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Fig. 58: War Related Damages and New Uses, Source: Working Group 2016
Recommendations: 1.
Organize the density of the city in a balanced way.
2.
3. 4.
5.
Internal relocation of public city services & institutions.
6.
A proper assessment shall be conducted
Identify levels of interventions conside-
as soon as the situation allows experts to
ring levels of destruction and urban values
professionally check property status and
through participation.
report a proper evaluation to know how
Participatory resettlement schemes accor-
we can benefit the most from each pro-
ding to urban development regulations.
perty.
Bridging between East & West division by developing the eastern part.
89 — Work Results and Findings on City Level
4.2.5 Potential of Destruction; Reuse of
Post-War Scenarios
New Open Spaces
The working group considered using what the
The Old City of Aleppo is a compact city; the
war has produced as a potential to work on and
density in the Old City is very high as well as
set up different scenarios for what might be ac-
the flow of people inside. This may lead to
cording to different zones in the Old City:
some socio-economic problems due to the lack of social spaces for gathering and entertain-
1.
0% Remaining Constructions: In this case,
ment. During the war, many public and pri-
if the property cannot be restored by any
vate properties were severely damaged due to
means, the working group suggests using
air strikes and as the aerial images show, some
this plot as an open space for public use if
open gaps have been formed in the city that
the property is owned by the government.
could be transformed later into public/ private
Otherwise, proper mapping for the ow-
open spaces.
ners and consultation for the reuse should be made available.
SWOT Analysis
2.
25% of the property excited: For this case,
The working group identified some of these ur-
The working group suggests looking for
ban gaps and form criteria for post-war usage
the historical value and emotional attach-
of these spaces, which could vary depending
ment and deciding accordingly whether to
on public or private ownership, condition of
remove it and reuse the space or to keep
the property, heritage value, and restoration
it and rehabilitate it for any type of pro-
applicability. For that a SWOT analysis identified the needs
perty. 3.
50% of the property excited: The group
and potential of the city previously and cur-
highly recommend rehabilitating the pro-
rently:
perty and making the best reuse possible
Strengths: Historic Public Spaces, Social
to avoid wasting resources for any type of
Structure, Traditional Open Spaces, Commer-
properties.
cial Uses, etc.
4.
75% of the property excited: In this case,
Potentials: House courtyards, Future ventila-
rehabilitation for the damaged parts of
tion corridors
the property must be conducted after a
Weaknesses: High density, no open spaces and
proper evaluation of the static and struc-
lack of coherence between East & West.
tural condition of the building.
90 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Recommendations 1.
Full documentation of current historical and high emotional attachment properties must be undertaken, as it is a powerful tool to use in the post-war period.
2.
Proper evaluation for each property condition must be done to assess the structural condition of each damaged property. Participatory resettlement schemes according to Urban Development Regulations.
3.
Participatory assessment should be conducted for emotionally attached places to maintain and reuse them.
4.
Reassessment for land use policies should be done to ensure the city has some ventilation corridors for residents and tourists. ●
91 — Work Results and Findings on City Level
92 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Conclusion on the Findings on the City Level IUSD Lab team
The working group focused on possible scena-
plexity that needs to be considered in any fu-
rios for the future of Aleppo (the year 2030)
ture strategic planning. Some few aspects are
anticipating several impacts on the city.
summarized in this conclusive chapter.
Observations by participants also concluded
Hence, visions for the future role of the Old
that strategies on the city level are difficult to
City as a cultural heritage site in the context
set before the scenario is clear. This includes
of Greater Aleppo are needed. A vision called
medium- and long-term perspectives on social
“Aleppo for Aleppines” for sustainable deve-
factors, effective damage, future actors, new
lopment in 2050 has to be developed in terms
urban organization, etc.
of authenticity, environmental aspects, and technical infrastructure (energy / mobility).
All participants agreed that all issues of the Old City cannot be regarded and tackled without
The historic urban fabric is like a built
taking the entirety of the city into considera-
cultural and social archive that consists of
tion. This includes economic, infrastructural,
the different layers from the past while, at the
cultural, and administrative concerns and lin-
same time, historic buildings or quarters are
kages. For instance, organizing the relation-
changing. Physical renewal should be carried
ship between the Old City of Aleppo and the
out with respect for the urban morphology
metropolitan area could be the key to solving
and architectural typology. But the populati-
most of the current and future problems. The
on exchange between residents with different
results of the working group revealed the com-
ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds
93 — Conclusion on Findings on City Level
and the different backgrounds of returnees
cement of public spaces and an adaptive reuse
will cause a big transformation process in the
of vacant buildings are of high priority for the
socio-economic structure in the Old City. The
renewal process. Guidelines have been propo-
main task of reconstruction and renewal is ma-
sed for the reuse of open space and empty or
naging it in a way that retains cultural signifi-
destroyed residential properties. Monitoring
cance rather than reducing it.
this process is essential.
Scenarios and priorities of long-term and
In addition to the discussion described above,
short-term strategies and measures have to be
the following open questions were raised sub-
defined for the resettlement. The impact of the
sequently. These included issues of the appli-
ownership structure has been emphasized, but
cability of the suggestions.
in the framework of the student workshop there are only some proposals for guidelines on
Open questions were:
how to manage empty or destroyed residential
1.
Economic concerns:
plots.
•
Should the main souq of the Old City of Aleppo play a regional role (as in the
The importance of damage assessment has
past)?
been emphasized on the city level as well as the
2.
Strategic role of the OCA in the city:
overlay of different sectoral aspects, such as
•
In which direction could regional rela-
traffic, land, or the definition of protection of
tions and links revive the important role
cultural and archaeological zones. The enhan-
of the Old City as a regional center?
94 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
3.
Development and management concerns:
•
If the self-organizing process is adopted, will the city witness significant shifts in the urban structure?
urban gentrification particularly. •
One of the priorities would be the concentration on the regional role of the Old City and the metropolitan area in particular,
4.
Identity related concerns:
which could be one of the important keys
•
How can the authenticity of Aleppo be
for developing the city in the post-war pe-
preserved while planning for the next ge-
riod. ●
neration, especially if the city will be welcoming tourists? Consequently, recommendations included: Time and type of interventions: •
Start from what has been done before the war and start now.
Economic concerns: •
Developing the local and regional economies of the Old City, on the one hand, and of the metropolitan area, on the other hand, should not lead to neglect in addressing the social challenges and the
95 —
96 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Working Group 02 Neighborhood Level Description
Since the start of the armed conflict inside
Consequently, one of the three working groups
Syria, inhabited urban areas have increas-
focuses on the neighborhood level, which pro-
ingly become the target of shelling, bombing
vides a helpful linkage between the house lev-
and other forms of armed combat (Fig. 59-62).
el and the overall urban level.
This has resulted in the demarcation line of
Zooming into the neighborhood level helped
combat crossing the Old City. Hence, entire
to not only understand its spatial and urban
neighborhoods in the vicinities of the battle
logic, but also its socio-economic, socio-spa-
line, such as Farafra, Bayyada, and others,
tial and local administrational mechanisms.
face destruction and damage as well as exodus of their inhabitants. This has had severe
Data on that scale strongly differed from one
impacts on the particular urban and physical
area to another. Nevertheless, during the past
structure with entire ensembles disappearing
decades, selected action areas and strategic
at once.
zones have been subject to detailed analysis.
Infrastructures have been destroyed, connec-
Therefore, the Farafra and Bandara areas
tions to other parts have been disrupted or
have been selected for focused discussion. ●
entirely cut off. Furthermore, the historically growing social and economic situations of the neighborhoods are now severely challenged.
97 — Working Group 02: Neighborhood Level - Description and Guiding Questions
Fig. 59, 60, 61: Aerial views of Aleppo‘s Farafra and Bandara areas 2015, Image source: Drone images published by AJ news, source unclear, Plan source: DOC 2010
Fig. 62: Aerial views of Aleppo‘s Farafra and Bandara areas 2015, Image source: Drone images published by AJ news, source unclear, Plan source: DOC 2010
98 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Guiding Questions on the Quarter Level The areas Farafra and Bandara were chosen for the working group to illustrate the current and future challenges these areas are facing on the neighborhood level. In order to understand some relevant coping mechanisms on the neighborhood scale, descriptions from the neighboring Bayyada neighborhood will complement this group’s work.* The following questions for this group were collected prior to the workshop and were used as suggestions for steering a structured and focused workshop discussion and elaboration of outputs. The working groups were welcome to add, adjust, and prioritize.
•
What are some socio-economic considerations for the neighborhood? Which questions of ownership (SWOT) exist?
Specific questions raised by participants prior to the workshop were •
•
How do we approach, from a methodological point of view, the reconstruction of houses and neighborhoods which are only partially or not at all documented? How could the spatial and functional relations be reactivated to contribute to developing/ filling destructive urban gaps in Aleppo? ●
*During the time of the workshop, Farafra/Bandara and
Helpful guiding questions for that scale* were: • What is the role of the quarter in the context of the Old City? • What is the definition of the architectural and historic value of the quarter, also in relation to the urban fabric and neighborhood? • How and with which measures can the urban fabric be restored or does it need a critical reconstruction? • What are the current mechanisms and how can they be picked up? • How does a neighborhood administration work? • Are protected zones needed? • Are areas with special emphasis needed? • How does a neighborhood network work? How can it play a role for rebuilding? • Who can be involved in preserving overall neighborhood structures?
Bayyada represented the two opposing political positions. Nevertheless, as both were located close to the demarcation line, they were chosen for illustration purposes of realities on the ground.
99 — Working Group 02: City Level - Description and Guiding Questions Workshop Study areas: Farafra/Bandara - Aleppo, Syria
AERIAL PHOTO OF AREA WITHIN CADASTRAL BOUNDARIES (RED) AND WALL (ORANGE)
(Source: UHADCA, based on GIZ and DOC)
Location in Old City
© Expert and Researchers’ Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” 16.06. – 19.06.2016 at University of Stuttgart, Institute of Urban Planning and Design, Department of International Urbanism and IUSD Lab Stuttgart
This data is for internal workshop purposes only MSc Integrated Urbanism & Sustainable Design (IUSD) www.iusd-program.net
Fig. 63: Location of Cadastral areas in the Old City of Aleppo (Farafra, Bandara), Source: UHDCA 2010
21 —
100 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation Workshop Study areas: Farafra/Bandara - Aleppo, Syria
Farafra and Bandara as action areas
(Source: Old City of Aleppo Conservation and Development Strategy 2005, Dr. S. Nebel)
STRATEGIC ZONES Strategic Zone Type A
Old City of Aleppo Conservation and Development Strategy STRATEGIC ZONE TYPE A: MIXED USE IN TRANSITION STRENGTHS: ▪ Central location ▪ Good accessibility ▪ Historic value ▪ Vacancies as potential WEAKNESSES: ▪ Declined physical conditions ▪ Pollution (air and noise) ▪ Fragmented ownership patterns ▪ Lack of planning coherence ▪ Vacancies
35 Photo: Strategic Zone A
36 Photo: Strategic Zone A
A3 A2 A1 No scale
37 Location Strategic Zone A
No scale
38 Areal View Strategic Zone A1, A2 ,A3
35
© Expert and Researchers’ Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” 16.06. – 19.06.2016 at University of Stuttgart, Institute of Urban Planning and Design, Department of International Urbanism and IUSD Lab Stuttgart
This data is for internal workshop purposes only MSc Integrated Urbanism & Sustainable Design (IUSD)
28 —
www.iusd-program.net
Fig. 64: Analysis of Farafra Area, Source: Oikos 2004 Workshop Study areas: Farafra/Bandara - Aleppo, Syria
Sijen street between Bandara and Farafra
(Source: Photos by Dr. A. Gangler)
Location in Old City
© Expert and Researchers’ Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” 16.06. – 19.06.2016 at University of Stuttgart, Institute of Urban Planning and Design, Department of International Urbanism and IUSD Lab Stuttgart
This data is for internal workshop purposes only MSc Integrated Urbanism & Sustainable Design (IUSD) www.iusd-program.net
Fig. 65: Analysis of Farafra Area, Source: A. Gangler 2008
37 —
101 — Working Group 02: City Level - Description and Guiding Questions Workshop Study areas: Bayyada - Aleppo, Syria
(Source: Video stills from movie “Halab alqadima hayy Albayyada” by Halab Alyoum 2016)
State of ongoing (socio-) economic and social activities and infrastructures
State of Monuments - Hab Al Hadid State of economic activity - Workshops State of educational infrastructure - school State of religious infrastructure - shrines State of physical infrastructure Streets State of delivery of groceries, etc.
State of physical condition (buildings)
© Expert and Researchers’ Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” 16.06. – 19.06.2016 at University of Stuttgart, Institute of Urban Planning and Design, Department of International Urbanism and IUSD Lab Stuttgart
This data is for internal workshop purposes only MSc Integrated Urbanism & Sustainable Design (IUSD)
50 —
www.iusd-program.net
Fig. 66: Illustration of Traces of Coping Mechanisms in Bayyada, Source: F. Laue, and movie still by Halab Alyoum 2016 Workshop Study areas: Bayyada - Aleppo, Syria
(Source: Video stills from movie “Halab alqadima hayy Albayyada” by Halab Alyoum 2016)
State of dealing with buildings being subject to shelling and bombing - handling of rubble clearance and logistics
State of Monuments - Hab Al Hadid State of economic activity - Workshops State of educational infrastructure - school State of religious infrastructure - shrines State of physical infrastructure Streets State of delivery of groceries, etc.
© Expert and Researchers’ Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” 16.06. – 19.06.2016 at University of Stuttgart, Institute of Urban Planning and Design, Department of International Urbanism and IUSD Lab Stuttgart
This data is for internal workshop purposes only MSc Integrated Urbanism & Sustainable Design (IUSD)
51 —
www.iusd-program.net
Fig. 67: Illustration of Traces of Coping Mechanisms in Bayyada, Source: F. Laue, and movie still by Halab Alyoum 2016
102 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Work Results and Findings on Neighborhood Level Documentation by IUSD students* in the working group
Participants:
4.3 Introduction
*Amr Abotawila
The working group of the neighborhood le-
Noura Alsaleh
vel was divided into two sub-groups, one to
*Isabell Enssle
map out the neighborhood’s spatial aspects
*Danny Khilla
and the other to investigate the definitions of
Franziska Laue
cultural values and possible scenarios based
Mohamed Mahrous
on it. The mapping group set out to identify
*Sundus Sherif
how the neighborhood changed for better or
Bashar Swaid
worse through time, using three points in the
Christoph Wessling
neighborhood’s timeline to identify and analyze these changes. While the definitions and possible scenarios were defined by the cultu-
During the workshop’s final session, its mem-
ral values of the neighborhood, three possible
bers presented the working groups’ summa-
scenarios of development-a nightmare, an in-
rized and visualized results as documented in
termediate, and an optimistic scenario - were
the following chapter.
envisioned that could take place in the neighborhood after the conflict is resolved. This methodology was undertaken in order to reach realistic recommendations that could help out in the post conflict reconstruction of the neighborhood.
103 — Work Results and Findings on Neighborhood Level
4.3.1 Cultural Value Definition
level. On the x-axis, the matrix involves ele-
In the process of investigating values that need
ments of cultural value that concern the ge-
to be preserved on the neighborhood level,
neral public to the more personal/ individual
participants showed the urge to explore the
cultural values.
importance of cultural value. This cultural value needs to be preserved and emphasized
Location within the Old City of Aleppo
during the post-war reconstruction phase and
At the top of the matrix lies the location of the
through its plans.
neighborhood relative to the Old City of Aleppo. The cultural value of this proximity comes
In order to do this, a team from the neighbor-
from the relationship between this neighbor-
hood level dedicated their efforts to exploring
hood and the Souq (market) as it provides it
the definition of “cultural value� and to explo-
with the essential goods and supplies especially
ring the specific aspects and elements which
the traditional crafts. The walking distance to
constitute this cultural value. A matrix was de-
the city center is measured. This proximity to
veloped to gather and brainstorm on the diffe-
the city center contributes to another cultural
rent elements that contribute or retain cultural
value aspect, the touristic value.
value. Cultural, Historic, and Religious Values The matrix spreads in two directions. On the
The cultural value of the neighborhood relies
vertical axis, the matrix involves cultural valu-
very heavily on the religious and historic va-
es that spread from the city level to the house
lue of the area of the neighborhood and its
104 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo" Focus on Al-Farafra
VALUES - 1932
Social and economic networks Mixed use Cultural Different ownership
Advisor: F. Laue, C. Wessling Students:
L. Renna, N. Alsaleh, M. Mahrous, D. Khilla, M. Ennouri, S. Elsherif, M. Zalloum
N
0
250
1000 m
500
DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Grafic processing: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
Fig. 68: Values 1932, Source: IUSD Lab participants 2016
surroundings. The area includes a number of
and the architectural styles. These architec-
significant buildings of historic and religious
tural values trigger the discussion about how
values and are currently threatened because
these typologies and styles shall be preserved.
of the conflict and will probably remain thre-
Monuments that have religious importance
atened during the post-conflict period. These
are considered to have the privilege of secu-
religious buildings include a number Waqf
red ownership as well as being main attractors
buildings and buildings belonging to the Je-
for donor funds during the post-conflict peri-
wish community.
od. Although rebuilding the important monuments is a great contribution to preserving the
Historic Layers and Architectural Value
cultural value in the neighborhood, this should
These historic buildings present a number of
also be considered in the guidelines and regu-
historic layers that make up the city.
lations of rebuilding the residential buildings
The historic buildings also hold significant ar-
as well.
chitectural value due to the special typologies
105 — Work Results and Findings on Neighborhood Level
Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo" Focus on Al-Farafra
VALUES - 2011
Social and economic networks Mixed use Cultural Different ownership
Advisor: F. Laue, C. Wessling Students:
L. Renna, N. Alsaleh, M. Mahrous, D. Khilla, M. Ennouri, S. Elsherif, M. Zalloum
N
0
250
1000 m
500
DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Grafic processing: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
Fig. 69: Values 2014, Source: IUSD Lab participants 2016
While maintaining the architectural style is
territories are expected to still exist during the
very important, but challenging, preserving
post-conflict period.
the urban layout is the aspect that will keep the original fabric and identity of the area. Kee-
Socio-economic Values
ping the reconstruction along the original ur-
At the heart of the matrix and exactly midway
ban layout will save the original urban fabric as
between the city and the house level lie the so-
well as the internal logic of the neighborhood.
cio-economic issues. This is especially crucial
This shall not be done in disconnection with
for the Farafra and Bandara districts because
critically rethinking layers of planning practi-
of their proximity to the Souq. There is also the
ces that have affected the neighborhood. One
mixed-use value of the area that keeps the dis-
of the major threats facing the preservation of
trict vibrant and self-sufficient. This needs to
the internal logic of the quarter is the current
be largely considered and kept especially due
territorial front lines that are separating the
to the effects of these socio-economic issues on
neighborhood from its surroundings. These
the social relations among the inhabitants of
106 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Fig. 70: Values, 2016, Source: IUSD Lab participants 2016
107 —
the districts. Keeping the mix of socio-econo-
4.3.3 Theoretical Scenarios
mic aspects also affects the land value of the
Based on the cultural value diagram, three the-
districts.
oretical scenarios have been developed. Although these theoretical scenarios rely largely
Sense of Ownership
on a number of assumptions, the reason be-
Probably the most ambiguous issue caused by
hind them is not to have an exact idea of what
the conflict period which will likely continue to
will be going on, but, rather, they are seen as
the post-conflict period is the ownership issue.
guiding scenarios that would help develop the
Shifting ownership and a change in the demo-
general guidelines and recommendations that
graphics of the area will affect all the previous-
should be considered to preserve the cultural
ly mentioned points. Physical ownership and a
value of the districts, but maybe also at the two
preserved or lost cultural value of the district
other levels, the city and the house level.
will determine the sense of ownership of the residents. It is very difficult to tackle this issue
The three scenarios developed are as follows:
as the future residents are unknown, whether
1- A nightmare scenario
original residents will return or other residents
2- An optimistic scenario
will inhabit the place.
3- An intermediate/realistic scenario
4.3.2 Matrix of Cultural Values
These scenarios are not one-directional and
•
Cultural
could have multiple variations even within each
•
Religious
of them. It is also clear that the real scenario
•
Historic
that will happen following a post-conflict peri-
•
Architectural
od is none of this, but a mix of all three scenari-
•
Touristic Value
os together. Therefore, the aim behind writing
•
Location with OCA
these scenarios down is to push both ends, the
•
Urban Layout
ideal and the nightmare scenario, into a more
•
Socio-economic
intermediate scenario. It is also considered to
•
Mixed-use
find overlaps between the three scenarios and
•
Land Value
points of interest and concern that should sha-
•
Sense of Ownership
pe the guiding recommendations of an action
•
Personal
plan during the post-war period. The scenari-
•
Social Relations
os are also aiming at identifying the different actors concerned with the various issues and contributing not only to the cultural value of
108 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo� Documentation
the district, but also on a different scale, of the
it occurs only in limited issues.
city. It is important to identify these actors and understand possible collaborations and over-
Tabula Rasa: Camp-like
laps of interest to find out and coordinate early
During a sub-zero state, meaning just at the
on the possibilities of working together during
start of the post-conflict phase, the nightma-
the reconstruction phase. The scenarios also
re scenario assumes being confronted with a
aim at finding the areas that seem to lack the
tabula rasa state in the city, especially on the
attention of any actors or organizations to start
district level. This tabula rasa situation will be
and trigger a discussion about these needs to
accompanied with a great division of sub-ter-
be tackled and propose different strategies to
ritories that exist now during the conflict and
handle. The following is a detailed explanation
will still remain after resulting into a reshaped
for each scenario and the recommendations
neighborhood.
and guidelines based on them. Nobody Agrees Scenario 1: Nightmare
During the phase of stabilization and negoti-
The nightmare scenario is based on the as-
ation actors will not be able to agree on exact
sumption that the worst will happen. It is ai-
strategies and nobody will follow a unified gui-
med at highlighting the most dangerous risks
deline to the reconstruction. In this case, each
that could follow such a nightmare situation to
actor will follow his own interests, especially
try to prevent it before it happens or at least
with strong dependencies on money and funds.
being able to identify it and deal with it even if
No Funding
109 — Work Results and Findings on Neighborhood Level
Money will be the major force towards recon- towards the touristic approach, jeopardizing the struction. If money does not flow with a clear sustainability of the district. strategy on where to spend it, the reconstruction funds will mainly be privatized and will No Sense of Belonging only reconstruct the aspects money is availa- All previously mentioned aspects across the span ble for.
of the timeline of the post-conflict period will result in the long term in the loss of a sense of be-
No Participation
longing towards Farafra and Bandara. This could
With nobody agreeing and scattered forces, be due to the changed demographics, a no participation will occur during the recon- new name or a new style. But, in all cases, the struction phase. This will lead to two major nightmare scenario sees the disappearance of Faapproaches to reconstruction: a) real estate- rafra and Bandara as they have been until today, based reconstruction resulting in a “solidari- of which a major part is already decaying due to zation” or “Dubaization” of the district or b) the conflict. an informal-based reconstruction. Scenario 2: Optimistic New Style
Moving to the other side of the spectrum, the op-
Both the developers-based reconstruction as timistic scenario sees everything going as planned well as the informality occurring due to this and prepared and the joint forces of different acscenario will result in a new style that is alien tors. It is aimed at pushing towards identifying the to the original style and will erase the histo- major aspects that need to be essentially considerical and architectural significance of the dif- red for a reconstruction strategy. ferent layers of history represented earlier in Farafra and Bandara. This new style not only Cessation of Destruction: Quick Reunion includes the architectural scale, but any re- In an ideal post-conflict situation, the destruction planning or rebuilding without considering will stop immediately with a quick reunification what existed before will influence this new of the sub-territories that are managed and contstyle.
rolled by different parties of the conflict right now.
Socio-economic Activities
People Come Back: and All Agree
With the expected privatization and/or infor- Following the cessation of deconstruction, original mality envisioned in this scenario, the origi- residents of the neighborhood will return to their nal mix of socio-economic activities will be houses with no change or at least minor changes in lost. Or, on the other hand, it will be driven the demographics of the area. Based on the good
110 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Fig. 71: Theoretical Scenarios for Aleppo in a Post-Conflict Period, Source: IUSD Lab participants 2016
preparation during the conflict phase, all actors
Funds Available for All
will be synchronized in their forces and a uni-
Regarding the money, the flow of funds will
fied plan is available which everyone agrees on
be equally or fairly distributed allocated to all
and follows.
aspects that need reconstruction, not only focusing on monuments, but also including residential houses, services, and infrastructure.
111 — Work Results and Findings on Neighborhood Level
All Reconstruction Regulations Apply
the cultural value of the neighborhood.
Involving all actors prior to any reconstruction or even prior to the conflict ending, a unified
Improved Re-established Infrastructure
strategy will be developed including reconst-
With fairly distributed funds, infrastructure
ruction regulations that will apply for all. This
can be re-established, especially in the inner
reconstruction strategy will aim at preserving
areas of the district and not only on major
112 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo� Documentation
streets. This will allow for a quick re-habitati-
Planning Failures Corrected
on of the area with residents.
The optimistic scenario even sees the reconstruction phase and the discussion it triggers
Adapted Style
before and around it as an opportunity to cri-
Following the reconstruction regulations, an
tically reconsider the different development
adapted style will give a unique taste to the
and planning layers that have changed over
architecture developed. This adapted style is
the past decade with a possible strategy to cor-
not necessarily a copy of the original style, but
rect planning failures during the post-conflict
will give an insight and a connotation to the
reconstruction phase.
historic layers and styles with a contemporary adaptation.
Scenario 3: Intermediate/Realistic The third scenario is based on the two pre-
Mix of Economic Activities
viously described scenarios. It is the middle
A quick and stable re-habitation of Farafra and
string between the nightmare and optimistic
Bandara will help redevelop the mix of econo-
scenario. This intermediate scenario is most
mic activities in the area with a strong connec-
probably the most realistic one. This scenario
tion to the Souq and the sustainability inside
has two sub scenarios, one of them tending
the district itself covering everyday needs of
towards a rather nightmare intermediate, the
the residents.
other towards an optimistic version of the intermediate scenario. As this is the most reali-
Preserved Identity
stic scenario to probably happen, it is seen as
If all previously mentioned aspects accumula-
the base which the guidelines and recommen-
te, a preserved identity can be foreseen to exist
dations will address.
in Farafra and Bandara. This preserved identity is the result of understanding and applying
Sub-territories
all aspects contributing to the cultural value
On a more realistic assumption, the sub-zero
inside the district.
state will still include sub-territories that exist under the conflict state, yet with an intimida-
Strong Sense of Belonging
ting stop of further destruction. These sub-
In the long run and despite any degree of de-
territories will follow demarcation lines of the
struction that might be at the initial state at the
current state and will reshape the internal lo-
post-conflict phase, following these strategies
gic of Farafra and Bandara both internally and
will help develop a strong sense of belonging of
in their relation to the surrounding districts.
the residents towards their neighborhood again.
113 — Work Results and Findings on Neighborhood Level
Some Agree
Some Crafts Reappear to Serve the Souq
With sub-territories, different interest groups
The whole mixed-use and socio-economic ac-
and actors will have difficulties on agreeing on
tivities might not return as quickly. Yet, the
one unified strategy, but some will agree and
strong relation of Farafra and Bandara to the
join forces.
Souq might encourage some local crafts to reappear to serve the Souq. This is again very
Limited Funds
crucial, as it will help redevelop the relation-
Available funds will be directed towards recon-
ship of the district to its surrounding neigh-
structing the monuments that retain a signifi-
bourhood.
cant cultural value not only to the district, but nationally and internationally. This will leave
Ownership Based on a Sense of Belonging
no additional funds for housing, which will
Following this scenario on a long-term basis,
leave them neglected.
some features of the original style of Farafra and Bandara will still remain. Yet, the sense of
No Funds for Housing
belonging will be based on ownership rather
With no funds for housing informal develop-
than a sense of belonging to the whole neigh-
ment, private development and real estate-
borhood.
based development will be the main reconstruction forces. Ownership conflicts may cause
4.3.4 Recommendations & Guidelines
property shifting.
As mentioned at the start of the three scenarios, these three scenarios rely highly on as-
Gentrification
sumptions. The initial state of the post-conflict
A strong focus on monuments, especially with
period and the start of the reconstruction pha-
an assumed fund dedication towards their re-
se as well as its development are and will re-
construction, may result into a gentrification
main ambiguous
of the area. With a main focus on large streets,
and might change any minute. Yet, these
internal infrastructure and a main objective
scenarios are a process that lead and feed into
towards a touristic focus of development will
the recommendations and guidelines that
be neglected.Also contributing to the gentrifi-
should be included in any strategy responding
cation is an approach towards a replication of
to any situation that might occur.
houses and monuments rather than adapting
The following is a list of recommendations and
a unified style determined through building
guidelines that still needs to be extended and
regulations.
discussed.
114 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Fig. 72: Mapping the Transformation of Farafra and Bandara, Source: IUSD Lab participants 2016
1 -Invite All Stakeholders and Actors
3 -Attract Diverse Funds for All Aspects of Lo-
Inviting all actors and stakeholders is the only
cal Area Development
way to develop a unified strategy on which
Funds are the major catalyst for a quick and
most parts could agree. This should happen
efficient reconstruction, yet a strategy that
even before the conflict is resolved. The earlier
targets diverse funds will allow the local area
a discussion and an invitation of stakeholders
development to start on different levels and
and actors that better chances are to include as
lessen the threats of severe privatization or
many as possible and identify potential topics
gentrification.
and themes that need to be further discussed and negotiated.
4 -Rebuilding Significant Monuments The significant monuments in the area need to
2 -Coordinating Reconstruction Entities
be reconstructed or restored. These are the ea-
All reconstruction entities also need to be co-
siest to attract funds and will trigger develop-
ordinated prior to any reconstruction phase.
ment towards other areas and re-establish the
This will allow different entities with different
relationship of the neighborhood to the Old
expertise and interest to cover all areas that
City of Aleppo and the Souq.
need to be constructed and to identify which are neglected by all.
115 — Work Results and Findings on Neighborhood Level
Fig. 73: Mapping the Transformation of Farafra and Bandara, Source: IUSD Lab participants 2016
5 -Agreement on Building Regulations and
but without losing the original fabric.
Guidelines Agreeing on building regulations and guide-
7 -Keep the Mixed-use Quality of the Area
lines will set an overall strategy for recons-
The mixed-use quality of Farafra and Banda-
truction that all need to follow, regardless of
ra is very crucial to the cultural value of the
the ownership conflicts or changes in demo-
area. Socio-economic activities cover the daily
graphics. A new, adapted style will feature
needs of the inhabitants and help them settle
the area with connotations to the historic and
back easily. But, the mixed-use quality also re-
architectural values, but with a contemporary
establishes the strong connection of the area
vision.
to the Souq. It also keeps the high quality of living and working in proximity to the Old City
6 -Respecting the Original Urban Fabric
of Aleppo. It tackles and drives both local de-
The original urban fabric is the main sense of
velopment and touristic development of the
originality and a link to the pre-conflict period.
area and its surroundings.
Keeping the original urban fabric will also help
It is crucial to highlight that these recom-
maintain the relationship between the internal
mendations are very general and are open to
logic of the neighborhood and its surrounding
further development and additions. Yet, they
districts. It will also give a freedom in the ar-
help start a discussion towards reconstruction
chitectural scale to develop new styles within
strategies and who needs to be involved.
the given building regulations and guidelines,
116 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo" Focus on Al-Farafra
AL FARAFRA - AL BANDARA - 1932
Advisor: G. A. Neglia Students: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
N
0
250
1000 m
500
DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Fig. 74: Farafra & Bandara - Urban and Builing Conditions, 1932,Source: IUSD Lab part., Mapping: Neglia and team 2016
4.3.5 Mapping
ge, ownership diversity, points of attraction,
In an attempt to map out the neighborhood
and their connectivity to those outside of the
of Farafra and Bandara, the group set out to
neighborhood’s borders.
investigate the neighborhood at three points in its timeline, using a map dating back to the
4.3.5.1 Farafra & Bandara_1932
1930s, another dating to 2011 that depicted
As a starting point, investigating the historical
the situation after the urban development that
image of the neighborhood was done in order
the neighborhood had undergone in the 1950s
to analyze the spatial networks as well as the
and 60s before the conflict, and finally the si-
socio-economic ones that had taken place for
tuation nowadays after the destruction that
a long time in the neighborhood. Using a map
was brought on by the civil war using Goog-
dated back to the 1930s, the street networks of
le Earth imagery that was taken in 2014. The
a typical Islamic city were found in predomi-
aim of the mapping was to highlight the street
nance in the picture, narrow winding streets
networks, historical buildings, cultural valu-
and “cul de sacs” connecting the historical mo-
es, social and economic networks, mixed usa-
numental buildings with each other.
117 — Work Results and Findings on Neighborhood Level Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo" Focus on Al-Farafra
AL FARAFRA - AL BANDARA - 2011
Advisor: G. A. Neglia Students: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
N
0
250
1000 m
500
DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Fig. 75: Farafra & Bandara - Urban & Builing Conditions, 2011, Source: IUSD Lab part., Mapping: Neglia and team 2016
The neighborhood housed culturally influenti-
the main axes highlighted the fact that these
al buildings, private, semi-private, and public
monuments played in some sense a major role
spaces, and catered to a mixed-usage of the
in the formation of these axes.
buildings and a high diversity of ownership. It interlinked socio-economic networks inside
4.3.5.2 Farafra & Bandara_Before the Con-
the borders of the neighborhood and outside
flict 2011
it as well, especially in the case of the han-
The
dicrafts’ workshops that were a source of the
neighborhood’s timeline was a map that de-
products sold in the Souq and the markets
picted the situation before the conflict in 2011.
that covered the ground floor of the narrow
This map visualized the urban development
winding streets that served as extensions of
that took place starting from the 1950s and
the famous Souq into the neighborhood. The
60s, with regard to buildings as well as infra-
connections between the points of attraction
structure. The old narrow winding streets were
inside the borders of the neighborhood and
cut through for major arterial roads to be built
the monuments outside said borders through
in their stead, even cutting through old histo-
second
point
investigated
in
the
118 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo" Focus on Al-Farafra
HISTORIC BUILDINGS - 1932
< 1260 1260 -1400 1401 - 1516 1517 - 1770 1771 - 1918 1919 >
Advisor: G. A. Neglia Students: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
N
0
250
1000 m
500
DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Gaube H., Wirth E., Aleppo. Historische und geographische Beitrage zur baulichen Gestaltung, zur sozialen Organisation und zur wirtschaftlichen Dinamik einer vorderasiatischen Fernhandelsmtropole. 2 Bde, (Beihefte zum TAVO, B, Nr. 58), Wiesbaden 1984
Fig. 76: Historic buildings 1932, Source: IUSD Lab participants, Mapping: Neglia and team 2016
rical buildings and damaging their structural
In addition, culturally influential buildings are
integrity and historical value. Development at
still present, albeit most of them have lost their
the end of the 20th century had added “mo-
structural integrity, with additional buildings
dern” governmental buildings that are not fa-
that were added by the end of the last century.
vored by most, as well as small shops along the
Ownership also became less diverse with the
arterial road “Al Sijen Street” that are rendered
heavy presence of governmental buildings in
useless by the width of the street. The mixed-
the neighborhood. The arterial roads played
usage is still present, but located mainly on
a role in offering multiple connecting routes
the arterial roads. However, the socio-econo-
between the points of attraction that lie inside
mic networks were cut by said major arterial
the neighborhood’s borders and those outside
roads, which were added as part of an urban
as well.
development plan of the last century, setting the neighborhood up to be islands of networks that rarely interact because of vehicular roads.
119 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Work Results and Findings on Neighborhood Level
Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo" Focus on Al-Farafra
HISTORIC BUILDINGS - 2011
< 1260 1260 -1400 1401 - 1516 1517 - 1770 1771 - 1918 1919 >
Advisor: G. A. Neglia Students: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
N
0
250
1000 m
500
DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Gaube H., Wirth E., Aleppo. Historische und geographische Beitrage zur baulichen Gestaltung, zur sozialen Organisation und zur wirtschaftlichen Dinamik einer vorderasiatischen Fernhandelsmtropole. 2 Bde, (Beihefte zum TAVO, B, Nr. 58), Wiesbaden 1984
Fig. 77: Historic buildings 2014, Source: IUSD Lab participants, Mapping: Neglia and team 2016
4.3.5.3 Farafra & Bandara_After the Conflict-
extreme damage which has occurred to a large
2014
percentage of existing buildings. The major ar-
The last point studied in the neighborhoodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
terial roads has been affected, but not on the
timeline was a map dated to 2014 that depic-
same scale as the internal roads.
ted the situation after the conflict happened in 2011. The map showed the destruction that
The land-use of the neighborhood has been
happened to the built environment, illustra-
the most affected element of the built environ-
ting the demolished and semi-demolished
ment. The internal mixed-usage has almost
buildings.
vanished while a minority of those located on
The urban fabric of the neighborhood has been
the arterial roads are still functioning. Moreo-
affected by the destruction that has happened
ver, the remaining socio-economic networks
through the conflict. Some of the remaining
have been severely affected by the destruction.
narrow streets that belong to the typical Is-
In addition, a majority of the heritage and cul-
lamic urban fabric have been affected by the
turally influential buildings has been demolis-
120 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo" Focus on Al-Farafra
URBAN CHANGES - 1932-2011
1932 2011
Advisor: G. A. Neglia Students: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
N
0
250
1000 m
500
DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo" Focus on Al-Farafra
DAMAGES - 2014
Partial damaged Severe damaged Partial destroyed Destroyed Occupied
Advisor: F. Laue, C. Wessling Students:
L. Renna, N. Alsaleh, M. Mahrous, D. Khilla, M. Ennouri, S. Elsherif, M. Zalloum
N
0
250
1000 m
500
DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Grafic processing: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
Condition of the Urban Fabric and the Patrimony of Aleppo
Fig. 78, 79: Farafra, Bandara - Damages 1932 and 2014, Source: IUSD Lab participants, Mapping: Neglia and team 2016
121 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Work Results and Findings on Neighborhood Level
hed or partially demolished. Finally, a major change in the ownership of the buildings has occurred due to the large existing demographic change. The major arterial roads are still playing a role as the main connecting routes within the neighborhood borders and the rest of the city. â&#x2014;?
122 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo" Focus on Al-Farafra
ROUTES - 1932
Main routes Secondary routes Connecting routes Cul de sac
Advisor: F. Laue, C. Wessling Students:
L. Renna, N. Alsaleh, M. Mahrous, D. Khilla, M. Ennouri, S. Elsherif, M. Zalloum
N
0
250
1000 m
500
DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Grafic processing: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo" Focus on Al-Farafra
ROUTES - 2011
Main routes Secondary routes Connecting routes Cul de sac
Advisor: F. Laue, C. Wessling Students:
L. Renna, N. Alsaleh, M. Mahrous, D. Khilla, M. Ennouri, S. Elsherif, M. Zalloum
N
0
250
1000 m
500
DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Grafic processing: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
Fig. 81: Routes 1932 and 2011, Source: IUSD Lab participants, Mapping: Neglia and team 2016
123 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Work Results and Findings on Neighborhood Level Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo" Focus on Al-Farafra
URBAN POLES - 1932
Poles Connecting streets District monuments
Advisor: F. Laue, C. Wessling Students:
L. Renna, N. Alsaleh, M. Mahrous, D. Khilla, M. Ennouri, S. Elsherif, M. Zalloum
N
0
250
1000 m
500
DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Grafic processing: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo" Focus on Al-Farafra
URBAN POLES - 2011
Poles Connecting streets District monuments
Advisor: F. Laue, C. Wessling Students:
L. Renna, N. Alsaleh, M. Mahrous, D. Khilla, M. Ennouri, S. Elsherif, M. Zalloum
N
0
250
1000 m
500
DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Grafic processing: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
Expert and Researchers' Workshop
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo" Focus on Al-Farafra
URBAN POLES - 2014
Poles Connecting streets District monuments Damaged monuments
Advisor: F. Laue, C. Wessling Students:
L. Renna, N. Alsaleh, M. Mahrous, D. Khilla, M. Ennouri, S. Elsherif, M. Zalloum
N
0
250
1000 m
500
DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Grafic processing: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
Fig. 82-84: Urban Poles 1932, 2011, 2014, Source: IUSD Lab participants, Mapping: Neglia and team 2016
124 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Conclusion on Findings on the Neighborhood Level IUSD Lab team
The working group looked at the current and
reflect on the city level and on the house level?
future challenges from two perspectives: 1) understanding transformations via mapping
Recommendations
and 2) brainstorming on possible scenarios for
As a result of both approaches, a first set of re-
Aleppo’s post-war situation.
commendations can be identified:
In addition to the discussion described above, the following open questions were raised sub-
1. Rebuilding, Implementation, and Layout:
sequently. This included issues of applicability
•
of the suggestions.
Develop a scheme for each neighborhood in terms of layout to preserve the inner fabric.
1. Rebuilding Implementation and Layout:
•
How can the neighborhoods be rebuilt? 2. Rebuilding Process Management:
proach. •
Consider all the layers of the urban fabric.
•
Consider all the phases of transformation
How should heavily damaged areas be consi-
of the urban fabric, including the archaeo-
dered? Should they be rebuilt by squatters or should they be left empty for a visual connec-
Consider the Historic Landscape Ap-
logical one. •
Despite focusing on the scale of a house
tion between past and present, creating new
and plot, the results on the neighborhood
places for the urban society?
level revealed that there is strong need to
What is the most efficient strategy to address
include concerns on the house level and
the neighborhood problems?
city level, having mutual implications such
For the reconstruction process, what should be the
as standards and coherent appearance of
policies or regulations for the types of buildings?
the historic urban fabric and ensemble.
3. External Influential Factors: How do problems on the neighborhood level
•
The different utilization structures in the individual quarters must be taken into
125 — Conclusions on Findings on Neighborhood Level
account in order to be able to define the
The following priorities for intervention and re-
appropriate pilot zones. In these different
search were expressed:
areas, simple rules are to be created at dif-
•
ferent scaling levels, conveyed in a simple
1. Rebuilding Implementation and Layout:
form and, if possible, visualized.
Guidelines should be developed for the reconst-
The original urban structure (parcel struc-
ruction of clusters of residential and mixed-use
ture / ownership) with its typical dead
buildings. Studying the different relationships
end system needs to be preserved along
with the surrounding areas and focusing on re-
with the underground infrastructure (like
orienting the socio-economic role in guiding the
the sewage system), the still existing buil-
neighborhood plan could be a significant future
ding substance, as well as the still existing
study.
ground walls of the buildings. •
Actions need to be taken now - as part of
2. Rebuilding Process Management:
monitoring, prevention of speculation, etc.
There is a need to work in cross-scalar way with the house and city level.
2. Rebuilding Process Management:
Consider the role of the hub of al-Farafra.
Based on multi-level analysis for supply and de-
Consider social and cultural changes in the
mand, proposing and supporting pilot projects
post-war phase.
to develop the local economy work as the core of the self-organizing process are highly recom-
Activating the role of the buffer zone as deve-
mended to motivate the stakeholders and the
lopment and preservation functions could ease
community for renovating and reconstructing
the effects of urban interventions and achieve
their different facilities by themselves.
sustainable neighborhoods adapting with different needs and maintaining the historical cha-
3. Preparative Documentation: •
Data needs to be collected on the neighborhood level.
•
Identify further sources of monitoring an area’s situation and transformation
•
Carefully verify data
4. Inhabitants’ Role •
Integration of all participants to be involved in the planning process, including the inhabitants (actor mapping).
racteristics as well. ●
126 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Working Group 01 House Level Description
One immediate impact of the armed conflict in urban Aleppo is the damage and destruction of inhabited houses, buildings with social, administrative and economic functions, as well as historic monuments (Fig. 85). The house is the smallest urban and functional element of Aleppo’s historic city. One working group focusing on this level undertook a focused analysis and discussion. This level provides information on logic and traditions of use, inhabitation, etc. Overall transformations of the urban as well rural society are visible on this scale as well. On this level, detailed solutions and strategies can be discussed while looking at the feasibility of typologies and functions. During the past decades numerous analyses have been undertaken for monuments and
residential buildings, among others, resulting in the housing and rehabilitation fund. One basis of information to discuss the level of adequacy and adaptation of measures when discussing reconstruction is, among others, the guidelines for the restoration and renovation of the Old City of Aleppo (Fig. 86). ●
127 — Working Group 02: Neighborhood Level - Description and Guiding Questions
Fig. 85: Buildings Affected by Shelling and Bombing, Source: Movie still from “Halab alqadima hayy Albayyada” by Halab Alyoum 2016
Fig. 86: Restoration Guidelines, Source: GTZ 1993
128 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Guiding Questions on the House Level The following questions for this group were a suggestion to steer a structured and focused workshop discussion and the elaboration of input. The working groups were encouraged to add, adjust, and prioritize.
•
•
Helpful guiding questions for that scale*: • • • • • • • • •
Define the house in the context of the quarter Definition of the architectural and historic value of the housing typology What building materials have been used? To what extent are which building materials feasible? How do we link use/function and materials? To what extent is a house subject to limitations in terms of rebuilding? Who can be involved in preserving close neighborhood structures? What activities foster which socio-economic mechanisms? Question of ownership (SWOT)
Specific questions raised by participants: • •
•
What housing typology would be developed in the destroyed area? Which changes should occur to adapt the building fabric to new urban and housing needs? Is it possible to solve emergency and reconstruction problems as ‘steps of the same process’, giving the inhabitants methodological tools to rebuild their houses and following the ‘logic’ which
•
•
was at the basis of the Old City’s urban landscape formation? How do we approach, from a methodological point of view, the reconstruction of houses and neighborhoods, which are partially or not at all documented? Will we design the destroyed buildings with their original function, implementing it in order to meet the needs of the new population? Should we change the function of the buildings that are not completely destroyed in accordance with the new project? Would this project be built with a new language that is in continuity with the traditional architecture language, yet take into account new construction techniques and new needs? ●
129 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Working Group 02: Neighborhood Level - Description and Guiding Questions
130 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Work Results and Findings on the House Level Documentation by IUSD students* in the working group
Working group participants:
4.4.1 Work Process
*Mariem Brahmi
The process of working on the housing level
*Khaled Elmansi
included two main parts:
Thierry Grandin Sana Kassouha
A. Ideas’ Mapping through and discussing
Elke Knöss
the different problems and variables that can
Claudia Lella
evolve from the current crisis, which can affect
Annalinda Neglia
the cultural, social, economic, and demogra-
Muniru Nyei
phic layers of the post-war Syrian community,
Claudia Tinti
with the focus on the housing scale. The main purpose of this process is to find the main
During the workshop’s final session, its mem-
points of interest for the group to trace, and
bers presented the working groups’ summa-
also to start getting familiar with Aleppo in a
rized and visualized results as documented in
more detailed way. Eventually, it should be the
the following chapter.
leading line into the next part, which is more limited with the housing focus. B. Reconstruction possibilities that can be applicable to suit different issues were discussed in the first part. This part evolved different conceptual outcomes that can fit different
131 — Work Results and Findings on House Level
situations of the post-war constructions, trying
The four main topics are:
to provide impressions for the three basic si-
1.
Primary Issues
tuations of new constructions, partially des-
2.
Urban Vision
troyed buildings, and totally destroyed buil-
3.
Typology
dings during the post-conflict period. These
4.
Reconstruction Possibilities
religious buildings include a number of Waqf buildings and buildings belonging to the Je-
4.4.2 Primary Issue
wish community.
The group developed different points of interest. The following part will elaborate on how
This group included a local expert, Thierry
the group tracked each point by opening dis-
Grandin, who lived in Aleppo for approximate-
cussions using the question format:
ly 30 years, beside working as an architect and a consultant for firms there. This part contai-
Ownership
ned three main discussions, each one including
This topic is very complicated, as the possible
many ideas that were targeted and applied for
questions will be:
their expected presence on the housing scale in
•
the post-war period.
Who owns the land? (Private - Government - etc.)?
•
How will the ownership change after the conflict?
132 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Expert and Researchers' Workshop Al Kh
anda
"Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo"
k Stree
t
Ryad Stre et
Focus on Al-Farafra
Al Kh
nem
anda
k Stree
Abde
l Mou
t
CASE STUDIES
Bab An'nasr Street
CASE STUDY [A] Destroyed
1
3
Undocumented courtyard house
3
Unbuilt public area
4
Multi-storage and public buildings
Abde
lM
oune m
Ryad
Documented Building
2
CASE STUDY [B] Severe Damages
Zinki Street Noureddin
Stre et
4
Al Mutanabbi Street
As'sijn Street
As'sijn Street
in Zink Nouredd
em Ryad Street
i Street
1
Abdel Moun
2
et
tre
wl
Ha
Al
aS
l'a
Qa
Advisor: G. A. Neglia Students: N. Bergamo, R. Convertini, G. Gaudimundo, C. Lella, L. Renna, A. M. Seccia, C. Tinti
Al Jamaa Al Umawi Street
N
0
250
1000 m
500
DATA SOURCES AND CREDITS:
History of Islamic Architecture Professor: Giulia Annalinda Neglia
Date: 2014 - 2016
Map source: A. Ricci, I. Santovito, V. Riggiani, A. Albanese, C. Castellana, R. Lomurno, S. Paparella, N. Prezioso
Fig. 43: Case Study Areas, Source: IUSD Lab participants, Mapping: Neglia and team 2016
Land-use
Destroyed Areas
•
How is the current land-use?
•
•
How is it expected to change in the postwar period depending on the war variab-
ges? •
les? •
What are the ways to evaluate the damaHow can the mapping of destroyed structures help?
How will the required spaces for residential plots change?
Awareness •
What is the importance of the awareness
Governmental Institution
among Syrians now and in the post war
•
What are the legal demarcations?
time?
•
How much do people depend on the
•
•
• Where should the awareness be mainly
government during the conflict?
directed? (Identity-Education-Legitima-
Do they depend more on the informal lea-
cy- etc.)
dership of the streets?
133 — Work Results and Findings on House Level
Fig. 87: Evaluation of Damages, Source: IUSD Lab participants, Mapping: Neglia and team 2016
Archaeological Site
Urban Vision
•
Why should Syrians take care of archaeo-
On this topic, the main theme was to think
logical sites? (Identity)
about the visual and conceptual consequences
How can the government and civil society
of post-war reconstruction that will happen
help in spreading awareness about archa-
after the conflict. The focus here was more di-
eological sites?
rected to the quarter level as the topic concerns
•
the urban (neighborhood) scale: War and Post-war Construction •
What will post-war construction look like?
Community-Quarter Level
•
How will the war destruction affect the Sy-
•
rian community?
What will be the impact on the multi-story building typology? (numbers increase – visual change – adaption - ….)
Demographic Change •
How will Syrians adapt to the demographic change? (Unsafe-safe areas, destroyed areas-rural areas, or the capital)
•
How will the geographical change affect the urban scale and the community?
134 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Fig. 88: Analysis of High Rise Buildings Affecting the Neighborhood, Source: IUSD Lab participants based on GIZ 2008, Mapping: A. Neglia and team 2016
Important Elements (Houses, Monuments)
4.4.3 Typology
•
Not rebuilding some houses? (Increase
The typology discussion was related to the
the urban voids – leaving spaces
challenges that architects and designers will
for future development and extensions)
face during the post-war period. There are
•
many dimensions for this topic, but some of Connection Between the Past and the Future
them intersect with the previous two topics.
•
How can the new designs affect the iden-
The main questions here lead to the next step,
tity?
re-construction possibilities for the housing le-
How will the economic situations affect
vel, which are more detailed.
•
the new designs? (Local and cheaper ma•
terials/ smaller or limited areas)
Adaption to Modern Family Size
How will the change of average ages affect
•
the new house designs? (less youth, more elderly and children), (smaller houses- fe-
Thinking about the main factors that can affect the housing typology
•
wer stairs, accessible for all people)
How will the average ages of the community change?
•
How will the family structure change?
Functionality •
What are the main spatial components in the old/classical typology which will re-
135 — Work Results and Findings on House Level
Fig. 89: House Analysis, Source: IUSD Lab participants, Mapping: A. Neglia and team 2016
main with the same importance? (stairs/
•
courtyard,....) • •
Can using the rubble achieve progress in preserving Syrian pre-war identity?
Should the destroyed building’s original function be keep or changed?
Rehabilitation
Should the courtyard house be adapted to
•
Whatare the possible techniques?
a new modern concept of housing (con-
•
How do we deal with historical buildings?
necting courtyards)??
•
How do we check/diagnose the type and amount of damages?
Destroyed Areas •
Damage Assessment (Partially/ Total or
•
How much need will there be for external experts?
Severe/No damage) 4.4.4 Reconstruction Possibilities Materials
After spending the first day in brainstorming,
•
What are the chances of using new, cheap
understanding the real housing situation in
construction materials?
Aleppo with the guidance of international ex-
How can new constructions use the rubble
perts, the group started designing and apply-
partially or totally in the re-construction
ing what was summarized. This included in-
process?
tensive working sessions on how to remain and
How can harmony be achieved between
rehabilitate houses already damaged totally or
the old materials and new ones?
partially.
•
•
136 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Fig. 90: Analysis of Damage of Seyf Al Dawle Building, Source: IUSD Lab participants 2016
Therefore, three different proposals were for-
Obviously, accessibility to building materials
mulated related to the housing level trying to
and where we are going to store them was a
respond to the various and numerous questi-
major question.
ons that were raised.
This was the overall vision concerning the
After deep thinking and conversation, relevant
house level that will be illustrated in the fol-
topics were raised that were later considered
lowing passage with maps, graphs, and sket-
in the proposals. Basically, Aleppo’s current
ches. The work was done in collaborative
housing problems were divided into three
teams where each working group had, at the
main groups related to:
end, to provide outcomes available for the whole big topic -housing level. First, heritage
1. 2.
What type of energy will be used in the
buildings of the neighborhood were extracted
future?
and the level of their damages was evaluated
How infrastructure, such as water, electri-
one by one.
city, heating, and internet systems will be 3.
useful or need to be rebooted?
Results from the map below:
Which kinds of materials will be used?
According to the map previously presented, the work on different proposals shows that
Wlll old ones be manintained or new ones in-
they can be applied to suit different issues dis-
tegrated?
cussed in the first part. This part evolved diffe-
Can the rubble be used from the other houses?
rent conceptual outcomes that can fit different
137 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Work Results and Findings on House Level
Fig. 91: Damage Assessment Example, Source: IUSD Lab participants, Muniru Nyei 2016
situations of the post-war constructions.
side to the south and north side could suggest
Impressions were provided for the three basic
an order for the inhabitants to rebuild the hou-
situations of new constructions, partially de-
ses step by step by themselves.
stroyed buildings, and totally destroyed buil-
2. The standard size of the room given by the
dings.
structural architectural elements (beam and stone) permits an easy construction due to
A- Multi-story Buildings:
the repeatability of each part of the house,
The corresponding proposal matches with the
from the building elements to the spaces of the
nature and configuration of high traditional
house (room, courtyard).
buildings in city of Aleppo and with its climate. 3. In the traditional courtyard house, the first B- Totally Damaged Areas:
floor, on one or at least two sides of the house,
A group of students with architectural back-
was built in a second step, and this brought
grounds proposed building new houses based
about building stairs in the courtyard. It would
on vernacular techniques for Aleppo traditio-
be more comfortable to have stairs also inside
nal houses.
the building, maybe next to the entrance, to
There are six main techniques for conserving
allow people to reach the upper floors easily.
the identity of houses in the city. 4. It is also necessary to set the place for kit1. The typical order of edification from the east
chen and toilets to update the house to con-
138 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
temporary needs. So, it could be a good solu-
sonry buildings
tion to put them in those spaces that are not in
3.
Define characteristics
communication with the courtyard, such as in
4.
Structural surveys
the blind corners of the house.
5.
Damages and cracks analysis
6.
In situ tests
5. To solve the problem of the main distribu-
7.
Retrofit interventions
tion, which, in the courtyard houses, is given
8.
Structural capacity increase
by the courtyard itself, we should not change the typology of this building by introducing a
Why Intervention?
continued inner distribution, which is typical
This should occur for many reasons, such as
of the patio houses. So, an inner corridor could
to increase the mechanical characteristics of
be realized side by side from the house. The
masonry panels, to provide, for example, steel
courtyard has to remain the core center and
or glass with reinforced plasters, and to ensure
identity place of Aleppine houses.
injections. ●
6. How will average age changes affect the houses’ design? (Fewer youth, more elderly and young children). Smaller houses and accessible for old people. How will the economic situation affect the houses design? Local and cheaper materials and smaller areas. C-Partially Damaged Buildings Technically, the working group examined the real conditions of partially damaged houses in Aleppo following engineering methodology and tests. The results and proposals will be detailed in the following passage. The research was started by a brief overview: Case study-Methodology: 1.
Architectural surveys
2.
Study aggregate and architecture of ma-
143 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Work Results and Findings on House Level
144 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Conclusion on Findings on the House Level IUSD Lab team
Despite focusing on the scale of a house and
reby a house can accommodate the typical
plot, the results on the house level revealed
number of people as well as serve a diffe-
that there is strong need to include concerns
rent function?
on the neighborhood and city levels, which have mutual implications, such as standards,
2.
Rebuilding Process Management:
coherent appearance of the historic urban fab-
•
Should we expect a chaotic and illegal re-
ric, and ensemble.
construction process?
In addition to the discussion described abo-
3.
Preparative Documentation:
ve, the following open questions were raised
•
Other questions concerned the documen-
subsequently. These included issues of appli-
tation of damages prior to reconstruction:
cability of the suggestions.
How do we map damages of the residential urban fabric?
1.
Rebuilding Implementation and Layout:
•
How will local materials and local exper-
4.
Inhabitants’ Role:
tise affect the house design and shape?
•
It was furthermore asked, to what extent
•
How can the traditional courtyard houses
neighborhood organization can participa-
be rebuilt, which were not documented
te in mutually supportive activities (remo-
before the war?
ving rubble, monitoring the plot and buil-
How can recovery be accomplished on
ding, documenting damages, etc.)
mixed-use buildings in a neighborhood such as al-Farafra? •
Can a dynamic layout be developed whe-
•
In addition, how do we increase the owners awareness?
145 — Conslusions on Findings on House Level
5.
External Influential Factors:
3.
•
To what extent will the important factors
•
(social, economic, real estate, ownership, environmental, etc.) play a tangible role
Preparative Documentation: Data must be collected from the field about the people’s vision for their future
•
accommodation.
in reconstructing the destroyed houses? Accordingly, the following recommendations
4.
Inhabitants‘ Role
•
There is a need to give Old City residents
were formulated:
the right to return to their homes.
1 and 2. Rebuilding implementation, layout, and management:
The following priorities for intervention and
•
research were expressed:
Retain the characteristics of the traditional urban fabric, but also focus on provi-
•
sion of flexible scenarios of the new house
1 and 2. Rebuilding implementation, layout,
design based on the family size potentials
and management:
and the new post-war social situation.
•
Develop methodological tools to reconstruct in continuity with the historic urban
In developing methodological tools for the reconstruction of courtyard houses.
•
Developing an innovative technique and
morphology, building typologies, and
mechanism for recycling remnants of war
construction techniques.
and utilizing them as the main reconstruction material. ●
146 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
05 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Outlook and Conclusions
148 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
Overall Conclusions, Outlook, Recommendations IUSD Lab team
The workshop was an attempt to bring young
were listed, but also the potentials and the
and experienced researchers together in one
authenticity of the historic center were men-
room to join in a constructive debate on the
tioned.
current situation of Aleppo’s historic urban core.
Exchange Across Nationalities
The workshop gathered academic input from Young and Senior Researchers Discuss
contributors across nations. Besides analytical
Together
and methodological input provided by a large
Thanks to academic lectures and different con-
part of participants, contextual input by Leba-
tributions by junior researchers and Ph.D. can-
nese, Liberian, and Syrian participants enri-
didates, a better understanding of the situation
ched the discourse.
in Aleppo was one of the results of the first part of the workshop. In addition, the exchange
Exchange Across Disciplines
of the knowledge of past work and current re-
Even though this workshop had a clear point
search fostered communication between the
of departure in terms of its discipline, it facili-
participants. In consensus concerning the ne-
tated intersections to other disciplines. Hence,
cessity to develop strategies for the post-war
this workshop can be seen as one out of se-
reconstruction process now, the discussion
veral components to not only contribute to a
sessions revealed a great variety of approaches
discourse, but to keep Aleppo’s future on the
and strategies.
academic and strategic agenda.
In the expert lectures, many risks in general
149 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Overall Conclusions
Recommendations - What Needs to be
ban history of Aleppo. Selective data is availab-
Considered?
le, yet not exhaustively accessible. Furthermo-
During the workshop, heated debates took
re, multiple truths exist on one and the same
place within the working groups concerning
plot and area.
what matters are to be prioritized. This was due to the fact that, with the continuous destruction
affecting basic human needs, it
Recommendations - What Can be Done?
would be increasingly harder to discuss and
With reference to the workshopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outcomes,
justify interventions merely on the physical or
the following suggestions need to feed into the
technical level.
reconstruction discourse from a plannerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perspective:
A process that Starts Now
One major consensual finding was that this
Mapping
post-war reconstruction process will also take
The workshop results revealed that there were
a long time and will not start at zero, but that
several approaches promoted: either strategic
it has already started. Hence, approaches and
developmental planning, or spatial and physi-
activities need to be identified that consider
cal interventions on site.
the current in-conflict situation. At the mo-
One outcome from the workshop was the un-
ment of ceasefire, many structural problems
derstanding that, to work further on a basic
will be caused by an immense influx of the po-
map with all information concerning qualita-
pulation into the city, a great exchange of po-
tive and quantitative land use, damage assess-
pulation as well as a lack of housing and living
ment, existing technical infrastructure, and the
space. Chaotic conditions have to be managed
historic and cultural values of monuments and
because rapid re-housing and accommoda-
areas is essential for post-war reconstruction.
tions for inhabitants and returnees have to be achieved immediately.
Local Community The cultural responsibilities should be recog-
Role and Reliability of Data
nized by all parties of the society. The
Another common understanding during the
local community has to be involved in the re-
workshop was the need for data and reliable
newal process. In respect to the tangible and
information. This remains an overall challenge
intangible cultural values of the historic town,
for strategic planning.
special future design strategies for the recove-
In the context of Aleppo, the basis for future
ry of the urban fabric of the Old City should be
interventions is the documentation of the ur-
reflected.
150 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation
ve. It is a glance into one discipline’s approach Consider Multi-disciplinary approaches
with intersections to other disciplines.
An integrative and multi-disciplinary planning approach has to be developed which consists
Raise and Maintain Awareness
not only in reconstructing the physical and
In the light of continuous destruction, conti-
economic environment, but also involves en-
nuous strategic work can contribute to:
vironmental, political, psychological, social,
•
raising and keeping awareness
ideological, symbolic, and aesthetic aspects.
•
monitoring processes that detect ongoing speculation and potentially prevent future speculation
Learning from the Past Throughout history, the urban fabric of Alep-
•
preserving local (Aleppine) identity.
po has been transformed several times. For ex-
•
mobilizing the population inside and out-
ample, this occurred after the destructions by
side Aleppo to act against processes trig-
the Mongols, with the economic development
gered by economies of war, such as spe-
under the Ottomans, after an earthquake in
culation, etc.
1822, with the Armenian refugees, or through the rehabilitation of the Old City before the war. We have to learn from the past and from other best practice or worst practice examples. An exchange of experiences has to be initiated and a network with different international and national institutions has to be built. The size of the Old City is very big and could not be protected as a whole cultural heritage. Different parts of the divided Old City have to be taken into consideration and it is necessary to work on different scales (city / quarter or neighborhood / house) and to define pilot projects.
Looking at the current international, institutional, civic, and academic resonance, Aleppo currently seems to be a unique case of a growing community to care for its fate. Therefore, the authors and organizers hope to have contributed to raising further awareness towards remaining engaged for the sake of a city during times of heavy embattlement. This not only includes identifying a strategy to preserve social, economic, cultural, historic treasures that represent one outstanding example of humanity’s continuous settlement of cultures, but also identifies ways for ensuring that human settlements as battlegrounds
Outlook
The workshop’s results can be part of an ongoing discourse to keep activism ongoing and ali-
will be able to recover while being able to refer to its tangible and intangible culture and heritage.
151 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Outlook
For if not, another city is doomed to be transformed and its unique features of diversity and multi-layered history will be forgotten. â&#x2014;?
06 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Workshop Participants
154 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation IUSD Lab Stuttgart Team
Photo
Prof. Dr. Astrid Ley (Germany) SI Chair, IUSD Course Director Astrid holds a degree as graduate engineer in architecture and urban design from RWTH Aachen and a Ph.D. from the TU Berlin. Before joining University of Stuttgart as professor for international urbanism she held a position as an urban development research analyst at the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) and was a post-doc researcher in a DFG funded research project on “Housing for the Urban Poor: From Local Action to Global Networks” at the Habitat Unit, TU Berlin. email: astrid.ley@si.uni-stuttgart.de
IUSD Lab Stuttgart Team
IUSD Lab Stuttgart Team
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Dr. Anette Gangler (Germany) Associate Professor, University of Stuttgart Anette Gangler, architect and urban planner, holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. from from the University of Stuttgart. In the Near East, she has comprehensive knowledge and experience in numerous urban development projects and rehabilitation projects such as, for example, the interdisciplinary “Rehabilitation Project for the Historic City of Aleppo / Syria”. She is a board member of the association “Aleppo Friends”. email: anettegangler@yahoo.de
IUSD Lab Stuttgart Team
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Franziska Laue (Germany) IUSD Lab, M.Sc. IUSD Course Cooordination Since 2003, she has worked for projects in Germany, Syria, Burkina Faso, and Egypt. From 2007 – 2011, she worked for GIZ’s UDP in Aleppo. From 2008 until 2011, she worked as an international advisor setting up the “Urban Historic Archive and Documentation Center for Aleppo”. Since 2011, Franziska has remained involved in research and initiatives in the MENA region. Franziska is a board member of the association “Aleppo Friends”. email: franziska.laue@si.uni-stuttgart.de
Uni Stuttgart Team
IUSD Alumnus
Vertr. Prof. Dr. Josefine Fokdal (Denmark) SI Interim Chair, University of Stuttgart Josefine obtained her PhD in 2014 from the TU Berlin on the topic: Embodiment of the Urban-Relational Space in the Mega City of Guangzhou. Between 2009 and 2014 she taught and researched at the Habitat Unit, Department of International Urbanism at the TU Berlin. Her research and writings span the fields of spatial theory, housing, governance and rapid urbanization with a geographical focus on Asia.
Dietlinde Schmitt-Vollmer (Germany) University of Stuttgart, staff at IFAG Dietlinde studied art history, history, and literature at Munich University (LMU) and Würzburg University from 1981 on. She graduated with a Master’s degree in 1987 focusing on war destruction and socialist rebuilding in Poland. Since 2005, she has ocused her research on rebuilding cities after WW II-, in terms of reconstruction and new architecture. More recently, she worked on a conservation project with Tel Aviv, Israel and the German ministry, BMUB, from 2013-2015.
Mohamed Mahrous (Egypt) IUSD Alumnus, researcher Mohamed is a M.Sc. IUSD holder, has participated in urban research projects in Egypt, Tunisia, and Germany. He has worked as architect and urban designer on various largescale projects across the Middle East. He is interested in the socio-spatial relations within ethnically diverse communities.
email: Josefine.fokdal@si.uni-stuttgart.de
email: dietlinde.schmitt@ifag.uni-stuttgart.de
Photo
Research focus: Socio-spatial relations in urban contexts. email: Mahrous2@hotmail.com
155 — Workshop Participants IUSD Alumna
IUSD Alumna
Politecnico di Bari
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Prof. Dr. Annalinda Neglia (Italy) Politecnico di Bari Annalinda is assistant Professor in Landscape Architecture. She teaches urban morphology and landscape design for the southeastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cities. She is interested in urban and landscape sustainability based on inter-scalar consistency and cultural heritage preservation. Research focus: Sustainable Landscape and Urban Design.
Research focus: “Transforming the experience of Europe in social housing to reconstruction after disaster in Syria”.
Maram Shaban (Jordan) IUSD Alumna Maram obtained a M.Sc. degree in integrated urbanism and worked as an architect with UNRWA on the integrated planning of two Palestinian camps in Jordan. She is currently working in a private regional office focused on the Arab region concerning large-scale master plans and other social housing projects. She is interested in social/disaster planning, community-oriented projects, and the domains of refuge and power in planning and resettlement schemes- particularly in the case of the Palestinians.
email: Sana_ka2004@yahoo.com
email: Maram.shaban@gmail.com
Politecnico di Bari
Politecnico di Bari
Politecnico di Bari
Claudia TINTI (Italy) M.Sc. candidate at Politecnico di Bari Claudia has workshop experience in Iran about the creation of a lighting and urban master plan in Sadra city. She enjoys best working on graphic and rendering programs. She is interested in the history of architecture, archaeology, and urban planning.
Claudia Lella (Italy) M.Sc. candidate at Politecnico di Bari Claudia has workshop experience in Iran for a lighting and urban master plan in Sadra city. She enjoys best working on graphic programs such as Photoshop. She is interested in a approach based on a relationship between local culture and architecture and urban design.
Research focus: Industrial Archaeology
Research focus: Urban Planning and Developement.
Luca RENNA (Italy) M.Sc. candidate at Politecnico di Bari Luca worked in one architecture studio and in the workshop in Iran for the urban and lighting master plan of Sadra City. He participated in the YAC architecture contest for the project of a University campus on the Isle of Poveglia (Venice-Italy). He is interested in urban renewal and design.
Sana Kassouha (Syria) IUSD Alumna, PhD candidate Sana studied architecture at the University of Al-Bath in 2004. In 2014, she completed her M.Sc. IUSD at Stuttgart University. Her thesis was titled: “Towards a strategy for regaining cultural identity in the urban reconstruction of the war-ravaged city centre of Homs, Syria”. She has been a Ph.D. candidate since 2015.
email: claudia_tinti@libero.it
email: clouz.mnesicle@gmail.com
email: giuliaannalinda.neglia@poliba.it
Research focus: Urban renewal and urban design. email: rennaluca1@gmail.com
156 — IUSD Lab Workshop “Scenarios for Post-War Reconstruction in Aleppo” Documentation BTU Cottbus Senftenberg
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Christoph Wessling (Germany) BTU Cottbus Senftenberg, researcher Dipl.Ing. Urban Planner and Dipl.Ing. for Architecture. Christoph is Head and Scientific Coordinator of the Middle East Cooperation Unit (MEC), Institute of Urban Development and Design, University of Technology Cottbus. email: christoph.wessling@b-tu.de
BTU Cottbus Senftenberg
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Noura Alsaleh (Syria) BTU Cottbus, PhD candidate Noura is a graduate architect from Aleppo University with a M.Sc. in World Heritage Studies at BTU Cottbus. The year 2016 was the start of her doctoral dissertation at the chair of architectural conservation, as part of the “Zero Hour” project supported by the German Foreign Ministry. Research focus: Post-war Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage - The Old City of Aleppo. The relationship between cultural heritage and collective memory and identity.
BTU Cottbus Senftenberg
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Zeido Zeido (Syria) BTU Cottbus, PhD candidate Both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees are in architecture, and currently he is doing his doctorate under the chair of Urban planning at the BTU. His master’s research focused on the post-war reconstruction of Warsaw and Beirut, as well as urban identity issues. Research focus: Reclaiming the architectural heritage of Aleppo after the Syrian war. email: zeido@b-tu.de
email: Noura.alsaleh@hotmail.com
Independent Expert
Independent Researcher
Idependent Expert
Robert Templer (New Zealand) Professor of Practice, CEU Budapest Robert is director of the Aleppo Project at the Center for Conflict Negotiation and Recovery.
Abdelrazaq Moaz (Syria) Senior Scholar, University of Bonn, Annemarie Schimmel Kolleg Abdelrazaq is adjunct Professor at Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA (2013-present), Co-Director then Senior Advisor, ASOR Cultural Heritage Initiatives (July 2014 - Feb. 2016) USA www. asor-syrianheritage.org.; Head of Department, Deputy Dean, then Acting Dean of the Faculty of Architecture (20102012) at the Arab International University (The European University) (Syria); Deputy Minister of Culture (Syria), 2002-2007, Director General of Antiquities and Museums (Syria), 2000-2002.
Thierry Grandin (France) Architect, consultant to WMF Thierry Grandin is an architect (who has been) based in Aleppo, Syria, since 1982 and is registered with the Syrian Order of Architects and Engineers. Over the years, his company has executed various projects within the scope of our activities, through an association with high caliber international partners. The company has developed a professional team of experts with vast experience in planning, architecture, restoration and rehabilitation, and urban area development.
Research focus: On the political economy of urban reconstruction after war: How do cities get rebuilt and who controls those processes? How does corruption and factional politics shape urban redevelopment? How do foreign investors, aid organizations and local political groups interact in the processes of reconstruction and how does insecurity shape cities? email: TemplerR@spp.ceu.edu
email: am6212@gmail.com
email: grandinth@gmail.com
157 — Workshop Participants Independent Expert
Independent Expert
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Abdulaziz Hallaj (Syria) AUB, private consultancy Abdulaziz is a consultant on urban planning, development, and local governance. He is co-coordinator of the Syria Project at the Common Space Initiative in Beirut, where he is engaged in facilitating various dialogues and research projects for peace building and recovery planning in Syria. His professional and research work relates institutional, financial and political frameworks to the production of built environment. email: abdulaziz.hallaj@gmail.com
Zouka Karazon (Syria) Architect, currently giz - PSDP Cairo Zouka worked as a local and regional expert on the rehabilitation programs for Aleppo and Zabid (Yemen). Besides being a consultant to the UN Habitat, she was the Antiquities Delegate to the Rehabilitation Project of the Old City of Aleppo 1997 - 2000. In 2010, she was head of the Community Development Team Aleppo–Syrian Museums and Cultural Heritage Sites Transformation Project, Senior Program Officer, responsible for Aleppo Socio-economic Development Initiatives (ASDI).
Independent Researcher
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Lena Wimmer (Germany) Architect, working group Rebuilding Aleppo Lena is an architect, urbanist with her office in Berlin, and a researcher. The last time she was in Aleppo for research was in 2009, and her main focus is the research of the rebuilding Strategy/ Organisation. Therefore, she co-founded the working Group “ Rebuilding Aleppo*”. email: lenawimmer@lenawimmerarchitects.com
email: zouka.k@hotmail.com
Independent Researcher
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Nour Madi (Lebanon) American University of Beirut (AUB) Nour worked as a project engineer on the construction of a powerplant in KSA and as a site engineer in a private firm constructing residential buildings in Beirut. She is interested in large-scale sustainable alternatives for construction and demolition materials. Research focus: Recycling Syria’s Rubble – a GIS Based Framework for Recycling Construction and Demolition Materials. email: njm13@mail.aub.edu
Independent Researcher
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Independent Researcher
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Bashar Swaid (Syria) University of Calabria, Italy Bashar worked as an architect and team leader on the elaboration of the detailed master plan for illegal, expansion, and development areas in Damascus and Aleppo, in particular, he specialized in urban planning and environment projects. He is interested in the socio-economic role in city development.
Myriam Zaloum (Syria) Researcher Myriam worked as an architectural coordinator of large projects in the Arab Gulf, and in a private architecture firm for residential and mixed used buildings in Beirut. She is interested in sustainable urban planning and design, and in urban regeneration for historic centers.
Research focus: Developing Fractal Evolutionary Technique for Filling Urban Gaps in 3D models.
Research focus: The Old City of Aleppo.
email: bashar.swaid@unical.it
email: myriam.zaloum@gmail.com
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Elke Knöss (Germany) Independent / Peanutz Architekten Elke is an architect and worked on a variety of projects; housing, design of public space, in rural and urban contexts. She also engages in museum and exhibition design, e.g. „Space, Time, Dignity, Rights, Improving Palestinian Refugee Camps“ for the BMZ, UniversityStuttgart, UNRWA.
Muniru Nyei (Liberia) University of Stuttgart, M.Sc. MIP Candidate Muniru completed his Master’s degree in civil engineering at the University of Bologna in 2015. He is currently a M.Sc. candidate in the MIP program in Stuttgart
Research focus: spatial design with the focus on how to communicate urban concepts, archives ,and cultural memory.
email: Muniru.nyei@gmail.com
Research focus: Masonry structures.
Khaled Elmansi (Egypt) Architect, M.Sc. IUSD candidate Khaled worked as an architect for different offices with international and national scopes. He is teaching visual and conceptual design at the German University in Cairo. His strong interest is in the development of emergency architecture and urbanism. email: khalidmansy@hotmail.com
email: knoess@peanutz-architekten.de
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Rowa Elzain (Sudan/Oman) Architect, M.Sc. IUSD candidate During her bachelor degree in Urban Planning and Architecture, Rowa participated in workshops and internships in the field of architecture, design, marketing, robotics, landscape, and Urban design. This was followed by professional experience in sustainable zero energy housing design, construction and operation. In addition, she designs for building renovation and reuse with local contractors. email: elzainruaa@yahoo.com
Bassel AlHaffar (Syria) Architect, M.Sc. IUSD candidate Bassel obtained his Bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Arab International University in June 2013. In his professional career, he has participated in urban design, sustainable housing, and heritage conservation workshops, which have exposed him to new design issues and approaches. He was a volunteer at JCI-Egypt, Syrian Researchers Initiative. email: basselalhaffar@gmail.com
Sundus Sherif (Egypt) Architect, M.Sc. IUSD candidate Sundus was trained as an architect and has worked on various projects as part of an architecture office in Cairo. She has also worked on an upgrading project of the Al Assal informal settlement in Cairo. She then joined the German University in Cairo for 2 years as a teaching assistant. Sundus has also joined a number of international competitions and workshops. Her previous and current research interests include architecture and urban issues with a focus on Egypt. email: sundussherif@gmail.com
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Danny Khilla (Egypt) Architect, M.Sc. IUSD candidate Danny has his Bachelor’s degree from the MSA University in Architecture in 2014. He went on to work for IDD Landscaping for 4 months before going back to academia as a teaching assistant at MSA University before joining the IUSD. email: adibdanny@gmail.com
Amr Abotawila (Egypt) Architect, M.Sc. IUSD candidate Amr is concerned with working with local communities in informal areas and is a founding member of the “Public Committee to defend Imababa’s Land”. He is a senior researcher in the MADD Platform on the project “Maspero Parallel Participatory Project”, which is currently considered as the official project. He is also Assistant Researcher in the research book “Social Justice and Built Environment, Egypt Map”. Finally, he is the founder of “Cairo Walks” and “Dead Walls”, urban initiatives questioning the dominant urban narrative about Cairo. email: amrabotawila@gmail.com
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Isabell Enssle (Germany) M.Sc. Arch. candidate, University of Stuttgart Bella studies Architecture & Urban Planning at the University of Stuttgart, Germany and at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal in Durban, South Africa. In 2013, she attended the Ezbet Community Centre Workshop held in Ezbet Abu Qarn, Cairo, Egypt. Her Bachelor’s thesis widened her research on informal settlements in a design project for Tijuana, Mexico. Since participating in the “War and Reconstruction” seminar taught by Dr.-Ing. Schmitt-Vollmer, she has become interested in the topic of reconstruction and heritage preservation. email: bellaenssle@web.de
Student Participant
Mariem Brahmi (Tunisia) Landscape architect, M.Sc. IUSD candidate Mariem worked as a landscape engineer and designer for more than two years in Tunisia. She was in charge of preparing various landscape studies of different national and international projects as Darnah’s Industrial Zone in Libya, the Ras Tabia exchange in Tunis, and the technological park located in Sidi Thabet-ARIANA. During her engineering studies, she had the opportunity to establish research about sustainable cities, thus, her interests are in sustainability and urban planning. email: brahmi.mariem@gmail.com
07 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; References
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References (selection):
Bianca, Stefano. David, Jean-Claude. et.al. (1980) The Conservation of the Old City of Aleppo. UNESCO Report. Paris Bianca, Stefano (1984) Designing Compatibility between New Projects and the Local Urban Tradition. In Continuity and Change: Design Strategies for Large-Scale Urban Development. Margaret Bentley Sevcenko (ed). Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture. Bianca, Stefano (1987) The Bab Al-Faraj Project. In MIMAR 24: Architecture in Development. Singapore: Concept Media Ltd. Bianca, Stefano (2000): Urban Form in the Arab World, Zürich Bittar, Kamal (2002) Rehabilitation of the Old City of Aleppo, Doctoral Thesis City of Aleppo/ GTZ (1998): Development Plan Old City of Aleppo, Aleppo GIZ (2008) Toolkit for Urban Conservation and Development. Aleppo/ Berlin ICOMOS (1987) Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites, Venice 1964 ICOMOS: Charter for the Conservation of Historic Towns and Urban Areas, Washington Oikos Human Settlement Group, GTZ (2005) Old City of Aleppo Conser-
vation and Development Strategy, Berlin Project for the Rehabilitation of the Old City of Aleppo/ GTZ (1998) Guidelines for the Restoration and Renovation of the Old City of Aleppo, Aleppo Qudsi, Adli (1984) Aleppo: A Struggle for Conservation. In MIMAR 12: Architecture in Development 12, 20-23. Singapore: Concept Media Ltd UNESCO (2004) World Heritage Report No 11: Periodic Report and Regional Programme – Arab States 2000-2003, Paris UNESCO (n.d.) World Heritage Paper No. 9: Partnerships for World heritage Cities; Culture as a Vector for Sustainable Urban Development Maps: UNOSAT Damage maps (2016) available online: http://unosat-maps.web. cern.ch/unosat-maps/SY/ CE20130604SYR/UNOSAT_A3_Aleppo_Damage_Points_20150426.pdf (accessed 10.06.2016)
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Figures:
Figures 1 - 97: Sources as indicated under the respective figure numbers All other figures are provided by the IUSD Lab team: Franziska Laue and Anette Gangler Portraits on pages 154 159 were kindly provided by the workshop partcipants.
Abbreviations:
DOC GIS GIZ ICCROM ICOMOS IUSD MOA OCA UHADCA UNESCO WG
Directorate of the Old City Geographic Information System Gesellschaft fĂźr Internationale Zusammenarbeit International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property International Council on Monuments and Sites Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design (M.Sc. Program) Municipality of Aleppo Old City Directorate Urban Historic Archive and Documentation Center for Aleppo United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Working Group
MSc Integrated Urbanism & Sustainable Design (IUSD) www.iusd-program.net
ISBN 978-3-00-055729-3