ARCHITECTURE RE-INTRODUCED:
NEW PROJECTS
IN SOCIETIES IN
CHANGE
EDITED BY
JAMAL ABED
THE AGA KHAN AWARD FOR ARCHITECTURE
Architecture Re-introduced:
New Projects in Societies
in Change
Jamal Abed, ed.
Regional seminar held in the department of Architecture and design at the American University of Beirut
November 1999
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture
Hana Alamuddin, Seminar Organizer
Fadi Zghreib, Cover Photography
Designed by Barbara Cipriani
Contents
007 List of Participants
Opening ceremony
009 Opening remarks by Suha Ozkan
011 Lecture by Charles Correa
Session1 :Urban design and Architecture in Lebanon
022 Introduction by Rifat Chadirji
023 The genesis of Modern Architecture in Beirut, 1840-1940 by Robert Saliba
035 Renewal of central Beirut: The BCD Master Plan and the shaping of architectural form
by Angus Gavin
042 The Architectural Profession in Lebanon by Assem Salam
045 Notes on the Art of Selling Cities: Urban Design Strategies in the New Downtown Beirut by Jamal Abed
Session 2 :Urban design and Architecture in Gulf Arabic countries
055 Introduction byTalal Akili
056 Opening comments by Assem Salam
059 Architecture in Saudi Arabia by Basem Shihabi
062 Contemporary architecture of Bahrain by Ahmed Bucheery
070 Kuwait Contemporary Architecture by Osama Al Duaig
072 Aspects of the Modern Arab/Islamic City: Architecture and Urban Fabric in Abu Dhabi by Abbad Al Radi
077 Architecture Re-introduced: New Projects in Dubai-United Arab Emirates by Rashad Bukhash
Session 3: Urban design and Architecture in Egypt and Bilad Al-Shem
079 Introduction by Nader Ardalan
080 Contemporary Architecture in Egypt by Ashraf M. A. Salameh
101 Architecture and Urban Developments on the Central Lebanese Coast by Eric Huybrechts
104 The Architecture Experience in Jordan During the Nineties by Bilal Hammad
107 Architecture of the Nineties in Iraq by Suad A. Ali Mehdi
114
Contemporary Architecture in Syria by Maan Chibli
List of
participants
Abbad Al-Radi
Iraqi architect, partner of the firm
Planar, Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates
Jamal Abed
Assoc. Professor, Department of
Architecture and Design, American
University of Beirut
Selma Al-Radi
Iraqi archaeologist, director of the
‘Amiriya Madrasa rstoration, Rada’,
Yemen; member of the Steering
Committee of the Aga Khan Award for
rchitecture
Amyn Ahamed
Information officer, Segretariat of his
Highness The Aga Khan, Gouviex,
France
Talal Akili
Dean, Faculty of Architecture,
University of Damascus, Syria
Hana Alamuddin
Principal, Al Mimariya Architects and
Designers, Beirut; lecturer at the
American University of Beirut
Mohammad Al-Asad and Mrs Reem
Aslan
Director, Centre for the Study of the
Built Environment, Amman, Jordan
Osama I. Al-Duaij
Director of the Department of
Environmental Affairs, Municipality of
Kuwait
Abdullah Al- Hadrami
Restoration architect in private practice,
Sana’a, Yemen
Sultan Al-Harithy
Director General, Muscat Planning,
Ministry of Housing, Oman
Suad Ali Mahdi
Assistant Professor, School of
Architecture, Baghdad University, Iraq
Shiraz Allibhai
Education and Culture programme
officer, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture,
Geneva, Switzerland
Georges Arbid
Architect in private practice, Beirut;
doctoral candidate in design, Harvard
University, USA
Nader Ardalan and Mrs. Shahla
Ardalan
Iranian architect, Senior Vice President
and Director of Design, KEO
International Consultants,Kuwait
Khaled Asfour
Architect and professor at Misr
International University, Cairo, Egypt
Ahmed Bucheery
Managing Director, Gulf House
Engineering Architects and Engineers,
Manama, Bahrain
Rashad M.Bukhash
Head of historical Buildings Section,
Dubai, United ArabsEmirates
Rifa Chadirji
Iraqi Architect, Director of the Chadirji
Research Centre, London, Uk
Maan Chibli
Associate Professor, Faculty of
Architecture, University of Aleppo, Syria
Professor Charles Correa and Mrs.
Monica Correa
Indian architect in private practice,
Bombay; member of the Steering
Commitee of the Aga Khan Award for
Architecture
Eleanor Curtis
Writer and phtographer, London, UK
Peter Davey
Editor, “The Architectural Review”,
London, UK
Habib Debs
Principal, Urbi Architects and Planners,
Beirut; lecturer at ALBA University
Farrokh Derakhshani
Iranian architect, Director of Award
Procedures, The Aga Khan Award for
Architecture, Geneva, Switzerland
Angus Gavin
Planning advisor of the Chairman,
Solidère, Beirut
Samir Ghawi
Head of Architecture Section, Order
of Engineers and Architects, Beirut
Bilal Hammad and Mrs. Nida’
Massannat
Architect in private practice, Amman,
Jordan
Mohammad Harajli
Acting Dean, Faculty of Engineering
and Architecture, American University
of Beirut
Eric Huybrechts
French Architect, Direct. for Centre for
the Study and Reconstruction of Beirut
Abdel Halim Jabr
Partner, Bawader Architects, Beirut;
lecturer at the American University of
Beiriut
Ibrahim M. Jaidah
Arab Engineering Bureau, Doha, Qatar
Sany Jamal
President of the Architectural
Association, Beirut; partner, Rais &
Jamal Architects and Engineers, Beirut
Ali Fawaz Maher
Director, Darat al -Funun, Abdul
Hameed Shoman Foundation, Amman,
Jordan.
Azim Naji and Mrs.Razia Naji
Director, The Institute of Ismaili Studies,
London, UK; member of the Steering
Committee of the Aga
Khan Award for Architecture
Domenico Negri
Italian Architect, architectural consultant
to the Government of Qatar, Doha
Suha Özkan
Turkish architect, Secretary general of
the Aga Khan Award for Architecture
Attilio Petruccioli
Professor, Faculty of Architecture, Bari
Polytechnic Institute, Italy
Jay Randle and Mrs. J. Randle
Chair, College of Architecture and
Design, American University of
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Assem Salam
President of the Organisation of Arab
Architects, Beirut
Ashraf M.A. Salama
Assistent Professor of Architecture, AlAzhar University, Cairo; Acting Head,
Department of Architecture, Misr
International University
Basem Shihabi
Director, Omrania & Associates
Architects and Planners, Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia
Ali Shuaibi
Saudi Arabian architect, Beach Group
Consultants, Riyadh; member of the
Steering
Commitee of the Aga Khan Award for
Architecture
Jafar Tukan
Architect in private practice, Amman
Jordan
Els van der Plas
Director, Prince Claus Fund for Culture,
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Omar Youssef
Architect in private practice, Palestine
Opening ceremony
Opening Remarks
Suha Özkan, Secretary General of The Aga Khan Award of Architecture
It was late 1970’s, if I may take you to
encouraged to educate younger architects
those days, you will remember that the
and established the program with the
modern movement was severely and
Harvard university and MIT. This joint
probably unfairly criticized in the book
program was the first in the history of these
called Form Follows Fiasco. The book
two gigantic universities. At the same time
accused the modern movement to allow
they launched a journal which has a wider
people to build carelessly and wipe out
scope than the Islamic world. It was called
our cities. At the same time, there was a
Architecture and Development. These
movement, which had shallow ethics as
activities grew and soon after the first cycle
far as architecture is concerned - post-
of the award I joined the award and worked
modernism -, which basically said anything
there and it has been 18 years, which I
would go as long as there is a meaning
have been working there with tremendous
and relevance to the context and the
commitment and pride. But it was basically
people. As these two movements were
due to the people whom I worked with,
fighting in the field, His Highness the Aga
the people in the committee, the people
Khan came up with an idea of developing
in the master jury, the people in the
an architectural exemplary process. He
technical review and the wide selection
founded the biggest architectural prize;
range of nominators who carry the
probably the biggest price on earth until
volunteers spirit of the award- 700 of them
now. Five hundred thousands US Dollars
from all over the world. His Highness is
are offered for the exemplary works of
interested in architecture because it is the
contemporary architecture.
most developed form of expression in art
of the Muslim history. On top of it,
This initiative had its roots very well thought
architecture carries the potential of being
out. I am very happy to have two of the
a melting pot to all kinds of expression
founding members here Nader Ardalan
from painting to sculpture, from space
and Charles Correa who were in the first
configuration to construction. Furthermore,
committee and who set the processes of
it has the potential of absorbing the social
evaluating architecture with some in-depth
and cultural issues at the same time.
meaning. This organization basically
attempted to look at the positive, look at
In 1988, His Highness established the
the accomplishments, look at the
interventionist institution that basically
achievements, and look at the world to
does exemplary works such as the history
find examples to show to the architect.
city support program. This program carries
The architectural community embraced it,
projects in northern Pakistan, Cairo,
almost immediately. Because the first set
Mostar, Samarkand, and recently in Syria.
of awards given in Lahore in 1980 had an
The goal of this group of people is to show
array of 15 solutions, covering 15 of various
the economics and the viability of the
aspects of meaningful and cultural relevant
cultural heritage to be restored and to be
architecture, His Highness was
operated by the people themselves for
009
their own good use and benefit in order
In the Arab world, recently, we had a
to reinforce their existence and their
seminar of this sort in Amman and we
identity in their settlement. The program
had another one last year but with a limited
in Harvard and MIT has been launched
context in Cairo. This year we had a
since 1981-1982. It has grown in leaps
meeting of this sort in Baker in Azerbaijan
and bounds. You just heard that the
and this would be the last meeting of this
graduates are all over the place and
sort. I am very much encouraged to see
Lebanon have a record number of PIA
that this time all members of my current
graduates, which is very encouraging and
steering committee namely Charles
pleasing. This program carries centers in
Correa, Azim Nanji, Selma EL-Radi have
Karachi and Amman for years. Now, it is
volunteered to be here. We also have
on the threshold of making its
among us one of the first members to the
achievements and collections widely
committee Nader Ardalan who also is
available to all schools of architecture
participating. Also we are much honored
and to all architects all over the world
to have Mr. Rifat Chardigi to be with us.
through a big project –the ARCHNET.
So I will not talk too much to let you know
Archnet will be operational soon. It will
about this seminar, and I am asking Mr.
probably be launched towards the end of
Rifat Chardigi to come and take the chair
next year through the Internet. So
and start the discussion right away.
whatever has been accomplished and
collected and evaluated in the processes
of Aga Khan transport culture and
programs in Harvard and MIT would be
available to everyone.
The Award itself has many aspects the
most important of which is to evaluate
and give the Award. This is done always
through an independent jury. This
independent jury is selected by the
steering committee of the award that is
chaired by His Highness himself. On top
of it is the thinking process: how do we
establish our links with the field? How do
we think? And from the very beginningeven before the establishment of the
award itself- there was a meeting in Paris,
which discusses the tenants of
architecture for the Muslim world. Then,
there was a meeting in Istanbul on the
cultural heritage and we had global
international seminars. But since 1982,
we started small meetings like this one
bringing regional expertise to establish
and form links among the people who
work more or less in the same context.
We had all these meetings to redefine
themes but on top of it we encouraged
any problem or any accomplishment to
be voiced here and shared with the other.
010
Charles Correa
Transcribed Lecture
Order of Engineers and Architects- Beirut
Introduction by Sany Jamal
assemblies- all too numerous to enumerate
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. The
here. Charles Correa was born in
task of introducing celebrities is not an
Skanderabad in 1930; he is married since
easy one, particularly when the celebrity
1961, has 2 children, and lives in Bombay,
in question is none other than the eminent
India. Mr. Correa got his masters degree
architect-planner Charles Correa. As many
from MIT in 1958; his professional
of you may already know, Charles Correa
experience from 1958 till today is carried
is an Indian architect and a major
in private practice…
international figure in architecture and
Charles Correa: Professor of Architecture, Indian
Architect in private practice, Bombay; member of
the Steering Committee of the Aga Khan Award
of Architecture
planning. As a practitioner, artist, and
Charles Correa
theoretician, Prof. Correa is known for the
Thank you really for inviting my wife and
wide range of architectural work in India,
me here to Beirut. It’s a place we always
studies on urbanization and low cost
wanted to come to. Thirty years ago, every
shelter in the third world, which he
aerial flight leaving Bombay would stop in
articulated in his 1985 publication "the
Beirut or Cairo and then go on to Rome
New Landscape." His architectural designs
but we never got off the plane, and we
have been internationally acclaimed and
thought next time we will stop but we never
he has received many awards. His
did. And then the war broke out and we
intelligent design response to climate and
couldn't come; and now you have this
location is evident throughout his work,
wonderful conference. I think, and that
as is his attention to movement through
goes for many of us, all those years we
space and changes of light. His concern
heard the most wonderful things about
for India's poor led him to regard people
Beirut. In fact once a friend of us who lived
and space as resources and to device
in Beirut sent us a whole case of your
many schemes for low-rise, high-density
wine and it was terrific; so now we must
housing intended to provide equity in the
tell them that all the things we heard about
built environment. He has written
Beirut are really true. Because we have
eloquently about housing in town planning
been here for only 24 hours it's a very
and worked to demonstrate his ideas in
superficial judgment. But really, it is a
developing new Bombay. Correa moves
marvelous city. It has scale it has this
easily from the housing for the
landscape that is all the time moving. And
underprivileged to hotels, public offices
then it has this energy. These buildings
and cultural centers. His creative use of
that you are rebuilding, and the feeling
imageries to project a central idea has
one has that I know that you have at the
marked much of his recent works. His
moment- a kind of set back in your building
dramatic flavor is matched by his interest
schedule- but a feeling that it is landing
in universal models as represented by
on its feet. Once more you have this ability,
Mandala's Hindu or Buddhist Cosmic
which must have been there through the
diagrams- literary interpreted in his
centuries, for the people to survive. They
buildings to express the deep variation
survived with grace and you survived again
between museums, industrial plants, office
with a style. Now it seems to me that
buildings, university campuses, housing
buildings that are rebuilt are practical; they
schemas, urban master plans and state
are useful. I am sure they will be functional;
011
Charles Correa
but perhaps we should expect a building
As it does, I think we become stronger. I
interests me very much how an earth stone
to be expressing something about
think India is like a palm: you know a set
can represent something very metaphysical
ourselves. I think that is very very important.
of transparent layers of myths, different
in your mind. Now to do this I think it’s not
I think Winston Churchill of all people- I
myths that are layered through the
just a question of looking at history but it
am not an admirer of Churchill- but his
centuries.
is trying to understand something the
sentence is really very good. You must
society likes in a fundamental way. It's
have heard it. He said: “we build our
So today I thought I will try to tell you
something which I heard Louis Kahn calling
buildings and than our buildings build us."
something about India and working there
volume zero. He was talking to some
So it's very very important what we build.
as an architect. You can see what is
students at Penn and [I don't know exactly
relevant to you and what is totally irrelevant.
the sentences but it goes very much like
The problem of modern life, not just here
One of the things in India is that the issues
this] he said: "I love English history, he
but all over the world is that we tend to
are huge; I mean they are really much
said I love the bloodlines of it;” he said: “I
build very banal things and then we
bigger than any of us. They vary from the
have 8 volumes at home which I love
complain about the banality of life. But
most particular like squatters; what do you
reading;” and then he says” “actually I have
there is very little expression of what are
do when half of Bombay actually is living
not read all 8, I have read the first;” and
the values of that society. I think just a
illegally, half of Delhi, half of Rio de
then he said: “I haven’t even read the whole
month ago at the conference of architects,
Janeiro... These are epic issues. Big issues
of the first volume, I just read the first few
Suha mentioned the president of Iran.
actually are an advantage because just in
pages;” and then he said: “I don't think
Without notes he said something like: “in
the act of addressing them we have the
history started the way they say it started,
order to build architecture, we must not
chance to grow. So, although there are
it started before that, I want to read Volume
copy a past, nor must we copy other
tremendous frustrations, believe me, living
Zero." I think that is so elegant; that it is
people's present." And then I think he said:
in India and working in India, I am sure
so true. I think he goes on to say
“we must make our own future." That is
here also, will build frustration. But I am
architecture is magnificent because it deals
really wonderful. If you think about it; a
sure the frustration is not so bad. In fact,
with the recesses of the mind with that
man like Frank Lloyd Right; he is in Chicago
it gives you the chance to grow. I often
which is not said and not yet made. That
in 1890 onwards; he invented the way
think of what you produced at the beginning
is really beautiful and it is really the strength
Americans were going to live for 100 years.
of the century compared to what they are
of someone like Aalto who could make a
Houses in America come as a handed-
producing today architecturally. At the
totally modern building yet it speaks
down version of Right. Mythic imagery,
beginning of the century, you had a house,
eloquently of Finland. Or Le Corbusier of
you know the 2 steps after the dinning
you had so many things: tremendous
the Mediterranean: it is reaching that
area, the picture window, the car park, etc.
energy on the arts and architecture and
volume zero; and if we do not reach volume
How did Right do this? Not because he
it's not a matter of talent. I think God
zero then we should try. I mean in the
looked at the history and looked off history
distributes talent equally the way he
cultures in which we live, architecture
but because he understood intuitively what
distributes rainfall.
becomes an empty gesture of invention-
Americans wanted to become. That is very
either as a kind of wild geometry or as a
important. So it seems to me that
So I think we, who are living in a developing
fashion. But with volume zero of course
architecture just doesn't talk about the
part of the world, are [I don't know if you
everything changes. So I put together some
history; of course you must know about
feel living in a developing part of the world
slides so we can discuss what can be the
what you were, but it's what you want to
because for me you look so affluent driving
volume zero in the context of India.
become. This is very relevant to us in India.
in the city] developing and that's a
India is a large country. I am always
tremendous advantage of having to face
So the question is what would be volume
embarrassed to tell you how big. It's a
issues, fundamental issues because they
zero in the context of India and to some
1000 millions people as of last week! That's
go from the most practical to the most
extent I would say some of these things
about 300 times bigger than you are, and
metaphysical– that is one of the
would be relevant to you here?
it is many many different cultures. In a way
characteristics of architecture.
I start with this slide which is a typical
that is part of the richness I think. I am
I am trying to show you that in India it
courtyard. It is in Spain. It could be here
sure that all of us who go to America find
always was, and I think here too, it was a
in Beirut. It could even be in many other
that it is many different people. To the
metaphysical issue of creating, of making
places in Greece or India or China. It shows
extent that we are pluralistic our
a model of the cosmos. A model of the
a set of rows around an open space, which
architecture should express this pluralism.
deepest things you believe in, and it
is open to the Godly sky. It has something
012
Untitled lecture
interesting. All the rooms look again and
architectural implications.
again at the same set, at the same scene;
Here for instance we see a building, thisis
and instead of the scene becoming boring,
Mies in Chicago. This is the Chapel at IIT.
it becomes more and more interesting as
You see it closed and sealed because of
you see it from different rooms, and from
the cold weather. It is completely different
different angles.
from the picture on your right. Here one
is either inside or outside. There is a base
Here is another courtyard from Bombay,
and the building has a front door and one
a Roman courtyard and it is highly formal
sees the inside when he is outside.
and very monumental. But is working in
the same way; but here it is even more
Now if I show you a building, this is in
clear the importance of the open sky
Oudaypur. It is completely different building
above, the rooms around, and then what
because it comes from another volume
you call the axis of the universe going
zero. There you don't know when you are
from the earth up to the sky above. This
inside the building or when you are out of
courtyard, this kind of typology where you
it. It’s very ambiguous as you step in and
are looking at empty space which
out to the places you get changes of the
generates a kind of energy of course, is
light, of movement of air, and all this makes
central to many things, including the
architecture. And anyone who has been
Mandala. I remember Hassan Fathi talking
to any place around all the way from here
about the Arab house and said: “all day
to Isfahan, to Delhi, to China, to Japan
the Arab lives with sand crossing the desert
would know the importance of this kind of
and would see nothing but the
experience. Another thing I want you to
formlessness of sand and then in the
notice here is that architecture is an
evening comes to this house- his mud
architectural gesture which captures pieces
house in the desert. And then, in the
of the sky. In fact that's what makes it
courtyard in the center, suddenly the air
evocative. There is an end of the straight
becomes very cool. It’s like the blessing
line. He doesn't want that sky because
of Allah. Because the deep penetration of
probably it's so cold in Chicago that you
the outer space the Arab walks, sits into
wouldn't want to be reminded of that. I am
the courtyard, and sees above in the night
not being critical of this, I am trying to say
sky this incredible pattern of stars. It is the
that the tragedy of we starting importing
exact opposite of what he has been seeing
these buildings into places like Beirut or
all day…” Now I think when this goes on
Bombay or Singapore which is what is
in thousands of years, it must have worked
happening. This was made for another
through the consciousness of the people,
climate and for another cultural condition.
Ghandi memorial, Sabarmati Ashram,
Ahmedabad, India (1958-63).
into the deep structure.
I want to show you some of the projects
This fence is in West Africa and you can
we did starting with one of my earliest
see people sitting under a big tree under
ones: this was a memorial to Mahatma
the open sky, these are the elders in the
Gandhi. And this is Gandhi’s own house.
village and the whole village was just some
As you can see, it got two rooms and it
mud houses but it is structured by the
has a little courtyard at the back. Gandhi
roots of this tree. So this is why in India,
spends most of his time in this veranda
but not just in India, in most of Asia, the
or in the courtyard. He has two pairs of
idea of the Guru sitting under the tree is
sandals, then a pair of spectacles, and
very important. It's the way you find
then a watch, and then two bowls, and
enlightenment; it is not the little red
three monkeys speak no evil, etc. And I
schoolhouse of North America. It is the
thought that is very touching and I felt we
open space; and this has tremendous
should try to express these, they are very
Tube houses, Ahmedabad, India (196162).
013
Charles Correa
human scale and the humanity of this
endogenous housing. This is from Pakistan.
any computer to analyze it so it was done
man. But using the same materials he
These are the wonderful wind-catcher
purely by the experience of the structural
used in his house: that tiled roof, stone
houses; you got the wind coming in,
engineer to decide how much concrete to
floors, and the brick walls. But using them
humidified, and then used inside the rooms.
spend on. In India one gets the chance to
with our own voice because I don't think it
It's really like a machine for living but a
experiment.
was a question of copying what he built.
wonderfully evocative thing and this
It was built in his time. So what we've made
impressed me very much when I was a
This is a house; we are again with the
here was a center of Gandhi studies, a
young architect. And the other of course
same principle of working in a hot dry area.
kind of memorial museum and it's using
is the Bangalo and it is meant for the hot
This is in Rajestar. You all know I think,
the same tiled roof but they are put in a
humid areas which would be more like
that a house around a courtyard is really
pattern, which is quite formal yet, very
Beirut, I don't know if Beirut is this dry but
the nicest thing you can do because you
narrative. It's a long narrative of moving
this would be more relevant, I'll try to show
can step out to the courtyard in the evening.
easily, symmetrically, and generally laid
some examples of this.
The problem is that by evening the roof
around some water. And these places you
has become very hot and if you make a
move through, as we said just now, are
This was some housing I did in 1961 in a
thick roof then it takes longer to get hot
ambiguous; some of them are enclosed to
competition which we won. They wanted
but it still gets hot and heats the rooms
include letters or photographs or books.
apartments but we found that we should
late at night. That is why people sleep in
And those places can grow. You can extend
get the same density with narrow tube
courtyards. So better than making a thick
the building as more letters are found.
houses like this where the hot air by the
roof is to put on a second roof to protect
very shape of the roof you got the hot air
the first and this one can be very light. It
This is the kind of courtyard we have. We
rising and getting out from there. The
can be in bamboo and maybe painted
don't have any windows. We have these
mezzanines become automatically a bed
white and then they would reflect about 70
kinds of louvers so the light can go through;
and a desk and you save on the window
or 80% of the sun energy and keep this
and this is the space where you would
by closing the courtyard with plants up
thing shaded. So then I realize that if you
have the letters but out here you just walk
there. So it's a very small kind of house.
raise this roof then you could create rooms
through these kinds of spaces. Now
These were the prototypes, which are
up here. And this whole project was never
because of this kind of thing, very poor
clustered together. Now the same principles
built but it had a big effect on us in the
people feel free to enter the building, they
were used for a much lavished house for
ideas that you could get this kind of long
don't feel intimidated, and I think that is
Melona.
houses because there it was going to be
nice. I should point one thing, one element
built of stones which actually spans 10
we added over here was the channel which
This was in 1961 or 1962. Here, you've
feet, this is in Kortania in Jaipur. And from
you see here. The whole vocabulary is
got a number of these tubes; they can
it we developed. This is the idea of built
using the same material but in a completely
control the rising worm air that goes out
houses, which have a section, which is
different way. This is the extra element,
from the top.
closing, like this. A section you can use in
the concrete channel, it's in the water but
the afternoon in the summer and then you
it also accesses the beam so you can
These come from experiments we did. It
have a section which opens up you can
extend the building. So you then get these
was a crazy thing in 1961 to do. I forgot
use in the evening or in the winter when
kinds of spaces one can move through.
we've done this. The other day some
you want the sunlight. I don't know what
students pulled it out and made a big poster
Beirut's climate is but it may have these
Now I'll continue to show you how we resort
out of it because they say this kind of
moments in the course of the year; perhaps
to the past but in a way to reinvent it. I'll
architecture is back in fashion and you
even in the course of the day. So in this
show you some examples from very early
should know it. But it wasn't meant to be
house you've got three bays and one bay
work where I tried to deal with climate.
fashionable. It was meant exactly to see
is a winter section, one the central bay is
One of the very important aspects, working
what we were talking about: how you would
a summer section and the third bay is the
in a place like India, is housing. It's not just
use a mega construction, which in itself
kitchen and bathroom and all the services.
a question of designing museums and
would be its ventilator. So you have a thing
other special buildings. I have really spent
here where you enter through here and
These are the elevations of the house.
a lot of time thinking about housing and I
you go through that. You can imagine and
This is just finishing construction. This is
imagine you do that too. I love these two
get out. You can see the section; the whole
done in 1965 which of course
examples. These are absolutely
thing was built as random. They didn't want
diagrammatically shows the sections.
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Untitled lecture
against the sun and the rain. This is the
It should have grown faster; we wanted
Now I'd like to switch to the other prototype
close up of a typical terrace. Standing on
them to move capital there but at least
I showed you - the Bangalo. This one is
the terrace you could see the terrace on
it's taking off and the bridges have been
for hot humid climate. As you know, they're
the corner and it's about six meters height
built etc. By doing things where you're not
very common in parts of southern India
to the terrace above; the living dining
just putting poor people here, we have
and Southeast Asia and Brazil. It's really
room is here; the study, and then you
generated jobs here, there is mass
a house where you've got these rooms,
come back to two more bedrooms.
transport. There are many issues, I don't
living, dining, bedrooms, etc. and then
Because of the way your eyebrows work
want to go into that; I just wanted to touch
verandas around protecting them. And
you don't see this so much and you think
on one thing and that is housing. How do
this is much better because it doesn't heat
you are in the open space. Open to sky
you house people at a price they can
and you can double as circulation. So you
space is very much part of volume zero.
afford? This is the income distribution in
can see you have master spaces using
I shall return to this. And you see the
Bombay; it's an old figure. The figures
Kant's terminology and subsidiary spaces.
bedrooms. They are overlooking the same
have changed because of inflation but
So we did a series of apartments. This is
space. This is the double-line defense to
one figure hasn't changed: that of 40% of
an apartment house with 3 units. You can
the outside; so if it's a very hot day you
the people living below poverty line. This
see the main living room, 2 bedrooms,
can move back in here. This is the building
is frightening; it means all the buildings.
kitchen, etc. But what we tried to do is to
here and this is Bombay; and that's the
What I am showing you would apply to
make a version of this where you have
sea out there; and that is where the breeze
the top 10% and maybe some 16% of the
the main room, the veranda, and the study.
comes from. Now this use of the open to
people are living in this. These people
By sliding panels this way you can then
sky space has other very practical
have to live the way we saw and I was
connect this veranda to the bedrooms; or
advantages. For instance, Bombay is a
made the chief architect for New Bombay
you slide it this way so it connects to the
city on water, it is a high-rise city and it
in the first few years and I had the
living room. So the living room can use
has this tremendous amount of population
opportunity to try and look at this issue.
all the space and the parents and children
which I told you about where you get a
How can we have cities, which we can
can use that and you can keep varying
city today of eleven million people of which
afford to live in?
this and it gives very interesting kind of
about 6 million people are living like this.
spaces because the spaces are kind of
If you have time to go one day you can
Then I found the use of open-to-sky
couple spaces which will lead one into
see the horror of such a thing. These
space, which we were talking about. It
the other. In this respect, one set of spaces
people are very human people and they
has tremendous practical things in this
actually protects the one behind. So in
are really not muggers or anything of this
problem of housing the poor because you
doing that, I realize that if only the space,
sort. They work with their hands. It is just
see this mud village and people have this
this outer zone, if you make it double
that the city doesn't have space for them.
one little room but they also have a
height than it could become a garden and
What is frightening about this life, to my
courtyard. Here in Nepal and in Katmandu,
it could use the sun and the rain for it to
mind, is this discontinuity between the
you can see that this kind of use of open
grow. So by protecting these spaces you
way well-to-do or even the middle-class
space moves into the public space too. If
were doing something useful and if you
lives and the other half of people who
you look at the housing, if you look at this
did double height and single height here
lives like this. So it's like 2 different planets.
family, they have this room, they have this
you could interlock them.
In the old days in India, there was
space they can use for cooking, you can
continuity, it was a bigger house but it
see here but they also use it for sleeping
So here we got to Bombay which is a very
was the same kind of thing. Now in India,
at night and for the children to play etc.
high-rise city. I found that we could have
the great danger is this split which you
So they can use it for about 70% of the
2 levels on one side, one on the other, 2
see in Rio de Janeiro and many other
essential things in life. Making this room
here one on the other, sometime 2 here
places. This is Lagos. It is not only a
has a production cost. It costs so much
and 2 on the side. So you could go from
human problem or a moral problem; it is
mud or so much concrete etc. Making this
3 bedrooms to about 6 bedrooms, this
also a political problem.
courtyard has also a production cost, it
was done in the early 70's. Now it's doing
uses so much of urban land, which means
something else of course. Every
One of the things we did is to finally
apartment goes all the way from the east
convince the government to go ahead
services, etc.
to the west, which is the breeze direction
with new Bombay; this was 20 years ago,
The tradeoff between these 2 costs and
in Bombay. You have two lines of defense
now it's about 20 million people.
the usability gives you the optimal housing.
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Charles Correa
least, an open-to-sky space has a
wonderful quality that it’s a kind of system
This question may not be so useful to you
issue here too. In this case, this is Saint-
but for us it was crucial.
Louis, and these are houses of about 18m
in any town, in any culture. It would vary
height and about 7m deep and they get
from culture to culture with the climate but
This is only a diagram. The question is
open spaces for parking and for air to go
it means that the space in the courtyard,
how much land we are using by having
through. If you push these buildings down
the space in the threshold, the space of
low rise but human-scale housing. In this
so if they fell on their face, they would
the community and there is the space of
diagram which is purely a diagram, it's a
have enough space for each of them to
the whole city, what we call the "maydan"
5 minutes walk, half a mile or 3/4 kilometer
fall down, there is enough space and then
and you call the "medan" I think. There a
square and that's a railway station. You
you'll get housing like this. I think this is
tradeoff between these spaces, a place
can get 25000 people on either sides,
from Saudi Arabia. It is a traditional village
like the Kasba in Algiers or the town of
50000 people all together and you keep
and it's stunning because I would imagine
Mikonos in Greece, there is hardly any
30 m2 in the open spaces which what we
the densities here are higher than there
space like this; in fact none; but that space
thought the average for the Indian climate
or at least the same and this is about 6m
is given at the terrace and courtyard level.
and culture in Bombay at least. Now if I
high housing and every space is
So it's a very human place to study. In
want to double that density to 50000 on
personalized and usable whereas the
some other town you might get a lot of
either side, you have to go to 4 stories, or
spaces here are unusable all except for
space over here and less in this area but
5 stories. I think that's the point why you
parking. This is in Mikonos; but you can
the main thing is to realize that housing is
see much of the housing here in Beirut. If
see when you desegregate the space how
not just this box but it's all these other
you wanted to double it again, you will
usable it becomes. So if ever one has a
spaces. Now that you are rebuilding Beirut,
have to go to 20 stories and on the scale
bill of rights for housing in a place like
I am sure you're keeping this in mind but
of the city, this is what happened on the
India, the house has to be incremental. It
it's tremendously important.
housing area so you are going from ground
can grow; it should be pluralistic; it should
floor to 4 stories, to 20 stories just to double
be many kinds of houses. People should
This is just an attempt here to try and do
to four times. On the scale of the city you
participate in the planning and in the
this in New Bombay. These are very high
are not saving much land. I think this
construction so they can generate income.
densities, a least for us, of 500 people per
diagram was made by Lesley Martin at
There should be equity; that's equality;
hectare with schools; but we started a
the time of the English new towns of the
and they should be open to the sky-space.
small unit of 7 houses which are built
50's and he showed that only 1/3 of the
Then finally, desegregation means that
around a courtyard of about 8 meters. The
city is used for housing. So if you double
you don't try to make some solution for
houses don't touch each other. They can
the density of the housing, which means
everything.
be built around 2 boundaries so that they
when you go from 4 stories to 20 stories
can grow independent from each other
you will not save much for your city of
I must quote Hassan Fathi again. He says
and they have cross-ventilation. There
Beirut. On the other hand, if you double
"no architect should design more than 12
size is about 55 to 75 m2 so you get a
the densities you might have quite a
houses", I don't know how he arrived at
kind of equity and continuity from the
different life style in the housing.
12 at a time and he said "if you take the
poorer people to the richer people. Now
greatest surgeon in the world and ask him
you get a cluster of 7 houses like that.
What is said is that we don't see that, we
to operate on 200 people in one day he
That is the basic cluster and you see that
don't realize that we are not saving much
has to kill them all.” So I think we must
you can repeat them to 3 clusters and
land for the city and we build building
understand what danger and damage we
then you repeat it again, etc. You finally
which really got to do with having this kind
do when we design 1000 houses in one
get the town which gets about 6 families
of repetition of high-rise. We think we are
day or one year.
and this density, I told you, of 500 people
getting higher densities, we are not
per hectare with the schools and open
actually. This slide, I show very often, it is
Anyway, if the architecture is malleable
spaces, etc. The typologies goes all the
in Saint-Louis; I think. This is Brazil by the
then people can bring an expression of
way from just giving a piece of land with
way. Brazilia is unbelievable because such
their own culture, their own mythic imagery,
a tree and a roof for a family to quite
a city- a beautiful city- Rio, but when they
which I think is very important.
sophisticated houses because on 70 m2,
tried to build high in Brazilia they did this
I think the average size of many houses
because they had to very quickly house
So malleability is important in architecture.
in Amsterdam is no bigger then that in our
10,000 to 100,000 people. I am showing
Here, we get for instance a Scottish
Oudaypoor.
this to you, because perhaps this is an
colonial Bombay. This is the biggest slum
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Untitled lecture
in Asia. You can see how poor these
was in Pakistan and this was the second.
drawing of the 9 planets. It's very beautiful.
people are; but it is a festival day. They
He built 5 of them in different cities of
It shows each of them had a color and a
dressed up the children and the mother
India.
quality. One is of, as I said, a plan; one is
has made some diagrams on the ground.
an angle, etc. And these are the symbols.
These diagrams are kind of sacred
When we did an exhibition and we included
A friend of mine who was very interested
diagrams, memories of memories. This is
Jaipur years ago, I thought he was the
in these things did the research. He was
the aspect of your work as architects which
first modern man. He was like our first
a graphic artist and he found all the old
I find also very interesting, and the use of
Prime Minister Nehru who wanted to
traditional symbols and the qualities. Then
mythic imageries which underlies and
discover the oldest things about India. The
we matched them and I made up plans in
gives meaning to the built-form. This is
discovery of India and at the same time
each. For instance, this is the eclipse of
the kind of imagery we are looking at.
the invention of a new future in this new
the sun; and if the moon is covering the
These are called "yantra." This is the most
country when we first got independence,
sun and we made 2 circles black and white
famous of them. All the "shruyantra," which
I thought in that seems Jaysink was a kind
etc. and then of course, in this thing on
is 9 triangles and the center of the center
of a forerunner of Nehru. So when we
the graph of the ceiling, you put a whole
is the source of all energy. In fact, the
were asked to design an art center in
cosmos which is the entire middle
other one I saw was in Iran and was called
memory of Nehru in Jaipur, I immediately
Kingdom: a traditional painting which is
Mandala.
thought of making a version of the old city,
then put into 3 dimensions by a traditional
a kind of a model of that city but I took the
artist. This is the Christian Lord who is
In India and for temples, the Mandala is
9 squares and I moved one across so
one of the mythic images in Ketro and
a square and you could subdivide it.
these 9 squares represent the 9 planets
that's the size of a person walking down
Usually, the temples are 64 or 81 squares.
and the center is empty because it has to
the earth. This is a very well-known image.
The Mandala is the Mandala of the planets
be empty; that's why it becomes the source
These are different planets and etc., and
and these are the 9 planets, two of which
of all energies. By moving this to this side,
this is the center, which is empty. In the
are imaginary. The city of Jaipur was built
it gave us entry to 3 different parts; this is
program they wanted an open-air theatre
by a man called Jaisink and he was
the planet with the most powerful planets,
so we made this. So we always match
fascinated by the sky. The design of the
so we put the theatre. So the public has
something useful that suited our own
city is based on 2 sets of mythic images.
to be able to come as pedestrians and
agenda. In other words, in order to do this
One is the mythic values and images of
this allows the cars to come from this side.
kind of things, I had to write my own secret
the Mandala of the 9 squares and you see
agenda and I never told the client who
the 9 squares placed on the side. There
It really gave me access to the Mandala
was the government. The government
is a hill over there so the one square is
because if I really hadn't done this thing
which is a kind of a 20th-century-thing-to-
wouldn't have bought it. I didn't say we've
moved and that is the plan of Jaipur. The
center is the god and that is the palace.
do; and if I had to enter here I could never
I just said this is the plan; and the director
So the movement of square is what he
use such a plan. So when we use things
would ask: where is my room here? And
had to do because of the hill.
like this, one has to re-invent then. This
does it have an attached bathroom? I say
is the entrance and you're going from here
yes, and the plans go through.
done the model of the cosmos and all that,
This is a palace; and you can see the way
and these are the planets, each about 30
Jaipur works because of the hot dry desert
m, and with these walls it got open to sky
This is looking through one of these
air. You get the courtyard and you get this
from the space within it. Then, the
squares into Gourou, this is looking from
in the middle of the courtyard. In the
traditional symbol of that planet is stone.
Gourou back into the square. You get a
distance, you see another thing out there.
Because the only connection between
different sense of space because it's on
You can see that through. This is the Janter
these boxes is an opening 3 meters square
a different construct. Usually a public
Manter, other set of mythic values which
it allows each planet to have its totally
building I will design going from one room
he was obsessed by; that was the newest
architectural expression; which you can
to the next but here it's all-discontinuous.
myth of science, the idea of being precise
see it here. It also means that you can go
Each time you step through that square
and accurate, so he combined these 2 in
through it in any way, every time the
it's like Alice in the wonderland. On the
one city. It wasn't a kind of schizophrenia
narrative changes you can see it in a
inside of each planet are the suspicious
he brought them together and that's
different order to each visit but the center
colors of that planet. On the outside are
incredible. Some of you may have been
is empty and therefore you know your
the stone wall and then the inlaid work.
in India and seen this. The first attempt
orientation where you are. This is an old
This is the moon eating the sun literary. I
017
Charles Correa
am showing this because it reminds me
scientists that are Einstein and Galileo.
Europeans, brought to India and that is
of a video game called Batman. You
That is one of the columns, which we
for the renaissance and the age of reason.
remember that? And the thing is that this
came through. On the dome, we wondered
As a symbol of renaissance was this thing
symbol is of 100 years old maybe 1000
what would be the equivalent of the
used by Michelangelo in his capital by the
years but the human mind hasn't changed.
cosmography we saw in the earlier one
viceroy’s house. We used this to symbolize
And that's what I am talking about; the
and the scientist said it should be precise
the belief in rationality, that you can actually
deep structure and volume zero.
because that is one of the essential things
invent the future, etc. So these forms are
in science and so this is the exact positions
in a line and then right across the front is
Now while we are doing this building which
of stars on the day we started the project
the pluralism of India, which all this could
was of the black hole, about the space,
and this was done by the scientists
happen. So India is in the shape of a great
the big bang. So out-of-the blue we
themselves, they were very supportive. It
Banyan tree and this was done by a brilliant
suddenly got this commission to do a
was impossible to have done that without
English artist called Howard Hutchins
center of astro-physics and astronomy.
their enthusiastic support. This is
some of you might know his work, Howard
Here the basic underlying imagery is totally
Foucault’s pendulum in the heart of the
usually works on small canvases and the
different from the Mandala stuff. What we
scheme, the center. It shows how earth is
colours. He is very much influenced by
saw here it comes out of things like the
turning. It just goes continuously changing
Matisse but he decided to do the whole
energy Mandala.
directions. This of course is for measuring
thing in black and white and in two kinds:
the sun and the stars. We used the black
white marble and black stone. He painted
The infinite number of galaxies, about the
stone and steel because we wanted to
it on one meter long and then we had it
space, so we enter these columns, made
make our own version of what Jay Sink
inlaid, you can see the stones and the
of concrete and we go through these black
has done.
brush strokes all mimicked. We designed
walls which are the local stone that I
in a way that the whole- all things- works
thought would symbolize the blackness
I will show you 2 more buildings. This one
with the architecture to draw your eye into
of space. And then we come to these
is the British council building in Delhi. They
the building. It goes right in with it. Then,
courtyards. This is a black hole in the
wanted an auditorium and a library and a
of course, it is the sunlight of things; the
modeled landscape and from there the
few meeting rooms and some offices. Of
sense of the sky above comes through
energy goes into this other and these all
course, we had to design that but in my
the shadows, etc. This is looking back the
come from theories, etc. There is no art
own agenda. I thought how wonderful if
other way from the head of Shiva through
in the place, it all comes from the imagery
we could show some of the richness of
the garden of paradise out.
of the scientist. This was to try to symbolize
what has happened in India; what I talked
in the landscape itself, the energy coming
about earlier: the wonderful overlays of
This is the last project I will show you. It
out of that.
different cultures and mythic beliefs which
is the assembly in Bowpal. This one that
finally made India. The way I have
got the academy award a year or two ago
There is something interesting about the
designed it, is that when you open the
is a circular building and it is a very
black hole. You know when we were talking
front gate you see all the way to the back
complicated building. It is a difficult building
about the Mandala and that the center is
of the building and right at the back of the
to show. One has to be there. It became
empty. Because the center is empty, it
site is the head of Shiva and this is the
circular because it is on a site on the top
generates this energy which is true about
access of Hinduism. So the head of Shiva
of the hill in the middle of the city next to
a house around a courtyard or a version
represents, I mean, Hindus believe that
the other government’s buildings. But there
of it. It is also true of what scientists believe
from the head flowed the Gangue river
is no direct road to that site. The access
today. They really believe that a black hole
and this water goes into the spinal which
road is very casual. It goes something like
is energy devouring itself, which is exactly
for them is an access to the Hindu. The
that and we tried different shapes but I
what the Mandala is about. It is interesting
next overlay was Islam which came along.
found that if we made a square building
not because thousands years ago people
Islam brought a wonderful pleasure in life
or a rectangular one, it always at moments
in Iran or in India knew about modern
which did not exist in Buddhism and
looked clumsy but of course the thing
physics. To my mind, it is because it is the
Hinduism and which enriched that; and
about a circle is that it always is frontal to
same human mind and that it is very much
this is symbolized by the garden of
you regardless from where you see it. It
in the deep structure of the human mind:
paradise which came I think from Iran.
is the same length and the same height
the idea of the center. So here the four
The third one, which is down indoors, so
and so that was very useful. Another thing
main accesses are shown by great
we move to the semi outdoors, it is what
is that we divided that up and we got five
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Untitled lecture
courtyards and replaced the big rooms
for some complaint. And they are not
Ghandi’s house at all. We took the premise
in the corners, the upper hall, the lower
allowed into the building usually in India
of using the same material but using it in
hall, the combined hall and the library.
because they are too dirty and they wait
a different way for a different purpose.
These courtyards were very useful
outside so we thought to let them sit here;
Here we are talking about a structure,
because all the offices could be put along
they can spend time on these steps. Here
which can grow, it was put on a land, which
the courtyard. When you are asked to do
we got tribal people to paint mythic images
was very bad so it had to have points and
an assembly building you think you are
on the wall of what they see life is about:
beams but this doesn’t concern you. What
designing some meeting rooms or some
the birds; this is an airplane; it is almost
I was trying to say was that you don’t copy
huge halls but actually you are designing
like a bird; tigers, whatever. Here is the
the past anymore in old building in
a huge office building because it is the
diagram, you can see the three entrances,
Bombay. I am not going to say it is a lot
ministers, at least in India, who want all
this is where we were just in; this is where
of bungalows put one over the other. It
the space. For instance, this state
the members come in; and this is where
isn’t bungalows at all but it try to use the
government has 70 ministers in the
the VIP comes in from. The public cannot
principles, which a Bungalow uses to try
cabinet, the other day I was saying it is
go in further then this because of security
to make a high-rise building and get open
30 more than Ali Baba and each of them
but then they can turn and they can go on
to sky space stacked one over the other.
has to have a secretary and a waiting
this ramp and come to the upper level
So I guess that was my point in many of
room, etc. So here we get this thing on a
overlooking the combined hall or go this
the things, I showed you, are how we can
hill in the middle of the city and, itself, it
way and go up this ramp which is this
use the past as principles and get at the
looks like a little city. This is the combined
ramp over here. So they do experience
deep structure that underlies it rather than
hall; this is the Lower House; this is the
the main accesses and the same for the
just copy the shapes of the past.
Main House, etc. Although it is a circle, it
VIP, etc. It is again a complex thing of
is a very loose circle. I should have said
different levels and the cabinet room is
You must have a comment on the
that making it a circle, it gets two
over here on access with that. This
Mandala, how could you miss it?
references, which were not my intention.
entrance is quite wonderful, it was done
This room bulges out from the circle but
by an artist with his version of the sunshy
Q 2: I just like to make an observation, I
we used that to give more energy to the
gate and he has done it in many layers of
guess I have known Charles and Monica
whole thing. The whole thing sits on a
kite papers and it is beautiful. This is that
now some 25 years or so. I really want to
map of Madiapradesh. It is a much more
central hall it is very difficult to photograph
complement you on how poetically you’ve
complex building than one can show
because it is different connecting levels;
nurtured your own culture and overcome
because at moments it disintegrated to
here again you can see the spaces. And
your MIT training.
many forms and came back again. It has
then these are the courtyards around which
3 main entrances. This is the VIP entrance;
the government offices are. This means
I will show it to you in a minute. One thing
that when you are reaching for a minister
I like about this building is that being on
you don’t have to look at double-loaded
Q 3: Mr. Correa, I have a question. In the
a hill in the middle of a city, it has stunning
corridor. You spend a lot of your life waiting
introductory words you, pardon my crude
views of the city in all directions from every
to see the minister if you were to deal with
paraphrase, but you referred to a fact that
room and even from the verandas but
our government. You can look at this; this
we make architecture but eventually
what is nice is that this building belongs
shot brings us back to where we started
architecture makes us…
to the people; it is a democratic building.
the axis mundi which connects the earth
If this had been a head office or some big
to the sky above.
A 3:….We make our buildings and then
government corporation or some private
THANK YOU
our buildings make us. It was Churchill
industrialist it would be very obscene to
Q 1: We have seen very nice slides about
who said that
my mind to control this city in this way but
the zero volume. In comparison with the
it is nice that it is for democracy. We have
Mies Van der Rohe house, it was small
Q 3: yes, can you give us an illustration
got 4 entrances; this is the entrance for
tiny columns and beams. Also in the house
of how in any situation you got feedback
the public. The four courtyards I told you
of Ghandi it was tiny columns while in your
on how buildings that you have designed
about are in the center. We specially made
museum about Ghandi we have seen very
affected people, and that people get back
a kind of space where the people could
huge columns and beams. Why?
to you?
come in because the very poor people
A 1: In the museum, as I told you, I wasn’t
A 3: I think that anyone who has designed
come walking 5 or 7 days with their children
trying to make a house looking like
a house or something, the moment when
A 2: It was very tough.
019
Charles Correa
someone might tell you something nice
interesting thing comes out; because there
making an attempt to bring us together. I
like this, it did affect us. But I think that
is not one set of values in any society,
do these for my own pleasure. I am not a
what happens very much even in larger
there are many sets of values; certainly
social worker but what I am trying to say
institutional buildings- you know the one
in India. And then architecture becomes
is that the banality of our buildings is partly
of the astro-physics- it has become among
very important as a way of expressing the
due to us. It is partly due to society. You
astro-physicists a very well known building.
pluralism of a society. We mustn’t
know the same exhibition I was telling you
They have international conferences there
underestimate what the renaissance really
about, Jaipur; it was of something called
because it is a small network of people
did. To my mind the renaissance was a
the festival of India. I don’t think that came
and what they like about it is that it tells
bunch of very, I mean the medieval church
here but it was a series of exhibitions and
them about their world. Actually, to my
and the society were tremendously narrow-
we were asked the four of us to do an
mind it is a much braver building than the
minded and they were gothic. Then there
exhibition on Indian architecture. India is
one in Jaipur and I don’t know if it is a
was a bunch of lunatic people who had
incredible because we sort of absorb
successful one and for a very simple
started seeing the old roman ruins and
everything. I think we got the finest
reason that in Jaipur building there are
temples and they thought: my goodness
collection of Islamic buildings in the world
the ancient ideas of the cosmos.
they are much better than what we are
except maybe Iran. Then if you look at
building and drawing and it should have
Corbusier, we’ve got some of Corbusier’s
The idea of having the center full of energy,
lead to a heresy into anything, which they
main buildings; of course Buddhist Hindu
the black hole. So all you have to do is
were thrown out. But no people like
temples, the biggest buildings are in India.
imagine a building, which expresses this
Bramante, Michelangelo, and stuff; they
So we will run all the way from the oldest
diagram. Your ideogram I would say like
found a way of making a church which got
5 000 years ago to today. We made a list
Ying Yang- you know the Chinese idea of
the whole Christianity into a pagan temple.
and it included Louis Khan and everybody
black and white, male female, etc. Once
What is Saint Peter but a pagan temple?
and I thought the old buildings would be
that ideogram exists and it takes a whole
In its imagery and yet the pope is happy
beautiful but the new buildings, Corbusier
culture to produce it, the architect can
to be there. That is what art can do. It is
and others would have the new ideas, the
move in much more easily. In the case of
not schizophrenia but it is 2 sets of values,
concepts. But I was wrong. The old
today’s ideas of the cosmos which are
which are healed.
buildings were not only stunningly beautiful
fantastic like expanding the universe, etc.
but they had ideas that made Corbusier
there are no ideograms, our culture has
Really, it seams to me that what
look like contemporaneous because they
not yet develop an ideogram. The only
architecture, I mean I can go on and on
spoke of what the society was about, the
ideogram I can think of is when you see
and this in India we’ve got a place you
basis beliefs of that society. It is strange
the letters E=MC2. We know it means
must have heard that mosque that was
you take something like Boroboudour
Einstein or it means atomic energy but
not down and all this that we should make
which I think Andre Malreau described as
that is an ideogram but it is not a visual
a temple. But you know if you speak to
the greatest building ever. Now if you see
one. It is a verbal or a written one. So it
any real scholar, they would tell you that
that building it is of 7 layers. It is showing
seems to me that the Iyoka building had
the central mythic imagery is the idea of
the 7 levels of nirvana, etc. It is not beautiful
a huge handicap. We had to try and work
the Vestou who fell from the sky broken
in our sense but it tells what that society
out how you express these things.
into pieces becoming the metaphor for the
is about. In fact Malreau said that the only
mountains and many things. And then the
equivalent in Europe would be a cathedral
The British council works because at this
basis right is to putting together, the ritual
like Chartre that it also spoke about that
time in India we do have a lot of problems
so that he can ascend back. So this idea
society. So I thought why today are we
of different people, etc. It is interesting to
of the centrality and the connection to the
building things which have no meaning?
think that these are in my mind all overlays;
sky you see in the dome of the prophet,
And I think it is partly the fault of the society
it is just many generations- I mean
you see in Christianity, you see in
because now we are asked to do a 40
centuries of overlays- and think that once
Hinduism. It would be wonderful at this
story office building, a 300 room hotel,
we were having a conference and then
time if we had built a building that told us
how can you put meaning into that? So it
Joseph Rykwert said that a public building
what we all have in common rather than
is not all our fault but it is also partly our
cannot express a person’s idiosyncratic
saying that we are different. It seems to
fault. If we are asked to build a building,
ideas. In a house I can make my own
me that this is an issue I wouldn’t reach
which perhaps has the chance to express
ideas but if it is a public building I have to
about but I do that in that building, people
something, we duck the issue because
express public set of values. But then
are very happy because they feel this is
we are so used to express nothing. At
020
Untitled lecture
least that what I felt when I was making
Having said that, I think I have 2 problems
Q 6: I would like to just make an
this exhibition. It was a big turning point
with your work. One, you made strong
observation. I think that what is Charles
for me. It was about 18 years ago and it
references to religious connotations which
is speaking about, Craw Young wrote
was not very difficult to see in almost any
I find very sensitive in multi-ethnic religious
about when he speaks about archetypes.
program we get the possibility of
place such as India. The second
I don’t believe that it is dealing with religion.
expressing something and that is when
problematic issue I find is that your
I think it is dealing with the basic
that sentence comes out “we build our
reference to Indian architectural heritage
comprehension of ultimate reality and how
buildings and then our buildings build us”.
seems to be very, and I am sorry to say,
you sort of diagram that. I believe the type
If we express nothing we end up in the
naïve as opposed to spiritual reference in
of things that Charles is suggesting and
banality of what we see in the shopping
your architecture.
showing in his work is probably something
malls, etc. I do not want to go into that. It
which is sadly truly missing in most of our
is part of our job I think to have these
A 5: That is pretty devastating! I think that
works. One final word I would like to say
agendas, which slowly accumulates. I
maybe you missed the point of what I was
about his work Mandala, that when we
don’t think you should rush and say I am
trying to do in the Jaipur building. If you
began to deal with this word m-a-n-d-a-l-
going to express this or that. Slowly living
look at some of these old diagrams, they
a, its root means the reintegration of the
here, you will begin to know what you want
have many meanings but they also speak
parts with the whole. That is what has
to express which will be good and positive
to you as a 20th century person. They are
happened to our societies, we become
and help heal your society. That is up to
just very beautiful ideograms and they
fragmented from one another and these
you to decide. But I think that is very much
have this immediately disconnecting
diagrams essentially reunite people and
part of our responsibility.
quality. When I saw the Mandala drawings,
that I think that is a very important aspect
the actual drawings of these things, they
about the work that Charles is showing. It
Q 4: Part of something that we also all
are really magic diagrams. I felt I would
is the reintegration of the parts within a
have in common is really materials; can
like to interpret them and build them today
unity rather than the dispersion into a
you talk us a bit really about materials that
as though there was no history between
fragmentation, which we generally exist.
you use in your architecture?
then and no. I wasn’t interested in looking
I think that those diagrams are Beirut as
at the temples and say how do we do this
well as any part of the world because they
A 4: We mostly use just brick, concrete,
and that. No, if you just go back to the
are a typo.
and stones. Those are the materials easily
diagram and you build it as a contemporary
available and affordable. It would be
interpretation then it is up to you. I hope
impossible for us to try to produce the kind
if you get to see the building you will see
of high-tech things, which involves metals
some poetic or other qualities in them and
and stuff. We don’t have the budget but
they are there but any way it is up to you
we certainly don’t have the precision. It
but those spiritual values would come
take a whole industrial kind of sub-culture
through that architectonic level. I am not
to support that wonderful railway station.
evoking religion; actually it is a mythic kind
I don’t know if you can build it anywhere
of underlay of it all. I think there is not in
except in place which have engineering
the Jaipur building any particular religious
and production skills. I don’t miss that at
reference. I am interested much more in
all. I don’t think I can do that very well and
the sacred that is in all of us and perhaps
I am not even interested to do that. I think
has nothing to do with religion. Religion
one is interested in trying to do one thing
has used the sacred in all of us.
very important which we were discussing
Architecture has to deal with that sacred.
today at lunch. I think when I was a young
I would call the tea ceremony of the
architect in the early 60’s and this is true
Japanese a sacred ceremony; you
for many of us, oh sorry you have a
understand what I mean. The bull-fight in
question?
Spain is sacred; in that sense they are
Q 5: I would really like to congratulate you
sacred moves architecture needs to have
for your serious concern to relate your
in a building. It is not religious, no, I would
work to Indian tradition. You are trying to
deny that completely.
create contemporary Indian architecture.
021
Session 1
Urban design and Architecture in Lebanon
Rifat Chadirji, Iraqi architect, Director of the Chadirji Research center
022
Robert Saliba
1840-1940:Genesis of Modern Architecture in Beirut
Robert Saliba: Architect and urban planner, Beirut;
doctoral candidate at Oxford Brookes University,
UK
The rise of Beirut as a major commercial
expansion was mainly the result of the
port goes back to the eighteenth century
migration of the urban bourgeoisie outside
coastal revival initiated by steamship
the walled city and the settling of rural
navigation that triggered a shift in the
migrants on the outskirts. The new
economic activity from inland caravan cities
residential townscape consisted of three
like Damascus to coastal cities. The
housing types: upper-class mansions (Fig.
establishment of Beirut as the capital of
3, foreground), flat-roofed farmhouses with
vilayet Sidon in 1832 under the Egyptian
surrounding gardens, referred to as tarz
occupation,
consular
al chami or Damascene type (Fig. 3, middle
representation and foreign traders.
attracted
ground), and cubic stone structures with
However, it is between 1840 and 1864 that
red tile roofs showing the strong
Beirut underwent the most important
emergence of a new building type: the
changes that constituted the turning-point
bourgeois central hall house with its triple
in its modern history. On the one hand,
arch and corbelled marble balcony (Fig.3,
the establishment of the French-controlled
background). In his “Geographie de la
Ottoman Bank in 1850, the low import
Syrie Centrale”, Richard Thoumin calls this
duties, the building of the wharf, and the
house la maison moderne Libanaise or
construction of the Beirut-Damascus cross-
the modern Lebanese house (fig. 4), also
mountain road opened Beirut to the
la maison citadine or the town house
Syrian/Arabian interior and made it the
(Thoumin 1936, 294- 295). In a map based
principal entrepôt of the region. On the
on his 1920s survey, he shows the spread
other hand, the massive migration of
of this new type from Beirut to the mountain
Maronites from the mixed Druze districts
and other coastal settlements (fig. 5).
in Mount Lebanon and the Greek Orthodox
Thoumin comments:
influx from Damascus and Aleppo,
“Le mouvement a donc pris naissance à
following the 1845 and 1860 sectarian
Beyrouth, puis il s’est étendu a l’arrière-
upheavals, resulted in the increase of
pays. Il s’explique par une double influence:
Beirut’s population between 1840 and 1880
le climat et l’Occidentalisation. Si l’on
from 10,000 to 80,000 in less than three
prenait soin, a l’automne, de damer et de
decades.
rouler la terrasse, celle-ci ne tardait pas a
se transformer en écumoire…Le citadin
voulut une demeure plus confortable où il
The First Phase of Modernization
fut a l’abri des cascades tombant du
Accordingly, Beirut outgrew its walls and
plafond, même s’il oubliait de rouler la
expanded over its immediate surroundings
couverture.
leading to the creation of the first garden
Des Libanais étaient allés en France, y
suburbs in the periphery of the old city. By
avaient vu les toits de tuiles et leurs
1876 city size increased 13 times (fig. 1,2).
avantages. Il y a quelque cinquante ans,
The immediate periphery got urbanized
renoncer à la terrasse signifiait à la fois
and a second suburban belt emerged with
une certaine fortune et le desir de copier
exclusive residential quarters. This urban
l’Occident. Dans ces conditions, le point
023
Robert Saliba
1)
2)
Fig.1 Beirut 1841. Source:Davie, Michael
024
Fig.2 Beirut 1876. Source: Löytved
1840-1940:Genesis of Modern Architecture in Beirut
3)
4)
5)
de départ de cette mode ne pouvait être
“Therefore, this movement started from
que Beyrouth.”
Beirut, than extended to the hinterland. It
Debbas, 1986, P.150
Hors de Beyrouth, avoir une maison à
may be explained by a double influence:
Fig.4 Traditional and modern Lebanese house according
toit rouge fut un signe de supériorité. Vers
climate and Occidentalisation. If the
to Thoumin. Source: Thoumin 1936, p. 293, 294
1905, des émigrés qui s’en étaient allé
terrace [the flat earth roof] was not packed
Above, plan and elevation of the traditional liwan house
faire fortune aux Etats-Unis commencèrent
and rolled during autumn, it was
in the mountain region; below, plan of the modern central
à revenir au Liban. Dès leur arrivée leur
transformed soon into a skimmer… The
hall house in Beirut.
premier soin fut de construire selon la
town dweller wanted a more comfortable
Fig.5 Spread of the red tile roof house (based on a 1920s
mode nouvelle…
residence where he was protected from
survey). Source: Thoumin 1936
Fig.3 Beirut residential suburbs 1885. Source: Dumas in
025
Robert Saliba
the cascades falling from the roof, even if
he forgot to roll his terrace.
Some Lebanese traveled to France, and
saw the tiles and their advantages. Fifty
years ago, giving away the terrace roof
expressed both wealth and a desire to
copy the Occident…
Outside Beirut, having a house with red
tile roof was a sign of superiority. Around
1905, migrants who went to the United
States to get rich, started coming back.
Upon their arrival, their first concern was
to build according to the new fashion.”
Can the central hall house qualify as la
maison moderne Libanaise, knowing that
Lebanon did not exist yet as a political
entity during the second half of the
nineteenth century when this type
emerged? On the other hand, was the
central hall house an original Beiruti
creation or an imported model readapted
to local conditions? Finally, did it possess
the enduring and intrinsic qualities of a
vernacular model that emerges from a
collective vision, and a long-term
experience of local tradesmen with local
materials?
The central hall house that we celebrate
today as our national icon, the source of
our architectural identity, and our traditional
building type par excellence, is a hybrid
suburban structure resulting from the
integration of wrought iron I-beams and
roof tiles from France, mechanically sawn
timber from Romania, cast iron balustrades
and hardware from England, and marble
tiles from Italy. Other than the bearing
walls built from local sandstone, the
majority of materials used are machineage construction materials imported from
6 b)
6 a)
Europe with the expansion of colonial
trade during the second half the 19th
century. The triple arch, the most
distinguishing feature of the new type, is
considered to be a Venetian import. No
conclusive evidence is yet advanced on
the origin of the central hall itself as an
organizational spatial and planning device
(Davie and Nordiguian, 1987). Finally, the
extroverted nature of the new suburban
026
Fig.6 (1,2,3,4 -a,b,c) Central hall house: suburba- facade
6 c)
typology. Source: Saliba 1998, p. 44, 45
1840-1940:Genesis of Modern Architecture in Beirut
type as a free standing structure exhibiting
conceptually a high style design”, to quote
Fig.7 Beirut 1921. Source: Service Geographique
itself to the street with its ornamented
Rapoport in his qualification of pre-
de l’Armée, 1921
façade is interpreted as reflecting the
industrial vernacular models (Rapoport
desire of an emerging merchant class,
1969).
conducting trade with Europe, and
Different types of central bay elevations
emulating western lifestyles and adopting
developed according to the wealth, social
imported materials and detailing as a
standing, and lifestyle of owners. The
symbol of status (Sehnaoui 1981).
supra-vernacular elevation or kasr (fig.
Irrespective of the above, the central hall
6a) pertained to the aristocratic mansion;
/ triple-arch / red-tile roof house proved to
the high and mainstream vernacular
be a creative synthesis of Western
elevation or hara (fig. 6b) to the family
imported materials and local know how.
residence of the emerging bourgeoisie;
Although its origin, originality, and
and the lower vernacular elevation or bayt
continuity with past traditions are yet
(fig. 6c) to the garden suburban house
unresolved research issues, its diffusion
and to the farmhouse. Such structures still
and its adoption by different social groups,
exist in the middle of high-rise apartment
prove that it possessed the inner attributes
buildings in Achrafieh and Ras Beirut.
of a traditional vernacular model, i.e.:
Although the three types of elevations
·
Its common representation and
shared the central bay as a common
understanding by owner and builder
feature, they differed in the level of façade
making it a spontaneous reference model
articulation, the amount and type of
·
ornamentation, and the use of imported
Its additive qualities and internal
cohesiveness, since, as explained below,
materials of construction:
it was able to incorporate changes that
·
“would have destroyed visually and
exhibited a dignified and ostentatious
The aristocratic mansions usually
027
Robert Saliba
Fig.8 (5,6,7,8-a,b,c-d,e) Central hall house: urban facade
typology. Source: Saliba 1996, p. 48, 49
028
a)
b)
c-d)
e)
1840-1940:Genesis of Modern Architecture in Beirut
9 a)
10 a)
9 b)
raised entrance with an elaborate
continuous urbanization of the periphery
staircase, a recessed or protruding central
(fig. 7), suburban residential types in the
bay, and highly ornate surface detailing
city either declined or underwent a process
(fig. 6.1). Designers were mostly Italians,
of change to adapt to the new functional
and styles were an eclectic mix of Gothic,
constraints and siting conditions. They
Renaissance, and Islamic.
transformed into two main types:
· High bourgeois and mainstream
·Luxury and upper cost apartment houses,
residences used ornamentation selectively;
or stacked villas (fig. 8.a).
they consisted of one to three floors,
Middle-cost apartment houses with a
housing a single apartment per floor with
ground floor of shops and rental
separate entrance staircase for each level
apartments above, clearly expressing the
(fig 6.2). They relied on the know how of
birth of a new residential type: the
master builders and copied aristocratic
speculative apartment building (fig. 8.b).
mansions.
Such buildings extended vertically as high-
· Finally, the flat roof suburban house and
rise walk-ups (fig. 8.c), or horizontally as
the farmhouse were characterized by a
twin structures either separate or integrated
simple elevation incorporating sometimes
under one roof (fig. 8.e,f,g). Such buildings
a diagrammatic central bay with small and
were concentrated along important
Fig.9 (a,b) Non residential red tile roof buildings. Source:
unadorned window openings (fig. 6.3,4).
arteries, like rue Gouraud, rue Basta, and
Saliba 1996, p. 48, 49
They lacked aesthetic pretensions and
rue Bliss, and in the highly dense peri-
Fig.10 (a,b) Ottoman style monumental architecture.
were executed by craftsmen who followed
center districts.
Source: Debbas (p. 73, 97)
the conventional ways of building.
In summary, the first phase of early
b) le Grand Serail with clock tower.
With the continuing urban growth and the
modernization produced a new vernacular
a) Petit Serail
10 b)
029
Robert Saliba
11 a)
11 b)
model, the central-hall house, that
accommodated the first office buildings
possessed the intrinsic qualities of a
along the waterfront and in the port district.
traditional type, while showing enough
Monumental architecture of the late
flexibility to adapt to the different social
Ottoman period was confined to a small
classes and various locations and parcel
number of key buildings pertaining to two
configurations.
broad stylistic categories:
It shaped itself to
urbanization constraints without loosing its
The Official Ottoman style illustrated by
inner cohesiveness, and incorporated
the infantry barracks (le Grand Serail), the
stylistic impositions without loosing its
1900 clock tower, and the Petit Serail (fig.
distinguished visual character. The question
10a,b)
remains: How far the central hall building
Late 19th century European
was able to sustain the pressures induced
eclecticism as illustrated by the Imperial
by the second phase of early
Ottoman Bank, the Orosdi Bek Department
modernization, i.e., the intrusion of concrete
store and the Eglise des Capucins. (fig.
in building construction and the emergence
11a,b,c)
of architects and engineers as a new breed
It is clear that monumental architecture
of design professionals competing with the
was in advance of domestic architecture
traditional master builder?
in introducing the latest stylistic trends and
Before answering this question, it is
building materials and techniques using
pertinent to give a brief overview of public
western
buildings of the same period, in order to
professional designers. Missionary schools
check possible connections and overlaps
like the Ecole des Frères du Sacré-Coeur
between domestic and non-domestic
(1894) were already built in concrete at
architecture on one hand, and vernacular
the end of the 19th century, while Orosdi
and high style architecture on the other
Bek department store (1900) introduced
hand.
the first elevator in Beirut. It will take around
and
11 c)
western-educated
two to three decades for such trends to
trickle down to mainstream domestic
architecture.
Non residential architecture and
Modern urbanism was introduced in Beirut
urbanism
as early as 1878, when the Municipality
The central hall / red tile roof building was
ratified a project for the modernization of
not only used in domestic architecture; it
the infrastructure and the upgrading of Fig.11(a,b,c) Western eclectic monumental architecture.
served as a reference model for new
public amenities following the rules of Source: Debbas (p. 32, 34, 98)
building types such as hotels or mixed-
hygiene and embellishment set by Istanbul. (a) Imperial Ottoman Bank
use buildings in the expanding Beirut’s
By the first decade of the century, the city (b ) Orosdi Bek department store
acquired its electric factory, its train station (c) Eglise des Capucins
central district (fig. 9a,b). It also
030
1840-1940:Genesis of Modern Architecture in Beirut
12)
13a)
13b)
Fig.12. The razing of medieval Beirut, Source: Service
Fig.14 (a,b,c,d,e,f) From the triple arch to the rectangular
Geographic de l’Armee1921
Destroyed Areas to be replaced by geometric street
bay. Source: Saliba p.55
The impact of concrete on traditional forms of opening.
layout of Foch/ Allenby and the Etoile area
Fig.13. Introduction of concrete in building construction
a) consumption of cement between 1923 and 1940.
b) construction permits delivered between 1919 – 1931.
Source: Plan Danger 1932
031
Robert Saliba
15 c)
15 b)
15 a)
and its tramway lines. Accordingly, the old
Joseph. Civil Engineering emerged for the
town was perceived as a barrier to
first time as an independent profession
movement between the port and its
and as a new field of specialization in a
hinterland, and two openings were cut
sphere of practice previously confined to
through the old fabric in 1915 (today’s Rue
established building crafts. However, the
Foch and Allenby), starting the second
malleability of concrete and its predilection
Fig.15 (a,b,c) From apartment house to apartment building.
phase of early modernization carried
for imitation, was soon appropriated by
Source: Saliba p. 40, 41
through the French Mandate (fig. 12).
the builders themselves as a “new
vernacular” tradition, fostering the
hybridization of architectural form and the
The
Second
Phase
of
Early
proliferation of eclectic ornamentation.
Modernization
Concrete proved to be an economical
The most dramatic change in the building
substitute for stone dressing and carving.
industry occurred during the first quarter
Builders started emulating stonework
of the century, when cement was gradually
through casting, using pattern books and
incorporated in domestic construction.
trade catalogs published in Europe and
Between 1923 and 1930, consumption of
the U.S., and spread as far as Australia.
imported cement increased about five
By looking at the variety of intermediate
times in the Levant States of Lebanon and
shapes that the central bay took in less
Syria (Fig. 13a), paralleled by a sharp rise
than a decade, starting as a triple arcade
in construction permits (fig. 13b). The fast
and ending as simple rectangular opening
growth in cement imports stimulated the
(Fig. 14), a clear idea may be formed about
creation of the first cement plant in the
the range of styles that pervaded central
region, the Société des Ciments Libanais
hall buildings between mid 1920s and mid
that was established in 1929 through a
1930s.
joint French / Lebanese private venture.
Beside stylistic variations, the central bay
This change was accompanied by a
generated two additional façade types:
theoretical knowledge of reinforced
the veranda type and the bow window
concrete, formally introduced and taught
type. The first was created through the
at the university- both at the American
addition of a concrete veranda, which soon
University of Beirut, and the Université St.
became the predominant elevation feature
032
1840-1940:Genesis of Modern Architecture in Beirut
in its own right; and the second was a
European import (fig. 15).
In brief, the second phase of early
modernization resulted in a dualistic
structure, eclectic outside and traditional
inside, keeping the same symmetrical and
centralized plan while incorporating a wide
range of styles in elevation, from neoClassical to neo-Islamic, to Art Nouveau
and Art Deco.
Meanwhile, the old fabric of Beirut’s central
district was being razed, to accommodate
the Foch-Allenby and the Place de l’Etoile
scheme consisting of star-shaped and
wide gallery-lined avenues (fig. 16). A
stage-set approach was adopted based
on façade competitions as models for
future buildings in both areas. The
traditional central hall plan was replaced
by an efficient office layout, while street
elevations were differentiated by diverse
16)
stylistic treatment (fig. 17). The two
symbols of local power, the Parliament
and the Municipality expressed the dual
nature of an ambiguous search for national
identity. The Parliament building (fig.18),
designed by Mardiros Altounian, a BeauxArts architect, was an imposing
symmetrical structure with an Orientalrevivalist style articulating historical
regional references with neo-Mamluk
17)
overtones. The Municipality building (fig.
19) designed by Yussef Bey Aftimos, an
American-educated engineer, is a clear
expression of the Neo-Islamic style
developed in Cairo by turn-of the century
Western and Western-educated architects.
In 1930, two buildings were erected
simultaneously: the Neo-Islamic Grand
Theatre by Aftimos, and the modern-Perret
style Hotel St.Georges by Antoine Tabet
(fig. 20) showing the overlapping of two
tendencies: the decline of eclecticism and
the penetration of early modernism. This
transition period will end during the second
half of the 1930s signaling the
establishment of modernism as the
Fig.16. The making of Place de l’Etoile. Source:
predominant style in domestic and public
Davie, M.
architecture for the rest of the century.
Fig.17. Foch-Allenby eclectic office buildings.
Source: Solidere
033
Robert Saliba
Bibliography
·Davie, May and Nordiguian, Lévon.
"L'Habitat urbain de Bayrut al-Qadimat au
19e siècle." in Berytus, vol. XXXV. Beirut:
American University of Beirut, 1987. pp.
165-197
·Davie, Michael. "Maps and the Historical
Topography of Beirut." in Berytus, vol.
XXXV. Beirut: American University of
Beirut, 1987.
·Daher, Gaby. Le Beyrouth des Années
30. Beirut, 1994.
·Debbas, Fouad C. Beirut Our Memory;
an Illustrated Tour in the Old City from
18)
1880 to 1930. Paris: Folios, 1986.
·El-Farra, Fouad. The Cement Industry in
Lebanon.
Master
of
Business
Administration thesis. Department of
Business Administration, American
University of Beirut, Beirut 1969.
·Rapoport, Amos. House Form and
Culture. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: PrenticeHall, 1969.
·Saliba, Robert. Beirut 1920-1940.
Domestic Architecture between Tradition
and Modernity. The Order of Engineers
and Architects, Beirut: 1998.
·Sehnaoui, Nada. L’Occidentalisation de
19)
la Vie Quotidienne à Beyrouth: 1860-1914.
Mémoire de Maîtrise. Université de Paris
X – Nanterre, Paris: 1981.
·Thoumin, Richard. Géographie Humaine
de la Syire Centrale. Paris: Librairie Ernest
Leroux, 1936.
Fig.18: The Parliament building. Source: Daher, G.
Fig.19: The Municipality building. Source Daher, G.
034
Angus Gavin,
Renewal of central Beirut:
The BCD Master Plan and the shaping of architectural form
Mr. Angus Gavin: Planning advisor of the
Chairman Solidère, Beirut
In my presentation I will touch very briefly
years.
on some of the main features and
The public domain is, on the other hand,
intentions behind Beirut’s city center Master
precisely determined – although more
Plan, then concentrate on the building
open to future definition in later phases –
envelope and design guidelines that are
and comprises half the total land area, in
intended to shape architectural form. I will
marked contrast to the rest of Beirut. A
point out some of the benefits and some
regular program of Master Plan updates
of the difficulties in administering these
was anticipated, to take account of
design controls and illustrate the outcome
archaeological discoveries, as-built
in a selection of projects. You must judge
infrastructure and the ongoing detailed
for yourselves whether we are on the right
planning of separate phases. This process
track, and whether the ongoing work in
is, at the moment, somewhat impeded by
the city center is beginning to make a
the political and economic climate of the
contribution to city-making and to a new,
times.
postwar architectural identity for Lebanon.
The intentions of the plan are more
want to clarify some common
ambitious than simply the renewal of
misconceptions about the city center
Beirut’s Central Business District. They
Master Plan. First, it is not ‘SOLIDERE’s
aim to create an active, residential and
plan’. It was prepared by Dar Al Handasah
mixed-use city core that is both the living
before the foundation of SOLIDERE – in
heart of the capital, its major visitor
fact, one of the pre-requisites for the
destination, historic and cultural focus as
company’s formation was the existence
well as the focus of the national economy.
of a government-approved Master Plan
The final aim is for this creation to become
that, essentially, protects the public interest.
Lebanon’s flagship opportunity that can
Secondly, the plan is very different from
enable Beirut to re-establish its
the earlier ‘Henri Edde plan’ and its later
international role within the region. The
adaptation, approved by the Council of
plan’s social objectives are also ambitious
Ministers in 1992, which it replaced, both
– to re-create the city’s meeting point and
as Master Plan and Detailed Plan for city
busy neutral ground that somehow
center renewal.
embodies the Levantine pluralist ideal,
First – some of the general characteristics
symbolizing a common heritage and
of the city center plan. It is not a
identity.
conventional, fixed Master Plan. For
Turning now to the more specific aspects
instance it contains no land use plan or
that affect urban and architectural form.
predetermined parcelization, but remains
As I have indicated, our Master Plan is not
intentionally flexible and market-oriented,
a traditional, 2-dimensional land-use plan.
encouraging mixed-use through the
In fact it is a 3-dimensional urban design
multiple choices of developers. The
plan, based on, if you like, picturesque
expectation is that these choices can
principles of building massing (Fig.1).
replicate an organic process of city making
These principles aim to balance
over a relatively short time span – say 25
development opportunities with the
035
Angus Gavin
1)
protection of sea and mountain views, the
the notion of transferred development
preservation and creation of a traditional
rights; secondly, the making of streets; and
street form, the preservation of valuable
thirdly, the idea of contextual design.
buildings (Almost 300 as opposed to 120
The BCD Master Plan dispensed with the
proposed to be retained in earlier tabula
coefficients of exploitation (plot ratios) that
rasa plans for the city center), integration
determine development rights elsewhere
of the archaeological heritage and the
in Beirut and throughout Lebanon. These
creation of a multiplicity of place-making
sacrosanct rights have led to over-
opportunities to which developers and their
densification in the city, over-development
architects can respond.
in mountain and rural areas and the
In your visit to the city center this afternoon
ongoing destruction of the architectural
you will be especially aware of the
heritage. By the time the dust has settled
extensive – and substantially complete –
it looks as though the majority of Beirut’s
restoration program, altogether 291
heritage will be concentrated in the city
buildings were salvaged. They occupy
center – it is here that you will find protected
more than 35% of developable land in the
both the city’s architectural and
Fig 1: Master Plan – a 3-dimensional urban design plan
original city center (i.e. excluding the
archaeological memory and identity.
that defines street form, building envelopes or control
reclaimed area), and will exert a significant
First, then, the city center Master Plan
surfaces and maximum development heights. Specific
impact on adjacent new development.
incorporates the transfer of development
areas are planned for low density, other appropriate
I would like now to dwell briefly on 3
rights away from areas where valued
areas for high density. Buildings must be designed to fit
strategies behind the Master Plan: first,
buildings have been preserved, where
within defined envelope limits.
036
Renewal of central Beirut: The BCD Master Plan and the shaping of architectural form
2)
view corridors are protected and where a
The strategy stemmed first, from a belief
traditional building form – such as in the
in the street as the tried-and-tested arena
S o u k s q u a r t e r – i s c a l l e d f o r.
for city making; secondly, from observation
Compensating high-rise zones were
of exceptional examples in the beaux-arts
specified in the plan, at locations where
streets of Beirut’s surviving historic core
these have positive townscape meaning,
(Fig.2); and finally, from the knowledge
creating special design and development
that a traditional street pattern offers and
opportunities of contemporary urban scale
extremely efficient distribution of
for the city.
floorspace. The corollary of the street is
perimeter block development – the
Secondly, the plan is unashamedly street-
distribution of built form around the edges
based, moving away from the Modernist
of city blocks. The move, in the BCD
tradition of individual, object buildings (for
Master Plan, towards this form of
example, the podium-and-tower of the
development enabled the number of high-
Starco complex in central Beirut), to the
rise buildings to be more than halved in
more traditional and recently re-discovered
comparison with previous postwar plans
typology of the street. In this typology,
for the city center, while achieving the
Fig 2: ‘The street as the tried-and-tested arena for city-
individual buildings are seen as combining
same target floorspace. The strategy,
making’. Rue Foch is one of the key beaux-arts streets
to form the broader urban context, each
however, requires a disciplined approach
in the Conservation Area from which specific features
contributing to a greater whole, that of the
by individual architects. With the exception
were derived for the Street-wall controls that apply to
public space of the street.
of identified key sites, their designs must
new city center development.
037
Angus Gavin
contribute to the street as a whole, rather
back from the street façade in order to
than proclaim themselves as individual
gain valuable height and floorspace,
monuments to modernism, post-
thereby destroying the traditional street
modernism or even to the architects
form and leaving undefined ground-level
themselves.
space, usually dedicated to car parking.
The techniques used in the Master Plan
to achieve built-forms that combine to
Thirdly, the Master Plan implies, and
create streets, with their sense of
SOLIDERE is attempting to encourage,
enclosure, pedestrian scale and continuity,
what I have called a contextual approach
are those of the Street-wall Control and
to design. For example, new development
various forms of build-to-line and mandated
in areas where existing buildings have
setback. These derive from an analysis of
been preserved, should be in the form of
the dimensional rules behind the design
infill development in scale and in keeping
of buildings on the colonnaded Maarad
with the retained fabric (the reason why
Street – modeled in the 20s on Paris’ Rue
development rights were transferred out
de Rivoli – and Foch Street, with its
of the zone in the first place). Design
distinctive ‘jetty’ form. A family of Street-
guidelines were devised for such areas in
wall Controls was developed. These are
order to achieve this objective. I will
applied along all main streets and in
illustrate this with a few of the envelope
particular to those that connect to the
controls applied in Saifi urban village
historic core, stepping up in scale as they
(Fig.4).
pass through new development areas
beyond the core and in the new waterfront
But the contextual approach has wider
district (Fig.3). Greater freedom is permitted
application. Designs are encouraged to
in the two ‘special residential policy areas’
respond to specific place-making
of the city center. Through the application
opportunities. Areas where a particular
of these Street-wall Controls, the scale
architectural response is called for are
and form of the street is maintained, with
indicated on the Master Plan. I will return
high-rise elements set back from the street
to the broader implications of contextualism
Fig 3: Street-wall family – this shows an array of
façade. Such envelope controls are
at the end of my talk. Now, though, I need
some of the Street-wall controls that are applied
relatively sophisticated compared with
to show you an example of a Sector Plan,
in the city center, to encourage both the
planning regimes that exist elsewhere in
the key component of the regulatory
reinstatement of existing streets and the continuity
Beirut. These tend to encourage the
framework that sets the limits for built form
of new streets and boulevards linked to Beirut’s
developer to arbitrarily set his building
(Fig.5).
historic core.
038
Renewal of central Beirut: The BCD Master Plan and the shaping of architectural form
4)
This Sector Plan covers the Martyrs’
developed in the 1930s have 100% site
Square Axis (Sector H) and Saifi Village
coverage. The Master Plan intent was for
(Sector I). Here you can see all the main
these new blocks to be designed to
features of 3-D massing control required
context, with similar 100% site coverage
by the Master Plan. For example,
– Street-wall Controls were, therefore,
maximum building heights vary between
applied to all four street frontages.
20m, adjacent to heritage buildings in Saifi,
Unfortunately, however, the general
to 120m (30 Storeys) at the NE Gateway
regulations require 70% site coverage.
site, where minimum setbacks for towers
The incompatibility of these two
are also shown. (Note that amendments
requirements has led to an impasse that
are called for in this area in response to
is not yet resolved with the Municipality.
major archaeological discoveries).
Required ‘special building features’ are
The Sector Plan indicates mandated build-
also shown, often on key corner sites.
to-lines and Street-wall references, where
Limited additional height above the
these more specific façade controls are
‘maximum height plane’ is permitted for
applied on main streets and public spaces.
architectural features in these locations.
We have experienced some difficulties
I believe that, after a rather dull start, these
with application of Street-wall regulations
are beginning to encourage some creative
on sloping sites – also the requirements
design responses.
for setbacks to towers – but have benefited
from refinements made in the Hotel District
The plan shows required pedestrian cross-
study (Koetter Kim). The refinements of
block links. In Saifi, you will see that they
‘continuous’ and ‘discontinuous’ build-to-
form a continuous network of pathways
lines – the latter where breaks are allowed
and public spaces that was further
– have been difficult to enforce and have
enhanced in the detailed structural plan.
Fig 4: Saifi envelope controls – shows requirements for
led to differences in interpretation by the
In my view this kind of pedestrian
continuity of cornice, parapet and roof lines as well as
Municipality. Another area of difficulty has
permeability is essential for successful
vertical breaks in facades, all designed to achieve the
been in the new blocks immediately
downtown revitalization, but we have run
contextual infill of new development in keeping with the
adjacent to the historic core, where parcels
into difficulties with national regulations.
scale and massing of adjacent preserved buildings.
039
Angus Gavin
5)
Fig 5: The Sector Plan defines the ‘main features of 3-
and a state-of-the-art financial district. Solidere’s intentions
Solidere’s formal strategies while arguing for a new and
dimensional massing control required by the Master
are manifested in the form of well-staged aphorisms,
different mechanism in mediating a “public space” that
Plan’: maximum building heights, Street-wall controls,
images, rationalized infrastructure, and historic
helps the reconciliation and healing process of the war-
mandated setbacks, other façade and building envelope
preservation scheme that exclude and contrast with the
torn society.
regulations and plot access controls
remaining city. This paper, on the one hand, offers a
The Lebanese Share Holding Company (Solidere) in
critical review of these images, plans, and the liminal
charge of the reconstruction of the historic city center of
spaces that they produce based on conceptual themes
Beirut is shaping its program along an ambitious Master
of perception and representation as a visual
plan based on a speculative vision of a city that is
arrangement/control of knowledge. On the other hand,
struggling to regain its competitive location in the
positioned upon the ideological representation of the city
global/regional economy. This project discloses itself
center floats an informal and transient city of culture and
through a binary reading of the city and a historicism in
public space whose tensions criticize the formal scheme
the urban design strategy that strives to build the city
of Solidere. Building on the actual dynamics of the city
center market value on the basis of its past character
center, the paper sheds light on the problematic of
040
Renewal of central Beirut: The BCD Master Plan and the shaping of architectural form
Excessive 5m rights-of-way are required
offices, bank headquarters, government
flair, exuberance and world class design
and, in Lebanon, there is apparently no
buildings and UN House, the Souks
skill. In either case, however, the
such thing as a covered pedestrian
shopping and entertainment complex,
architecture needs to be an architecture
passage with privately owned floorspace
embassies, a museum, a conference and
of place and context, somehow rooted in
above. City center renewal will suffer unless
exhibition center, a health clinic, a variety
the rich, distinctive identity of Beirut, and
these sorts of anomalies are resolved and
of housing projects and several hotels.
not in the freeways of Dallas or in the
some way can be found to implement the
(Some 30 projects were illustrated in the
extravaganzas – both eastern and western
spirit of the Master Plan.
presentation, 10 of which were complete,
– of the Gulf.
12 on site or in advanced design stage
The Sector Plan indicated controls
and the remainder at the feasibility stage).
vehicular access into blocks or parcels.
These have proved to be a little too
To conclude, I want to return to the idea
sophisticated and could be simplified.
of contextualism and its broader
Undefined open space, such as those
implications. Beirut has a strong, eclectic
indicated on the plan, has also led to
and indigenous architectural tradition that
difficulties of interpretation – is it ‘public’ or
combines cultural influences from East
‘private’? In such cases the Master Plan
and West. All have been valid in Beirut in
specifically did not prescribe ‘public open
the past, and should remain so for its
space’, stating that such spaces could
future. This tradition needs to be
equally well be provided in the private
rediscovered and reinforced, especially
domain, with guaranteed rights of public
during this postwar period of search for
access. The BCD Regulations permit such
renewed identity. Ongoing work in the city
spaces to be provided as covered atrium
center can help the country define a new,
spaces within buildings. Such a situation
contemporary architectural identity that is
was envisaged for the high-density key site
rooted in Lebanon’s own culture and
at the northeastern end of the Martyrs’
climate, an identity that can counteract
Square Axis.
the forces of placeless globalization that
have been re-shaping cities around the
I have highlighted some of the difficulties
world over the past half century.
we have been experiencing over
interpretation of the Master Plan. Such
In SOLIDERE, we and the developers to
problems. Many of them minor, have had
whom we sell land work with both local
the effect of stalling development for more
and international architects, sometimes
than a year. While there are signs of light
to the dismay of the Order of Engineers
at the end of the tunnel, I would suggest
and Architects, whose interests are to
that there is a clear need for some sort of
protect the local constituency. This is
Committee, presumably chaired by the
understandable, but we believe that you
General Directorate of Urbanism, which
cannot renew the heart of a capital city
can arbitrate over such discrepancies and
without applying world-class, international
matters of interpretation on a regular basis.
design talent. If Berlin can do it, so should
Such a solution would have prevented the
Beirut. We very much want the architecture
current hold-up of development throughout
of the city’s New Age to be worthy of
the city center pending the issue of a new
Beirut’s future, re-emerging role as a world
Master Plan amendment by Council of
city of the region. Much of its needs are
Ministers decree.
to be an architecture of the street, that
may seem modest, but which can help
I would now like to give you an idea of the
stitch together and re-connect the
variety of new development projects
damaged city. But there are also many
ongoing or already completed in the city
opportunity sites, especially on the future
center. They range from commercial
New Waterfront District that will call for
041
Assem Salam,
The Architectural Profession in Lebanon
I was asked to talk a bit about the
I am not going to go into the situation of
architecture professional practice in
the architects in the Arab world because it
Lebanon, I do not have many slides to
is outside the scope of this seminar.
show you, so my intervention will be a bit
However, I will talk a bit about the evolution
dry. However it is an interesting subject to
of the architectural profession in Lebanon.
talk about. How the architecture profession
We have to go back a bit to the days of the
started in Lebanon? When did it appear
Ottoman, as Robert Saliba mentioned. The
on the scene and what are the present
progress and urbanization that occurred in
situation and the guidelines of this particular
Lebanon under the Ottoman rule started
profession?
beginning the 20th century. At that time,
there was a timid introduction of technology
Assem Salam: President of the Organisation
of Arab Architects, Beirut
First of all I would like to go back to define
through the reinforced concrete that was
and discuss a bit whom was responsible
coming on the market and the boom in the
for the erection of all these buildings in
building sector that happened through the
Lebanon and how it became in the hand
specific socio-economic development of
of some professionals. A lot of this has
Lebanon sensed through Beirut.
been covered by Robert Saliba and Arbid
when they covered the 1920’s 1940’s.
One cannot distinguish between the
However, it is worth mentioning something
specialization in the profession and the
about the appearance of the architects as
social development that takes place in the
such in the Middle East. Generally
country itself. So with this timid introduction
speaking, there is an ambiguity about the
of reinforced concrete came with it an
definition of an architect and an engineer.
attempt by the academic institutions to start
They are all labelled under the word
training professionals in that field. The
“muhandess” and the specific terminology
AUB and University of Saint Joseph started
of the architect as a “me’mar” has appeared
in 1913 and 1916 courses in engineering.
only in the 50’s. I think the first one to talk
The First World War in 1914 stopped. After
about the “me’mar” was Refaat Chaderjy
1914-18 came the French mandate. With
from Iraq but up till now it is not spread
the French Beirut became prosperous
commonly yet. There is a common
politically and economically. That brought
knowledge of “me’mariyin” defining
with it a lot of development in building.
architects but the domination of me’mar as
042
such being specifically distinct from the
There was a proliferation of building styles
muhandess is only recognized among few
and lots of the traditional buildings showed
circles. However, when we come to the
in the slides in the morning were really built
legal registration of the architect to be able
during the mandate period. Who built these
to practice the profession in Lebanon as in
buildings? In the references we process,
most of the Arab countries, the registration
a lot of these buildings were built by
is channelled through the engineering
engineers, by people that were either
association.
trained in France or trained in America and
The Architectural Profession in Lebanon
they were trained as engineers. These
mandate, in 1943. After the end of the
only faculty in Lebanon that was dealing
engineers were not responsible for the
mandate, in the 1950’s- the time of the
specifically with architecture as such was
totality of the heritage, most of the heritage
independence- Lebanon gained a lot of
the ALBA. It is the Academie Libanaise
was built by builders, builders/contractors.
importance political, socially and
Des Beaux-Arts, as they call it in the
The first attempt to establish some sort of
economically through the position it got
French system. Architecture was linked
association to regulate the design of
due to its the political democratic system,
to the Beaux-Arts and not to the
buildings started in the early 30’s. Recently,
and the entrepreneurship of the Lebanese
engineering. So that timid approach that
among the archives, we found Aphtimos
themselves. During this period, there was
started at the AUB allowed the architects
who was one of the leading engineers of
an enormous building boom. Under the
to become slightly distinguished from the
this period. We saw a lot of his works in
pressure of this boom, the government for
engineers. But according to the rule that
Saliba’s lecture- starting with L’Association
the first time introduced an act regulating
existed, engineers as such were still
Libano-Syrienne des Ingenieurs et
the professional practice of engineers. At
allowed to practice and design buildings.
Architects that was done in 1930. In these
that time again, the word architect was
archives that were discovered recently, it
not mentioned. In fact there were very few
In the 50’s, the number of architects, I did
is interesting to notice who can be member
architects operating as architects
not think exceeded half a dozen. So with
of this association. Les membres actifs
professing in Lebanon at that time. This
this evolution and orientation towards
(the active members) were first, “ingenieurs
act was promulgated in 1951 under the
specialization, the number of architects or
et architects diplomes, second, personnes
law regulating the practice of engineering
engineers interested in architecture
ayant suivits un cycle complet d’etudes
in the country. Under the word engineer
became more pronounced and the
techniques superieur et ayant au moins
a lot of people came in. Architects are
numbers grew. This continued up to 1997.
quatres ans de pratiques.” So there is the
called engineers, civil engineers are called
The number of architects increased
introduction of technicians with the
engineers, mechanical engineers are
exponentially between 1952 and 1997.
condition that they have practiced for 4
called engineers, and later on everybody
We have about 5000 now in Lebanon and
years. But the most interesting part is the
even agriculture engineers became
there has been about 7 universities that
third category: “toute personne n’aitant
engineers. So, the body of engineers
deal with specific teaching of architecture.
pas dans les categories si-dessus,” (they
became inflated with a multi-disciplinary
It is in the early 60’s that the AUB decided
are neither qualified nor technicians,) “mais
groups and the architects became diluted
to have a special branch of architecture
possedant une culture generale,” (general
into this mass of professional technicians.
and change the name of the faculty into
culture,) “et appropriee.” I do not know
the Faculty of Engineering & Architecture
what they mean by “appropriee, et des
This lasted between 1951 and 1997- for
and started giving degrees in the
connaisances techniques jugees
almost 50years. During this period, the
architecture profession as such.
suffisantes.” So the door was open here
building sector in Lebanon was one of the
to the absorption of people that are neither
most important sectors in the economy of
This is a bit of a historical background that
trained as architects or engineers nor they
the country. The special position that
illustrates how things developed. Now we
have any knowledge of technicality. That
Lebanon gained as a result of the
are setting guidelines that are worth
was done deliberately to absorb a large
prosperity that took place in the 50’s and
mentioning that governs the practice of
number of people that hand in these
60’s was axed mainly on real estate and
architecture in Lebanon. Even in the new
buildings and side them in a professional
buildings. As such, there were a lot of
law of 1997 that was promulgated about
manner but are not professionals.
buildings that had to be handled by
three years ago, the door is still open for
specialized people. The need to train
the practice in the building design by
I am not mentioning this as a criticism. I
architects as such became pronounced.
engineers and architects. It is not limited
think a lot of these builders was extremely
That was one of the reasons why the AUB
only to architects. It was extremely difficult
qualified and knew exactly what they
, in 1952, started the program of
to change the law because of certain
wanted to achieve. But it shows you that
architectural engineering, it did not yet
acquired rights by the profession of
much of the buildings that were done in
had the courage to specify it as the school
engineers in dealing with this aspect of
the period of construction in Lebanon in
of architecture. It was still being in the
the profession. An issue created a lot of
the 30’s were not done by professional
engineering faculty. The Universite Saint
discussion among the members of the
practitioners or people that were trained
Joseph had started this a little bit earlier
Order of Engineers. Between 1951 and
academically as professionals.
by having the ingenieur battisseur, which
1997 the order of Engineers, there was
This situation lasted till the end of the
they discontinued later. At that time the
no identification of any architects’ role.
043
Assem Salam
They were part of the whole body. There
an association between architects and
tried two years ago to intervene by
was no branch or no association or no
engineers. This is one way in forcing
restricting the number of applications to
effective representation in the council
multidisciplinary association of architects
study architecture. They made this
membership that represented the
and engineers. When it came to about
regulation in the fields of Engineering,
architects. It is only in 1997 after a hard
2000 m2 and above then they introduced
Architecture, Law, and Medicine. The
battle with the other professional members
the association of other disciplines like
government made this regulation and than
of the order that the specificity of the
mechanical and electrical. So again there
changed under the pressure of the
architect was given and they have now a
was this question overall control and
universities themselves. The universities
branch of architects within the Order and
opening the door to participation of other
did not want simply to reduce the number
there is one representative of the
disciplines into the design of buildings.
of applicants. You know, in Lebanon,
architecture profession in the body of the
The other attempt by the Order was the
Education is free. It is not controlled by
council. I am saying that this is a step
establishment, to raise the standards, of
the state and many universities are bellow
forward in the profession, but really the
a technical office that will enforce a quality
standards. Objection was raised by some
conflict is still there. Non-architects are
check on working drawings of the design.
of the academic institutions that paralyzed
handling 60-65% of the buildings in
the application of this rule.
Lebanon. Again, you probably saw a lot
Unfortunately, this question of technical
of the slides of buildings that were designed
control of quality of design did not work
I may have given you a bit of a gloomy
by engineers. George Arbid showed these
extremely well. I mean to set rules to submit
situation about the profession in Lebanon.
slides from the period of the 50’s and 60’s
the building permit and within 6 months
But my feeling is that there are very good
and these buildings were not designed by
you should submit the whole execution,
architects, very good academic universities,
architects. I am not saying this to discredit
pass it and get approved by the technical
and academic institutions that teach
the qualifications of the engineers but this
office of the Order. This gave an enormous
architecture. We probably should be more
is a profession that has to be regulated. It
control on the part of the Order to go to
restrictive in the choice of who is going to
is under this pressure that the Order of
the details of the reinforced concrete,
study architecture and a bit of emphasis
Engineers started to put some regulations
electricity, mechanical installation and
on the socio-cultural background of the
over how you can do these things, and
architectural standards of the Order and
people and the role of architect in society.
they took three measures to try to control
I do not think it is being in any way
That I think is a bit neglected in the
the practice in architecture. One of them
implemented in the right direction. The
architecture profession and in the
was a question of quota, which is a
other thing the Order tried to attempt is
architecture teaching.
quantitative measure of the number of
the question of apprenticeship. For the
square meters per year an individual
moment you can practice architecture
architect may design. It is a very elaborate
immediately after you graduate. The
and problematic constitutional system that
moment you register yourself with the order
tries to split the cake among everybody. It
you become a full-fledged professional
is still in existence up till now and it was
architect. We thought that this is a bit too
extremely difficult to change it. The other
risky for fresh architects to handle a building
procedure is the forced partnership. The
of a certain size. We tried to introduce
law says, and this applies only to buildings,
regulations regarding apprenticeship.
that one individual cannot design a building
Unfortunately we did not succeed.
or be responsible for the permit. One
person can build a bridge, one can build
To finish with this, I think the question is
a power station, one can build anything
that we have about 5000 between the
one’s want, and one does not need the
Order of Tripoli and the order of Beirut.
signature of the engineer. When it comes
Over 5000 architects working in Lebanon,
to buildings, it has to be signed by the
which is an extremely high figure. This has
engineer. By this signature, the Order tried
to be controlled. Seven universities or
to control a bit this operation. They made
seven academic institutions are producing
an internal law, whereby all buildings above
architects. There are an enormous number
a certain area (and they started about 100
of architects that are working and a lot of
m2 of built-up area) should be based on
them are without jobs. The government
044
Jamal Abed,
Notes on the Art of Selling Cities: Urban Design Strategies in the New
Downtown of Beirut
“Could not this ideal city, at one and the
for a new and different mechanism in
same time, behave, quite explicitly, as
mediating a “public space” that helps the
both a theatre of prophecy and a theatre
reconciliation and healing process of the
of memory?
war-torn society.
Collin Rowe: Collage City – pp. 49
Jamal Abed: Associate Prof., Department of
Architecture and Design, American University of
Beirut
Abstract
Introduction – “Beirut an ancient city
The Lebanese Share Holding Company
for the future”
(Solidere) in charge of the reconstruction
Beirut Central District (BCD) is the historic
of the historic city center of Beirut is
heart of Lebanon’s capital, an urban area
shaping its program along an ambitious
whose history dates over thousands of
Master plan based on a speculative vision
years. Its reconstruction and development
of a city that is struggling to regain its
constitute one of the most ambitious
competitive location in the global/regional
contemporary urban developments in the
economy. This project discloses itself
Middle East. Aimed at reviving the BCD
through a binary reading of the city and a
as the focus of financial, commercial and
historicism in the urban design strategy
tourist activity, the project is conceptualized
that strives to build the city center market
historically within a larger social and
value on the basis of its past character
economic program for a national recovery
and a state-of-the-art financial district.
with the attempt to restore Beirut to its
Solidere’s intentions are manifested in the
historical prominent position in the region.
form of well-staged aphorisms, images,
In the absence of a national strategic plan
rationalized infrastructure, and historic
and the presence of a weak urban and
preservation scheme that exclude and
city planning authority, the Lebanese
contrast with the remaining city. This paper,
Company for the Development and
on the one hand, offers a critical review
Reconstruction of the Beirut Central District
of these images, plans, and the liminal
(Solidere) was incorporated 1 as a
spaces that they produce based on
Lebanese
conceptual themes of perception and
simultaneously in charge of the finance,
representation
as
a
joint-stock
company
visual
planning and implementation of the
arrangement/control of knowledge. On the
revitalization project of the BCD. Pushed
other hand, positioned upon the ideological
by Tycoon Prime Minister Hariri, the
representation of the city center floats an
company was designed to promote the
informal and transient city of culture and
revival of the national economy via this
public space whose tensions criticize the
reconstruction and to convince
formal scheme of Solidere. Building on
international investors of the financial
the actual dynamics of the city center, the
security and economic viability of the
paper sheds light on the problematic of
country. The raison d’être of the
Solidere’s formal strategies while arguing
corporation was to consolidate property
045
Jamal Abed
ownership in the downtown under one
comparing and denoting the spatial
Rowe, Collage City (Cambridge, Mass.:
single proprietorship and to ease the
structural changes that were inflicted upon
MIT Press, 1978). Whereas the former is
financial burden that rehabilitation of the
the center. Inferred meanings are read
informed by a sense of civility and formal
destroyed infrastructure would present on
through strategies of intervention and
order, commerce, exchange, informality,
the government treasury by its own private
spatial relationships that are ideologically
and decay mark the latter. On this ground,
investment in the public works. The law
bound. In other words it attempts to
the paper draws the attention to a different
enables the private company to finance
examine the material construction of the
and parallel dynamic system that operates
the reconstruction project in return of
cityscape and to see its structure as forms
on the space of the city center in the
ownership and exploitation of a 608000m2
of representation, as “constructions” of
present. An informal order of activities is
landfill- almost fifty- percent the area of
Solidere’s ideology.
overlaid onto the main project, generating
the BCD.
in the process an uncanny array of
Second, the paper unravels how the vision
Zone”3
association that together sheds light and
The agenda of urban “renewal” emerges
of the “Glamour
A terminology
provides material for criticism on the
as a response to the conservative
borrowed from Prof. Saskia Sassen to
problematic reductive scheme of the
demands of a population keen to recover
denote global cities that aspire to and
Master plan. It is specifically this overlay
back the character and the life of the old
operate in a cutting edge sector. Saskia
and the process that is taking place today
civic center by re-positioning the city as
Sassen lecture entitled: “Whose city is it?
that informs us about alternative strategies
the cutting-edge site within the global
Globalization and the formation of new
to that of Solidere.
economy. More importantly, the
claims.” Lecture presented in the
reconstruction project sought to undertake
Department of Architecture & Design,
the creation of meaningful and imaginative
American University of Beirut, March 19,
urban public spaces that would play the
1999. is conferred to us through a number
Downtown Beirut between its past and
role of social reconciliation. This complexity
of well-orchestrated images. These images
envisioned spatial structure
has been invariably aggravated by the
are designed through panoramic views of
From its site plan (plate 1), the city
nature of the socio-political context, where
the new city center, advertising its
presents itself as though it was composed
notions of national identity and political
commercial and residential potential to
of fragments of different spatial orders,
representations continue to be debated.
help to market the city and its culture. The
arranged in such a way that it is impossible
paper discloses the seduction of these
to conceive of them as occupying a
Named after the newly recruited urban
images by proving the highly selective and
common place. Resembling the cluster of
designer Louis Sato, the scheme has been
politicized urbanism practiced by Solidere
Borges’ strange categories/classification
characterized by both its preservationist
that excludes questions of accessibility,
that collapse our age-old distinction
and action/reaction2 character
heterogeneity, ownership, individuality and
between the Similar and the Different5,
The urban design stands between two
social and ethnic belonging. In so doing,
the city center in the sixties was marked
seemingly opposing strategies. A master
the paper argument gravitates around the
in both spatial and temporal terms:
plan that is conceived as a fixed entity
conceptual poles of perception and
Medieval Souqs, colonial streets, civic and
(decreed in 1993-94) and a legal
representation that together engender a
commercial nodes, modern offices and
instrument, and a reflection upon that
coherent visual arrangement of knowledge.
entertainment activities. The downtown
meant the town for people,6 Beiruties
action- a constitution that fragments the
whole center into what appears to be
Third, the paper examines how these
used to refer and relate to the city center
discrete islands of influence. These islands
images are paradoxically characterized
as the “medinah” which means city. But it
become the locus of international
by a less apparent but no less deliberate
meant also a city of buildings that is
competitions that allow the generation of
conscious opposition to and neglect of the
superimposed on the city of streets and
ideas about the shape of the place and
city at large. It might be argued that the
squares. The Automatique, Rivoli,
where the building itself gets to be the
ideological representation of the city center
Amatouri, Patisserie Swiss, etc., were
nucleus of the design.
could be metaphorically framed within the
landmarks that people constantly inhabited
polarity of Serlio’s tragic with respect to
and referred to. A further layering is
scene.4This
The paper addresses the urban design
the comic
theoretical position
perceived in the Martyrs Square where
project along three interrelated lines of
that draws a similarity between Serlio’s
we witness a superimposition of the
argumentation. First, it offers an insight
stage sets and opposing approaches to
monumental/heroic with the everyday
into the nature of the new scheme by
urban design is borrowed from Collin
commercial life. In short, different regions
046
Notes on the Art of Selling Cities: Urban Design Strategies in the New Downtown of Beirut
Fig.1-2: Old and new Bourj
1)
in the city were related by way of their
reinforced by establishing similarities
ultimate structural difference and historic
between things, images, and words, but
distance from one another rather than by
knowledge is advanced by differentiation,
way of their ultimate
identity.7
Experiment
Beirut is no exception. The medieval part
borrowed from Brian Goodey8 disclosed
of the CBD was structured and viewed
different perception of the city center. The
along localized referents perpetuating
empirical research work9 revealed the
words such as Souq Tawileh (denoting its
variety of mental images of the Lebanese
spatial length), Souq an-Nourieh (indicating
society that seemed to emphasize a
the name of the chapel that terminated
marked preference for object and spaces
the Souq), Souq el-Frenj, etc. These are
depending on the age and memory
some of the historic place names
retained.
associated with the site. However, since
the turning point of the twentieth century
We know that one method of
a continuous referent to the Other affected
understanding the world-knowledge is
the city’s structure and its representational
047
Jamal Abed
form. This tendency (theoretical position)
with a ground floor light-industrial land use
mosaics. Most of the old buildings in the
occurred on many levels. For instance,
occupation that contributed to the de-
residential quarters were destroyed, leaving
the configuration of Allenby/Maarad Street
valuation of the area.
11
was based on its connection to the Pine
vestiges of renovated buildings that are
kept as a nucleus for future commercial
residence (a casino for the Ottoman and
Preservationist claims and deep
development. With the exception of a small
Egyptian elite) which distinguishes the
transformations to the city spatial structure
shrine, the medieval Souqs were also
street by its ornamentation and
demarcate the last Solidere scheme.
destroyed as the result of archaeological
processional character. The Star-shaped
Named after his designer Louis Sato, the
excavations and provision of a four floor
civic square, the Place de l’Etoile as it was
urban design proposal embraced the
parking space that will serve the Souqs
called, referred to the regularized French
twofold role/image of pre-war Beirut
yet to be. The major preserved quarters
order of planning that was set in opposition
(Plate1- 2) by advancing an urban scheme
were seen to be the areas with a
to and overlapping with the Medieval.
founded on three major axes. The Eastern
distinguished formal qualities characterized
Naming the streets to French colonels and
axis- that of the Bourj- was established
especially by their stylistic distinctiveness
national leaders furthered the city’s colonial
along the green line piercing northward to
as prime examples of what we call
associations. Modern Beirut in the fifties
the first port basin, thereby displacing the
Lebanese-Baroque architecture.
was considered “ the Switzerland of the
commercial and transportation node of
Stylistically distinct, these buildings are
Orient”: an order that is based on socio-
Martyrs Square to the periphery of
reconfigured into a pedestrian zone whose
political pluralism and a two-fold field of
downtown. This new placement was
ground floor is designated as “public space”
the service sector, transit and commerce
thought to prevent congestion and relocate
with restaurant and coffeehouses dotting
on one hand and entertainment on the
these urban activities that might impede
the sides of the streets, and whose upper
other.
the sustenance of downtown’ glamour
floors are devoted to office space. (Plate
image. The central axis was designed to
3-4).
As early as the 1930’s, the twofold role of
celebrate the old axis of Maarad Street-
Beirut would manifest itself both spatially
now meant through its extension towards
Given the new structure of the city center,
and iconographically. As it was argued
the reclaimed land from the sea as a high-
it is obvious that the labor form
earlier on, the regulated, processional,
tech business and financial district. The
necessitated by the industrial sector or the
and theatrical architectural scheme of
western axial perspective assented to the
supporting/needed blue color worker of
Allenby/Maarad Street was originally
Serail, that is, the Prime Minister’s office
the cutting edge sector12 is not allowed to
intended for a city of entertainment.
on downtown’s Southern “Acropolis,”
regain its position in the center. Downtown
Pleasure does not await the authorization
legitimizing its role and control over culture.
becomes the theatrical stage of culture
of a moral judgment and a uniform screen
This axis ended in a cultural park abutting
and the non-manual earning sector.
blinded the presence of the Great Mosque
a high-class marina. The Solidere scheme
Production
(known to be a temple that was
is conceived in a complete isolation,
neighbourhoods, the workplace and the
transformed at a later stage in St. John’s
enclosing the city center by a limiting ring
leisure-time spaces are shaped along the
Basilica). No other place in Beirut was
road and a connector to a highway leading
values and ethics of the young professional
consciously developed to answer to the
to the Airport. The connection comes to
white-collar. On one hand, both central
programmatic agenda of a city of pleasure.
constitute a staged kind of preferred
and local governments, supportive of the
Pleasure through entertainment developed
memory which is the first experience of a
expansion of this high-end service sector,
in dark shadows of un-monitored areas
businessman or a tourist- that is to say
retract from their responsibility to widen
and acquired a spatial life of its own both
consumer- coming from the Airport and
accessibility to the center by all social
in Zeitouneh and Bourj areas.
received by the new downtown.
groups. Items on the government agenda
of
the
residential
when contemplating such a capital project
In the late sixties, preliminary design
In addition to the arterial developments of
would necessary be employment
proposals10 were commissioned to address
the Solidere scheme, the central markets
opportunities, inflation compensation,
the social, economic, and physical
of Nourieh were completely erased and
balance of payment and income
problems of both the eastern sections of
replaced by an archaeological park that
distribution. The receding role of the
the Bourj and the Ghalghoul residential
connects through a network of a “memory”
government to control these vital social
district. The latter was witnessing a
paths to various archeological excavations
issues relegated them to the mercy of
disintegration and over-population and the
exposing, among other artefacts, a Roman
market forces. Such free market social
former was inhabited by a red light district
bath, a Phoenician wall and Byzantine
policy has proven unreliable, so far at least.
048
Notes on the Art of Selling Cities: Urban Design Strategies in the New Downtown of Beirut
Fig.2-3: Financial district and Souk
For one, market generates welfare sub-
On the other hand, rather then fulfilling its
optimal solutions. As a profit oriented
responsibilities to protect the welfare of
enterprise, it shies away from addressing
the society, the government is reducing
such issues as wide accessibility and is
taxes to foreign investors, and Solidere is
discouraged from investing in fields with
programming a “pre-gentrified” city center
future market performance that is uncertain.
through new leisure-time spaces and tourist
049
Jamal Abed
attractions such as marinas, high-class
Plans and Images
valued views that showcase special styles
hotels, and upscale market places.
Solidere advertises its scheme through
of life, and promise entertaining and
In short, the new scheme is meant to be
images and a large model displayed in
pleasurable events. Nevertheless, this is
a profitable investment to Solidere’s
showrooms, catalogues, TVs and street
the same stage where the new social
shareholders. Through its slogan: “Beirut:
ads. The forms of the new center cross
norms and moral relationships as impacted
an ancient city for the future” the project
over from ideal scenographic compositions
by the global economy will be played out.
comes packaged along these two
to the rational development of accurate
In such a theatrical metaphor, individuals
paradoxical themes: an idealized past that
plans and maps. The visual and the
would be given a role to play on this
symbolically represents a reconstructed
pictorial take primacy placing the spectator
predetermined stage.
sense of collectivity and that characterizes
inside a panoptic machine, “intensifying
the particularity of the city and a future
through a camera obscura, or urban
This problematical polemic is obviously
that promises economic prosperity. The
observatory, the experience of an isolated
present in the seductive double title: “Beirut
particularism of the past plays an important
viewer gazing upon the many fascinating
an ancient city for the future” that blazed
asset in the future economic prosperity by
things presented on the urban stage.”13-
the International Competition of the Souqs
enhancing the prestige and the desirability
14
in 1994. The composition of the jurors16
of the place, and the future vision is
Through perspective, the city and
for the competition and the outcome
supported by Beirut’s historic leading role
architecture becomes the means by which
proved that there is no possible balance.17
in the region. Obviously, the project is
one is able to “see” and “read” the invisible.
Because the future image of the city is
treated as commodity that is packaged
The perspective drawings and exhibitions
shaped by a total optimism, it is inevitable
and sold in the market. Read in this
held in the center are used in the
that such an image represses a total
framework, Lefebvre’s notion of the
development of an urban discourse, of a
pessimism: an uncertain role of Beirut.
“festive” as a transcendence of everyday
representation of the city as the newest
Through a design orchestrated by Raphael
life becomes important and relevant to the
city center of the 21st century and at the
Moneo, the Souqs are turned into stages
analysis. According to Lefebvre festivity
same time, probably one of the most
of pleasure that are inaccessible but to a
is the polar (spatial and functional) opposite
ancient and hence most authentic.
few. Historically, shops in the Souqs had
of production. Cities geared to function on
very low overhead costs due to old rents
that pole are in fact structured and
The plans of the Downtown are formulated
that were tied to a law that controlled rental
monopolized by centralized capitalism.
in light of these two contrasting images.
caps at a low level. Hence, prices of goods
The strategy is based on mobilization of
The first one consists of a restrained
were not only affordable but also cheaper
differences (including differences of
modernism with a stress upon wide and
than in other quarters in the city. The
weather, geography, culture, food, etc.).
clean streets surrounded with trees and
infrastructure development undertaken by
In this respect historic forms play the role
plants. The second stems from the
Solidere and a high cost entailed in the
of diversion and high-tech buildings play
rehabilitation of historical buildings that
evacuation of the displaced groups from
the role of production. In both instances
insures the preservation of the city’s
the city center contributed to an increase
the direction of development is decided
Levantine character and “indigenous/local”
in the price of land. Due to this high
by capital. The sense of alienation due to
style (plate 3). Business and finance,
investment cost, It has been no more
the flattening or the incapacity of the center
driven by the information wave, are
possible for the future Souqs to compete
to function as a site of social struggle
associated with high-tech towers, and
with other market centers in the city or
played out in space, or as the location and
historic is associated with the Souqs and
with the informal sector for that matter.
cause of the simultaneity of practices or
the new residential quarters.
The Souqs of the future will have higher
activities is resolved through calculated
festivities of spontaneity, play and creativity.
costs and thus much higher prices, and
To the unanimous or Jameson’s unworld15created
consequently they will only conserve there
In fact it is these spontaneous activities
mappable
by
past image but not necessarily there past
that the paper will turn to, at a later stage,
commercial/office development responding
role. In effect Solidere recognizes such
in order to shed light on the problematic
to a global economy, the particularism of
dichotomy. Mr. Herve Dupont, the director
of Solidere’s scheme.
the city is emphasized by the construction
of the real-estate Department at Solidere
of theatrical tableaux that trigger in the
turns this problem into a celebration of a
observer vague memory of the past. In
mixture of the past with the present. In his
each of these stage settings the spectator
words, he describes the situation as such:
is presented with well-established and
050
Notes on the Art of Selling Cities: Urban Design Strategies in the New Downtown of Beirut
“Le trace des rues restera inchangé. On
Serlio’s Tragic versus Comic Scene
be thought of as what the “thing”
trouvera donc, Souq Tawile, Souk al Jamil,
As one looks deep into Solidere’s scheme,
communicates but as the readings that,
etc,. Mais, on ne peut reproduire les Souqs
one come to realize that it is shaped by a
with a given culture, may be produced
d’antant, ne serait-ce que pour des raisons
polemic that simultaneously reacts against
from our experience of a culture’s many
commerciales... Aussi, il y aura bien des
and ignores the urban fabric of the city.
(self) representations. The challenging
boutiques avec les traces des Souqs qu’on
Solidere dialectical relationship between
problem, in its essence, is how to reveal
a connus avant la guerre, mais avec des
history and future is in fact more deeply
the forces that form a specific condition
formes de commerce plus modernes:
rooted the dialectical relationship it
without reducing them to a closed and
grands magasins, cinémas, grandes et
maintains with what it peruses to be the
totaling system.
moyennes surfaces [qui adressent des
current “chaotic” condition of the city. The
gens qui ont d’autres habitudes de
scheme’ many images herald the physical
The present economic recession that is
consommation].”18
order and “cleanliness” of the center that
impeding the consistent flow of investment
comes as an integral part to the civic
in the city center and the time-lap that is
The international competition for the Souqs
authority of the town as a political unit- the
needed to develop the infrastructure with
inevitably collided with the most formidable
sociological antidote to anarchy and
all the street furniture/landscape and
obstacle of Solidere’s architectural
disorganization. In attempting to create
renovation works, are enabling Solidere
discourse. The ideological opposition
such an antidote, Solidere is creating an
to invest the space with informal activities.
between neo-traditionalism and avant-
entity strangely at odds with significant
These activities are eclectic and do not
garde formalism reduces the question of
aspects of its surroundings. In this respect,
conform generally to the original ideological
architecture to one of form exclusively,
Solidere seems to overlook the fact that
representation of BCD. They vary between
denying radical contingency and ultimate
“the ugly and the ordinary” may be the
mundane and political/religious events.
complexity of meanings of life in and of
environmental consequences of a vibrant
Drive-in movie theatre or tent structures
the city. The reinstatement of the traditional
local market economy, and hence takes
that house a folkloric version of a
setting of the architecture of the Souqs
onto itself the role to operate apart from
coffeehouse/restaurant/Arabic singing joint
reflects a problematical attempt to establish
this economy, depending on foreign
illustrate the former. The latter vary
a social consensus through formal
investment and users.
between holding exhibitions, housing a
conventions and formal systematization.
children museum or creating a convention
When architecture is approached as a
In our public spaces and architectural
open space to receive the Pope. At other
free-floating signifier it fails to incorporate
heritage we witness condensation,
instances, political demonstration operating
the problematic of “culture” into its domain
explanation and a reproduction of the
in a form of singing choral where singers
of concern. Here, the simplistic “reflection”
multiple socio-cultural codes of our society.
from all over the region grouped together
of a particular culture is represented by a
These codes are erroneously seen as
during one show took also place in the
“contextual” (Plate 4) architecture that
reproducible products emerging out of an
empty space of the Martyrs square. What
situates itself into its physical-historical
analysis of an exiting context and placed,
joins these activities is their massive public
surroundings by its formal elements and
effortlessly, in front of the communicating
success. Despite the formality of few of
relations, but only in these terms. History
object. These codes are then re-iterated
these activities, they are all housed in
is transformed into a panoply of empty
in a form of classification and abstraction
temporary structures open or closed and
shapes whose value extends from and
of an inventory reduced to a finite set of
not necessarily attached or related to any
determined by the exchange value of
regularities and rules. Rules that tend to
of the present buildings. The latent capacity
objects. The danger of such strategy has
fix the city through representational images,
of the city center to house these transient
been sharply outlined by Christine Boyer
failing to produce a personalized perception
activities float over the fixed scheme/Mater
when she wrote: “Having too much fun in
and denying the city the natural right to
plan of Solidere and ensue a tension that
the City of Spectacle spawns historical
change and constantly rearrange its
turns into a form of criticism of Solidere’s
amnesia and false reconciliation. It does
physical form. The city is placed in the
approach.
not allow for critical perspectives grounded
critical situation of intent and product.
in values formed outside of the
Whereas the intent is to position the city
marketplace, beyond the grip of the image,
as the locus of collective memory, the
In many ways, such a dynamic and
in opposition to the aestheticization of
outcome may become an outdoor museum
informal development and inhabiting of
everyday life.”
or a collection of historicized districts.
public space brings Rossi’s typological
Authentic meanings, however, should not
process to the forefront. Based in the
051
Jamal Abed
Fig.4-5 An ad hoc appropriation and transformation of
space through two instances: Fairuz festival and Elite
fashion show.
approach of Muratori, Rossi’s competition
traces of paths still visible and the patching
entry for the Souqs invites us to allow a
of the holes. In this respect, Rossi’s
careful reading of the typological processes
paradigm substitutes for the authoritative
of the BCD. This reading recognizes the
“will” by which Solidere imposed itself in
operation
accurate
the absence of representation of the
understanding of the typological expression
collective will of Beirut’s citizenry.
that preceded the civil war and the
Furthermore, time rather than space finds
recapturing of the processes from that
important expression in the design in two
instance onwards. In other words,
ways. First, time factor becomes an
addressing the problem of the devastated
important agent that grafts collective
city center as an urban restoration aims
memory onto this reformed place and
at the re-composition of the environmental
enables multiplicity of “voices.” The second
unity of its genius Loci: a re-stitching
and equally important role is in the way
together of the previous continuity, of the
time provides the factor of the unknown
052
of
Rossi’s
Notes on the Art of Selling Cities: Urban Design Strategies in the New Downtown of Beirut
and the acceptance of the absence of the
entity belonging to a structural totality,
Notes
end product. Economically, the latter aspect
architecture, context, and meanings remain
1
will provide a better safety net for the total
unresolved. The polemics of modernity
1994 as a Lebanese joint-stock company,
economic venture
and history perpetuated by the urban
based on Law 117 of 1991 which regulates
design strategy of Solidere would seem
real estate companies aiming at the
to treat architecture as a free-floating object
reconstruction of war-damaged areas in
Conclusion
that has the capacity to generate socio-
accordance with an officially approved
The delusion of the capacity of an ordered
historical meanings through the decoding
master plan. Its share capital is
urban space to regulate life and affect
of past architecture. Such a theoretical
US$1,650,000,000.
moral norms and human behaviour is a
standpoint would seem to deny architecture
2
well established failing pattern resulting
its status as a mode of knowledge about
approved the general scheme in March
from the Renaissance project. By the same
and experience of society. Alternatively,
1994.
token, the loss of a moral public sphere
the return to linguistic coding in architecture
3
resulted in a dominance by private voices
that as perpetuated at one point by
Saskia Sassen to denote global cities that
selling fictional styles of life and imaginary
architects like Peter Eisenman, Jorge
aspire to and operate in a cutting edge
behaviour. These dominant voices impose
Silvetti and others, has been criticized by
sector. Saskia Sassen lecture entitled:
their meanings and control the politics of
Manfredo Tafuri who asserts that
“Whose city is it? Globalization and the
representation through a totalizing urban
“architecture’s return to language is a proof
formation of new claims.” Lecture
design strategy stipulated in both the
of its failure. In the words of Michel Hays:
presented in the Department of
master plan and the brief.
Solidere was incorporated on May 5,
The council of ministries officially
A terminology borrowed from Prof.
Architecture & Design,
Narrowing down the experience of the
“…for Tafuri, the entire project of the search
American University of Beirut, March 19,
public to an experience of pleasure, the
for socio-historical meaning though
1999.
space of the city is modelled along the
architecture...seemed like nothing so much
4
rational bourgeois public sphere. Private
as a microcosm of capitalism itself and
similarity between Serlio’s stage sets and
spaces are publicized as public terrain at
the structure of its representations: putting
opposing approaches to urban design is
a time when public sphere in the Lebanese
the best face on rationalization and
borrowed from Collin Rowe, Collage City
society continues to be re-conceptualized
consumption, providing experiences and
(Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1978).
in terms of a matrix of different
spaces, heretofore uncharted, that capital
5
religious/ethnic groups, political factions,
could now colonize and profit
from.”19
and the rich and the poor.
Returning to Solidere’s strategy in
edition, 1973).
rebuilding the BCD by establishing social
6
Within this context, the “private” domain
consensus and collective memory through
city center as the “medinah” which means
in Beirut has an increasingly strong
formal conventions, such a strategy is
city.
presence within Beirut’s public discourse,
criticized on the basis of putting the cart
7
a discourse that revolves around the city
before the horse. The theoretical position
instances, difference itself is established
in its built and spatial forms. The private
put forth by Tafuri denounces the effort to
as a relational concept. Such an
company of Solidere, in its attempt to work
produce consensus, until such time as
understanding is based on Althusser’s
for the profit oriented interests of its
society itself has reconstructed the material
relation between social, cultural, aesthetic,
shareholders, will inevitably create private
preconditions for consensus and meaning.
and political regions. I believe that the
preserves for the wealthy that are then
“Until then, architects would be forced to
pluralism of the city’s spatial and temporal
transformed into “public amenities” by
rely on materials empty of any and all
strata may be seen within a similar
allowing a select group of people to stroll
meaning...to mute signals of a language
framework. Michael Hays, “Architecture
unimpeded along its corridors and spaces
whose code has been
lost.20
This theoretical position that draws a
In Michel Foucault, Order of things.
Preface, pp. xv. (New York: Vintage Books
Beiruties used to refer and relate to the
Rather than a mere inventory of
Theory, Media, and the Question of
of power. What resides outside this matrix,
I believe that Solidere, in front of its
both physically and socially, remains on
constituencies, context in Lebanon, and
42.
the conscience of but a few who seeks to
the theoretical moment, cannot escape its
8
obtain an open and just society.
fate for the time being at least. It is bound
exploration into the image of central
to operate within what it can do best:
Birmingham as seen by area residents.”
develop its own art of selling cities.
Research Memorandum 10, (Birmingham:
In the present theoretical moment that
views architecture as a quasi-autonomous
Audience,” Assemblage 27 (August 1995):
Brian Goodey, “City Scene: an
Center for Urban and Regional Studies
053
Jamal Abed
1971).
winner.” Signed: all the jurors.
9
18
The experimentation was conducted by
Claude Hindi, “Solidere: Casse du
Prof. Robert Saliba and published in the
siecle ou pari sur l’avenir,” Magazine
Report: Morphological Investigation of
(September 8, 1995):30.
Downtown Beirut: Towards an urban
19
design framework (American University
Media, and the Question of Audience,”
of Beirut, 1990).
Assemblage 27, (August 1995):43.
10
20
Assem Salam and Nabil Tabbara,
Report on the rehabilitation of Ghalghoul
and the Red Light District of Bourj (1968).
11
Ground floor was mostly occupied by a
small-scale car repairing industry.
12
Prof. Saskia Sassen argues that studies
of typical Glamour cities such as
Manhattan New York or London show that
there is inevitably a parallel and invisible
infrastructure network of blue color workers
that support the cutting edge sector. This
group usually occupies an adjacent space
or at times needs to occupy the same
space of the users of the downtown during
a different time frame of the day. Whereas
in the past, poor and minority groups
coexisted with the rich and dominant and
were represented, this group in the new
Glamour City is completely marginalized
and excluded. Saskia Sassen lecture
entitled: “Whose city is it? Globalization
and the formation of new claims.” Lecture
presented in the Department of
Architecture & Design, American University
of Beirut, March 19, 1999.
13-14
Christine Boyer, The City of Collective
Memory, (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press,
1994): 204.
15
Fredric Jameson, Postmodernism or
the Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism (Duke
University Press, 1991): 399-418.
16
Jurors were: Amine El-Bizri, Oriol
Bohigas, Nasser Chammaa, Samir Khalaf,
Pierre El-Khoury, Pierre Neema, Nabil
Tabbara, Abdel-Wahed Al-Wakil, Hansgeorg Brunnert, Romano Viviani.
17
In the report on the competition,
Solidere admits that: “to rebuild a traditional
Souq or a new city center proved to be
the major question at hand. The Jury finally
selected three projects that demonstrate
different attitudes to resolving the problem.
The Jury could not select one definitive
054
Michael Hays, “Architecture Theory,
In Ibid.: 43.
Session 2
Urban design and Architecture in the Gulf Arabic Countries
Talal Akili: Dean, Faculty of Architecture, University of Damascus, Syria
055
Opening Comments
Urban design and Architecture in the Gulf Arabic Countries
Assem Salam , President of the Organization of Arab Architects
Well, I was here yesterday in front of you
we should tackle an issue that will polarize
and talked about the exercise of the
the interest of most of the Arab world. We
profession of architecture in Lebanon. I
organized a big conference that took place
have been asked today to talk a bit about
in Lebanon about two weeks ago on the
the same issue but in the Arab world. I
planning of Jerusalem. You know that
believe I can do so given that I am also
Jerusalem has a special political issue in
now president of what is called the
the Arab world regarding the Israeli-Arab
Organization of Arab Architects. This is
conflict and the unilateral declaration of
an organization that probably most of you
Jerusalem being the capital of Israel.
had never heard of. In fact, it has been in
existence since 1994 and it has been
Politicians in different parts of the Arab
dormant for the past four years. This
world have handled the issue of Jerusalem
organization was established by the
but never has it been handled by a group
Federation of Arab Engineers. As you may
of professional body to study the impact
know, the Federation of Arab Engineers
of urbanization on the population of
are the federation that encompasses all
Jerusalem and the physical environment
the syndicates or association of engineers
of the city. This aspect of declaring
in the Arab world. Under the present
Jerusalem capital of Israel has had
condition by which the architect is part of
enormous repercussions on the Arab
a bigger body of engineering, as I said
population in the city and has led to a
yesterday, it is a question of the
certain disruption of the identity of the city,
identification of the role of the architect
its physical environment, and the traditions
among the engineering professionals.
that the city has had. This conference that
covered all these aspects of the problems
The Federation felt under the pressure of
in Jerusalem was handled by multi-
the architecture group that is was
professional disciplines of lawyers,
imperative that some sort of an
sociologists, architects, planners and was
independent or semi-autonomous
the first conference held in the Arab world
organization be set up by the Federation
over that particular aspect and it was not
of Arab Engineers to represent the
a political conference. It was a purely
architects in the Arab world. So they
professional one dealing with a very
established this Organization of Arab
important subject that the Arab world is
Architects, which is autonomous financially,
extremely concerned with.
administratively, and professionally to
056
activate the role of the architect in the
That was the first conference on a big
society in the Arab world. This organization
scale and it was the first time that the
being still in its infancy has not been very
Organization of Arab Architects displayed
active since its foundation. I was elected
its role in the society in the Arab world.
into this particular organization about a
This is a bit of a quick background. We
year and a half ago. I felt that to activate
are still in the early stage of our formation.
or to make this organization play a role,
Our hope and our aim are to establish
something similar to the UIA in the Arab
no human resources and no physical
future technology. We have suffered a bit
world. The profession in Lebanon that I
resources. So the development in the first
in the Arab world from the international
mentioned yesterday is not different from
20 years after the second World War were
style and the internationalization movement
the rest of the Arab world, except in North
not free from errors and mistakes. Now
in the 50’s and 60’s that led to the
Africa, such as in Morocco, Tunisia, and
any development plan in the Arab world
destruction of the urban fabric in our cities.
Algeria where the architects have a
is as a document on a piece of paper. It
We are facing now in the next millennium
different identity from the body of
outlines the hopes and aims of investment
globalization and the exposure to a lot of
engineering. In the rest of the Arab world,
by the public sector in various infrastructure
pressure by the global system of
all architects are part of the engineering
and development aims. But all these
information. The challenges that are going
body and they suffer from the same issues
development projects had in the end to
to face the Arab architects in the future is
that I talked about yesterday in Lebanon.
be translated by architects. Physical
how to meet or adapt to the globalization
Such an overlap is bringing a set of issues:
buildings had to be built. Ministries have
pressure, especially in technology and its
the question of lack of identity, the question
to be equipped with schools, hospitals,
absorption. I do not think the Arab world
of freedom of operation, the question of
and airports. All these environmental
is equipped to meet the technological
competition in the design of buildings by
development aspects have to be handled
development that exists in the west. Some
non-architects, etc. All the pitfalls that we
by the people that are qualified to handle
indications are already displaying
have mentioned yesterday exist in almost
it. The architect’s role in the future of the
themselves in some buildings that are not
the rest of the Arab world.
Arab world is of enormous importance to
adapted to the technical possibilities
me. Nobody else but the architect is going
existing in the world now. I do not know
This is briefly what I wanted to say about
to translate all these development aims
what is going to be the future confrontation
the Organization of Arab Architects. The
into built environment.
with this strong trend of globalization. What
other thing I would like to talk about is
impact is likely to be on the profession?
what has appeared yesterday from the
I found out from dealing with a lot of people
various interventions. It is the question of
in the Arab world that there is a certain
There is no doubt that this dichotomy
the role of the architect in the Arab world.
awareness by architects on their role in
between engineering and architecture has
What appeared yesterday is that there
society and how they can reconcile the
to find a way by which there would be a
was a lot of consciousness taking place
traditions of memory and identity with the
better dialogue between the Arab
about memory and identity. This, you know,
technological challenges of the modern
engineers and the Arab architects. A
is one of the healthiest things that
world. This is part of the mission of the
dialogue that will lead to a better
appeared in the Arab world for the past
Aga Khan Award to see how you can meet
understanding of each others and how to
ten years. The question of identity and
the challenges of technology and progress
meet the challenges of technology in the
memory cannot be dissociated from the
without losing the roots that tie you down
future. I feel there is isolation on the part
role of society. The society cannot exist
to your culture and civilization. In this
of the architects now as a reaction to the
without identity and without memory. We
respect, there is a bit of hope, a light in
way they were dealing with the profession.
are seeing to what extent in Beirut this
the dark tunnel in the direction in which
I do not feel that this isolation and neglect
question of identity and memory was
the Arab architect is likely to play in the
of the role of the engineer in the
displayed by a lot of young architects that
future in the development of the built up
development aspect of the environment
tackled yesterday the issue of the planning
environment in the Arab world. Rifaat
is a healthy one. I think the engineers in
of Beirut. The thing that seems to be in
Chaderji published a book on the social
the future have an enormous role to play
the right direction in the Arab world now
role of the architect in society and it is a
and the architects also have to understand
is the interest and the role of the architect
very good book in which he has given a
that they need to deal with engineers as
in society as such. You see, the Arab world
prize for the students that give the best
well. It is a common effort that has to be
to me has gone into stages of
paper on the future role of the Arab
found to establish a new relationship
development. Since independence, since
architect in society. So there is a bit of
between architects and engineers that
the disappearance of colonialism in the
awareness in this and there is a positive
leads to a healthy confrontation of the
Arab world, most of the Arab countries
approach in that dimension.
technology of the future. That brings us
went through quick development. Some
back to the old medieval days in which
of them had good natural resources but
The last thing I would like to comment on
the architect and the engineer were just
limited human resources, and others had
is the challenge in the absorption of the
one. They were just builders. Most of the
057
beauty of the Gothic structure is a result
of the engineers and architects working
together. There are indications in the West
that you can’t possibly design buildings of
modern foster without having engineers
next to you, or for that matter the one of
Roger ’s or the buildings of Frank Ghery
that you have to have an engineer next to
you. So it is the combination of engineering
and architecture that have to be fostered
from now and I do not think the isolation
of the architect from the technical
environment is a healthy one. So there is
a re-adaptation again of the definition and
role of each one and the combination of
both that should be looked on to.
These are some of the thoughts I thought
to share them with you today. I’ve read the
abstract of all the people that are going to
present today. They all come from the Arab
world. While reading, I noticed the common
challenges: all of them address the question
of identity repeatedly. The question of
memory is always repeated and the
question of adaptation of the cultural roots
that the Arab world possesses with the
challenges of modernism is also recurrent.
They all have the same problem and they
are all going to expose it and I hope we all
listen to them.
058
Bassem Shihabi,
Architecture in Saudi Arabia- A Wide Angle View
Introduction
Here the majority of the main towns and
This paper has been prepared to prt an
villages are placed along the Red Sea
overall view of architecture in Saudi Arabia
shores. An exception not to be missed
in a factual manner rather than express
here are the two Holy Cities of Makkah
subjective opinions or views. This will
and Medinah, and the mountain city of
provide the necessary background for the
Taif.
expression of different views and
discussions that should take place during
This part of Saudi Arabia was open to the
the seminar proceedings.
outside World much earlier than other
areas, through ancient caravan trading
For various reasons, the time allocated to
routes, its active seaports, and the annual
putting together this material has been
pilgrimage to Makkah and Medina.
sharply reduced. I therefore apologize for
Basem Shihabi: Director, Omrania & Associates
Architects and Planners, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
a certain lack of depth and possible
The use of coral stone, whitewash and
omissions, but believe that the essential
extensive woodwork in the form of roshans
issues are addressed.
projecting from buildings’ facades, gave
distinctive character to the architecture of
the region.
The Architecture Heritage in Saudi
II. To the East: The Hofuf and Quatif
Arabia
farm lands and the Arabian Gulf
In contrast to the popular belief of the
Though examples of vernacular
outside world, the larger number of the
architecture still exist, fewer remain than
people of Saudi Arabia has in the past
in the other regions. The majority of
lived a settled life, rather than that of a
buildings are one to two storeys high
nomadic life. Most towns and villages
planned around courtyards, and
were founded nearby a source of fresh
constructed with thick walls comprising a
water and have thrived through history
mix of mud, load bearing stones, lime
due to the continued availability of this
plaster and timber roofs.
natural resource.
A distinctive feature of this region is the
The Arabian Peninsula is a vast expanse
wind towers, which were strategically
of land of which Saudi Arabia covers a
placed to catch the predominantly northern
major part. Thus, the wide-ranging
summer breeze.
variance in environmental conditions and
social norms has resulted in distinct
III. To the South: The highlands of Asir
architectural expressions of which there
and Najran and the Empty Quarter
are living examples of a diversified
This region enjoys a milder climate and
architectural heritage. These can generally
its major cities have developed along the
be grouped into four distinct areas:
range of Tuhama mountains.
I. To the West; Al Hijaz
The traditional urban housing style is quite
059
Architecture in Saudi Arabia- A Wide Angle View
different from other regions in the Kingdom.
but it was not until the mid 1970's that oil
during the initial expansion of the city up
The use of carefully cut local rocks and
revenue started to transform the national
until the early eighties. Only then did the
stones as the main building material
economy, touching on the everyday life of
private sector start to play a visible role in
enabled the construction of taller buildings
the average Saudi.
furthering development of the city. This
of more than four floors in certain areas.
was a major difference between Riyadh
Oil revenue has been put to good use,
and other cities in the Kingdom such as
Due to the higher level of rainfall in this
favoring the Kingdom-wide development
Jeddah and Makkah where the private
region, these dwellings were built on
of medical services, education,
sector traditionally played a larger role in
relatively higher ground. Their facades
transportation and many other public
the economic development.
had a layered pattern of protruding stones
services. Oil wealth however was not as
to prevent rainwater from penetrating
beneficial when we consider its impact on
III.Present Architectural Trends
inwards, giving them a distinctive character.
the traditional architecture of Saudi Arabia
The people of Saudi Arabia experienced
and the way Saudis perceived their living
great changes within two generations,
IV. The Center extending to the North:
space and surrounding environment. The
including changing lifestyles that were
The Najd Region
incredible speed of the country's
influenced by factors from both outside
This is an area where smaller towns and
development denied the chance for
and within the Kingdom. The traditional
villages extended along valleys and water
traditional architecture to be party to the
construction methods and materials could
sources. The local architecture was very
massive change that engulfed the
not bridge this gap nor could they be
much influenced by the predominantly hot
surroundings of the cities and towns of
reinterpreted to cope with the challenges
and dry climatic conditions as well as the
Arabia. Successful attempts to revive
of a modern city.
strict socio-cultural traditions.
traditional architecture were limited to a
few select projects.
This paved the way for a variety of
Dwellings were closely clustered and
architectural trends to reside together in
separated by narrow, internal winding roads
Riyadh. The speed of growth has been
such that expediency has often taken
to ensure constant shade. The houses
were generally one to two floors, built
A City Example, Riyadh
precedence over quality. However, areas
around an open central courtyard.
Being the capital of Saudi Arabia, the
of controlled development helped maintain
development of Riyadh in recent years
a high quality in influential neighborhoods
Mud bricks, stone, lime plaster and timber
cannot be taken as a true example of other
such as the diplomatic quarter, Qasr Al
were the common building materials.
cities and towns with lesser demands for
Hokm area, the foreign ministry housing
growth. However, what has happened in
project and the King Abdul Aziz historic
Riyadh does illustrate the forces and factors
center and numerous other examples
that brought about this change, which are
controlled by the government or the private
not too dissimilar to those in other cities
sector.
in the Kingdom.
Within these areas and elsewhere, a
The Impact of Oil Wealth
It is hard to imagine similar parallels in
number of projects are worthwhile
recent history, during which change in
resources and fortune has impacted people
within such a reduced timescale.
It was not long ago (in 1902G) that King
Abdulaziz Al Saud embarked on his quest
to unite the distant parts of Arabia, which
at the time lacked dearly in resources. It
took the young King 30 years to complete
his dream and lay the foundation of the
present Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
A year later, in 1933, the Kingdom granted
a group of American oil companies a
I.The growth of Riyad
Riyadh remained an intramural city until
1938 with a population not exceeding
The central spine in the diplomatic quarter,
15,000 inhabitants. The population of
representing revival of the traditional Najd
Riyadh soared beyond any expectation to
architecture by Al Beeah group.
350,000 in 1970, a million and a half in
Qasr Tuwaiq in the diplomatic quarter,
1982 and today counts over 4 million
representing contemporary architecture
inhabitants.
with strong regional routes by Omrania
In terms of size, the city has grown from
and Fri Otto.
0.9 KM2 in 1938 to over 1700 KM2 today.
The UNDP headquarters by Abdallah
II.The economic factor
Bukhari and the Arab Health Organizations
The economy of the City of Riyadh was
headquarters by AbdulKareem Al Saleh,
solely dependent on the government sector
both at the diplomatic quarter, representing
concession for oil exploration in the Eastern
Region of Saudi Arabia. Commercial oil
development began in the early 1940's,
060
mentioning:
Bassem Shihabi
contemporary architecture sensitive to its
architecture of high power finance
regional context.
challenging the sky line of the city of Riyadh
and forcing discussions on tradition,
The Development Institute for Arab Cities
culture, aspirations, etc…
headquarters in the diplomatic quarters
representing high-tech architecture
Last, I wanted to share with you some
tempered to fit the location by Nabil
thoughts about the competitions of the
Fanous.
design of King Fahed National library in
Riyadh for which our entry in illustrated
The Grand Mosque and the Governorate
here. Around Riyadh, common features
of Riyadh at the Qasr Al Hokm area,
with regional landscape are rock
representing a revival of the Najd
escarpments that frequently delineate both
architecture by Rasem Badran.
sides of lush “wadis.” The library building
was conceived to echo this phenomenon.
The foreign ministry housing project in
The library is divided into two hard-shell
Riyadh, representing contemporary
buildings containing the administration and
architecture tempered to fit the location by
special use areas that are designed to
Spear Plan and CRS.
echo the rock escarpments placed astride
The following buildings at the recently
to the central stepping open-shelf reading
completed King Abdul Aziz historic center:
galleries. The latter are covered by a
lightweight structure and oriented north
* The museum, representing contemporary
south along a wadi-like-stretch-over garden
architecture by Moriyama & Tishima.
that partly runs through the building.
Though the jury did not select this building,
* Darat Al Malik Abdul Aziz, representing
the pain for loosing the competition was
revival of the traditional Najd architecture
alleviated by our feeling of fulfillment having
by Rasem Badran.
gone through the exercise of making a
building “feel at home.”
* The restoration work to Qasr Al Murabaa
and adjacent mud buildings and the
Finally, I believe we are here to discuss
restoration work to King Abdul Aziz mosque
how to spare our cities and towns having
by Al Beaah group and Rasem Badran
the examples that our colleague Habib
respectively .
Debs courageously showed us yesterday,
and since all of us have a fair share of the
* King Abdul Aziz library and lecture hall
same back-home, I plea that we should
representing contemporary architecture
agree to encourage what is commonly
tempered by its regional context by
accepted as simply good taste architecture,
Omrania.
at which point we may call it names such
as nostalgia, pastiche, mimicking or define
Ministry of foreign affairs building by Larson
it as traditional, indigenous, modern, post-
that echoes a traditional fort.
modern, high-tech… but who cares.
Riyadh airport and mosque by SOM with
its passenger halls resembling palmgroves.
Al Faisaliyah commercial complex and
Kingdom commercial complex by Sir
Norman Foster and Elerbe Becket /
Omrania respectively representing the
061
Ahmad Bucheery,
Contemporary architecture in Bahrain
Introduction
The State of Bahrain
This century has witnessed unprecedented
technological advances and cross-cultural
a) Geography
interactions causing deep-rooted changes
The State of Bahrain consists of an
in all facets of human life throughout the
archipelago of about 33 small islands
world. The speed and the size of these
situate halfway down the Arabian Gulf
changes are clearly manifested in the built
24km from the eastern coast of Saudi
forms all around the world in different
Arabia and 28km from the coast of Qatar,
degrees of intensity. Bahrain and the wider
with a total area of 691 sq.km.
region of the Arabian Gulf are no exception.
The largest is the Bahrain Island (586
sq.km.). It is connected by causeways to
Al Muharraq- the second largest island-
Since the 50’s the build environment of
and to Sitra. Most of Bahrain is low lying
Bahrain has been transforming at a rapid
and barren. Its surface is limestone
pace from traditional homogenous form
Ahmed Bucheery: Managing Director, Gulf House
covered by varying densities of saline sand
to “modern” one exhibiting different tastes,
that solely supports the hardiest desert
Engineering Architects and Engineers, Manama,
trends
This
vegetation. Bahrain was known for many
Bahrain
transformation led to the loss of streams,
years as “The Island of Million Palm Trees”
which could be categorized into different
which flourished because of the abundant
stages namely: traditional, transitional,
fresh water springs, particularly in the
modern/international and, the most recent
northern areas.
and
expressions.
identity revivalism. In tracing these stages,
the paper does not concentrate only on
b) Climate
the physical outcomes (image, product),
Bahrain is exceptionally hot and humid in
but also links these transformations to
summer with temperature average of 36ºC
complex and interrelated factors of societal,
and humidity average of 85% and mild in
economic and cultural changes and
winter with temperatures ranging
developments. It relates buildings and the
between15ºC to 25ºC from December to
context, which generates certain
March.
architectural practices, tendencies and
expressions.
The paper does not,
c) History
however, endorse one stage against the
The first inhabitants of Bahrain date back
others, as one is the product of the others
to around 5000 BC. They wandered over
and the present is the outcome of the past.
what are now the deserts of Bahrain,
It addresses the different architectural
settling in makeshift villages and chipping
streams, with their positive and negative
tools from the flint, which the limestone
aspects, as a normal evolution process in
rocks of Bahrain supply in abundance.
a society that has been undergoing a rapid
modernization.
d) Language and population
Arabic is the official language, although
English is widely used in business. Bahrain
062
Ahmad Bucheery
1)
2)
is an Islamic country. Islam is the State
economy. The following statistics will give
religion and approx. 75% of the population
an idea of the actual & percentage
is Muslim. There are also Christian, Jew,
contribution to Gross Domestic Product
Hindu and Parsi minorities. The present
(G.D.P.) by different types of economic
population of Bahrain is approx. 600,000
activities.
and 60% of the population is Bahraini.
e)Trade and economy
Bahrain was the first country in the
Architects in Bahrain
Southern Gulf Region to have oil-based
In general it is observed that until1982
economy. During the 1970’s the economy
Architecture was practiced primarily by
experienced prosperity as a result of
Civil Engineers and various Technical
increased oil revenues that led to a very
Departments in the Government.
rapid growth of the country during
the1970’s and 1980’s. In the early 90’s
Despite the fact that a school of
the Bahrain economy entered into a period
Architecture did not come into existence
of consolidation. As the oil income declined
until 1990, there was a substantial number
in this decade, efforts were made to
of Bahraini architects with degrees from
This shows a substantial contribution by econic activities
increase the non-oil revenues by means
abroad. Presently, there are approximately
like Construction, Hotels & Restaurants, Transport &
of expansion of the services,
100 Bahraini Architects and 150 expatriate
Communication and Real Estate during 1988 to 1998.
manufacturing and communications
Architects, who are registered with the
sectors, financial sector etc.
Committee for Organizing Engineering
The Financial Sector has made a great
Professional Practice (COEPP). These
contribution to the transformation of the
Architects are practicing in both the Public
Fig.1 Chart Showing Approx. G.D.P. Values by Type of
Economic Activity. (in million BD)
Fig.2 Percentage Contribution to G.D.P. by Type of
Economic Activity.
Source: Bahrain Ministry of Finance
063
Contemporary architecture in Bahrain
and the Private Sector. There are a total
engineering society in Bahrain. It has a
of approximately 40 Architectural Offices
large number of members from a variety
presently registered in Bahrain.
of engineering disciplines who are
Bahrainis and expatriates (both Arab &
Otherwise). Under the umbrella of this
society, there are nearly 88 Architects,
Architectural Education in Bahrain
most of who are Bahrainis.
A School of Architecture was not
This Society has organized a large number
established in Bahrain until 1990.
of educational events in the past 27 years.
However, there were sufficient numbers
In particular it has endeavored to raise
of Architects who had completed their
the level of Architecture and Building
studies abroad. In 1990 the University of
Construction in Bahrain by means of
Bahrain established the Department of
organizing a number of conferences,
Architecture through its Engineering
workshops, seminars etc. in collaboration
College.
with foreign Universities and Architectural
An average of 30 students is enrolled and
Institutions.
3)
15 students graduate yearly from this
4)
department. Today the department has a
total of approx. 180 students.
The faculty members of this Department
The Role of Government & Private
consist of 12 Professors, Assistant
Sectors
Professors and Lecturers. The staff
Through observations of the past three
members exhibit an interesting mixture in
decades, in which most of the
terms of nationality, background,
development took place, it is seen that
specialization that adds to the strength of
the government & the Private Sectors
the Department.
have played a significant role at different
time periods in the field of construction.
The educational system is based on a
semester credit hour system. The students
I.The Role of the Government Sector
must complete 152 credit hours to obtain
A) The Government as the Client
a degree in Architecture, which takes five
The Government input was as a Client
years. The curriculum is similar to that
(Investor) as well as the Controller of the
adopted by other Gulf Universities. This
Architectural Practices. Most of the
covers mainly Architectural Design,
Housing Projects such as Isa Town,
Graphics & Visual Arts, Building
Hamed Town, Al Jasra Town and Zayed
Technology, Urban Design, Structural
Town along with their supporting
Design, Landscape & Interior Design.
infrastructure were undertaken and
Architectural Education in Bahrain is at
completed by the Government Sector. It
its early stages and the University of
also constructed many institutional
Bahrain has put in much effort by
buildings like various Ministries and
coordinating with various Architectural
Organizations affiliated to the Government
Institutions and Universities for their
Sector. During this period the Private
guidance towards upgrading this
Sector played a very insignificant role in
curriculum whenever necessary.
the Building Construction.
5)
6)
Fig. 3,4: A School of Architecture was not established
in Bahrain until 1990. However, there were sufficient
numbers of Architects who had completed their studies
abroad. In 1990 the University of Bahrain established
the Department of Architecture through its Engineering
B) The Government as the Controller
College.
The Government has established a
Bahrain Society of Engineers
Committee of Professional Practice for
Fig. 5,6:The Bahrain Society of Engineers founded in
The Bahrain Society of Engineers founded
Engineers and Architects in 1981. The
1972 is the only Professional engineering society in
in 1972 is the only Professional
objectives of this committee are as follows:
Bahrain.
064
Ahmad Bucheery
a) Categorize the Engineers & Architects
The Architectural Style of this period in
and their respective offices.
Bahrain (Traditional Architecture) can be
b) To frame the rules & regulations to
defined as a mixture of different
control the Architectural Practice.
Architectural elements and simple
c)To monitor the Practice of the various
technologies existing in neighboring
Architectural Offices.
countries and those commercially linked
with Bahrain, such as Iraq, Iran, India &
7)
II. The Role of the Private Sector
Africa.
As stated earlier, the Private Sector until
This was very obvious from the type of
the late 80’s had a very insignificant role
material/elements used in their buildings,
in the Building Construction. However, the
such as:
90’s have seen an increased role of the
8)
private sector activity (up to 80% of
I) The Wind Tower or Wind Catcher
Construction) as the majority of the public
(Badgeer from Iran).
infrastructure works were completed. Most
II) Joinery works, which mainly came from
of the new Projects, such as Hotels,
India.
Resorts, Shopping Complexes, Bank
III) Roof Materials:
Headquarters, Institutional Buildings,
- Danchal (wooden joists) from Africa
Business Centers etc. were undertaken
- Bamboo from India.
during this decade by the Private Sector.
- Cane mats from Iraq.
IV) Walls made of Local Sandstone.
Development of Architecture in Bahrain
The Four Stages of Development of
2. 1946 - 1970 (The Transitional Period
Architecture
of Architecture)
This period can be considered as the start
9)
1 . 1 8 0 0 - 1 9 4 5 ( T h e Tr a d i t i o n a l
of the change in Bahrain where the
Architecture)
country’s economy was the most
The Architecture and its elements in this
prominent factor in the change of the whole
period remained almost unchanged for its
life style of the Bahrainis. Some of these
style and appearance. This ‘set’
socio-economic factors are listed below:
architectural environment was mainly due
10)
to the following socio-economic factors.
Economic Factors
a) The strong belief of the Bahraini people
I) The discovery of oil in Bahrain in 1932
in the Islamic values and Arab Customs,
resulted in the transition of the Bahraini
which have been handed down from one
economy from a base dependent upon
generation to the other. These customs
Pearl Trade to that of Oil, which led to the
and values are very close to those of the
increase of Bahrainis’ income.
neighboring Islamic cities. Privacy,
II) The Government started supporting &
neighborhood rights and street etiquette
providing public services such as electricity,
Fig. 7,8:The Private Sector until the late 80’s had a very
played an important role.
water, road network etc., which
insignificant role in the Building Construction. However,
b) Bahrain’s strategic location as an island
considerably affected Bahrain’s urban
the 90’s have seen an increased role of the private sector
in the middle of the Gulf coupled with the
growth.
activity (up to 80% of Construction) as the majority of
abundance of fresh water and pearl trade
the public infrastructure works were completed.
made it a haven of settlement from
neighboring countries; thus, creating
Social Factors
Fig. 9,10:Development of Architecture in Bahrain
Bahrain as one of the earliest Urban
I) The change heralded the establishment
The Four Stages of Development of Architecture
settlements in the region.
of laws & regulations by government
1. 1800-1945 (The Traditional Architecture)
The Architectural Style of this Period
organizations that positively affected the
065
Contemporary architecture in Bahrain
12)
11)
13)
14)
Fig.11,12,13,14: Development of Architecture in Bahrain
The Four Stages of Development of Architecture
2. 1946 - 1970 (The Transitional Period of Architecture)
15)
daily lifestyle of the local population.
The Architectural Style of this Period
II) The birth of a new and increasingly
The Architectural style was very much
educated generation led to the pursuit of
influenced by the arrival of new building
a modern life style that would suit their
materials, such as concrete blocks,
beliefs as well as their ambitions.
reinforced concrete, and new building
III) Bahrain started to be linked with the
technology. This led to two distinct styles:
outside world and was influenced by
a) British Colonial Style.
political movements and cultural
b) Modern Style that was adopted in some
evolutions. This changed the preset woven
of the Arab countries such as Lebanon &
pattern of their life style.
Egypt.
IV) The arrival of the expatriate
It is important to point out that the need
professionals in Bahrain from various parts
for new functions that triggered the
of the world with their differing trade
development of public buildings like
practices and cultures influenced the life
Schools, Hospitals, Government Quarters
style of Bahrainis.
as well as concept of new Villas have also
influenced the change from early rural
development to modern Urban
Development.
066
Ahmad Bucheery
16)
3. 1971- 1979 (The Modern Architecture)
The Architectural Style of this Period
This period started with the Independence
The Architectural style of this period was
of Bahrain in 1971. The boom in the
more or less a copy of the building models
economy due to increase in oil revenue in
in the Western world. The introduction of
the Gulf Region was the obvious force.
new technologies such as steel structures,
The following related factors could be
precast concrete and curtain walls has led
considered which changed the pace of the
to a new generation of buildings. It is
Architectural Development in Bahrain:
essential to point out that the overall volume
I) The drastic change in the quality and the
of construction during this period was
quantum of the buildings in Bahrain due
almost 50 times that of the previous thirty
to boom in the economy led to the advent
years. This is evident through the new
of new building technologies that were
urban development areas such as the
almost parallel to the Western world.
Diplomatic Area and Isa Town .
Fig.16: Development of Architecture in Bahrai6
The Four Stages of Development of Architecture
3. 1971- 1979 (The Modern Architecture)
II) The Government supported the economy
of Bahrain by providing the adequate
financial and banking facilities that made
Bahrain a Prime Business/Banking Center
4.1980 - 1989 (Post-Modern Architecture)
in the Gulf region.
We can consider this period as the
III) The Government continued to provide
beginning of the matured Architecture in
the Infrastructure & Services such as
Bahrain. The type of Projects that reflected
telecommunications, road network and the
the architectural style was different than
new planned urban areas in Bahrain.
the one in 1970’s. The Government of
Bahrain continued their support to the
IV) The life style of the Bahrainis was
economy by undertaking the construction
changed drastically due to the linkage with
of noteworthy projects such as Hamad
the outside world through the modern
Town, the Bahrain National Museum, the
educational system, the establishments of
University of Bahrain, the Bait Al Quran
social organizations, and the increase in
a n d t h e K i n g F a h a d C a u s e w a y.
the population due to its improved medical
We can consider this period as the period
facilities. The latter aspect has been further
of a resurgence of religious and traditional
affected by the influx of expatriates who
values, which was a reaction to the
came as a result of the country’s meteoric
increased liberalization of 1970’s, that
development.
supported some of the new architectural
067
Contemporary architecture in Bahrain
styles such as Regionalism and
Revivalism.
The Architectural Style of this Period
The architectural styles of this period were
clearer in their tendency towards
Regionalism or Revivalism. However there
was a continuation of 1970’s copying of
Modern Architectural Style, especially in
residential buildings. Public and Private
17)
sectors began to realize the importance
of the conservation of the Heritage
buildings. There were a number of
buildings renovated during this period.
Shaikh Isa Bin Ali House, Syadi House,
Al Jasra House, Arad Fort, Bahrain Fort
to name a few.
5. 1990 - 1999 Present (Identity
Revivalism Architecture)
This period can be considered as the
continuation of the 1980’s architectural
styles & trends. However, Architecture has
19)
been affected at the beginning of this
decade due to the economic recession
caused by the political events in the Gulf
Region (The second Gulf War). The
following are some of the socio-economic
factors:
I) There is a reaction to the economical
recession between 1990-1991, where a
lot of construction (commercial projects)
18)
took place that was mainly supported by
the Private Sector.
Conclusion
II) The Bahrain-Saudi causeway (King
In Bahrain, architecture has adopted
Fahad Causeway) has greatly influenced
different styles mirroring the changes
the volume of investment in the tourism
occurring in the socio-cultural, economic,
sector, where a lot of tourism-based
and administrative characteristics. From
projects such as Hotels, Resorts,
the mushrooming international buildings
Entertainment facilities etc. increased
of the 1970’s, the 1980’s is considered as
considerably (e.g. numbersof Hotels in
the Golden Period of the Bahraini
1976 were 26, which rose to approximate
Architecture that strive to create meaningful,
60 in 1999).
comprehensible and genuine buildings.
III) The Private sector has played a major
These are clearly reflected not only in the
role in the investment in the construction
size, type and quality of those buildings,
industry reaching nearly 80% of the total
but also in government support and positive
investment rising from approx. 10% from
developments in the professional arena.
the early 1990’s.
Positive developments of the 1980’s have
20)
Fig.17: Development of Architecture in Bahrain
The Four Stages of Development of Architecture
4. 1980 - 1989 (Post-Modern Architecture)
paved the way for the 1990’s, which comes
068
Fig.18,19,20: Development of Architecture in Bahrain
The Four Stages of Development of Architecture
5. 1990 - 1999 Present (Identity Revivalism Architecture)
Ahmad Bucheery
with maturity of local architects and
increased awareness of the identity both
by the officials and the public.
We, in Gulf House Engineering, have
attempted through the various projects
to go beyond the simple copying of the
past through innovation, interpretation,
and reflection. We are trying to balance
between tradition and modern
simultaneously “localizing” international
ideas, materials and aspirations to suit
local needs. We hope that the new
millennium will bring architectural
achievements that truly reflect the
identity of the Bahraini people and their
local architecture.
069
Osama Al Duaig,
Kuwait Contemporary Architecture
Kuwait City like any other Gulf City has
buildings were erected which have some
been transformed in very rapid and
elements of the modern imported
intensive way, from a basic primitive city
architecture, and characterize many new
to more complicated advanced one that
buildings, which were erected in the Middle
produced many planning, urban and
East at this stage.
environmental problems, which any other
Circular and curvature shapes dominated
Gulf cities may encounter.
building architectural design in the
beginning of this stage, which was
Osama I. Al-Duaig: Director of the
Department of Environmental Affairs,
Municipality of Kuwait
The existing architectural situation in
influenced by Arab architects and
Kuwait is the sum of groups of internal
engineers.
factors and external forces, which has
Furthermore, the modern building design
interacted with each other to formalize this
at this stage started replacing the traditional
situation throughout the time. Each stage
where the inner court yard has
has its unique characteristics, which are
disappeared and the following element
distinguished from others, starting from
one introduced balconies, external opening
old Kuwait City with its basic planning
and metal, girls have been used at the
structure and primitive simple buildings,
end of this stage.
to the modern Kuwait City with its planned
areas and wide roads and high rise
The cement plaster, stucco, natural stone,
buildings.
earth tone color paint were widely used
as an external finish of the buildings in
Urban development, which new Kuwait
addition to lime stone bricks which were
City has witnessed for the past 40 years,
produced locally and clay bricks were
has been divided into five main stages,
imported from Iran and Iraq for the cladding
which are classified according to building
of the governmental projects.
architectural style influenced by both
internal conditions and external factors of
the period.
Second: Post oil middle stage
This stage started in mid 60’2 and ended
in mid 70’s in which Kuwait witnessed
070
First: the early post oil stage
rapid urban development and economic
This stage started in the mid 50’s and
growth. The building design and style at
ended in the mid 60’s during which
this stage was greatly influenced by the
economic prosperity which is resulted from
building architecture in Egypt and Lebanon
the income generated from the export of
which is an extension of the modern
crude oil this has influenced all aspects
architecture of the west with some local
of like in Kuwait.
influence.
The building design was characterized by
Straight lines and sculptured walls are the
its low height, which is one of the main
main features of the building faced. Natural
features of traditional Kuwait architecture
stones, which were imported from Jordan,
and its advanced stages. Moreover, new
Syria, Lebanon and Iraq, were used as
Osama Al Duaig
external cladding for the buildings in
Reinforced concrete building cladding,
addition to cement plaster and lime stone
synthetic stones and plasters were widely
bricks which was produced locally.
used in addition to imported clay bricks,
which were considered one of the features
of the architecture of the region.
Third: Advanced Post oil stage
This stage started in the mid 70’s and
ended in the mid 80’s when Kuwait
Fifth: contemporary architecture during
witnessed the second economic prosperity
the post-war stage
due to increasing of oil price which has
This stage started after the war and
influenced the urbanization process in
liberation of Kuwait, which caused massive
Kuwait greatly.
destruction to the infrastructure, public
The element of the modern architecture
facilities in both government and private
still influenced the building architecture in
properties. Kuwait witnessed during this
this stage; however, the strong public
stage the huge general reconstruction and
attitude emerged toward the usage of some
rehabilitation of built up environment, which
of the limited features of Muslim architecture
associated with economic prosperity that
such as arches, arcades, court yard and
brought the money contributed for the
Islamic script and masharabia.
reconstruction. This stage is considered
one of the most important stages in the
During this stage we have witnessed many
history of the architecture in Kuwait. New
high-rise buildings and usage of some other
architectural style emerged which is
new cladding materials such as marbles
considered a continuation of the post-
and granite which were imported form
modern architecture that is widely used in
Europe. In addition to natural stones, which
these days emphasizing principles of
were used in the previous stage, ceramic
regionalism and is the traditional
and prefabricated architectural element
architecture and local identity.
and curtain walls have been introduced in
New modern building cladding materials
this stage with which the influence of the
such as synthetic plaster, metal plates, and
western architecture and engineering can
architectural coatings have been also used.
be felt and seen.
Forth: contemporary architecture before
1990 stage
This stage started in mid 80’s and ended
in August 1990. It has been influenced by
the general public attitude toward evaluation
and assessing the architecture in Kuwait
and people started feeling the diverse
effects of the architectural problems.
Revival is the main feature of this stage
when people started thinking about the
past and the traditional architecture. This
current is coupled with a contemporary
transformation and adoption of some of its
features and elements, such as in window
opening, doors, roof parapet, arches,
arcades and inner courtyard.
071
Abbad Al Radi,
Aspects of the Modern Arab/Islamic City: Architecture and Urban Fabric in
Abu Dhabi
1.Introduction
fronts including built-form, building heights,
The two photographs illustrate at a glance
transportation networks, infrastructure,
the uniqueness of Abu Dhabi. Within the
etc.
span of 25-30 years, a totally new city has
Abbad Al-Radi: Iraqi architect, partner
of the firm Planar, Abu Dhabi, United
Arab Emirates
risen ... “from mud village to Manhattan”.
Such far-reaching change is not confined
All that is left of old Abu Dhabi is the old
to architecture but also to the people and
fort (Qasr Al Hosn), which is now a
culture as well. With respect to culture,
working museum. Nothing else remains,
the evolutionary process has also been
although some may say that there was
cut short. During the same time span of
little to preserve. Even the geographic
25-30 years a basically nomadic desert
confines of Abu Dhabi island has not only
culture with little foreign influence has
been extensively enlarged by reclamation,
been replaced by an urban one with a
but the entire level of the land has been
very large foreign intervention. This applies
raised throughout the island by up to one
a little more to Abu Dhabi than Dubai,
meter with few exceptions. It is therefore
which traditionally always had some-what
evident that there has been neither the
urban culture.
spectrum nor the basic building blocks
with their historic "evolution" that are
What we are concerned with here is
normally intrinsic to the development of a
contemporary “Urban Architecture” for the
vernacular architecture or an urban fabric
UAE and Arab/Islamic world in general.
that suggests a sense of belonging.
The emphasis is on the resulting urban
fabric, which is what gives cities their
Architecture and its context are normally
particular image or identity.
I must
inextricably inter-linked. However, it is our
emphasize it is not the individual one-off
premise that in the context of this region
high prestige building, but rather the impact
in particular and the Middle East in general,
of individual buildings when grouped
there can often be no natural evolution in
together ‘on the whole’. What we are
the development of an architectural
concerned with is to achieve a harmonious
vernacular. The reason is very simple
inter-action or marriage between
and can be seen from the two photographs
Architecture and its urban framework,
of the city of the past and of the present.
which is the city (and the planning of the
The key change lies in the fact that
city). My academic and professional
traditional architecture was basically low
background embraces both professions
rise and inward looking onto well controlled
(Architecture and Urban Planning) and it
and defined spaces, whereas the new
is this background that often encourages
architecture is almost by definition outward
and perhaps allows me to deal with this
looking and more often high rise. This
issue which I believe is critical.
dramatic change is also the outcome of
072
the total change in the building blocks or
In principle, architects and urban planners
basic tenants of present day cities on all
have had the unique opportunity in Abu
Abbad Al Radi
Dhabi of having a basically free hand on
brief review of the traditional Arab/Islamic
virgin territory. Unfortunately, Abu Dhabi
city is introduced to see where they differ
city did not commission a professional city
and what we can learn for consideration
In the contemporary city, there is an
planning study in the early years and for
today.
overwhelming change in the urban context
Architects there would seem to be a true
and in socio-cultural issues.
for Architecture. In essence society and
crisis of confidence here as in the
This is followed by a review of
by inference its architecture now insist on
Arab/Islamic world in general. Architects
contemporary Architecture in Abu Dhabi
being “outward looking” as opposed to
like many others are reverting to the past
and in particular look at the constraints
being traditionally “inward looking”. This
and to the regions’ “glorious history”
and opportunities within its urban
basic revolution in approach, as opposed
because they are so disappointed with the
framework which are directly related to
to evolution in the process of development,
present Western controlled and dominated
the resulting architecture.
results in numerous dichotomies,
culture. In general, throughout the Middle
particularly when considering social and
East, local architects in their effort to break
Finally a review of case studies in Abu
cultural norms and relating them to the
away have either gone for:
Dhabi. We shall look first into high rise
built environment. The former often
A revival of Arab/Islamic architecture in
commercial/residential buildings subject
remains fairly traditional and does not
neo-classical terms by borrowing from
to planning constraints. These constitute
reflect the changing requirements or
major mosques, palaces, madrasas,
the bulk of buildings in the city and give it
principles of the built environment.
caravan sarays etc. and applying them to
its image. This will be followed with a
Architecture after all must, to be successful,
modern buildings of differing function with
review of buildings not subject to this
have a clear relationship between the
the subsequent irrelevance of form to
constraint.
socio/cultural norms and requirements
function.
and the physical interpretation. Our thesis
Or have applied elements of historical
If time allows I will also review briefly a
is that there is little harmony between
decorations or motifs to totally modern
case study in Baghdad. The Abi Nawas
these issues at present and they are often
buildings thus rendering them out of
Development Project, a very large scale
at odds with one another. The actual
context and funfair like.
terrace housing development which as a
development process is in truth one of
On the other hand, at the other extreme
principle when repeated as a built form
revolutionary not evolutionary change and
have totally discarded the requirements
could give a city its distinctive urban image
as is the case in politics, revolutions tend
of the local culture and environment and
(comparison with Georgian, Victorian,
to take quite a few generations to find their
have borrowed wholesale from Western
Regency terrace developments in
mark and integrate them into their
architecture often in the form of curtain
England).
particular environment. Thus building on
wall glass blocks.
or attempting to evolve from traditional
Arab/Islamic architecture is not in itself a
Clearly there are exceptions, but in general
practical or realistic approach in the present
this is not good enough, architecture is a
2.Historical Context For Architecture
language and we in the Middle East must
and Urban Devlopement: Evolution or
have our distinct language albeit within
Revolution.
In contrast, the western city and its built
the framework of the global language,
There is a little time available to dwell on
environment have continuously evolved
from which we cannot and should not
this subject and it will be dealt with as an
to date, even when built in the confines of
escape.
overview. A glance at the two photograph
city walls. Under any present day
of Abu Dhabi, illustrates that architecture
circumstances, what needs to be
The point being made in this introduction
and its urban context were in harmony be
understood is that the basic criteria or
is that Architecture in Abu Dhabi in
it for housing or for public buildings, souks,
elements of the western city be it at the
particular must be seen from this very
mosques, madrasas as all were basically
level of the outward looking built
unique, unusual and to some extent unreal
inward looking. This is not unique to old
environment, transportation network and
perspective.
Abu Dhabi. This characteristic is repeated
system or facilities and infrastructure, apply
as a principle in all Arab/Islamic cities until
to cities throughout the world. A totally
With the above context in mind, this
the earlier part of this century. There lies
separate approach for the Arab/Islamic
presentation is divided as follows:
the very reason for the success of both
City is not by itself a viable proposition.
architecture and cities in their time- that
However what is missing is a genuine
is through harmony not conflict in form
understanding of the differences at the
A look into the historical context and a
day.
073
Aspects of the Modern Arab/Islamic City: Architecture and Urban Fabric in Abu Dhabi
planning level that can be meaningfully
to expose them as monuments. The
the past 30 years is governed to a
incorporated into the Arab/Islamic city to
importance of conserving the entire urban
considerable extent by constraints as well
address the socio-cultural and climatic
fabric cannot be over-emphasized. The
as missed opportunities inherent in these
particulars of the region and lead to a new
individual unit is generally meaningless
constraints.
contemporary architecture of relevance
and the present day approach represents
and belonging to the region. Thus the
a major loss to our heritage. Old parts
Specific factual issues with a direct impact
contemporary Arab City is still searching
within Arab/Islamic cities should be
on architectural quality are reviewed and
for its framework.
conserved as a whole, often modified in
we can be more clearly objective here
use, but not dealt with in the above
because one is dealing mainly with facts.
Another issue relating to the historical
piecemeal manner. New development can
These include town planning
context is that most cities have old parts
be adjacent to the old parts, and good
considerations, commercial considerations
within the new. Although Abu Dhabi is the
examples of this approach can be found
and the influence of building life span,
exception, we do need to look into the
in innumerable Italian cities.
permanency and demography. It should
appropriate integration of the older parts
be added that we are mainly concerned
within the modern Arab/Islamic City.
To summarize this section, instead of
with the heart of the city, in this case the
Modern interventions in old traditional parts
coming to terms with the change, there is
high-rise downtown commercial/residential
of important cities are not sensitive,
and remains a trend in the Arab/Islamic
portion of the city which gives Abu Dhabi
invariably trying to convert basically inward
world to pursue for idealistic and romantic
its main features, image, and skyline.
looking buildings especially mosques,
reasons, the norms or features of
souks, madrasas into buildings to be
traditional architecture. That is not to say
viewed from outside. In our terminology
that specific elements and features of
this is referred to as the “cathedral
traditional architecture cannot or should
Town Planning and Bylaw Constraints
complex”, namely the viewing and image
not be incorporated or modified to fit into
Concerning town planning constraints, we
of buildings to be seen from afar and in
contemporary architecture. However
shall be examining legal issues concerning
basic isolation from their immediate
attempting to evolve from such architecture
plot size, building bylaws, Arab/Islamic
environment.
on its own is not a practical or relevant
heritage, parking, and transportation.
approach to the present day context. As
In the UAE a typical example of this can
we will discuss, this approach is basically
Plot sizes are, on the whole, very small in
be seen in Dubai in the Shindaga area
superficial and often leads to pastiche.
Abu Dhabi. This is identifiable by the
where Shaikh Saeed Bin Maktoum’s house
following photographs illustrating typical
now stands conserved but isolated on its
plot parcels and the space between them.
own. In all such cases, this has resulted
The vast majority of plots in Abu Dhabi
in the destruction of the old adjacent urban
3.Constraints and Opportunities on
are 80 X 50 feet, which is small by any
fabric and converted buildings that are
Architecture Quality
standards. These are followed by plots
meant to be viewed from near and from
Following on the earlier discourse, we
of 80 X 80 feet and 100 X 100 feet. There
inside with the implicit emphasis on detail
shall review the direct link between
are naturally some plots that carry sizes
and substantial time. Instead they are
architectural quality and its planning
in between and some that are larger. Yet,
considered to be viewed from afar, set
framework with few of the intrinsic
these three sizes represent about 90% of
free from their close and closed urban
problems in the present situation in Abu
plots for commercial/residential multistory
setting and viewed effectively at speed,
Dhabi. It is the view of the author that the
development. For multistory buildings with
often from vehicles. This element of time,
planning framework has not been well
an average height of 20 stories, such plots
in terms of observing and living with
conceived in the context of a workable
are indeed small and leave very little room
buildings is rarely considered or thought
long-term framework.
for architectural maneuvering. These plots
off.
are also far too small to allow for
With this in mind, you will appreciate why
economically viable underground parking
The same error has been repeated in most
we continue the discourse by reviewing
provisions.
Arab cities where major mosques, palaces,
the existing planning framework particularly
madrasas and even housing have been
in terms of its direct impact on architectural
If we were to take such plot sizes in
conserved in isolation, with the destruction
quality. This is based on the view that the
conjunction with the standard system of
of their traditional urban surrounds so as
history of architecture in Abu Dhabi over
having 10-40 feet separating plots (the
074
Abbad Al Radi
norm being 10 feet), the result is a
specific context and less applicable to
It is clear that with far larger building plots
stereotype effect of building after building,
modern high-rise buildings. Thus attempts
not only can introducing underground
without the creation of a sense of urbanism
to transplant "Arab/Islamic" traditions
parking floors solve the parking problem,
more common in central city blocks
prevalent in low-rise inward looking
but also the architectural quality of buildings
elsewhere. Traditionally, urban areas are
buildings to modern high-rise outward
can be vastly improved. With this approach
formed by far more expansive building
looking buildings are invariably superficial
in mind, a relatively simple exercise in land
blocks with clearer continuity. All of which
and not based on an acceptable set of
use management can prove that with a
gives an urban fabric to a city, which is to
principles.
different approach to land use the same
a large extent missing here.
floor-space can be achieved with lower
The use or more often abuse of so called
building heights and with a greatly
Probably the single most critical bylaw
Islamic features in high rise buildings can
improved pedestrian environment. The
which has implanted a very stereo-type
be seen in the following photographs of
city must also serve “man” and not just
image to the standard Abu Dhabi building
typical buildings. One can notice the
the “car”.
is the system of allowing for cantilevers of
prevalence of arches of different form and
1.5 meters above mezzanine level which
size including circular, flat, stepped, and
It is thus evident that the existing “Town
not only awkwardly subdivides a building
pointed arches that can sometimes be
planning” framework constrains and is not
but normally has a detrimental effect on
seen in the same building. In addition to
conducive to an improved quality of
architectural quality. This law also needs
arches the use of Islamic decorative motifs
“Architecture.” As has been discussed at
to be considered together with the overall
and patterns covering remaining areas
some length here, the question of
commercial approach to architecture and
typify the results.
determining an architecture that belongs
buildings in general. This translates, in
to the region is a complicated issue
architectural term, to the demand for an
Transportation planning and parking in
requiring considerable courage and
absolute maximization of floor-space as
general have not been given their due
inventiveness at both the urban or planning
permitted by town planning regulations.
importance with regular upgrading of roads
level, as well as at the specific architectural
Architecture has thus become solely a
and intersections in particular being
level. These micro and macro issues must
business proposition.
necessary to cope with steadily increasing
be dealt with together as they are
traffic flows and car ownership. Such
inextricably inter-connected. Only with
Cantilevers are thus taken up all around
short-term measures cannot result in
this approach can we reach a meaningful
the plot to the maximum possible, and
satisfactory technical solutions, as long as
vernacular language for architecture and
balconies are considered as waste of
there is an absence of a comprehensive
not by the existing basically superficial and
usable floor-space. This law not only
city-planning framework in the form of a
subjective approach.
produces the stereo type building referred
well-studied land use and transportation
to earlier but is also a poor model from the
structure plan for the city. It is evident that
This lesson would apply in differing degrees
point of view of architectural quality and
growth and development has not been
to most rapidly growing cities in the
internal living environment.
governed by a medium or long term view,
developing world, and therefore
and the crux of the problem lies in this.
meaningfully addressing this subject
Having reviewed the most critical
Parking, as can be seen in the
becomes truly important.
"objective” town planning constraints on
photographs, is reduced to at grade parking
architectural quality we now look into the
around the buildings, wherever land
Arab/Islamic image requirement which
permits. This results in a generally poor
Commercial and Economic
results in the most subjective constraint.
environmental context for the tall urban
Considerations
The "Arab/Islamic" control on the image
structures. The visual effect is one of a
There is little time available in the context
or treatment of building facades is at best
mass of vehicles surrounding most
of this talk to discuss commercial and
a superficial intervention and results in
buildings. It also leaves little room for a
economic considerations in any depth. In
architectural pastiche.
There is no
well-studied and expansive pedestrian
brief, there is a very short-term viewpoint
traditional Arab/Islamic high-rise
environment. Furthermore, the result is a
and in general terms a very commercial
architectural tradition barring the
gross under-supply of parking with the
approach to the design process for multi-
exceptional North Yemeni and Hadhrami
demand being partially catered for by illegal
story buildings. Buildings do not become
tradition of up to 8-10 floors. However
parking.
history and there is little if any memory
such architecture is unique for its own
built in to them.
There is insufficient
075
Aspects of the Modern Arab/Islamic City: Architecture and Urban Fabric in Abu Dhabi
incentive to develop buildings that last, as
for it. It should be stressed that government
often the government gives the plot with
and quasi government buildings are not
100% funding at negligible interest. The
really subject to the constraints described
extreme commercial consideration of
earlier in this presentation, which apply
getting maximum personal return on
mainly to commercial/residential buildings.
government investment in the shortest
However it must also be stated that the
time span again leads to looking no more
former represent a very small percentage
than a few years ahead, and the
of buildings in Abu Dhabi whereas the
development and growth of the city
latter commercial buildings represent the
becomes solely a business proposition
vast majority and give Abu Dhabi its
with a very short-term time framework.
particular image. It is on this aspect that
the talk has concentrated.
It should also be noted that the high-rise
apartment buildings, which give the city
Most buildings presented here have been
its image, are owned by nationals, but
the subjects of architectural competitions
rarely lived in by nationals.
prior to award. The intention is to refrain
from subjective speculation on what is
This overview of constraints on
good or bad architecture, but rather to
architectural quality and missed
concentrate on projects, which can be,
opportunities is intended to be a frank and
described fairy objectively as having a
honest expose of the facts. Certain
certain architectural quality. Specific
mistakes have been made in the past both
positive or negative aspects or missed
in terms of quality, especially in solutions
opportunities may also be highlighted.
for high-rise housing. It is our hope that
an open discussion on these issues will
allow the next generation of architectural
works to be more appropriate for residential
purposes and of a higher quality. A longer
term view will have to come in time with
the implicit review of the urban planning
framework which is an absolute prerequisite, and this in turn will dictate a far
better quality of architecture.
4. Contemporary Architecture in Abu
Dhabi ( The New Architecture)
In concluding the previous section on
constraints and opportunities, it was
mentioned that a better quality of
architecture has begun to emerge over
the past 10 years. The country and its
people have advanced rapidly and are
now beginning to demand much better
buildings. This is particularly the case with
government or semi-government related
clients who have a long-term view and are
now aware of what good or certainly better
architecture is, and are prepared to pay
076
Rashad Bukhash,
Architecture Re-introduced: New Projects in Dubai-United Arab Emirates
Dubai was one of the most progressing
has about 920 architect members out of
cities in the Middle East through the last
total 4200 engineers. This committee
ten years, the development in Dubai
organizes lectures, seminars, visits to
started mainly after the production of oil
architectural projects and training courses.
in 1969 and it never stopped. The city is
changing daily and the construction is
About 90% of the total architects are
moving too fast towards modernism. The
expatriates with different backgrounds
economic situation although it was bad in
from Arab countries, Asia, Europe and
many parts of the world, but it didn’t effect
North America. In Dubai there is more
much the construction part in Dubai, and
than 200 consultancy office which are
the construction works never stopped, this
mostly directed by expatriates. Since there
led architecture to develop in all ways.
are many large projects in the city few
well-known architects had put their prints
The number of engineers in the country
on the architecture. Few local architects
Rashad M.Bukhash: Head of historical Buildings
according to the 1998 estimate in the
started participating in designing buildings
Section, Dubai, United Arabs Emirates
country is about 33000, and the number
in the last years with traditional designs.
of architects is estimated about 4000
where only 920 of them are members of
The government is participating
the society of engineers. The percentage
enormously in building the infrastructure
of the local architects is not more the 10%
of the city and major projects such as
of the total number.
airport, governmental building, exhibition
halls, large recreational areas, parks and
The architectural education in the country
markets. The private sector is mostly
could be obtained through 2 universities,
developing industrial areas, commercial
which are:
buildings, housing, hotels and shopping
1.The United Arab Emirates University,
centers.
School of Architecture, which was
established in 1978,
Conservation and restoration of the
and has at time being about 150 students.
architectural heritage took a lot of attention
2. The American University of Sharjah,
through the last ten years, the restoration
School of Architecture, which was
unit in Dubai municipality was established
established in 1997, and
in 1991 and in 1994 it was developed to
has at time being about 150 students.
historical buildings section which takes
Many local students are obtaining their
care of all restoration and furnishing
architectural education abroad and mainly
projects for historical buildings. Through
in the United States.
the last ten years more than 50 buildings
in the Emirate of Dubai was restored and
The only professional institute in the
re-used, the most important of these are:
country is the architectural committee in
1- The Faheidi fort built in 1799 used as
the society of engineers, which at present
Dubai Museum.
077
Architecture Re-introduced: New Projects in Dubai-United Arab Emirates
2- The Sheikh Saeed Al-Maktoum House
direction, which is: “to have architecture
built in 1896 used as the Museum of
related to the culture and heritage of the
Historical Photographs and Documents of
region, suitable for its climate, and use
Dubai.
modern technology and materials in its
3- The Ahmadiya School built in 1912
construction”.
used as the Museum of Education.
4- An old house built in 1890 used as the
Heritage House.
5- The old Hatta village, made from mud
bricks was restored and furnished to depict
some of traditional life of the area.
6- Many old mosques, houses,
watchtowers and markets.
Out of these projects Dubai obtained twice
the Arab Cities Organization prize for
conservation and restoration.
Through a quick review of the construction
in the last decade in Dubai, one can notice
that there is a huge amount of construction
going on, which are mostly housing
projects or commercial and residential
buildings. Since the architects are from
different nationalities and backgrounds,
the designs are also printed with different
styles and shapes, such as traditional,
modern, high-tech and post-modern.
The governmental buildings could be
considered as the most unique ones, which
are used as prototypes for other designs.
Some of them are monumental such as
the marina and golf club, the head quarter
for customs and ports and the aviation
club, others are related to heritage and
culture such as Al-Maha resort and the
Royal Mirage hotel. Some combine
between modernity and high-tech like Burj
Al-Arab, the Emirates towers, the new
airport, the twins building, the city center
and the national bank of Dubai.
Future projects are going in the same
direction with respect to heritage, culture
and climate of the region. The most
important of these projects are the west
Marina and Emirates Dunes.
The general trend in the city in the last
decade looks to be going in the right
078
Session 3
Urban design and Architecture in Egypt and Bilad Al-Shem
Nader Ardalan: Iranian architect, Senior Vice President and Director of Design, KEO International
Consultants,Kuwait
I am going to introduce the speakers
so that you can have a background
of their work. The fist speaker will be
Dr. Ashraf Salama who will speak
about contemporary architecture of
Egypt. Dr. Ashraf assistant professor
of architecture at AL-Azhar University
in Cairo acting head of the department
of architecture at Nets International
University (one of the private
universities), for teaching architecture.
He contributed to the charter of
architectural education for UNESCO.
The second speaker is going to be
Mr. Abdullah Hadrami, Abdullah is
going to speak about Yemen and
some of the work that he is doing
there. Abdullah is a Yemeni architect.
From 1997 until 1998 he worked for
the General Organization for the
Preservation of the historic cities in
Yemen, he was the director of
restoration and technical cooperation
for the studies. Presently from 1995
until now he is working with General
Organization of Antiquities, museums
and manuscripts under the restoration
of the Asnaf Mosque in Sana, and he
is the project architect for upgrading
the national museum so we are
looking obviously very much for that
presentation. The third individual who
will be speaking and he will be
speaking before Abdullah will be Mr.
Eric Huybrechts. The information that
I have on Eric is the following and he
is a French architect, he is the director
of the center for study and
reconstruction of Beirut, which is called
the ORBR, and he will be speaking
about the development of the
Lebanese coast.
079
Ashraf M. A. Salameh,
Contemporary Architecture in Egypt
Reflections on Architecture and Urbanism of the Nineties
Abstract
attempts to “tame” architectural and urban
At the end of the 20th century, and as we
development processes and the capacity
approach the beginning of the third
of Egyptian architects to manage individual
millennium, a moment of reflection and
buildings, the overall built environment is
contemplation is really needed. In the past
increasingly mismanaged, and the process
decade there have been radical changes
of architectural education has been slow
in architectural practices in Egypt. It has
to respond to these shifts.
become common to observe that major
Ashraf M.A. Salama: Assistent Professor of
Architecture, Al-Azhar University, Cairo; Acting
Head, Department of Architecture, Misr
International University
shifts are occurring in the realms of
This paper investigates the current status
architecture and urbanization. These shifts
of architecture and urbanism in Egypt. It
are dramatically changing the public face
bases its argument on a survey of the
of Egyptian architecture. On the one hand,
recent developments in the field, linking
there have been changes that will definitely
these developments to socioeconomic
alter the role architects and planners can
contexts and the architectural trends in
play. These are due to the emanation of
the nineties, and examining the role of
new architectural services, complex
different actors in these processes. The
building types and activities, and bilateral
paper relies heavily on presenting
and multinational projects. It is evident
examples of projects that exemplify various
that the profession in Egypt is being
architectural and design positions. Results
diffused into several new activities and
of interviews with renowned Egyptian
roles. There emerge specialists in
architects, and conclusions drawn from
architectural programming, cost
questioning architectural advertising in
analysis/control, office and construction
major newspapers are discussed and
management, landscape architecture,
associated with the overall argument. The
client relations, research, real estate
paper ends with a conceptual vision for
development and architectural marketing.
the future of architectural profession and
On the other hand, we have witnessed
the blinkered new paradigm.
more involvement of local architects and
urban planners, together with international
Introduction
agencies, government, NGOs, and the
The intention of this introductory section
private sector in urban development,
is to highlight the major shifts in the
historic preservation, and sustainable
contemporary scene of Egypt with special
urban conservation projects.
emphasis on the economic context within
which the development process takes
A wide range of innovative designs
place. The professional and educational
representing disparate trends can also be
contexts of architecture and urbanism that
observed. Among these trends,
inform the development process are
movements toward green design and a
discussed and elaborated.
more culturally and environmentally
080
responsive architecture are implicitly and
The Economic Context and Its Impact
slowly dawning. Despite these honest
on the Development Process
Ashraf M. A. Salameh
1)
During the last three decades, the Egyptian
The preceding two phases culminated into
economy has passed through three
the privatization era, which started in 1991.
distinct, but related, phases. These were
This phase emphasizes the effective
the open door policy, the economic reform,
interaction with market dynamics as stated
and privatization. The open door policy
in the law no. 263 for the year 1991. The
took place during the period between 1974
law mentions that the holding companies
and 1981. It placed emphasis on
are to replace the public sector agencies
encouraging the private sector, at both
with
regional and international levels; to develop
public/government projects into private
and employ new investment plans. Laws
investments in order to minimize and limit
pertaining to taxes and trade have been
the role of public sector and its interference
tailored to facilitate foreign investments
with strategic projects upon which the
and international trade. The economic
national economy relies. This trend has
reform was the second phase that
markedly influenced the urbanization
occupied the whole decade of the Eighties.
process, which manifested itself in an
The government policy was to develop
intensive industrial development and a
plans that create parallel directions toward
withdrawal of investment in the agricultural
both economic and social development.
sector (Hamdy, 1997). [Reasons of the
To accomplish this, the government has
shift from one phase to the other and the
designated 50% of its total investments
repercussions on the urbanization process
to the efforts carried out by the private
remain unclear]
the
aim
of
Fig. 1: Residential Towers of Arab Contractors, Maadi,
Cairo.
Source: Arab Contractors Photo Labs
transforming
sector. The law no. 23 of the year 1989
stated that the rules and foundations of
In light of the privatization process, three
local investment plans are to be directed
types of planning are emerging. The first
to desert development, land reclamation,
is trend planning, a type that measures
industrial development, housing and urban
the market needs and tends to put
development, and tourism.[the second
minimum constraints on the activities of
phase is not clear in terms of its objectives
the private sector. The second type is
and mechanisms of operations]
leverage planning that aims at ameliorating
081
Contemporary Architecture in Egypt
2)
the market performance sponsored by the
buildings. It also directs its housing projects
public sector in order to improve the
of the new cities to the affluent population
operating environment for development
and the upper middle class.
projects. Private management planning
is the third type that relies on the private
sector in managing urban development
Professional and Educational Milieus
processes. A redistribution of roles and
Associated with the above economic
powers has been conceived. The
context, a wide range of innovative designs
government role is now reconsidered
representing disparate trends has been
where it is supposed to be minimal in
materialized. Among these trends,
production and development and maximal
movements toward green design and a
in environmental protection. In this respect,
more culturally and environmentally
the government role is envisaged along
responsive architecture are implicitly and
three interrelated axes: 1) To provide
slowly emerging. With these honest
security, safety and public services, 2) To
attempts to “tame” architecture and urban
direct the activities of the private sector
development, one can assert that while
to public benefits and welfare, and 3) To
local architects carry a good command
create employment opportunities. The
on the quality of individual buildings, the
failure of the government to fulfill these
overall built environment is increasingly
roles resulted in the monopoly of the
mismanaged. This is due to the dichotomy
private sector to deliver these services,
in which planning and architectural
succumbing its operation to market
professions exist. The two disciplines have
speculation. The active and aggressive
historically experienced a relationship that
participation of the private sector in
varies from complementarity to
housing and service delivery led to a virtual
competitiveness, from positive to negative,
inflation and an overrated and
and from parallelism to mere juxtaposition.
overestimated real estate development.
The operating environments of planning
Evidently, the private sector targets
and architectural practices are currently
strategic locations inside the urban
under major conflicting paradigms that
perimeter of central cities for developing
can be exemplified by these three aspects
large-scale luxury commercial and office
1) how it looks versus how it works, 2) the
082
Fig.2: The National Sporting Hall. Built for African Sports
Championship, 199
Ashraf M. A. Salameh
3)
strategic plan versus the master plan, and
Shams University (1950), Assuit University
3) the physical city versus the economic
(1957), Al/Azhar University (1964), Zagazig
and demographic city (Salama, 1999).
University in Shoubra (1975), and Helwan
University in Mataria (1980). In addition
Underlying the economic development
to these nine departments, two planning
and the affiliated trends in planning and
programs have been established at
architectural practices, the educational
Al/Azhar University (1964), and Cairo
milieu has simultaneously broadened and
University (1980).(Fig.1)
Fig.3 Children Library, Giza, Egypt, 1990 By Magd
Masarra.
Photo: Ashraf Salama
increased in terms of the number of
programs, graduates, current students
Accompanying the privatization process
enrolled in these programs, and
and the government plans for educational
concomitantly, the number of teaching
reform, there has been sudden emergence
staff and faculty members.
of several architectural programs. During
the period from 1989 to 1995, five
The establishment of architectural
departments of architecture at regional
education in Egypt goes back to the third
decade of the 19th century. However, the
universities in the Delta Valley and Upper
official establishment of higher education
Tanta University, Menofia University,
in architecture occurred in 1929. Until the
Mansoura University, Suez Canal
1980, there were only nine departments
University, and fine arts at Menia
of architecture that fell essentially under
University. Three other departments of
the umbrella of either engineering or fine
architecture at private higher institutes
arts. Some of these departments have
have been established in the same period.
experienced periods of reestablishment
Also, the Arab Academy for Science and
or restructuring. All in all, these were Cairo
Technology has initiated two other
University (1834-1929-1936), Alexandria
departments, one in Alexandria (1994-
University (1941), Fine Arts in Cairo (1910-
1995) and a recent one in Cairo (1999).
1945), Fine Arts in Alexandria (1945), Ain
For the first time in the Egyptian History,
Egypt have been established. These are
083
Contemporary Architecture in Egypt
5)
4)
privatization fully reached the academic
perception of architecture as art and art
realm, where four private universities have
alone, the lack of knowledge and the
been established based on a Presidential
failure to deal with the realities of
Decree in 1996. These universities are
professional practice and to anticipate the
Misr International University (MIU),
future needs of society, and the gaps
University for Modern Science and Arts
between knowledge and design and
(MSA), Misr University for Science and
education and practice. In this respect,
Technology (MUST), and October
questioning the quality of the recent
University.
graduates and the competency of current
students as future professionals will remain
The jump from 9 programs in 1980 to 25
a crucial issue that imposes itself on the
programs at the end of the Nineties is
map of academic and professional
problematic. The number of practicing
research, and will continue to occupy a
architects reached 30.000 with the
major position among the recent debates.
expectation that the number will be
doubled in the next decade. The number
of students enrolled in the 25 programs
The Eighties: A Prologue for the
at different grade levels is currently around
Nineties
5000. While the new private universities
Image ability, Legibility and the Search
attempt to reconfigure the educational
for a New Identity
process in terms of the knowledge content
The built environment conveys
and the way in which this content is
environmental messages that reflect inner
delivered, public universities are still using
life, activities, and social conceptions of
their original curricula that have been
those who live in and use that environment
developed decades ago. In very few cases
in association with the actions and values
slight changes is taking place.
of society (Sanoff, 1991). As a society,
we tend to reevaluate the meaning and
Some of the problems that can be
desirability of built environments rather
identified from such a system lies in the
hastily. What was visually acceptable some
084
Fig.4: An Example of SurfaceTreatment Architecture.
Al/Horrya Mall, Cairo, 1995
By Farouk Al-Gohary
Fig.5: Example of Shops Architecture. A Commercial
Strip at Al-Obour Apartment Buildings in Cairo
Ashraf M. A. Salameh
6)
7)
years ago becomes now unacceptable,
Egyptian cities. However, many of these
and conversely what was considered
projects lacked the preceding three
eyesore and ugly a while ago has acquired
qualities. The entrances and exits of the
both value and meaning over time.
major cities are quite chaotic and the public
However, there are visual qualities that
is starving to see visually appealing
should not be avoided and that should
environments. During this period, very few
occupy a major preoccupation at any given
attempts have been made to create built
time and place (Fig.2)
environments that would address
imageability, legibility, and identity. It is
Fig.6: First Residence at Giza, 1998/1999
By Consortium of International Consulting Firms
Management by Bechtel International Incorporated
Source: Medina Magazine, Issue no 1
Three qualities can be identified here to
believed that this period was a prelude to
reflect on the visual aspects of the Egyptian
the Nineties, where conversely several
Fig. 7: Conrad International Cairo Hotel, Cairo, 1998
built environment during the last two
buildings and housing developments have
By SOM and Ali Nour Eddin Nassar
decades. These qualities are image ability,
been built and created, emphasizing
Management by Bechtel International Incorporated
legibility, and identity. Image ability is the
distinctive visual images.
Source: Medina Magazine, Issue no 1
ability of an environment to create an
image. Thus, built environments should
The question that can be raised at this
have certain qualities that give a high
point is: are these images appropriate in
probability of evoking a strong image in
reflecting the Egyptian historic culture,
society. Legibility is understood as the
local climatic conditions, or socio-economic
opposite of confusion. A legible
contexts? A partial answer can be made
environment is one that is easy to read
here. These were honest attempts toward
and that allows people to know their
creating visual quality with a matching
whereabouts (Lynch, 1960; Antoniades,
style to public taste. However, the
1993). Identity is the collective aspect of
remaining part of the answer remains a
the set of characteristics by which a
challenge to both the professional and
building or a portion of a built environment
academic community (Fig. 3).
is definitively recognizable.
The Nineties:Generic Features of the
The Seventies and Eighties in Egypt have
Transitional Period
witnessed the development of new cities
Within the last few years, there have been
and mass housing projects have been
radical changes in architectural practices
erected around the urban belt of most
in Egypt. The major changes in the
085
Contemporary Architecture in Egypt
profession of architecture can be identified
in several shopping malls designed and
in terms of an expansion of the scope of
built in strategic urban areas, especially
practice, an imbalance of competition
in Cairo and Alexandria. Facade
between
other
architecture can be seen in the ground
professionals, an emergence of bilateral
floor commercial strips of several old and
and multinational projects, and finally an
new housing projects, and in the
intensive collaboration between the
commercial strips incorporated within the
government
fences of sporting clubs.
architects
and
and
international
organizations. An understanding of
(Fig.4-5)
contemporary architecture of Egypt is
dependent on a discussion of the above
mentioned features.
Other Professionals are Competing
with Architects
In the Nineties, it is widely acknowledged
Scope of Practice
that there is an imbalance of competition
The demand for new architectural services
between architects and other specialists.
is increasing and is coupled by a growing
One can identify two major groups that
number of architects, firms, recent
compete with architects; sometimes in a
graduates, and architectural programs.
negative manner and other times it results
The growth of this demand has been
in a positive relationship. The first group
accompanied by radical shifts in the type
encompasses interior designers and
of these architectural services. The
landscape architects. The competition
profession in Egypt is spreading into
between architects and interior designers
several new activities and roles. One
stems from the overlapping issues
witnesses an emergence of specialists in
addressed by each domain. Obviously,
architectural programming, cost analysis
this is usually associated with building
and control, construction management,
types such as office buildings and work
landscape architecture, client relations,
environments, since they are mainly based
research, real estate development, and
on organizing and designing partitions and
architectural marketing. These activities
inside walls, selection and arrangements
emerged with a new type of clients and
of furniture, and specifying equipment.
require skills beyond the capacity of the
Landscape architects are also competing
traditional architect. In turn, such a trend
heavily with architects especially in the
in the “industry” of architectural production
design of outdoor environments of many
threatens the traditional conception of the
tourist and recreational projects in Sinai
required skills for a successful practice.
Peninsula and the Red Sea region.
However, a more accentuated shift in the
The second group of competitors includes
required services may be identified in two
contracting companies, construction
major areas: interior design and “surface
managers, and investment agencies. It is
treatment” architecture. On the one hand
important to realize the sense in which
emphasis of the design of interior spaces
this group challenges architects. They
has replaced that of the building shell. On
usually hire well experienced architects
the other hand, the tendency towards
to handle their design work, and, in some
9)
“surface treatment” or façade architecture
cases, to help them achieve their hidden
Fig. 8 Headquarters of Faisal Bank, Cairo, 2000 By
that is mostly found in commercial buildings
agenda.
Issam Hafez
that buildings with distinctive visual
Bilateral and Multinational Projects are
Photo: Ahmed Abdel Wahab
Fig. 9 Headquarters Mohandes Insurance Co., Cairo,
appearance can excite public attention.
Overrunning
1999 By Ezzat Said
Examples of this practice can be noticed
In the architectural and real estate
Photo: Ahmed Abdel Wahab
has emerged from the belief among clients
086
8)
Ashraf M. A. Salameh
11)
10)
development market, it is apparent that
projects are only devoting to tracing
there are several large-scale projects that
problems and envisioning solutions, others
are carried out by joint ventures companies
take further steps and concern themselves
of consultants. In this respect, collaboration
with the implementation of urban
is now taking place within two manners. It
development plans.
occurs between local architectural firms
and expatriate professionals who seize
The Supreme Council of Antiquities is
work opportunities especially in the realms
currently conducting several projects in
of interior design and landscape
collaboration with other government bodies
architecture. Furthermore, teams of
and international organizations, such as
international firms carry out some projects
UNESCO, UNDP, the Historic Cities
totally or partially, such as S.O.M. and
Support Program of the AKTC, and several
Fig.10 The Supreme Court of Egypt, Cairo, 1999
H.O.K. One of the examples that illustrate
European missions from Germany, France,
By Ahmed Mit
this feature is Conrad International Cairo
Italy, Belgium, and other countries. These
Source: Medina Magazine, Issue no 2.
Hotel, a multi use complex that consists of
projects range from archaeological
Fig.11: Factory and Exhibition Hall of Oriental Weavers,
10th of Ramadan City, 1994
apartments, hotel, offices, and retail spaces.
excavations to restoration of historic
There are similar projects in which
buildings. Old Cairo occupies a major
By Moemen Afify and Amro El Halfawy
international firms are involved, such as
position in this collaborative development
Source: Courtesy of Moemen Afify
First Residence at Giza, extension of Cairo
process.
Meridien, Arcadia Mall, Soma Bay Resorts
South of Hurgada, and many others (Fig.6-
The Ministry of Housing represented by its
7).
two major organizations, General
Organization for Physical Planning (GOPP),
and the Housing and Building Research
Government Agencies and International
Center (HBRC), have been very active on
Organizations are collaborating in the
several accounts. GOPP, during the last
Development Process
decade, has developed several action plans
In the development process that is currently
of urban development projects around the
taking place there are several types of
major cities, and has envisioned many
projects that have been conducted via
development projects for intermediate cities
collaboration between government bodies
in the Delta Valley such as Damietta, and
and international organizations. Three
in Upper Egypt such as Assuit. Currently,
government agencies appear to be active
HBRC is collaborating with the International
and promising. These are the Supreme
Institute for Housing Studies of Netherlands
Council of Antiquities (SCA), General
in a long term project that involves capacity
Organization of Physical Planning (GOPP),
building of architects working in local
and Tourism Development Authority (TDA).
authorities in urban development realms.
It should be noted here that while some
The TDA has also contributed heavily to
087
Contemporary Architecture in Egypt
12)
urban development processes, especially
development projects. This has led to a
in Sinai and the Red Sea region. It is
plurality of schools of thoughts, since there
involved in projects that range from
has been a fertile soil and an operating
reviewing design concepts of tourist
environment that allow for new attempts
facilities and their match with building
at all levels from the construction of
bylaws and environmental regulations to
individual houses to large scale
developing best practices manuals. In
architectural developments.
1996, TDA has started a process with the
US-AID
of
A parallelism between these processes
environmentally sustainable tourism.
for
the
promotion
and different building types can be
conceived. Several new private companies
Currently, awareness seminars are held
and banks have been established and
and guidelines are published as part of
government agencies started to update
environmental policy and institutional
and upgrade their facilities. As a result,
strengthening projects. Part of the TDA
the construction of office buildings can
role is to encourage investment in
now be seen in major central urban areas.
ecofriendly tourist facilities and green
With the establishment of private
hotels.
universities and institutes, one can find
constructions of educational facilities here
and there around greater Cairo. Also,
Egyptian Architecture is Changing its
government universities are updating,
Public Face
upgrading, and expanding their facilities.
The current privatization process and the
Many school buildings are now built to
free economy era have resulted in
accommodate the rising demand on
intensive architectural and urban
private education.
088
Fig.12: The Supreme Court of Egypt, Maadi, Cairo,
1999
By Ahmed Mito
Photo: Ashraf Salama
Ashraf M. A. Salameh
13a)
13b)
14)
15a)
15b)
Fig.13: Headquarters of Oriental Weavers, Heliopolis,
Cairo, 1994 By Farouk Al-Gohary
Photo: Ashraf Salama
Fig 14,15: Apartment Buildings Built in the Nineties
in Different Parts of Cairo: Dokki, Mohandseen and
Mokattam By Ashraf Salah Abo Seif
Photo: Ahmed Abdel Wahab
Fig.16 Khan Al Azizia. A Commercial and Recreational
Center, Cairo/Alexandria Desert Road, 1999
An Example of Historic Eclecticism. By Ashraf Sabry
16)
Photo: Ahmed Abdel Wahab
089
Contemporary Architecture in Egypt
All in all, there has been a surge in the
actually address the faults implicit in
construction of other building types such
modernist architectural practices, but
as commercial buildings and shopping
rather, it tacitly accepts them.
centers, factories, tourist facilities, and
public buildings. Many of these occupied
Categorizing or classifying the
hot spots in urban areas while others
contemporary architecture of Egypt is
contribute to the development processes
really a difficult and daunting task. This is
in sub urban areas and desert
due to three main reasons. The first is the
environments across the country.
difficulty inherited in any classification
effort, the second is the plurality of
architectural advocacies and trends, and
the third is the overlapping concerns
Post Modernism in Egypt
between the trends. Since the public face
The international post modernism
of postmodern Egyptian architecture is
movement was a direct challenge to many
completely different from the product of
of the premises upon which modern
international post modernism, the
architecture was based. It came to include
classification of Egyptian post modernism
advocacies and efforts ranging from
should not necessarily follow the
historical revival, historic eclecticism, and
classification of international post
historicist attitudes to schizophrenic,
modernism. However, there are
illogical approaches of collage and elitism
overlapping categories between the two.
architecture. It acknowledged the role of
In sum, Egyptian post modernism of the
symbolism in architecture. In short, it was
Nineties can be classified into two major
based on some logical fundamentals and
trends that illustrate the impact of historic
critical visions, since it viewed that
and heritage architecture on the works of
modernism was not able to satisfy
Egyptian architects. Never the less, historic
emotional and cultural needs of people
and heritage references differ across the
while at the same time expressing
wide range of trends.
17a)
17b)
economic, scientific, and technological
givens of the time. Post modernists
The two major trends that express
acknowledge the taste codes of the public
Egyptian architecture of the Nineties are
as a source for their inclusion in their
on one hand historicism mixed with
compositions, in the belief that this will
historical revivalism, and on the other
help their work communicate with the users
hand, regionalized modernism or
of architecture.
modernized regionalism. It is worthy to
In Egypt, postmodern movement is formed
mention that several other trends can be
within the framework of the international
observed but can not be categorized.
post modernism.
However, for the purpose of classification
17c)
these trends will be categorized under
It does not offer a critical vision of previous
other influences.
local architectural thoughts (modernism).
Simply, it is a transformation from following
the international modernism to following
Historicism and Historical Revivalism
the international post modernism. In this
Several Egyptian architects envisaged the
respect, it can be argued that Egyptian
selection of many historic features. This
post modernism expresses a continuation
has been materialized with a strong
of the Westernization process. The major
reference to the Egyptian history that has
Fig.17: The Nile Gallery, Opera Grounds, Cairo, 1997
weakness here is that it does not go far
a rich mix of many products of three main
An Example of Regionalized Modernism/Modernized
enough in its acknowledgment of the
Egyptian cultures, the Pharonic, the Coptic,
Regionalism By Abdel Halim Ibrahim
needs and wishes of users. It does not
and the Islamic. They believed that
Photo: Ahmed Abdel Wahab
090
Ashraf M. A. Salameh
simulating the history in contemporary
participants. After much debate and
buildings would help establish a sense of
discussions Ahmed Mito won the
belonging and a strong emotional tie
competition. However, he completely
between society and the built environment.
redesigned the building and finalized it in
In this respect, one can argue that also
its present status (Medina magazine,
eclecticism, the license to select, borrow,
1998).
and copy from the past was revived.
Concomitantly, to copy from the past
In the headquarters of Oriental Weavers
b e c a m e , u n f o r t u n a t e l y, l o g i c a l l y
(Fig.13), Farouk
acceptable.
hierarchical arches and designs the
Al Gohary uses
building with an inner courtyard. Openings
There are many examples that represent
are covered with stucco screens. It is
the attitude and movement of current
believed that this has been to simulate
Egyptian architects toward historicism in
the past with a contemporary image. Also,
architecture. Some architects have
apartment buildings (Fig.14-15) that have
developed their projects based on the
been built in the nineties deserve special
features of Pharonic architecture while
attention, where features of Islamic
many of them placed emphasis on copying
architecture are borrowed to localize the
features of Islamic architecture. However,
public face of architecture. An example of
most of them have tried to adapt those
this trend can be found in the works of
features to the contemporary image of
Ashraf Salah Abo Seif who avoids the use
buildings.
of any modern visual features and heavily
In the exhibition hall and factory of Oriental
uses shallow arches and wooden pergolas
Weavers (Fig.11), Moemen Afify and Amro
and harmonizes the overall building shell
El Halfawy attempted to borrow and adapt
in an attempt to simulate and adapt Islamic
features of Pharonic architecture. The
heritage.
Fig. 18: The Nile Gallery, Opera Grounds, Cairo, 1997
By Abdel Halim Ibrahim
Photo: Ahmed Abdel Wahab – Drawing: Alam Albenaa,
April, 1998
building looks like a temple but with
different proportions. The Supreme Court
Some other architects went to the extreme
of Egypt is another example built in Maadi,
and allowed themselves to copy and paste
Cairo (Fig.12). The building is designed
from the past. In Khan Al Azizia project
in a monumental scale and style by the
(Fig.16), the developer and the architect
Egyptian young architect Ahmed Mito. It
wanted to create, in the desert, an image
includes counseling halls, a multi purpose
similar to that of old Cairo. The architect
hall for 450 people, offices, a library, a
copied some features of old Cairo such
museum, and a large atrium that rises up
as mashrabya and narrow openings. An
to 18 meters and covered by a dome.
attempt was made to add and hybrid some
Originally, the project was an international
other features. However, the overall
competition in 1994 with about 48
appearance is not convincing, since the
091
Contemporary Architecture in Egypt
20)
21)
19)
building purpose does not match its
causing social and cultural resistance to
activities and users.
these forces. It is believed that globalization
has extremely influenced the national
Regionalized Modernism or Modernized
economy. However, its impact on local
Regionalism
cultures can not be measured now, but
During the current period of intense
certainly, it will influence socio/cultural
development in Egypt, no doubt there are
aspects on the long term. It should be our
considerable achievements. Good designs
concern that cultural globalization is
emerge here and there across the country.
coming, regional identities will be destroyed
However, the overall design standard is
more, and many outstanding sub cultural
disappointing and the plurality of
regions will be transformed into plain
architectural trends is confusing. Under
looking environments.
the strong global economic and cultural
impacts, Egypt has witnessed the erosion
A balanced architectural development is
of regional/local identity and concomitantly
clearly on the rise, where globalization
is experiencing the loss of visual anchors
and regionalization should be regarded
to the soul of most cities. Were
as two sides of a coin and thus they are
Westernization and Globalization the
inseparable. Never the less, their weights
reasons?
vary in different circumstances. In this
Fig.19: Serena Beach Resort, Quseir, Egypt, 1994
By Rami El Dahan and Soheir Farid
Photo: Ayman Taher
respect, one can argue that some cultures
Globalization generally refers to an
can be absorbed to become ingredients
economically driven process, whereby the
of new regional cultures. This points to
Fig. 20,21: Integrated care Society, Heliopolis, 1997
politics, economic, and culture of one
regionalized modernism/modernized
An Example of A basic Design Exercise
country penetrate other countries (Pennell,
regionalism.
By Magd Masarra
1997). It is seen as a force that can unite
Photo: Ashraf Salama
economic forces while at the same time
092
When the formal vocabulary is closely
Ashraf M. A. Salameh
22)
related with indigenous space concept
either physically through designing a path
and space characteristics, one can find
that penetrates the building and allows
supreme examples that give people an
visitors of the Opera area to watch the
opportunity to reconstruct missing links in
exhibits freely and casually, or spiritually
their traditional culture and to enhance
and psychologically through the use of
their learning process of it. However, there
color, texture, and distinctive intimate
is a danger in this trend, since it may
masses. The mail hall is roofed and
produce a sort of style, which might easily
supported by steel trusses that are covered
be transformed into a built environment
by a glass roof for natural lighting
that is superficially appealing to local
purposes. The mix of the use of stones in
people and to the tourism industry.
the façade and steel and glass inside
The attitude toward regionalized
creates another link between local visual
modernism can be found in the works of
images and global high tech. Another
Abdel Halim Ibrahim The Nile Gallery or
positive aspect is the match between the
Qaet El Nil, designed by him includes art
building and its surroundings, especially
exhibition halls, art galleries, a book shop,
the hybrid architecture of the Opera House.
a cinema, an art café, restaurants, seminar
In fact, the project is a deep and thoughtful
rooms and workshops. He attempted to
attempt toward the development of
incorporate the new modern function into
contemporary Egyptian cultural
heritage values. His main concern was to
identit.(Fig.17-18)
link the current art movement in Egypt
with the Arabic and Islamic cultural
Another example is Serena Beach Resort
heritage. Instead of designing a universal
in Quseir that has been designed by Rami
Fig. 22:Ministry of Finance and Tax Department, Nasr
space, he designed several halls, each of
El Dahan and Soheir Farid. The project
City, 1996
which has its own identity, character, and
includes 180 hotel rooms clustered around
An Example of A basic Design Exercis By Farouk Al
privacy. Also, an attempt was made to
inner yards and connected with a clear
Gohary
create other links with the past. This was
path, the main building, cafeteria,
Photo: Arab Contractors Photo Labs
093
Contemporary Architecture in Egypt
Fig.23: Confusing Plurality of Entrance Images of Tourist
Facilities, Hurghada, 1990s
Photo: Ashraf Salama
094
Ashraf M. A. Salameh
24b)
24a)
restaurants, a health club, a gym, and a
unconsciously, employ copying from
diving center. They utilize sandstone for
Western contemporary or classical
walls extracted from the nearby mountains,
images. Another trend is avoiding the use
and domes and vaults for roofs.
of any reference whether historic or
The major positive aspect in the project
contemporary, local or western. This trend
is that it became an exemplar of using
can be named basic design exercises in
local materials, where other projects are
building facades. In this respect, one can
now utilizing same construction techniques
argue that this attitude is based only on
without addition or modification. Also, it
the creative impulses and intrinsic feelings
helped to create a character for a coastal
of the architect without giving any attention
desert area. However, there is a conflict
to the extrinsic influences exemplified by
between three aspects in this project,
historic, cultural, and environmental
building materials and traditional
concerns.
construction techniques, the image and
The plurality of architectural trends has
character, and the new lifestyle.
reached its maximum in some parts of
Fig. 24 (Top left and right) Construction Works of Hager El
Dabiah Village, Qena, Egypt, 1997 By Ahmed Abdou
Photos: Courtesy of Ossama Abdou
Egypt, especially in coastal areas. One
Although the use of local materials
can find in Hurghada many confusing
contributes to the creation of a local image,
images of tourist facilities in one street.
it does not help to create local lifestyle,
Some of these images naively simulate
where central air conditioning systems
different Egyptian cultures, others simulate
are operated to reduce the temperature
classical architecture, while the rest
in all buildings.
simulate natural environments.(Fig.20-21-
In fact, it is disappointing to see the grills
22-23)
of air exists and returns of an air
conditioning system in a dome built with
local materials. Thus, it can be argued
Culture, Environment, and The
that the project is superficially appealing
Architecture of Resistance
to the local community, visitors from Egypt,
Opposite to the Westernization of Egyptian
and international visitors.(Fig.19)
architecture and the immersion of many
architects in developing a kind of
architecture that only satisfies market
Other Influences
demands, few responsive attitudes have
Other trends that can not be classified are
emerged. Some architects have
grouped under this category. There are
developed sincere attempts towards the
many examples that delineate eclecticism,
development of another kind of
but this time they, consciously or
architecture that corresponds to cultural
095
Contemporary Architecture in Egypt
Figure (25) Hager El Dabiah Village,Qena,
Egypt, 1997
096
Ashraf M. A. Salameh
and environmental demands. These
includes 124 courtyard housing units,
attempts should be regarded as positive
social building for group activities, market
reactions toward culture and environment.
place (Souk), Mosque, and gatehouse.
During the last few years several
The construction of the project was based
architectural experiments have been
on utilizing local materials in the building
introduced. These range from the
of all project components. Limestone is
restoration of historic buildings to adaptive
used for wall building, fired silt based, and
reuse projects and from rural housing
cored bricks are used for roofing, domes
developments to ecofriendly tourist
and vaulting. Since the project represents
facilities. However, the discussion here is
a participatory approach in a contingent
limited to three aspects that are conceived
situation that needed immediate action, it
as different forms of resistant architecture.
is worthy to note several positive aspects
that this project has achieved:
Hager El Dabiah Village: A Socio-
Convincing local authorities of the high
cultural Paradigm
value of using appropriate building
In 1993, the Upper Egypt region was
technology and local materials.
inflicted with an avalanche of torrid floods
that wiped out many villages and small
- Creating local employment opportunities,
urban settlements. The government
since local citizens have acquired new
embarked upon a plan to resettle the
skills in building through their
victims of these floods and rebuild a
comprehensive and active participation in
number of dwellings equivalent to those
the building process.
damaged or wiped out especially in the
region between Assuit and Qena. The
- Creating a sense of belonging by
Egyptian Red Crescent Association
involving the villagers in all phases of the
(ERCA) decided to participate in the initial
project.
resettling of flood victims. It supported the
idea of providing an exemplar of resettling
- Developing a very cost effective project
efforts. A site in Qena has been selected
by utilizing local building materials that
to establish a model rescue settlement
have been retrieved from the neighboring
consisting of a prototype 124 unit
site (Fig.24).
settlement.
Ahmmed Abdou, a professor of
Rehabilitation by People Participation
architecture and a practicing architect has
been appointed by ERCA and the Ministry
Several small projects for restoration and
rehabilitation of the 19 th century
of Social Affairs to develop a design
architecture have been carried out during
proposal and envision the appropriate
the last five years. As a result of extensive
construction methods. The proposal was
investigation into Old Cairo, Salah Z. Said,
based on an interactive design approach
a professor of architecture and a practicing
by having flood victims participate in
architect has been doing comprehensive
works for documenting late 19th century
planning, design, and construction of
Fig.26 (Top): Beyt Sokkar, A late 19th Century dwelling units. Thus, emphasis was placed
House in Old Caio (before restoration)
on the reduction of construction costs,
Photo: Courtesy of Salah Z. Said
Fig. 27 (Bottom): Beyt Sokkar, Restored by
Salah Z. Said, 1998
Photo: Courtesy of Salah Z. Said
and early 20th century houses, together
with his students at Al Azhar University.
creating employment opportunities,
The results of the documentation process
providing villagers with educational
culminated in identifying several houses
experience in building construction, and
that need to be restored and rehabilitated.
developing a sense of ownership.
The project is built on a 16 acres area. It
It should be noted that restoration works
097
Contemporary Architecture in Egypt
for non listed traditional houses is not an
historical, cultural, and artistic value into
restoration project involved training and
issue for either the authorities of antiquities
viable enterprises generating revenues,
participatory program and creating
or for Cairo governorate. Concomitantly,
which can then be spent on operation and
employment opportunities for locals.
the argument behind protecting these
maintenance. This process benefits the
Also, a number of other proposals are now
houses is that they form the real urban
surrounding community by providing
prepared for reusing several similar historic
environment of Old Cairo. If neglected
employment and attracting tourists to
buildings of the urban core of the city of
and abandoned, they will be deteriorated
historic districts. Notwithstanding, the
Quseir.
and demolished and the current historic
preservation of the physical, aesthetic,
adopting the adaptive reuse concept is
buildings listed as monuments will have
and cultural integrity of historical sites
concerned with both environmental and
no value since they will be isolated without
remains the objective of any such activities.
cultural concerns. It is usually believed
a connecting urban fabric.
An integrated approach for
that an adaptive reuse strategy is
The validity of this concept is demonstrated
employed only for heritage buildings for
Based on small funding from the American
by the fact that in many cases, historical
their historic, cultural, or aesthetic values.
Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), four
sites are rehabilitated only to fall into
However, such strategy should also be
houses have been rehabilitated with the
disrepair soon after restoration has been
employed for environmental reasons.
involvement of residents. Group
completed, due to lack of maintenance.
According to Mackenzie (1991), The use
discussions with owners and users took
The concept has successfully been applied
of an existing building in place of the
place in order to identify their major
in different parts of the world, and the
construction of a new building can lead to
concerns, then technical inspection has
Ministry of Culture has previously applied
obvious environmental benefits. Energy
been carried out. Negotiations were to
a similar if not identical approach in Egypt.
can be saved, and existing materials used
define the role residents could play. The
rather than wasted.
involvement of residents varied across the
Adopting the adaptive re-use concept,
Now, recognition is growing of the
rehabilitation process of the three houses.
Sheikh Tawfik house in Quseir was
environmental benefits of extending the
Some provided construction materials and
life of an existing building. An attempt that
installation equipment while others
restored. The history of the house goes
back to mid 18th century. The house is
participated as labor in the remodeling
located overlooking the Red Sea Cornish
an existing house of an agricultural worker
process. Within the restoration process,
at Quseir. It has very distinguished huge
in a rural area close to Cairo into an artist
several elements have been replaced such
mashrabia that covers about third of its
house. Atef Fahim, professor of
as staircases, bearing walls, and sanitary
main facade. For over 30 years it has been
architecture and practicing architect, who
pipes and equipment. Balconies and
abandoned. Its ground floor was used
believes that the role of the architect as
windows have been replaced or restored
from 1993 to 1995 as storage space for
master builder should be revitalized, has
as of original, and roofs have been
a local beverage company. RECQ, a newly
conducted this project.
insulated.
established NGO formed of intellectuals
In fact, the project adopts the ideas of
from Quseir and some interested
a r c h i t e c t u r a l s u s t a i n a b i l i t y, a n d
After the completion of this project,
international members who visit the area
architectural recycling. Instead of the
residents felt a sense of pride for their
at least twice a year for their diving
demolition of the existing building, it has
contribution. Some of them have acquired
activities, participated in improving the
been modified and remodeled. In addition,
skills during the process. Now, it is
physical condition of the building. In
the architect took the responsibility of
common to see more architects involving
collaboration with RECQ, Mohamed El
educating some members of the
themselves in proposals for several
Attatr and Ashmed Rashed restored the
agricultural community, since during the
projects of similar nature. It is believed
house and developed a reuse proposal.
construction process he had to build by
that the movement towards conservation
exemplifies this approach is transforming
himself to provide demonstration and
projects will be one of the important
The house exemplifies one of the
instructions to the builders. The project
concerns in the next few decades.
successful efforts toward realizing the
acts as an exemplar for remodeling, where
adaptive reuse concept. It has been
several houses in the community are now
transformed into a hostel of six rooms,
converted utilizing the same approach.
Adaptive Reuse and Architectural
and lounges in the first and second floors,
Recycling
while the reception space, restaurant and
The concept of adaptive reuse is to
kitchen occupy the ground floor. The hostel
transform derelict, abandoned sites of
is in operation since August 1999. The
098
Ashraf M. A. Salameh
nterviewing Name Egyptian Architects
architectural community, and the concept
should be regarded as a transitional period
by Architecture Students
of the architect as someone who designs
that embraces major shifts. These have
Within the process of investigating the
only for affluent clients will continue.
been outlined as 1) the scope of practice
current status of contemporary architecture
They agree that the major rea lying behind
is expanding, 2) other professionals are
of Egypt it is important to have some clues
the poor quality of the built environment
competing with architects, 3) bilateral and
on how Egyptian architects are viewing
is that building laws and regulations have
multi national projects are overrunning,
the future of the profession and how they
conflict in themselves, and do not match
and 4) government bodies and
perceive their role and responsibility
several requirements that pertain to
international organizations are
towards society. As part of Research
planning, density, socioeconomic aspects,
collaborating in the development process.
Methods courses, interviews with name
climatic conditions, and aesthetic controls.
Egyptian architects were conducted by
The paper has argued that the economic
Al-Azhar University students in 1997, and
The preceding critical issues are far too
context, the professional and educational
by Misr International University students
serious to be ignored or oversimplified.
milieus, and the generic features of the
in 1998. The total number of architects
They imply the need for radical rethinking
Nineties have been culminated to form a
interviewed was 15. The objective was to
of the structure of the profession. The
new public face for Egyptian architecture,
trace and explore some specific issues
architectural section of the Egyptian
where a wide range of innovative designs
that pertain to the problems and
Syndicate of Engineers should take these
representing disparate trends have
challenges facing the profession. A content
issues seriously and search for ways in
emerged.
analysis procedure has been employed.
which the professional milieu can be
Although the analysis reveals several
ameliorated.
An attempt was made to identify,
crucial concerns regarding the architects
categorize, and classify those trends into
attitudes and the consistency of their
historicism and historical revivalism, and
responses to the questions raised, it
Conclusion
regionalized modernism or modernized
reveals the following critical issues:
The objective of this paper has been to
regionalism. Other trends have been
They are frustrated regarding the context
explore the current status of architecture
identified and exemplified by eclecticism
within which architectural practices are
and urbanism of Egypt. Emphasis is
that employs copying images from
performed.
placed on the trends of Nineties. The
Egyptian heritage, or classical architecture,
economic context within which the
or even from contemporary Western
They feel that the profession could not
development process takes place has
images. In addition to the impact of
realize how to convince the society of the
been analyzed and the professional and
privatization and the free economy era,
value of architects and their work.
educational milieus that enable this
the existence of these trends delineates
process to occur have been elaborated
the strong influence of the continued
and interpreted.
Westernization process and the
Some of them see that the profession is
the weakest among other professions and
emergence of cultural globalization.
that the Egyptian society in general
The striking aspect of these contexts is
However, the trend of regionalized
undervalues architects.
the impact of privatization on the operating
modernism represents conscious attempts
environment of the profession, education,
toward the development of contemporary
They agree on the ineffectiveness of
and the overall built environment. This
Egyptian cultural identity. Another trend
professional organizations that have
impact is exemplified by two major
that is based only on the creative impulses
become only concerned with social and
transformations. The first is the jump from
of the architect has been recorded where
medical services for architects and
9 undergraduate programs of architecture
some architects exercise their basic design
engineers.
in 1980 to 25 programs at the end of the
skills on building facades. All in all, Many
Nineties. The second is the change in
Egyptian architects are immersing
They believe that the profession is moving
attitude from creating illegible
themselves in exploring visual aspects
towards large scale projects that are
environments in the Eighties to the search
without concern for the role of architecture
directed to the service of specific segments
for a new identity, and the emergence of
in enhancing cultural behaviors and
of society.
surface treatment architecture in the
attitudes.
Nineties. Within the professional milieu
They believe that social issues are not of
four generic features have been identified.
Opposite to the above confusing trends,
concern to many in the Egyptian
These features confirm that the Nineties
the paper has identified a new type of
099
Contemporary Architecture in Egypt
architecture, the architecture of resistance
The preceding results assert that the
that serves other segments of society.
transitional period will continue and will
References:
Instead of responding only to the market
occupy the following decade or even more.
· Anoniades, A. (1993). Architecture and
demands and serving only affluent clients,
This necessitates an urgent shift in attitude
Allied Design. An Environmental Design
the architecture of resistance places
from architectural criticism to post
Perspective. Dubuque, IA: Kendall and
emphasis on cultural and environmental
occupancy evaluation. The tradition of
Hunt Publishing Co
demands, and attempts to serve the poor,
architectural criticism has contributed for
the powerless, the middle class, and the
years to superficial reactions of highly
· Hamdy, M. H. (1997). Readings in the
underrepresented. Three types have been
subjective judgments about the quality of
Papers of Privatization from an Urban
categorized into a socio/cultural paradigm,
architecture. Concomitantly, it is believed
Perspective. The Sixth International
rehabilitation by people participation, and
that architectural criticism has very little
Conference of Inter-Build. Cairo.
adaptive reuse and architectural recycling.
value for professional architects since it
They are regarded as different forms of
fails to explain the reasons behind those
· Lynch, K. (1960). Image of the City.
resistance.
subjective judgments. Reversibly, post
Cambridge: MA: MIT Press.
occupancy evaluation of built environments
In order to supplement the exploratory
is intended to provide reliable and valid
· Mackenzie, D. (1991). Green Design:
process of contemporary architecture of
information about the physical world. It is
Design for the Environment. London, UK:
Egypt and to analytically describe the
also intended to provide information to
Lawrence King
complete profile of Egyptian architecture
improve the quality of design decision
Ltd.
of the Nineties, the paper has introduced
making and to predict the quality of future
results and conclusions of two research
built environments. The results of post
· Mitchell, T. (1993). Redefining Designing:
studies. The first is an attempt to read and
occupancy evaluation studies are directed
From Form to Experience. New York, NY:
anticipate the future trends and
to those who design, manage, make
Van Nostrand Reinhold.
development directions, while the second
decisions about the built environment,
is interviewing name Egyptian architects
while the results of architectural criticism
· Results of Interviewing Name Egyptian
by architecture students. The results of
are only directed to the academic
Architects (1996 & 1997). Reports of
investigating many aspects of architectural
community.
Architecture Students at Al Azhar
advertising reveal that the profession will
University and Misr International University,
continue to serve only affluent clients and
Every single attempt and architectural
the plurality of confusing architectural
experiment should be systematically
Cairo.
trends will continue in search of an identity.
evaluated by the community of scholars,
· Salama, A. M. (1995). New Trends in
The results corroborates that society
academics, practitioners, and the users.
Architectural Education: Designing the
places low value on architects where the
The profession should be transformed
Design Studio. Raleigh, NC: Unlimited
representation of architects did not exceed
from viewing architecture as an art based
Potentials Publishing Co.
2.25% in 400 architectural ads, while the
profession to society based profession or
clients, owners, and contracting companies
even to science based profession. This
· Salama, A. M. (1999). Planning and
are represented in 94% of the ads.
should take place in order not to repeat
Architectural Pedagogy in a Time of
the same mistakes over and over again,
Paradigm Change: A Responsive
The second study revealed several crucial
and before losing our credibility in the eyes
Argument for Future Professional Practice.
issues that pertain to the ineffectiveness
of society.
of professional organizations, that social
The Second International Symposium on
Planning Education for the 21st Century.
issues are not of concern to many
Faculty of Urban and Regional Planning,
architects, that the Egyptian society
Cairo University, Cairo
undervalues architects, and that the
building laws and regulations have conflict
· Sanoff, H. (1991). Visual Research
in themselves. These issues should not
Methods in Design. New York, NY: Van
be oversimplified. A radical rethinking of
Nostrand Reinhold.
the structure of the profession is urgently
needed.
Concluding Remarks
100
Eric Huybrechts,
Architecture and Urban Developments on the Central Lebanese Coast
Historical Review
investments on real estate, due to
The Lebanese coast is one of the most
particular comparative advantages, but
urban areas under pressure in the Arab
also due to several myths (lack of space,
countries. During this last decade, the
stability of land prices, land upgrading,
reconstruction of Lebanon was
and appeal of the country for the Arabs,
concentrated around Beirut and the
etc.).
Eric Huybrechts: French Architect, Direct. for
Lebanese coast. At the end of the first
Centre for the Study and Reconstruction of Beirut
reconstruction boom of Lebanon in 1996,
The characteristic of a liberal economy is
half of the 220-km coastal line was
to proceed by stops and goes. After four
urbanized. Today, the coastal area
years of intensive activities, the
accommodates 2,4 million inhabitants,
investments stopped. Peak of the prices
mostly concentrating inside Beirut
happened in 1993; the highest rate of the
Metropolitan Region (BMR). The BMR
investments was reached during 1993 and
stretches between Damour and Amshit
1994. In 1995, thousands of cranes were
on 60 km of coastal strip, and between
shaping the skyline of the metropolis. But
the sea and the mountains till more than
in the beginning of 1995, several
1.000 meters of elevation.
newspapers had related complaints from
developers. The lack of investments
The rebuilding boom of Lebanon was really
stopped the projects in 1996. The limited
intensive and short. It corresponds to the
effects of the economic redevelopment on
investment flows at the beginning of the
family incomes reduced the capacity of
1990. This period witnessed the end of
the market. New financing programs,
the civil war and correlated with the
introduced by banks and developers, were
financial and real estate explosion bubbles
proposed to increase people’s affordability
in Japan, North America and Europe. The
threshold. The Israeli attack of 1996
boom of reconstruction of BMR represents
occurred at a time when the real estate
around 16.000 new buildings between
market was already witnessing a
1991 and 1995 "Indicateurs de la
recession.
reconstruction", Lettre de l'ORBR, 10,
Beirut, CERMOC, 1998. This volume is
There are several explanations to the
equivalent to a megalopolis urban dynamic
market difficulties: for one, the market is
observed in Paris or Moscow region.
not regulated and a lot of developers,
bankers, and private owners had difficulties
During this last decade, the country
to understand the demand. Second, lack
consumed more than 30 million tons of
of information, market studies, statistics,
cement. Building permits were given for
and the large number of projects made
more than 140 millions of square meters
by non-professional developers as well
of built area. This strong dynamic of
as the systematic competition of
development reached a peak similar to
developers onto the same products create
the one before the war. Beirut recovers
overproduction on several market
quickly its traditional place in the huge
segments. Third, the instability in the region
101
Architecture and Urban Developments on the Central Lebanese Coast
and the lack of long term loans limit the
meaning of the present architectural
Beirut, Arabic University, St-Esprit de Kaslik
possibilities to finance long-term projects.
production. The profession didn't
University, Lebanese American University,
implement any means for a constructive
St Joseph University) concerned in
In 1996, at the end of the boom, 60.000
debate on architecture in Lebanon. No
architecture able to organize this type of
office, shop, and dwelling units were empty
more, there exists any Architecture review
researches?
in the BMR. It is estimated that the volume
giving meaningful critical analysis on
of built-up requires around four of five
Architecture in the country. So the general
years of economic redevelopment for
discourse may be described as follows:
Future developments on the coastal
absorption. The next real estate boom will
"let us make what we want" and "let us
area of Lebanon
not be so far and, perhaps, will be
look on what you are doing." This
With a global density of 130 m2/inhabitant
connected to new regional conditions.
discourse reinforces the absence of any
on urban land area (including airport,
analysis and interviews with the authors
roads, services but not built urban areas,
Diversity of architecture in Lebanon
of the projects. Researchers prefer to be
parks, industries, shops, housing,
This huge production gives a large sample
involved in an ideal past, selecting only
harbor…), 23% of the coastal area (strip
on the state of the art of architecture in
good projects on this period and
of 8 km wide) is already urbanized, and
Lebanon. With more than 5.000 architects,
developing comparison between the "good
no more than 6% of Lebanon is also
large urban dynamics and a strong
past" and the "bad present production".
urbanized today. If we compare with other
diversity of actors, the general production
If we analyze other periods of architectural
main cities, Beirut metropolis (240 km2)
is extremely heterogeneous. There is no
production in Lebanon, we can find also
has the same global density than
dominant style. Vernacular style is mixed
a large diversity of styles with different
Barcelona, Singapore and several
with imported styles coming from all over
level of quality in the projects. Polluted
European cities Huybrechts E., "Densités
the world: Arabic, American, European,
architecture is not a specificity of today.
beyrouthines", Lettre de l'ORBR, 9, Beirut,
Chinese, Japanese, African, modern, post-
Comparison and analysis on the networks
CERMOC, 1997.. It is not as dense as
modern, neoclassical, Lebanese pastiche,
and the professional trajectory of architects
Hong-Kong or Cairo for instance, and
hybrid, regionalist…. All the attitudes and
will give a lot of elements leading to a
nevertheless not less dense than African
sensitivities are possible in a context of
deeper
or American cities.
large mobility of architects and investors.
reasons/dynamics of the present type of
Some projects are sophisticated and
production.
understanding
of
the
The Construction law allows to built on
every place in the country with 0,8 and
fashionable. Others used the architectural
preservation of old buildings to experiment
Presently, the word in fashion in Beirut is
0,9 % of FAR On “planned” areas one can
with new architectures. Several old
"eclecticism". This word appears as a
find allowed density reaching an FAR=6.
Lebanese houses and buildings dating
mask to avoid explanation of the systems
Despite claims that try to prove the
from the French Mandate period were also
of references used by architects in their
contrary, the urban planning law is really
preserved to create picturesque
works presently and before. Lebanese
modern. It allows lot divisions,
landscapes in a booming city. So, one of
architecture is not more eclectic than other
development companies, expropriations
the meanings that one may derive out of
architecture in the world. Eclecticism is
for public interest, and public companies
this large experimentation is connected
not an operational concept for research.
for urban management. Unfortunately, the
to the open view s of the Lebanese
The common issues of "tradition" and
zoning regulation, in the present, is
society.
"modernity" are not sufficient to explain
covering no more than 20% of the national
There were little reactions from
the main representations of actors involved
space.
professionals and intellectuals concerning
in the design and construction process. A
the quality of architecture Round-table on
problematic and methodologies have to
Architecture of Reconstruction, organized
be introduced in the academic works. Field
by Huybrechts E. (ORBR-CERMOC) at
researches have to be directed on the
Architects and Engineers Order of Beirut,
present production of architects, engineers,
4 March 1998.. Few researches are
designers and investors.
law and urban regulation are the main
responsible of the actual chaotic
landscapes. Urban development is based
on weak zoning concerned mainly with
density principles and short of elements
focused on Lebanese architectural heritage
(end 19th century; beginning and middle
There are the seven Lebanese universities
20th century), and nobody is making any
(Lebanese University, Académie Libanaise
deep analysis to well understand the
des Beaux-Arts, American University of
102
The contents of the existing construction
dealing with a better control of the urban
landscape. The general effect of urban
zoning narrows down the concerns of
Eric Huybrechts
investors and landowners to exploit to the
money. It will be possible only when it is
seventies, increases the number of floor
maximum the allowable built-up area.
applied to the most profitable areas.
limit for buildings el-Achkar E.,
Conversely, it is not possible to apply this
Réglementations et formes urbaines : le
To understand well the stake of the
solution on overall 36.000 hectares of the
cas de Beyrouth, Cahier du CERMOC
development on the coastal area, nine
new urban areas. Most of the new
n°20, Beyrouth, CERMOC, 1997 without
scenarios were produced for the Lebanese
urbanized areas will be managed by the
any analysis on the effect of this increase
government ECODIT-IAURIF, Regional
urbanism rules (Urban planning law,
and any measures on the ways to manage
Environmental Assessment report on the
Construction law and zoning regulations).
this change of rule. The result was the
Coastal Zone of Lebanon, Beirut, CDR,
Existing and Future development
chaotic landscape we can observe today.
1997. It is a grid crossing three scenarios
companies (Solidere, Elyssar, Metn-nord
on urban development and three scenarios
and Linord) will cover 1.040 hectares-
In order to well-manage the environment
on environmental management.
comparing 14.000 to 36.000 hectares for
in which new buildings are produced,
the totality of urban development for the
architects have to be encouraged to
next 20 years. These development
intervene more on urbanistic issues. This
companies will be concerned with 2% of
tendency/concern will necessitate the
Urban development scenarios
Stagnation
the land market in the most dynamic
development of more controls and urban
a) urban surfaces + 35%=+ 14.00 hectares
perspective, or 6% of the land market in
design guidelines- especially if these
b) population growth =1,5%/year,
the stagnation development scenario.
architects want to preserve sensitive sites
c) GDP = 0%
These perspectives give relativity on the
quality environment. This means a change
punctual efforts made by the architects
of attitude from Architects making pressure
and urban designers to enhance the
against planning and regulation to
a) urban surfaces+50% =+20.000 hectares
coastal landscape. Architecture and urban
Architects making pressure for more
b) population growth = 2%/year
design of quality needs costly and high
planning and regulations. More planning
qualified skilled people. Public and private
is one of the ways that will lead to a
better integration of any kind of
architecture in Lebanon.
and their projects to benefit from a better
Sustainable development
c) GDP=3,5%/year (present development)
investors are not able to finance this high
quality for most of the developments.
High development
In this respect, the future development will
a) urban surfaces +90%= +36.000hectares
probably be similar on several points to
b) population growth = 3 %/year
the existing trend: sporadic high quality
c) GDP = 5,6%/year (Plan horizon 2000)
Notes
architecture mixed with common
1
construction and vernacular architecture;
de l'ORBR, 10, Beirut, CERMOC, 1998
"Indicateurs de la reconstruction", Lettre
mix of functions; disappearance of natural
In these scenarios, we postulate that the
global urban density will be the same as
today in the next 20 years, because of the
and agricultural landscapes; diminution of
2
urban heritage with concentration of the
Reconstruction, organized by Huybrechts
latter on the most valuable sites…
E. (ORBR-CERMOC) at Architects and
strong difficulty to reduce the present urban
and construction regulation concerning
density. If it has to be produced between
one-third to 90% more of urban spaces in
the next 20 years, the main question will
not be what kind of architecture in a weak
control and multi-referenced society, but
what kind of landscape we want on this
coastal area.
How can we manage all these new areas?
Well-managed areas by development
companies are the best way to produce
control landscape. But it needs high skilled
people. This solution will cost a lot of
Round-table on Architecture of
Engineers Order of Beirut, 4 March 1998.
Conclusion
Building and urban regulations will be an
3
Huybrechts E., "Densités beyrouthines",
important factor that will affect the quality
Lettre de l'ORBR, 9, Beirut, CERMOC,
of the future urban landscape. The
1997.
magnitude of the urban change is at a
different scale than the scale of operation
4
E C O D I T - I A U R I F,
Regional
of architects. Architects are overwhelmed
Environmental Assessment report on the
by the huge dynamics of development.
Coastal Zone of Lebanon, Beirut, CDR,
The current discourse confuses the quality
1997
(or its lack of) of the present landscape
with the quality (or its lack of) of the
5
El-Achkar E., Réglementations et formes
production of architects. For example, the
urbaines : le cas de Beyrouth, Cahier du
architect Henri Eddé, previous minister of
CERMOC n°20, Beyrouth, CERMOC,
Public works in the beginning of the
1997
103
Bilal Hammad,
The Architecture Experience in Jordan During the Nineties
It was no more than a small village when
The Architectural Education
a series of Circassian migrations settled
Two major schools of architecture were
in the valleys of Amman at the turning
established in the late seventies. These
point of this century. This was followed by
were the University of Jordan (UJ) and
additional migrations from surrounding
Jordan University for science and
countries especially after the passage of
technology (JUST). They were followed
the Hijazy railway through Amman in 1905.
fifteen years later by another three private
It was not until the arrival of Prince
universities: Applied science university,
Abdullah in 1921 that Amman began to
Petra and Al-Isra’.
emerge from obscurity- especially after
the prince’s decision to choose it as his
The Five schools continued to provide the
seat of government. This date marks the
market with scores of new graduates with
beginning of the modern history of Amman
an average of 130 annually; about 50%
and Jordan.
of them are females leading to a total of
4000 architects. The local market was
Bilal Hammad: Architect in private practice,
Since then, Amman has undergone a rapid
capable of absorbing these graduates, but
Amman, Jordan
cycle of expansion. The year 1948 Amman
signs of unemployment among architects
witnessed an influx of Palestinian refugees
started to emerge in the last two years
followed by another one twenty years later
especially among junior graduates. About
in 1967. The population reached the figure
60% of those 4000 architects graduated
of 500 000 inhabitants. Once again, in
from local universities while the remaining
1990 a third influx of immigrants primarily
40% graduated from abroad. Those who
of Jordanian and Palestinian expatriates
studied abroad joined universities in
who used to work in Kuwait, combined
neighbouring countries like Cairo, Beirut,
with natural growth and internal migration
Damascus and Baghdad in addition to
from rural areas, increased the population
other Western countries like U.S, U.K,
to the figure of one million. The population
Italy, Romania, India and even The
of Jordan as a whole is 4.5 million in the
Philippines. This phenomenon happened
present.
due to the inability of the local universities
to absorb the large numbers of students
Jordan has witnessed an economic
who would like to study architecture. In
recession since 1988. The last influx of
the early days, students travelled abroad
emigration in 1990, which was a result of
because of the lack of local architectural
the gulf crises/gulf war, left negative marks
departments. These architects who mostly
on the local economic scene. It created a
studied in Cairo and Beirut during the
false feeling of an economic boom, which
sixties and early seventies were the
faded down in less than a year and was
founders of contemporary Jordanian
followed by a deeper recession that
architecture.
remained throughout the whole decade.
Jordan is considered as a professional
and manpower exporting country. A good
104
Bilal Hammad
percentage of these graduates find their
its members
landscaping, and graphic design, as well
way into Saudi Arabia and the Gulf
·Abundance of work for architects
as in the field of conservation of old
countries, producing a continuous leakage
·A huge number of offices dealing with
buildings and in the different crafts of
of the best professionals. On another front,
the business of design and supervision
building in general.
Jordanian based offices are establishing
- Positive evolution in the requirements of
a presence in the markets of Saudi Arabia,
This in turn has created a spirit of
the client whether as individual or as an
the Gulf, Yemen and the newly opened
competition between designers and even
institution, with a marked increase of
market of Palestine. Another new breed
between clients, who like to build their own
awareness, choice, and demands.
of Jordanian based offices who have
“villa” which reflects their status within the
nothing to do with the local market are
new Ammani society. They started to look
specializing in offering services for distant
for the appropriate architect capable of
markets, with the help of advanced
reflecting their liking. Consequently, this
Trends and Tendencies
computerization, electronic mailing, and
has created great opportunities for
Jordan has experienced the same cycle
the Internet.
designer architects, especially in villa
as most of Third World Countries. The first
architecture or single family houses. The
phase started in the sixties, adopting
To conclude, Jordan has a surplus of
prominent architects in Jordan always
modernism and the international style until
architectural talents with up-to-date
started as designers of villas. The modern
the 1980s when another phase started
experience ready to jump at any new
history of Jordanian architecture can be
embracing versions of regionalism,
market, as individuals or as an integrated
read through the villa architecture of
referring to history and addressing
set up.
Amman.
concerns about identity. The debate around
the need for an authentic regional or
national architecture assumed an important
place within the architectural discourse of
Professional Institutions
Building and Architectural Atmosphere
the 80s. This phenomenon is possibly the
The order of architects in Jordan is part
During the Nineties
appropriate
of a bigger umbrella that covers all the
On the level of the built environment:
postmodernism. Lately, this trend showed
engineers. It is named: “The Association
- Explosions of high rise buildings dotting
signs of a slowing momentum possibly as
of Engineers” (Naqabat Al-Muhandissin).
the skyline of the city, 5star hotels and
a result of the information revolution and
The political rivalry has affected the
commercial centers.
globalization or possibly because simply
performance of Naqabat Al-Muhandissin.
- The emergence of developers and the
the cycle is over. Postmodernism is now
The architects’ merger with the engineers
vicious spread of 4 storey apartment
considered something of the past. As a
has affected them more negatively than
buildings.
result, the latest works in Amman are
positively. The architects have succeeded,
- The dramatic increase of multi-leveled
showing decrease in their content of
four years ago, in creating an additional
road crossings, tunnels and bridges.
folkloric local vocabulary.
body that represents them independently
- The development of Amman Plaza in
from the engineers. Entitled “The
Ras El-Ein in the Downtown area- the new
The main players in Jordan during this
Architectural Society” (Al-Jam’iah Al-
ground for experimenting contemporary
decade can be categorized into three
Mi’mariah), this Society is still too young
architecture and urban design.
generations:
to stand on its feet.
local
version
of
- The first appeared at the end of the 60’s
On the professional level it is obligatory
On the level of the professional and the
like Jafar Toukan and Rasem Badran,
to have an architects signature on any
human environment:
- The second appeared at the end of the
design for a single building with an area
- The increase of architectural schools led
70’s like Farouq Yagmour, Bilal Hammad.
that exceeds 50 m2. This architect should
to an increase of graduates, which led to
- The third generation appeared at the
perform through a registered office at Al-
an increase in researchers and holders of
end of the 80’s like Mohammad Khaled of
Naqabah- not to forget that he/she should
higher degrees.
Gdar, Ayman Zuaiter of Teebah, Ismail
be a registered member at Naqabat El-
- The prevalence of computer in design
Ta h h a n
Muhandissin. This practice has resulted
and drafting, enhancing the quality of work.
Tahhan/Bushnaq and Nimer and Bashar
in:
- Accumulation of experiences Amman
El-Bitar of Bitar Consultants.
&
Zaher
Bushnaq
of
has produced an obvious maturity in the
·A strong hegemony of Al-Naqaba over
fields of architecture, interior design,
I will run through some of the buildings
105
The Architecture Experience in Jordan During the Nineties
that demonstrate the architectural
form of well-staged aphorisms, images,
discourse on the Jordanian scene. I will
rationalized infrastructure, and historic
start with the works of Rasem Badran.
preservation scheme that exclude and
contrast with the remaining city. This paper,
Rasem Badran by now is a well-known
on the one hand, offers a critical review of
architect. His reputation as a talented
these images, plans, and the liminal spaces
designer has crossed the Jordanian
that they produce based on conceptual
borders into a much wider circles. He
themes of perception and representation
seeks to develop an Islamic Arab
as a visual arrangement/control of
contemporary architectural language
knowledge. On the other hand, positioned
referring to past historic models. His best
upon the ideological representation of the
works are definitely not in Jordan, like
city center floats an informal and transient
Qaser Al-Hukum Development in Riyad,
city of culture and public space whose
the museum for Islamic Art in Doha and
tensions criticize the formal scheme of
Al-Kharj Mosque in Saudia Arabia . The
Solidere. Building on the actual dynamics
work of Badran is considered as a model
of the city center, the paper sheds light on
among many young Jordanian architects
the problematic of Solidere’s formal
and students.
strategies while arguing for a new and
different mechanism in mediating a “public
Jafar Tukan is a well-known contributor to
space” that helps the reconciliation and
the Jordanian architectural scene. Rooted
healing process of the war-torn society.
in the modern movement, his work sits
simultaneously in the Jordanian context.
He managed to set a balance between
modernity and indigenous local forms. His
works has crossed the Jordanian border
into neighboring countries like UAE, Saudi
Arabia and Palestine. His architecture
prevails in its massing, use of material,
sensibility and care for details.
Farouk Yaghmour: Although he started his
career in Amman, his largest work is in
Beit-Lahem in Palestine.
The Lebanese Share Holding Company
(Solidere) in charge of the reconstruction
of the historic city center of Beirut is shaping
its program along an ambitious Master
plan based on a speculative vision of a
city that is struggling to regain its
competitive location in the global/regional
economy. This project discloses itself
through a binary reading of the city and a
historicism in the urban design strategy
that strives to build the city center market
value on the basis of its past character
and a state-of-the-art financial district.
Solidere’s intentions are manifested in the
106
Suad A. Ali Mehdi,
Architecture of the Nineties in Iraq
Suad Ali Mahdi: Assistant Professor, School of
Architecture, Baghdad University, Iraq
Abstract
analytical review of the state of architecture
The choice of Lebanon as the place for
in Iraq, both in academia and professional
this meeting is particularly fortunate on a
practice, under such dire circumstances.
personal base. For one thing, it is an Arab
The review addresses the economic
country that is equally undergoing post-
situation in the nineties, number of
war re-construction. By some strange
architects in the country, architectural
coincidence, recently, and just before
education, the roles of each of the
receiving the invitation to this meeting, I
government and private sectors, the
had been discussing with one of our
professional institutions, and the Iraqi
postgraduate students the topic of post-
architects abroad. It also examines the
war reconstruction as an alternative topic
conservation
for his proposed thesis. He brought up the
direction/efforts of the architectural heritage
example of Lebanon. Later on, and much
of the country. The emphasis here will be
to my dismay, he was persuaded away
on the architecture of Baghdad. This is
from the topic and had to stick to his
due to a number of reasons: one, I live in
original plans. Another thing that made
Baghdad and information about it is more
the choice of this place especially
readily available; two, being the capital,
significant is that the last time I visited
Baghdad receives the best portion of
Lebanon was in the summer of 1973, two
development in the country.
and
restoration
years before the civil war. I was very sorry
to what has happened later on, and was
very glad when it was over. Ever since, I
have been wondering about what
happened to this beautiful country?
Economic Situation of the Nineties and
Its Effects on Architecture
Since the imposition of the embargo, the
The timing for the choice of the seminar’s
country has been deprived of its main
topic is also of particular significance. On
income sources – especially petroleum.
the one hand, the year 1990 marks the
There has also been a drastic depreciation
beginning of a new episode in the series
of its local currency, the Dinar. Up to the
of architectural phases characterizing
1980’s, one Dinar would be equal to US$3.
twentieth-century architecture in Iraq. On
At about 1990 the Dinar gradually
the other hand, to Iraq, and its architecture
depreciated up until it reached a point
the year 1990 was a particularly critical
where US$1 is equal to I.D. 3000. At
point in its recent history. The country had
present US$1 fluctuates between I.D. 1800
just been out of a long war, and witnessing
and I.D. 2000. The smallest currency now
the beginning of a comprehensive
is the 25-dinar banknote; coins are history,
embargo still in effect, and of a new series
and the ‘fils’ is extinct specie. In many
of threats and severe military aggressions
respects, it seems that Iraq is now
on the country.
experiencing what Lebanon had been
experiencing in the aftermath of its own
The purpose of this paper is to give an
war. One equally witnesses the
107
Suad A. Ali Mehdi
depreciation of the Lebanese currency
the condition of architecture in Baghdad
six-hour blackout had been a standard
against the US dollar as well as the
is more than fine. But if it is to provide an
occurrence in our daily lives. The effect
“dollarization” of the economy. In these
appropriate environment for the people in
of all this on architecture in education and
economic conditions, it is very difficult for
general, then it is definitely in crisis, as is
practice is all too obvious.
many people to make a decent living. This
everything else under the embargo. Taking
condition is hard on both people who are
the latter as my own premise, I would
During the first few years of this decade,
operating in the public sector as well as
describe this situation as displaying a set
the Municipality of Baghdad, for one,
those working in most trades.
of contradictions: on the one hand,
stopped giving permits for new building,
architecture is suffering yet, thriving on
including private houses. Also due to the
Naturally, this affects architecture in many
the other! While there are grand palaces
economic conditions of the nineties, good
interconnected aspects: e.g. job
and monumental private residences
job opportunities during this decade have
opportunities and architects’ salaries,
springing up everywhere, there are also
been very few compared to the number
building costs and maintenance, the
people who are selling their furniture and
of graduates. Before that, it was obligatory
availability of clients (who cares about
other valuable items and fixtures of their
to serve in a government office upon
architecture if one cannot even make a
houses to support their families.
graduation, and graduates used to
living?), the cost of an architectural
Architecture cannot live under such
compete for the best places. Now, this is
education, etc. Despite the widespread
circumstances, and to sum it up, a
no longer the case. Government
social-stricken poverty, there are people
colleague has recently proposed a
employment is neither obligatory nor is it
who are making good money like
definition for architecture in Iraq as "a
in demand as it used to be. Some offices
businessmen, merchants, doctors, people
building that is much spent on”!
are even understaffed due to the low
with financial sources abroad, etc. It is
salaries and few incentives. As for the
these who currently constitute the main
The embargo has entailed endless
private sector, salaries may be higher but
clientele, especially in the private sector.
economic difficulties, in addition to the
the rate of employment is still rather low,
This has given rise to a new architectural
society being cut off from the rest of the
and many of the best offices are
style that characterized the nineties-
world. To elaborate on this latter item:
surprisingly content with very few
especially in residential architecture and
being cut off has meant, during the
architects, in spite of the huge number of
what is locally known as commercial
eighties, no news of new developments
projects produced. There is a huge amount
buildings, i.e. buildings with shops below
in both theory and practice, no exposition
of work on the shoulders of very few
and offices above. The trend in the design
to new international publications, absence
architects, where each may work on
of such types is marked by a concentration
of local publications (writers are dissuaded
projects from beginning to completion.
of expenditure on the exterior of the
from doing anything due to limited facilities
Even the demand on architectural
building, through the use of expensive
and the lack of printing paper), almost no
education has dropped considerably. It no
cladding materials (e.g. marble, stone
participation in conferences, seminars and
longer competes with the study of medicine
whether carved or plain, stained glass,
international gathering abroad, no visiting
as the two professions used to be the
teak wood, etc.), ceramic murals,
architects, no international architectural
most popular and most wanted fields of
chandeliers, statues/icons, inscriptions of
projects like those of the seventies and
study in the country. The first thing we do
holy verses from the Qur’an, amulets and
eighties, no studies abroad (not even for
with newcomers to the department of
charms against envy, etc. In short, these
short courses), no expeditions to other
architecture on their first day, is to welcome
constructions are usually shaped by an
countries, and for some time no kind of
them with a warning about the
array of complex massing (especially
travelling abroad for any reason (whether
imaginary/high cost of their education!
masses projecting into double volumes),
for official business or even simply
abundant detailing, and molded in a
tourism). The embargo has also meant
In many ways, and despite its dark side,
mixture of styles for the sheer display of
no air-travel, no dishes/satellite receivers,
it may be said that the effects of the
wealth.
no Internet, until recently no fax, and at
embargo may carry positive aspects as
times even no direct international phone
well. In many ways, one may argue that
Before embarking onto the evaluation of
calls. Moreover, the nineties have
these dire conditions forced us to re-
this practice, one would need to pose the
witnessed an acute shortage of electric
examine our local resources. For while
topical question: what is architecture? If
power throughout the country, and until
many – or rather most – of the early
it is the production of grand structures and
the electric power plants and lines were
pioneers have closed up their bureaus
monuments for the rich and powerful, then
finally repaired a few months ago, a daily
and firms, the architects of the younger
108
Architecture of the Nineties in Iraq
generations have opened theirs, many of
immediately register at the Iraqi Engineers
All three of these departments are state
which seem to be thriving. Also thriving
Union to obtain an engineer’s license, very
schools; there are currently no private
under these new conditions are a number
few would actually practice architecture.
architectural schools in Iraq. In 1992, a
of other professions and trades, which
This is naturally due to the economic
private university college was opened in
have given a boost to architecture by
recession of recent years. Many graduates
Baghdad under the name of the Arab
becoming a source of projects in the field
turn to other more profitable trades or
College, which contained a department
of medicine, industry, commerce and
leave the country. Of those remaining,
for architectural studies, but it was closed
business, and farming. In addition, in
very few are registered members of the
after one semester. Its students were
demand
and
Iraqi Architectural Society. The reason lies
filtered and distributed over the existing
implementation of grand private
are
the
design
in the fact that this society is stationed in
three schools. The near future may witness
residences, commercial buildings (with
Baghdad, which restricts the access to
the foundation of architectural departments
shops and offices), interior designs of
this Society to members that are residents
at some of the other state universities, in
restaurants, interior designs of shops and
of this city only. Not much can be known
the other governorates. Other than that,
their fronts, and religious buildings
about the other architects throughout the
there are some private architectural
(mosques, churches, and ancillary facilities
country, and as was mentioned earlier,
firms/bureaus which give courses in some
etc.). Through these projects, local
most of the significant new architecture is
subjects on which there is demand by
architects have come to develop styles of
in Baghdad, anyway.
practicing architects and architectural
their own, with many attempts turning
students, e.g. courses in computer-aided
seriously to the local heritage for
design and graphic programs, special
inspiration. The potentialities of the local
Architectural Education
graphic presentation techniques, freehand
building materials are now being exploited
There are currently three public
drawing, some theoretical subjects, etc.
to a great extent, as a replacement for the
architectural schools in Iraq:
traditional brick. The government has been
The three state schools listed above (which
fully depending on local architects,
· The Department of Architecture/College
shall be referred to here as the “Baghdad”,
builders, craftsmen, and technicians of all
of Engineering/University of Baghdad, in
“Technology”, and “Mosul” schools, as
sorts to fill in the gap due to the absence
Baghdad: Founded: 1959
they are usually called in local academic
of the foreign expertise available in past
Undergraduate Studies: B.Sc. Arch.: 5
circles) are state schools within institutes
decades. This has compelled everyone
years of study, total number of
of 4-year studies, whose students graduate
to look for answers from within and to
students=400.
as “engineers”. The graduate of each of
learn to be more resourceful and more
Postgraduate Studies: M.Sc. Arch.: 2
these architectural departments is officially
creative. Whether it is for the better or for
years, av. Number of new students
given the title of “Architect”, literally
the worse, the present conditions in Iraq
yearly=15.
translated as “architectural engineer”, in
have also made people rethink what they
Ph.D.: 3 years, average number of new
spite of the more or less different curricula
have: redesigning existing houses, dividing
students yearly=4.
and tendencies of the various schools.
to house the newly-weds. Most owners of
·TheDepartment of Architecture/University
The Baghdad school, the first in the
houses on main streets have dispensed
of Technology, in Baghdad: Founded: 1977
country, has always openly dealt with
with their front yards to turn them into
Undergraduate and postgraduate Studies:
architecture from a rather universal
markets and office buildings.
the degrees given, number of years of
viewpoint, that is as art, science,
study, and the number of students is almost
technology, communication/language, etc.,
the same as in the University of Baghdad.
all together, as is clearly reflected in its
many in two or more, or building extensions
curriculum, with apparently more emphasis
Number of Architects in Iraq
· The Department of Architecture/College
on theoretical aspects than actual practice,
There are no official statistics that portray
of Engineering/University of Mosul, in
since academia is regarded as a world
the number of architects that are
Mosul: Founded: 1979
with an opportunity for free thought and
operational in Iraq today. Nevertheless,
Undergraduate Studies: B.Sc. Arch.: 5
imaginative experimentation unbound by
we know that a total of almost (180)
years, total number of students=200.
the restraints and obstacles of the real
students graduate every year from the
Postgraduate: M.sc. studies: 3 new
world of practice. Nevertheless, at times
local three schools of architecture.
students every year.
students are deliberately engaged in real
Assuming that all, or even most, would
projects and real practice either during
109
Suad A. Ali Mehdi
summer training, or through participation
surveys for urban development project,
the special nature/identity of each school,
in architectural competitions. The
work in government establishments and
the curriculum have been somewhat
technology school, at first, had its
bureaus on design and/or implementation
unified during the past two years –
emphasis mostly on technical and practical
of actual projects, or any other form of
especially for undergraduate studies – in
matters, but has recently turned more to
work as decided by their instructors.
order to meet the demands of a new
theory-possibly even to the point of fantasy.
examination system, where unified exams
As for Mosul, it may be a little more factual
Although the declared purpose of each of
in selected theoretical subjects are
than the other two.
the architectural schools in the country
administered to all three schools by a
may be the establishment of a genuinely
central committee at the Ministry of Higher
In spite of their differences, all three
local school of thought and practice, foreign
Education, inducing a kind of competition
schools have as the basis for each year
influences are definitely unavoidable.
between them.
of study 8-12 hours of architectural design,
Students, especially the undergraduate,
some complimentary design and graphic
are easily impressed by fantastic and
One last note about the effect of the
subjects (e.g. architectural graphics,
imaginative new ideas and styles, and
present economic conditions on
computer graphics, freehand drawing,
they are easily led to follow them blindly
architectural education: the various schools
landscape design, interior design, etc.),
as they would follow any new fashion,
have been deprived of many facilities like
some technical or scientific subjects (e.g.
unless restrained, or at least guided by
laboratories and workshops, equipment,
pure sciences, computer programming,
their instructors. In general, the rage in
teaching aids, trips, publications, etc. The
building construction, various buildings
the nineties has been deconstruction – or
current cost of an architectural education
services, etc.), in addition to history of
rather a distorted version of it – which has
is unaffordable by many, which drives
local and world architecture, and theory
caught the fancy of students for its
many prospective applicants to the
of art and architecture. Each year of study
rebellious tendency, apparent freedom
department to either withdraw or leave for
is more or less specialized in certain types
and lack of commitment, and above all its
other studies. Many have to quit
of design projects. First year addresses
interesting graphics. In Baghdad, there is
temporarily or permanently to help the
an introduction to art and architecture and
an attempt by some to tone this down, but
unprivileged. The teaching staff at the
fundamentals of design, graphics, theory
in Technology, it has been turned into a
various schools are constantly trying to
and technology. Second year deals with
cult – that is until the students discovered
come up with ideas that may help the
simple low-rise buildings (like folk-centers,
other new “fashions” like the architecture
students to cut down on expenditures, like
child-centers, small clubs, and most of all
of “folding”, and others. In Mosul, which
reducing the scales of the drawings and
“houses”) and the technology of their
is known to be of a more conservative
models, and encouraging the students to
construction with local materials, especially
nature, post-modernism remains more
resort to inexpensive media for their
brick. Third year moves on to the design
popular. Both Baghdad and Mosul schools
presentations, e.g. the use of graphite or
of multi-story buildings (like office buildings,
seem to be more concerned with
colored pencil-work.
schools and colleges, hotels, and the like),
vernacular architecture than the technology
and their construction and technical
school, especially that of their own
services. Fourth year is for systematic
respective cities. Yet, In spite of the
large-scale projects (like hospitals,
enchantment by the fantastic international
Role of Government and Private
universities, and housing complexes).
styles of this decade, new wave of
Sectors
Finally, fifth year deals with urban design
awareness of the merits of the local
The government sector here mainly
and then the graduation thesis; the latter
heritage has risen among students of all
includes architectural offices of the various
being the detailed design by each student
schools, especially among postgraduates.
ministries, or the consultancy firms under
of a project of his/her choice, preceded
They are now rethinking their convictions
the administration of the Ministry of
by adequate research and feasibility
and turning to Arab and Islamic sources
Housing and Construction, the engineering
studies presented in scheduled seminars.
for ideas, inspiration, and guidance, and
consultancy bureaus at the universities,
Through their five years of study, students
many are working on finding possible ways
the architectural office of the municipalities,
do some kind of summer work, supervised
to merge these with the useful parts of
and the presidential architectural office.
by their respective instructors. Such
contemporary global culture and worldview.
summer work may be the documentation
The main work of the official architectural
of listed – and other historical – buildings
One last note on the relationship between
firms and offices is the design and/or
of architectural merit, participation in field
the three schools: while keeping in view
implementation of projects for the
110
Architecture of the Nineties in Iraq
government sector throughout the country.
also included improvement of streetscapes
historical islamic, ancient mesopotamian,
Such projects include new buildings of all
(vegetation, signage system, etc.)
local vernacular (traditional) – and
usage types (i.e. administrative,
Jordanian architecture, a number of
educational, residential, health-care, etc.,
The architectural office of the Presidential
distinctive approaches have emerged in
buildings), urban development and
Department is not only concerned with the
the nineties. Among the current trends,
redevelopment, post-war reconstruction,
design and implementation of presidential
there are localized Post-Modernism and
etc. During the nineties, and because of
structures (e.g. offices, residences, and
Deconstruction, modernized traditional,
the general situation due to the embargo
private mosques, etc. for the president,
Mesopotamian, and ‘supposedly’ Islamic,
and the numerous aggressions, a major
and guesthouses, and other facilities for
in addition to others which may be more
portion of the work of these offices has
guests and staff). It is also concerned with
difficult to define – something like an
been in the line of reconstruction, where
other projects more in contact with the
eclecticism of a number of these.
they have successfully brought back a
public like memorial monuments, grand
number of worthy buildings – and bridges,
mosques, etc. Many such projects have
which were the targets of direct hits by
been handled in the past few years as
missiles. Examples of restored buildings
closed design competitions to which the
Role of Professional Institutions
and bridges include the conference palace,
most renowned local firms and bureaus
Of architectural professional institutions,
Al-Rasheed Hotel, the Ministry of Justice,
are usually invited. Other competitions
there are the Architectural Committee at
and others (some of which were hit and
restored twice), and the Juhuriya and 14th
organized by this office have been about
the Iraqi Engineers Union, and the Iraqi
aspects other than buildings and
Architectural Society, founded in the late
of July bridges, all in Baghdad, in addition
monuments, like the competitions for the
eighties by a group of architects that
to other works in other parts of the country.
design of new types of Islamic decorative
included Nizar Hamdoun, former
patterns a few years ago.
representative of Iraq at the UN, who also
Of the municipalities, the Municipality of
became the first president of this society.
Baghdad, for example, is notably active –
The engineering consultancy bureaus at
and is bet-known – or its conservation,
the various universities mostly undertake
During the past few years, the union has
restoration and development projects
the design of state projects, including those
come to host exhibitions of distinguished
besides its development projects, even
of post-war reconstruction. Some bureaus
graduation theses. It has also tried to
during the dire conditions of this decade.
like those at the university of Baghdad
provide architects with opportunities to
However, due to the cut-down in funding,
and the university of Technology have
participate in conferences and symposia
its conservation projects may not have
cooperated with other institutes or offices
abroad, by arranging delegations to such
been as ambitious as they had been in
in working on various state projects. And
meetings according to invitations from
the eighties. Yet the development projects
although the staff of these bureaus consists
similar institutions abroad. In spite of all
may not have been as ambitious as they
of the teaching staff of the engineering
the serious efforts of the members of the
had been in the eighties. Yet the
colleges with all their revolutionary ideas,
Architectural Committee at the union, their
development projects may have a boost
their works at these bureaus are still
role is still rather limited, partly because
every now and then. Recently, during the
conservative in nature following the nature
of their limited resources and facilities,
summer months, and according to the
of their clients.
and partly because the invitations they
Baghdad 2015 Urban Development
receive from abroad often arrive too late.
Project, there was a large campaign for
As for the private sector, most of the
the face lifting of the buildings along a
renowned architects have closed their
More active is the Architectural Society,
number of major streets in Baghdad. This
offices and left the country leaving the
which has been quite active in hosting
was done with the co-operation of the
door wide open for younger generation to
many local architects (whether from
architectural staff and students of both
take over, as mentioned above. Of the
academia or the field of practice), and
architectural schools in the city: The
remaining few pioneers, some have closed
other prominent cultural figures (including
technology school worked on the eastern
up and turned to other trades (e.g. dealing
writers, musicians, sculptors, etc.), to give
side of the Tigris, whereas the Baghdad
in antiques). As of the next generations,
lectures on various subjects according to
school worked on the western. After that,
many are running thriving businesses, with
seasonal programs such meetings have
the same teams also worked on the
recognizable styles within the overall
proved to be very useful and pleasurable
redevelopment of the Tigris riverfronts,
general trends. Mainly under the influences
for architects and others – professionals
also in Baghdad. The same campaign
of post-modernism, deconstruction,
and students alike. In the early nineties
111
Suad A. Ali Mehdi
the society used to arrange programs for
invitations to conferences and symposia
have been the targets of air raids and
showing foreign architectural programs
(or even only notices and calls for papers),
long-range missiles. And some have been
on video, which also was a popular activity.
to say the least. Very few have come back
hire and restored, even more than once.
In recent years it has come to organize
for visits in recent years (like Qahtan Al-
Some buildings were only a few years old,
competitions for students, sometimes in
Mudfa’i), although in the beginning some
like the Conference Palace, the Rasheed
collaboration with other institute. Locally
did and then stopped and very few cared
Hotel, and the Ministry of Justice, which
and/or abroad. Unfortunately, the activities
to meet the local architects and give talks
were damaged in Jan./Feb. 1991. Others
of this society have been significantly
or lectures. At least one thing worthy of
were historical like the Qal’a complex, with
reduced during the last few years for lack
mention here is that where many of our
its beautiful structures form past centuries
of a permanent quarter. Nevertheless, its
fellow compatriots abroad have failed to
up to the 1930’s. During this century this
administrative committee is trying its best
be of much – or any – help, many others
complex was the quarters of the Ministry
to keep it up and going.
from other countries and affiliations have
of Defense, which made it the target of
been very helpful. Some have provided
bombs and missiles during all wars and
recent publications upon request (like the
military attacks on the city, and when it
Aga Khan Award for Architecture, among
was hit during the last attack in December
Role of Iraqi Architects Abroad
others), and/or sent out invitations for visits
1998, part of the neighboring Abbasid
As mentioned above, mostly due to the
to the ‘outer world’ for various purposes
Palace collapsed as well.
embargo many architects – among others
(again like the Aga Khan Award, and the
– have left the country, and are now
Jordan Engineers Association), thus a
In general, there are four authorities which
dispersed throughout the globe, mostly in
giving us a chance for direct give and take
usually undertake the conservation and
Britain, the United States, Canada,
– something we badly need therefore it
restoration of the architectural heritage of
Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, the
would be appropriate here to take this
the country:
Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Lebanon, not
chance on behalf of my colleagues and
· The Municipality of Baghdad (concerned
to mention other countries. Many we know
students to mark our
with Baghdad)
are stationed abroad temporarily, and
who have given out a hand during these
· The Municipality of the other
would be glad to return immediately once
hard times in their own various ways.
governorates,
the embargo is lifted.
Among our helpful compatriots, some have
· The Directorate of Antiquities (concerned
sent recent publications (including their
with historical sites of the ancient or nears
An assessment of the role of Iraqi
own works, like Rifaat Chadirji). Some
past)
architects abroad may not be feasible
(especially architects holding high positions
· The Directorate of Tourism (now
here, for what are the criteria they are to
in Jordanian universities, like Dr. Ihsan
cancelled and its projects assigned to the
be judged by? What are they supposed
Fethi) have helped postgraduate students
Municipality of Baghdad).
to do? Who is to define their expected
over a number of years by generously
role? Perhaps it is no other than their own
hosting and helping them during their
Yet another body may also be added here:
respective consciences, or as we say in
search in Jordan for a publications needed
the Center for Re-Construction Studies,
Arabic “each and his own conscience” and
for their theses, and/or helped invite
which was founded in the nineties following
his capability.
architects to give lectures in Jordan on
the devastating war of 1991. The task of
various occasions. Some (again like Rifaat
this center, which belongs to the University
Naturally, under the circumstances it would
Chadirji) have proposed architectural
of Baghdad, is to direct research and
be expected of the architects on the
awards for students.
design efforts aiming at the re-construction
on the outside,
outside – at least those doing well – to
of structures – architectural and otherwise
offer some kind of a hand to their fellow
– damaged by the war. One of its recent
projects was the conversion of the Ottoman
architects on the inside. The least that
could be said here is that while some have
Conservation and Restoration of
Infantry Barracks, ‘Al-Qushla’ (first built in
been more than generous in offering help,
Architectural Heritage
1850, and used for various functions over
and actually helping out in many ways,
This has been of special importance during
the years) into the Museum of
many others are expected to do at least
this past decade, in its various forms:
Reconstruction Projects.
a little more. It would be nice to send some
conservation, restoration, rehabilitation,
Before the embargo, the Municipality of
publications now and then, or to help send
re-use, etc., mainly because of the effects
Baghdad had been particularly active for
out some invitations for short visits, or
of the war. Many of our cherished buildings
its conservation efforts, but later and due
112
Architecture of the Nineties in Iraq
to the lack of funding for conservation
also have been positive in that it has forced
projects and the maintenance of historical
us to depend on ourselves, and to try to
buildings, its work has been reduced to the
exploit our local resources and capabilities
preparation of studies and proposals for
to the full. Where the powers of will, money,
conservation sites and the documentation
and authority may provide a breakthrough,
of listed buildings, in the hope that these
the architecture of Iraq in the nineties may
projects may be carried out in the future.
seem to be thriving, contrary to all
Two such major studies have been made
expectations – even our own.
in the nineties. In 1994, the Municipality of
The Lebanese Share Holding Company
Baghdad in collaboration with a team of
(Solidere) in charge of the reconstruction
consultants from the Baghdad school
of the historic city center of Beirut is shaping
updated the Rusafa Conservation Project
its program along an ambitious Master plan
made by a Japanese firm back in the
based on a speculative vision of a city that
eighties (Rusafa here refers to the historical
is struggling to regain its competitive
core of Baghdad, on the eastern bank of
location in the global/regional economy.
the Tigris). In 1997, the Al-A’dhamiya suburb
This project discloses itself through a binary
was surveyed for the first time to designate
reading of the city and a historicism in the
the conservation areas and make a list of
urban design strategy that strives to build
merited buildings in the area. The listed
the city center market value on the basis
buildings were later documented and
of its past character and a state-of-the-art
measured drawings of them were made
financial district. Solidere’s intentions are
with the aid of a group of students.
manifested in the form of well-staged
aphorisms, images, rationalized
On the other hand, the Directorate of
infrastructure, and historic preservation
Antiquities has become particularly active
scheme that exclude and contrast with the
this decade as it has undertaken the
remaining city. This paper, on the one hand,
conservation, restoration, and rehabilitation
offers a critical review of these images,
of a number of historical buildings
plans, and the liminal spaces that they
throughout the country. It has restored the
produce based on conceptual themes of
two buildings flanking Al-Qushla, one of
perception and representation as a visual
which is the ‘Sarai’, or the house of the
arrangement/control of knowledge. On the
Ottoman Governor at the time. This
other hand, positioned upon the ideological
directorate has also restored and
representation of the city center floats an
rehabilitated a number of historical buildings
informal and transient city of culture and
in the other governorates, including the
public space whose tensions criticize the
holy shrines.
formal scheme of Solidere. Building on the
actual dynamics of the city center, the paper
sheds light on the problematic of Solidere’s
formal strategies while arguing for a new
Conclusion
and different mechanism in mediating a
To conclude, one may say that the nineties
“public space” that helps the reconciliation
has been a decade of difficult times due to
and healing process of the war-torn society.
the embargo and the continuos on the
country. Nevertheless the effect of these
may be regarded as two role: negative, in
that they have been the scene of largescale destruction, severe lack of resources
and facilities, lack of contact with the rest
of the world, inflation, and the high-rise of
all costs, among other things, yet, it may
113
Maan Chibli,
Contemporary Architecture in Syria
The Country
two cities. Other urban centers have
Syria is a complex combination of climates:
experienced similar growth. The seats of
a narrow Mediterranean strip, the
each of the countries’ 14 Governorates,
mountains running parallel to the shore
the district seats and a multitude of other
line, the plains, the semi-desert, and the
towns have attracted the rural population.
desert steppe. Its traditional architecture
Today the majority of the Syrian population
is as rich as its variations in climate and
lives in urban centers.
geography. The traditional architecture,
however, has almost totally vanished due
Maan Chibli: is Associate Professor
in the Faculty of Architecture,
University of Aleppo, Syria
to a variety of reasons: rapid urbanization,
Damascus has an estimated population
centralization of the planning process,
of about 3 million people. Its planners
standardization of construction
directed the rapid growth into satellite
technologies, standardization of the
suburbs. Vertical expansion is controlled
architectural education, and the
by means of a flexible occupancy ratio.
development of “modern” lifestyles that is
Aleppo has a population of 2 million
totally dependent on the car, have all
inhabitants. Its growth was directed in a
contributed to the demise of the traditional
radial way around the center. The vertical
and local modes of building.
expansion is limited to a fixed number of
stories, with a few exceptions, such as
The population of Syria stands roughly at
the suburb of Hamdaniyah.
about 17.1 million inhabitants For statistical
information consult:
The Profession
Statistical Abstract, Office of the Prime
The architectural profession has had to
Minister, Central Bureau of Statistics:
keep up with the expanding urban
Damascus, 1998.. The average growth
character of the country. The magnitude
rate of 33 per thousand varies between
and rate of growth has limited the
39.1 per thousand in Damascus and 36.1
profession to a rather functionalist role.
per thousand in Aleppo. The two largest
Architectural practice has always been
cities in the country, Aleppo and
defined within the discipline of engineering.
Damascus, account for about 40% of the
To this date, architects do not enjoy an
Syrian population. They have been the
affiliation to a separate union to that of
foci of rural migration for being the
engineers. Prior to the independence from
administrative capital in the case of
the French mandate of 1946 there was
Damascus, and the industrial center in
not one single architect as such in the
the case of Aleppo. This rural to urban
country. The pioneers were foreign-
migration is reinforced by the lack of
educated multipurpose engineers. The
services in the rural areas.
formation of the successive societies and
orders for engineers did not recognize
architecture as separate entity. The
establishment in 1946 of the first
Rapid urbanization is not limited to these
114
engineering college program did not make
Contemporary Architecture in Syria
1)
that distinction either Rifai, F., Aleppo
thirds of the Syrian architects are employed
Fig.1: The main Stadium of the Martyr Basil
Between History and Engineering,
by a design or construction firm in the
al-Asad Sport city in Aleppo.
University of Aleppo Press, Institute for
public sector, or by national ministries and
the History of Arabic Science: Aleppo,
local administration. The remaining part
1996..
is either self-employed or working in the
private sector.
In 1950, architecture was recognized as
one of four specializations in engineering.
The 1950 organization of the profession
Public sector firms were established in the
was relatively decentralized. Each major
late 1960’s and early 1970’s. They were
city formed its separate order. The law
meant to lead the design and construction
was changed in 1973 to regularize the
efforts in Syria and compile resources to
practice of engineering in Syria within one
pull large and vital projects.
central order. Each Directorate has a
Establishment of Military Housing (EMH)
separate branch. The branches have a
became the single largest engineering
limited control over the local practice,
and construction firm in the country
because the Central Congress of
employing over two thousand engineers
Engineers sets the general rules.
and architects.
The
Today a total of 6832 architects are
registered in Syria representing about 11%
of Syria’s engineers.
The Establishment of Military
The number
Housing was formed in 1975. It was
increases at a rate of about 320 architects
responsible for many large-scale project
per year. Of these about 43% are women
s. The suburb of Hamdaniyah in Aleppo
and 57% are men. Roughly about two
is one such example. It contains 5087 of
115
Maan Chibli
3)
2)
low to low-middle income residential units
for local as well as regional large projects.
that will be expanded to 14000 in a future
The state is the largest employer of
phase. It also contains 1200 residences
architects as well as the largest patron of
for the upper income sector. The suburb
architecture in the country. The sincere
is equipped with services, commercial
efforts to modernize the country have
facilities, cultural center, a mosque and a
created ample opportunities for the
church.
introduction of architectural works into
The resources dedicated to this suburb,
every village, town and city. Institutional
however, could not accommodate the
buildings, educational buildings, sports
growth of the city. Aleppo has an estimated
complexes (such as the Martyr Basil al-
33% of its population living in unplanned
Asad Sport city in Aleppo), cultural facilities
settlements.
(such as Dar al-Asad cultural Center in
Fig. 2: (Top left)The architect Yazji’s residential
building in Aleppo.
Fig. 3: (Top right)The Rawda Mosque
Raqqa), housing projects are all modern
in Aleppo.
building types that were introduced to the
realm of Syrian architecture. However,
The firm undertook the construction of
the tremendous efforts to spread state
several large suburbs around the main
interventions in the country did not come
cities. It also ventured into large-scale
without occasional sacrifice of quality due
industrial construction and institutional
to tight budgets.
buildings.
architecture in Syria is heavily embedded
The heavy reliance on the public sector
in the functionalist vocabulary of the
relegated the private sector to minor
modern movement. Architectural curricula
construction projects and private
at the university stress building type as a
residences. The uneven balance pushed
design topic. Issues of regional context,
the private sector away from the arena;
environment, the design of energy efficient
most of the private architects work in one
buildings, and cultural heritage are slowly
single consultant office or small design
being developed in the university programs.
firms.
116
The discourse on
This situation created little
competition for the public sector firms.
The private sector, geared towards
However, the process is being remedied
satisfying the demands of the real estate
with the introduction of several laws
market, has shown little interest in
encouraging private investment. Presently,
architectural design as such. This is due
a new trend is taking shape whereby young
to the old building codes, in a way, which
professionals are coming together to form
do not encourage the development of new
larger consulting firms that can compete
architectural concepts and ideas. Issues
Contemporary Architecture in Syria
4)
of style are relegated to the concept of
has instituted exams to pass from one
ornament as the main focus of the
seniority level to the next. It is hoped that
architects working in that realm.
these changes will eventually improve the
profession.
A third category between the public and
the private sectors involve the semi public
Other than quality control, the order
institutions. These include the Awqaf
provides its members with a socialized
properties and the cooperative societies.
form of sharing revenues by dividing a
The Awqaf (the religious endowment
portion of commissioned fees among all
institution) is the single largest landholder
the members For the exact regulations
in some cities. They commission revenue-
regarding the practice of engineering
generating projects to benefit their charity
consult each regional branch set of
work and support their religious
Professional Practice Regulations. An
monuments. The Awqaf has had a history
example of such publication:
of enlightened patronage. On the other
Professional Practice Regulations, The
hand cooperative societies have amassed
Order of Syrian Engineers, the Aleppo
large resources to commission big housing
Branch: Aleppo, 1994. It also offers health
projects. They have satisfied the growing
insurance, some common goods and
demand for new housing stock.
entertainment opportunities at reduced
Unfortunately, the quality of their design
rates.
Photo 4: The school of Raif and Ziad
Muhanna in Dar’a.
work was sometimes sacrificed in favor
of the economy. Combined with inflexible
Most large scale projects are
zoning regulations and poor urban
commissioned to public sector firms on a
planning, the conventional design of the
turnkey bases for the lowest bidder. Yet
cooperative societies produced endless
recently some works were put into
blocks of monotonous urban fabric.
competitions, thus separating design work
from the construction phase.
The
The order of engineers has tried different
construction work is still usually offered to
methods to improve the quality of
the lowest bidder, though contractor-pre-
architectural work. The order has initiated
qualifications are subject to more scrutiny.
a system of peer review to process building
Private sector projects are usually
permit documents before applying for a
commissioned directly or put to closed
permit. It enforces a rigorous seniority
competitions. Design architects and
and apprenticeship system and recently
engineers are not allowed to work as
117
Maan Chibli
contractors. The Order requires that a
mutations of his work have rendered
registered
a
lifeless volumes of concrete masses.
design/supervision professional, an on-
Indeed it was not before long, that similar
site project attendant, or a contractor.
approaches to building started acquiring
Taxes are assessed separately for each
heavy ornamentationThe works of Abdel
category.
Munim Hirbli have been recently published
architect
be
in:
The Works of Dr. Engineer Architect Abdel
Munim Hirbli, the Order of Syrian
Architects, Projects, and Trends
Engineers, Aleppo Branch, Architecture
In this century, Syria witnessed the
Division Committee: Aleppo, 1997..
introduction of many architectural styles,
approaches, and construction techniques.
These two approaches to architecture
Yet, one paradigm has governed the
have dominated the production of most
production of architecture. It revolves
Syrian architecture. Variations of scale,
around the issue of modernity and tradition
style, and location withstanding, the
as two antagonistic paradigms, to be
paradigm persists. A new generation of
reconciled at best. Different architects
architects has looked into the possibility
chose differing approaches. It should be
of introducing alternative visions. The
noted, however, that no single architect
Muhanna brothers (architects Raif and
has managed to challenge the primacy of
Ziad and civil engineer Rafi) have produced
this discourse. Furthermore, the cities of
a bold work challenging the prevailing
the twentieth century have been subject
trend. Their school project in Dar’a
to foreign concepts of planning, code
redefines the relationship of the building
regulations and technical infrastructure.
to its context, function and environment.
The conceptualization of the problem has
The project was deservedly awarded an
been reduced to mere surface treatment.
Aga Khan Award Steel, J. Ed., Architecture
for a Changing World, Academy Editions:
Mostapha Hikmat Yazji is one noted
London, 1992.. Yet it remains largely a
pioneer architect. He graduated in the
unique experiment. In the countryside of
late thirties and worked most of his life as
Syria construction is following the trends
a consultant architect for the Awqaf of
of the city and losing its authenticity.
Aleppo al-Sahikh, S. K. et al. “Mostapha
Concrete arches are often facade
al-Yaziji”, Perspectives, No. 17, February
ornaments.
- March 1996.. His work capitalized on
the style of building introduced during the
The short period we were given to prepare
French mandate and called “arabissance”.
this presentation has limited our resources
The ornaments borrowed from the
for further examples of local Syrian
traditional elements of Islamic architecture
architects. Some attention can be given
barely hide the beaux-arts planning and
to the work of foreign architects in Syria.
proportioning systems of the buildings
Competitions and direct commissions are
behind them. His work was well crafted
becoming commonplace as the country is
and executed, later imitations were not of
opening up to new architectural
equal quality.
approaches. The Assad National Library
Another famous architect is Abdel Munim
in Damascus is one prominent example
Hirbli. His modernist approach to building
Ali, H. Cultural Institutions, the Architectural
rejected stereotypical ornamental solutions.
Series, No. 4.. It was awarded in a
He searched to employ the traditional
competition to the Polish architects: A.
building elements as simple large abstract
Miezik, W. Miecznikoski and M.
sculptural entities.
Dunikowski. It projects a modernist outlook
118
Imitations and
Photo 5: The inner ambiance of the French
Cultural Center in Damascus.
Contemporary Architecture in Syria
onto a main plaza in the modern part of
specific historical monuments, though a
Notes
Damascus and surrounds two interior
visible part of their work involves the
For statistical information consult:
atriums with obvious Damascene
restoration of buildings. The work is mostly
references.
concerned with introducing urban
· Statistical Abstract, Office of the Prime
interventions to stop the deterioration of
Minister, Central Bureau of Statistics:
Another example is the French Cultural
the historic city as a place of habitation,
Damascus, 1998.
Center in Damascus Ibid., designed by
and to keep the inhabitants in place. The
Jose Oubrerie and Kirkor Kalycian. It was
work entails replacing deteriorating
· Rifai, F., Aleppo Between History and
built in a zone where the old and new
infrastructure, preserving and rehabilitating
Engineering, University of Aleppo Press,
parts of Damascus clash directly. The
buildings to be used for social and cultural
Institute for the History of Arabic Science:
building extends the modern planning of
purposes, introducing economic incentives
Aleppo, 1996.
the district yet makes a gesture towards
and environmental protection strategies
the old neighborhood by means of surface
to halt the residential flight from the old
For the exact regulations regarding the
texture, fenestration and the large irregular
city For further information about the
practice of engineering consult. each
atrium most reminiscent of Damascene
rehabilitation work in Aleppo contact the
regional branch set of Professional
courtyards.
Project for the Rehabilitation of the Old
Practice Regulations. An example of such
City of Aleppo, City of Aleppo, PO. Box
publication:
Some new trends in architecture practice
12955, Aleppo, Syria..
concern the green dimensions of the
· Professional Practice Regulations, The
building. These new practices are taking
Concerning the environment, the Old City
Order of Syrian Engineers, the Aleppo
into account the design of energy efficient
of Aleppo offers an advantage and a
Branch: Aleppo, 1994.
buildings to minimize pollution. Issues of
unique opportunity to study the interaction
reducing energy input and consumption
between human activities and the
· Al-Sahikh, S. K. et al. “Mostapha al-
by introducing environmentally friendly
environment in the traditional fabric of the
Yaziji”, Perspectives, No. 17, February -
materials are becoming more popular
city. The Old City is suffering from severe
March 1996.
among designers and users alike. This
environmental problems; some of them
trend is in an experimental phase; city
need long term planning and others need
ordinances are being discussed to
immediate action measures. Long term
incorporate such sustainable architectural
planning involves the classification of
concepts.
harmful industries out of the old city zoning.
Our new practices are
advocating and introducing many aspects
Short-term actions involve cleanliness
of climate responsive design into the
campaigns coordinated with community
profession.
participation. The economic and tourist
pressure is putting an undue pressure on
Another important category of architectural
the environmental conditions of the
work in Syria revolves around historic
residential areas. The rehabilitation efforts
preservation and urban rehabilitation. The
are introducing comprehensive ways to
old cities of Damascus and Aleppo were
deal with the old city as a living entity. In
subjected to inconsiderate planning
all, this new type of project has brought
measures in the mid fifties. The old cities
to the front a new way of dealing with the
were separated from the rest of the urban
past. A new discourse has emerged to
fabric by wide avenues and high-rise
reverse the old paradigm of history as
buildings.
ornament. Yet the present remains an
unexplored territory.
After extended efforts on the part of
preservationists, the old urban quarters
are being re-planned to preserve their
heritage and population.
The
Rehabilitation Projects in Damascus and
Aleppo are not geared towards preserving
119