The Historic Urban landscapes in the Gulf: What future in a Global Environment?

Ref.: 17
Key theme: 01 Physical integrity of historic urban landscapes
Date of reception: 15/11/2008

AUTHORS (*Main author)

BOUSSAA, Djamel * (Bahrain) - University of Bahrain, College of Engineering

ABSTRACT

In the Gulf and after gaining independence in the early 1970s many countries witnessed an unprecedented rapid urban growth. Historic urban centers, which formed the major cores of these cities, witnessed continuous pressures of redevelopment. Eventually, these cities in the mainstream of rapid growth and modernization demolished large parts of their rich cultural heritage and replaced them by a wide range of alien environments; often without any physical and functional links with the local physical and socio-cultural contexts.

In the face of rapid economic development, population growth, people increasing needs and changing lifestyles, most historic centres in the Gulf have experienced problems in making the necessary adjustments and adaptation to the present needs and change. The historic urban cores which escaped complete demolition, have survived as isolated pockets in the midst of a rapidly modernising world. The major threat to these districts is that the influx of people seeking for cheap rent has led to their overcrowding, with several people often living in one house, and sometimes in a single room. This has accelerated their state of decay and dilapidation, leading these historic centres to become "urban slums", with a high density of low income tenants.

In addition to the loss of the local identity, these urban cores have become marginalized physically and functionally. Located in a central position in the growing urban areas, these historic areas have to function as a city centre. Consequently, they should keep the historic urban landscape alive while participating in the economic growth of the entire city. In order to revive these urban centres, there is a need to examine the whole of the historic urban landscape. We believe that conservation and development of these urban cores will first contribute to rediscover the local identity, and secondly by developing them through adequate adaptive reuse programs such as tourism they their life will be revived and thus contribute to sustain the life of the entire historic urban landscape. Through a conservation and development there will be a complete symbiosis between the old and new physically and functionally, which will enhance the functional integrity of the whole historic urban landscape thus making it a pleasant place to live in.

This paper attempts to highlight the importance of dealing with the functional integrity of historic urban landscapes, by raising and discussing the following question: How can urban conservation be a catalyst of regenerating the cultural identity and life of the historic urban landscapes in the Gulf cities? In order to tackle this question a number of case studies will be examined, with a specific emphasis on the rapidly emerging global cities of Manama and Muharrag in Bahrain. A review of their conservation approaches will help pave the way to set up a number of guidelines for reconciling the past, present and future of the Gulf city. Specifically, this paper will conclude with a number of recommendations about the identification, analysis, and management of the Historic Urban Landscapes in the Gulf.

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