Heritage conservation has often been seen as an alternative to economic development. No longer. Historic preservation has become an essential vehicle for economic growth. It creates jobs, sustains local business and boosts the tourism industry. Tourism is expected to be one of the fastest growing segments of the world economy in the 21st century; however, despite the region’s rich cultural heritage, “conservation is still in its infancy,” says Ahmed Sedky, author of the recently published Living With Heritage In Cairo.
Conservation, unlike restoration, takes the local community into consideration. “You have to create a human factor in the conservation process to make it sustainable after the departure of the workers and conservation planners. Conservation preserves the full flavor of a historic site, i.e., the building as well as the people living in its vicinity. I see in our region, in general, a mega-restoration but never, conservation. This applies to many cities due to their eagerness to attract tourists, thinking that the tourists will like the polished sanitized image of the historic city,” Sedky explains.
Despite its rich heritage, the Arab region lacks an area conservation charter. It uses other charters, and relies mostly on UNESCO experts. A code of laws provides a high level of technical reference which not only regulates any conservation work but also limits corruption.
Sedky, presently a consultant in Jeddah, is calling for the establishment of an Area Conservation Charter. For the last ten years, Sedky has been aware that the revitalization of historic city centers lacks the techniques and coordination which guarantee its success. When a conservation program is properly carried out, it has, in the short as well as in the long run, an impact on a city’s economic health.
A city’s historic center serves a number of important purposes which are essential for its future. A well- maintained historic center exudes a sense of place and identity which encourages its citizens to appreciate the unique values of the cities they live in. It also creates a sense of community whereby the residents feel responsible for each other. “A good city,” wrote one reporter, “has always been one that teaches citizenship in the deepest sense of the word, and such cities are not only teachers, but are themselves always learning how to be better cities.”
The traditional merchants’ quarters are still visible in Old Jeddah; picturesque and colorful, they create a feeling of pride and a sense of belonging and are perfect examples of ‘heritage in practice’. The old houses of Jeddah are a case in point. Their conservation is not attracting investors because they are frozen in time and have no contemporary function. “Yet many visitors would pay to experience the unique atmosphere of these beautiful houses if they were converted into guest houses and boutique hotels,” suggests Sedky.
Historic cities reflect a collective memory and produce at the same time a sense of harmony and liveliness. Any conservation program revitalizing a city center should make the best use of the city’s heritage without changing its nature and without affecting the residents’ way of life.
“The historic core of the Arab-Islamic city has always played an integral role in the formation of the identity of the contemporary Arab city. It serves as the reference for the city’s character. This is especially so in Cairo, where historic quarters still act as the city’s most influential social and cultural sources of inspiration. Today many forces of neglect and deterioration have diminished this role. In general, the common goal pursued is the “civilized look”, a term meant to refer to a “polished” and “sanitized” environment, one that will make historic Cairo, more attractive to the tourists,” Sedky explains.
However, the importance of renovating historic buildings goes beyond tourism. Old buildings provide a base, a sense of stability and continuity in the era of globalization in which rapid change can be both socially and psychologically disruptive.
We are able now to work anywhere, thanks to the Internet but cyber space will never replace the real world. More than ever, people need to be connected to a place. The quality of a place is inevitably linked to its past. If memories keep the past alive, architecture is the physical manifestation of a historical experience. More than ever, heritage conservation gives a city its identity and, most of all, its uniqueness. It also allows a city to withstand the impact of globalized culture.
Sedky strongly deplores the absence of any legislative or technical reference that can be a base for right or wrong. He has been invited to Kuwait by Shaikha Hessa Al Sabah to speak about his ideas and will also travel to Malaysia where he will reiterate his call for a charter for Islamic cities. He believes however, that a conference constitutes only a preliminary action which should be followed by a series of workshops and other media-related events as well as the setting up of a regional committee.
“Saudi Arabia, thanks to its political and economic weight and because it is the cradle of Islam, has a vital role to play in sponsoring the establishment of an Area Conservation Charter,’’ says Sedky.
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