M30 - Heritage at Risk and Heritage in Conflict

Author(s)

Eleftheria Gkaliou (Technical University of Crete)

Keywords

Catastrophe, Socialist Heritage, Ruin Porn

Abstract

This new trend serves the fetish for decay and a newfound mania for the present. In this case, Yugoslavian cultural heritage and monuments cease to be socially productive elements and turn into click-bait for the consumption of an egocentric temporal lifestyle, worldwide. The symbols of heritage lose their political reference and thereby the ability to politicize a community. Memory is utilized as a product and the aestheticization of destruction is subjected to the laws of supply and demand. In this paper the process of ruination and the recurring vandalization of the Spomeniks is not viewed as a process leading to material termination, but as a continuous morphogenesis, adhering to the definition of catastrophe set by Rene Thom in his “Theory of Catastrophe” (Thom 1972; 1980). Therefore the ruination of the monuments is perceived as an evolution towards the aestheticization of politics and the media constitutes a leading medium of cultivating these aesthetics. While Karsten Harries recognizes architecture as a defense against the terror of space and time (Harries 1982: 59-60), in this essay it is used as a tool to examine the sociopolitical impact of ruination of monuments and destruction of heritage in contemporary culture.

Space is examined in its three dimensions, i.e., as physical-material space, as lived-in social space, and as the spatial representation of ideologies. Through this process, this paper will attempt to answer the following questions:

• How does the threat of depoliticizing the socialist monuments, shape the perceptions of the socialist urban history and heritage?
• What impact does the "lifespan" of a monument have on humans? Could the "death" of a monument develop or deteriorate one's standard of living and quality of life?
• Do we systematically update the relics of the past to deny our own future ending? (Σταυρίδης 2006: 170-171)
• Does the advertising of the ruined monuments and other forms of heritage reinforce the aestheticization of war?
• How is the ruinated fate of these monuments perceived, comparatively, by the two opposing "sides" of the Cold War?
  

Author(s)

Jawida Mansour (KU Leuven)

Keywords

Rural Heritage, Eco-tourism, Occupation

Abstract

During the past seven decades, upon the establishment of the state of Israel in the land of Palestine, the Palestinian cultural heritage both tangible and intangible are under continuous threats including illegal excavations, looting of artifacts, illicit heritage trafficking, improper heritage stewardship of the archeological sites and many other threats. In 2007, another layer of threats was added when the Palestinian political leadership was divided into two governments functioning in the West Bank and Gaza. Despite these facts, local communities proved their capabilities to protect their own heritage to emphasize their existence and improve their resilience under an ongoing occupation and fragile Palestinian government.

In the last few years, a significant number of cultural activities are combining eco-hiking with cultural and natural heritage education while raising awareness of climate change and how locals can contribute to protect their natural landscapes. This study investigates the role of eco-hiking and eco-tourism to protect natural assets as well as the extent to which eco-tourism contributes to community’s socioeconomic development and resiliency under Israeli occupation. The study is based on Masar Ibrahim(https://masaribrahim.ps/) as a case study. Masar Ibrahim is a trail of 330 km long distance of cultural hiking route passes through more than fifty localities in West Bank started from the village of Rummana northwest of Jenin to Beit Mirsim southwest of Al-Haram al-Ibrahimi (Ibrahimi Mosque) in Hebron.

The study aims to highlight new innovative strategies to transform safeguarding heritage into resources to build community resiliency and development in the communities torn by ongoing conflicts; understanding the role of eco-hiking in changing the lives of poor and bring about positive change in the respective communities particularly in gender equality by offering a real example from Palestine.

The research methodologies to be employed will be qualitative, with ethnography, participant observation and semi-structured/deep interviews with actors involve in Masar Ibrahim’s activities such as the program directors, local communities on the trail, tour guides, and hikers both local and international.

Author(s)

Fatemeh Fotouhi Ahl (Tabriz Islamic Art University) and Mostafa Behzadfar (Iran University of Science and Technology)

Keywords

Heritage, Flood, Building

Abstract

One of the main assets of civilization is building heritage. Building heritage like many old assets, always are in danger of various disaster; in which one of them is natural disaster. Iran’s urbanism with old history has been encountered with two catastrophic issues, many building heritage and tremendous challenging. Natural disaster such as earthquakes and floods are main challenges of land development in Iran during its long history. Various regions of this country’s building heritages were challenging with floods. Because of high quality development many urban building, elements and structure resisted against this type of disasters. It means that the majority of heritage area are resilience against this type of challenges. But some of disasters such as Bam’s earthquake and recent floods in 2019 were very challenging in which damaged many heritage’s buildings and structures. The disastrous flood of March 2019, has distracted many building heritages in Lorestan province. Castles, bridges, mosques, shrines, palaces, historical buildings, monumental structure have been damaged by this disastrous natural event. For example, the Pol Dokhtar bridge is a famous structure monument with more than 2000 years old, rooted in Sassanid era main parts of this monument structure have worked up to recent era. But recent flood have damaged some section of this heritage building structure.

The main aim of this study is; how heritage building or structures can be protect against natural disasters, specially flood. To response this aim, case study strategy, have been selected through documentary techniques on Lorestan province, the west of Iran. Documents are provided through data and information from formal recourse such as Bonyad Maskan of Iran. In addition observation techniques took place using filed study in selected area of this province.

The main factor in which historical buildings have need protected from natural disasters are building materials and the quality of constructing implementation. Building materials such as bricks re resistance against Persian climate. In addition, the traditional implementation in this country is capable to carry the adequate techniques which help the sustainability. In general, the heritage buildings are resilience than conventional buildings.

As a summery, The finding of this research shows that the old structure, known as heritage buildings are more resilience the recent buildings. Therefore, we should learn from Iranian historic structure and constructors for on going development.

Author(s)

Loic Vadeloge (University of Marne la Vallée)

Keywords

Heritage, Risk, Town Planning

Abstract

On 26 September 2019, more than 5,000 tonnes of petrochemical products were dissipated following the fire at the Lubrizol factory in Rouen. The disaster contributes to emptying the historic center of visitors and tourists for several days. Since the 19th century, the city of Rouen has been developing a parallel tourism and industrial policy that is difficult to reconcile. The importance of the architectural heritage of the historic center gave rise to policies to protect and enhance urban heritage as early as the 1830s. At the beginning of the 20th century, the joint action of merchants and the bourgeois intellectual elite made it possible to present Rouen as a "museum city". The historic center, little affected by Haussmannisation, preserved the medieval urban framework. Despite the destruction of the Second World War, this "museum city" continues and recent policies encourage local and international tourism.

However, since modern times, Rouen has also concentrated a large number of polluting and high-risk factories: powder and dye factories for the textile industry since the end of the 18th century, chemical and petrochemical factories, developed since the 1930s. The Lubrizol factory, which produces additives for automotive lubricants, was established in the west end of the city in 1954. Throughout the 19th century, doctors denounced the health risks of this concentration of dangerous and unhealthy factories. After the Second World War, the new factories were concentrated on the left bank of the Seine, near the working class districts. By moving the port downstream from Rouen, the architects of the Reconstruction contribute to a better separation of the museum city and the industrial city.

However, the industrial crisis of the 1970s contribute to reduce this separation of activities in urban areas. Port activismes are moved downstream of the city to container storage areas. Instead, a first eco-neighbourhood and a new shopping center are being built on the right bank, right in front of the polluting factories, classified as Seveso (since a European directive of 1982).

As a result, a new competition for urban land use is emerging between industrial and leisure activities. Since the end of the 1980s, the City of Rouen has been undertaking a reconquest of the banks of the Seine, as part of a Waterfront strategy. It is a question of developing walks for the inhabitants, of multiplying major festive events such as the gathering of sailing boats every 5 years, to encourage a new look at the old industrial districts. At the beginning of 2019, an eco-neighbourhood project appeared on the left bank, in direct contact with the Lubrizol factory. The fire of September 2019 could jeopardize the construction of this eco-neighbourhood, which was supposed to accommodate 10,000 inhabitants.

Author(s)

Eleni Athanasiadou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) and Athina Vitopoulou (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki)

Keywords

Natural Heritage, Cultural Heritage, Landscape

Abstract

The city of Thessaloniki counting over 2000 years of history is the second largest city in Greece, with an area of 19.31 km² a population of 1.1 million people. Founded at a strategic location, it has developed into a socio-cultural, economical and ecological palimpsest of great importance. The contemporary city is superimposed on effaced earlier forms, from the Hellenistic times, to Roman dominance, to Turkish occupation. With a multicultural urban habitat (Turks, Jews, Greeks, Armenians etc.), before the integration of the city to the Greek state in 1912, Thessaloniki is showcasing profound tolerance and ability in absorbing different cultures and employing them towards the creation of a truly significant and to a certain degree resilient heritage landscape. Yet, along many strengths and opportunities, important weaknesses and treats exist, which were in fact multiplied during the socio-economic crisis that hit Greece for almost a decade, and may jeopardize the future of the natural and cultural heritage of the city.

In terms of the natural landscape, the city is situated north, unfolding towards the Thermaikos bay. Its urban tissue is watermarked with its seafront and numerous streams, these being either hidden or exposed in the land surface, due to excessive building and flood hydraulic works. Yet, river deltas, lagoons and lakes which lay in close proximity, underlay Thessaloniki within a much larger fresh water territory. Furthermore, the city is ‘embraced’ on its north border by a suburban forest, of almost equal in size as the city’s main urban tissue. Finally, blue-green infrastructure of all scales exists – squares, parks, gardens - either successfully blended in with the urban tissue and everyday life or, unfortunately, ignored.

Natural heritage is cultural heritage that ought to be acknowledged and incorporated in future city strategies. Thessaloniki’s natural landscape is at risk, exhibiting ‘invisibility’ and being sacrificed to construction of even more urban ‘hard’ elements. The paper examines Thessaloniki’s natural heritage’s character, elements, dynamics and resilience and builds a case for their visibility, protection and enhancement.

Author(s)

Ruba Kasmo (Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakif University)

Keywords

Old City of Aleppo, Damage Assessment, Post-conflict Recovery

Abstract

The Old city of Aleppo is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Since the ancient times, the city has been ruled by successive civilizations of which each has left its traces on the urban life and contributed to the richness of the built environment. In recognition of these values, the city was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1986. Unfortunately, the recent armed conflict, from 2012 to 2016, has resulted in a drastic level of destruction in the old city which is unprecedented in its modern history. The landmarks of Aleppo; the citadel, the Great Mosque and the historic commercial zone have witnessed different levels of damages. Several monuments and some portions of the urban fabric have been completely destroyed. In addition to the structural damages, the city has lost much of its population and financial resources.

In a tense security context with only restricted access to the city, it was difficult to estimate the damages and nearly impossible to undertake any protective measures. Since the end of armed conflict, however, many local and some international efforts have been made to conduct the initial estimation of the damages, to clean and re-open the main arteries in the old city and to put plans for the reconstruction. In addition, the local NGOs and individual initiatives have increased reflecting the inhabitants’ deep awareness of their city’s values and their will to repair it.

This paper will highlight the extent of damage to the built heritage of Aleppo and address the complex and numerous challenges facing Aleppo in organizing its reconstruction and recovery. It will try to evaluate the strategies adopted by the local authorities and extract some lessons from the pre-conflict conservation efforts.