Architect, artist, and expert in the preservation, management and development of historic sites; Advisor for UNESCO / Arab States Unit; former Advisor for ARC-WH, former advisor to ICOMOS / Unit of Evaluation; Founder of a private consulting company in Paris [+ Boston-MA] for architecture and heritage conservation. Specialist in the architecture of Modernity-s in Arab States as well as heritage transformations in the 21st century including Post-war reconstruction and rehabilitation of historic monuments and sites.
A short paper illustrating the main definitions, tendencies, actors and challenges facing the man... more A short paper illustrating the main definitions, tendencies, actors and challenges facing the management of the historic urban fabrics in Syria in the 21st century.
According to the Syrian philosopher T. Tizini (1934–2019), the dilemma of authenticity heritage i... more According to the Syrian philosopher T. Tizini (1934–2019), the dilemma of authenticity heritage in the Arab world has lost its factual conceptualization. While its societal and ideological issues have been rightly discussed, its technical aspects have been handled only superficially. In this article, I review the deep interconnectivities between the societal and technical aspects of the term “authenticity” and the reconstruction of the damaged architectural heritage in Syria after years of a devastating war. I suggest that any postwar reconstruction raises a central contradiction: rebuilding an element from the past in the present. While the destroyed physical fabrics might be reconstituted, the setting that gave them value and meaning can never be reestablished. For that reason, preserving the “authenticity” in the wide significance of the term seems unrealistic in the context of reconstructed heritage. Nevertheless, what several Syrian scholars and politicians describe as “authenticity by creativity” might be a possible outcome.
The renewal of “Sabe’ Bahrat” Square in Damascus generated divergent attitudes. The present paper... more The renewal of “Sabe’ Bahrat” Square in Damascus generated divergent attitudes. The present paper takes advantage of this problematic project shedding light on some topics related to the evaluation of the urban renewal projects in general. This paper is the English translation of original one published in Arabic in April 2023.
I shed light on the development of the notion of cultural heritage in Syria from the mid-19th cen... more I shed light on the development of the notion of cultural heritage in Syria from the mid-19th century until today and how it has been employed not only in the struggles against the Ottoman Empire and Western colonization but also in local propaganda legitimatizing specific aspirations to gain power. In this framework, I discuss how the term 'Authenticity' emerged in the field of urban and architectural studies since the 1960s. I try to link this notion to the current context of Syria after years of war damaging or destroying a part of the multilayered cultural heritage of this country.
A general approach on the eventual post-war reconstruction of historic buildings and sites in Syr... more A general approach on the eventual post-war reconstruction of historic buildings and sites in Syria as well as its linkage to the social, economic and political context of the Syrian society.
An overview on the historiography of post-conflict reconstruction in Syria during the 19th - 20th... more An overview on the historiography of post-conflict reconstruction in Syria during the 19th - 20th centuries
The renewal of the al-Sab’ Bahrat Square in Damascus generated differentiated attitudes. This pap... more The renewal of the al-Sab’ Bahrat Square in Damascus generated differentiated attitudes. This paper attempts to clarify main topics related to the evaluation of the urban renewal projects in general, with a focus on the proposed project concerning the square .
أثار مشروع تجديد ساحة السبع بحرات في دمشق موجة من المواقف الناقدة أو المؤيدة. تحاول هذه المقالة إلقاء الضوء على بعض النقاط المتعلقة بتقييم مشاريع التجديد العمراني عموما، المشروع المتعلق بالساحة بشكل خاص
During the Ottoman period, Istanbul represented the resource
of the urban and architectural novel... more During the Ottoman period, Istanbul represented the resource of the urban and architectural novelties in Damascus. The 19th century landscape wall painting embodied an outcome of a new regional context and a new regional artistic and technical movement. This article attempts to clarify some aspects of how, why, when, where and through whom the art of Landscape murals has been introduced to Damascus.
The Europeanization of urban and architectural trends was pertinent during the Ottoman reforms. A... more The Europeanization of urban and architectural trends was pertinent during the Ottoman reforms. After 1918, the Syrian and French rulers initiated another period of reforms, enlarging the Europeanization of the urban and architectural fabrics on one side; promoting a renaissance of the vernacular architecture on the other. This attitude was affected by Syrian and Arab nationalist ideologies growing since the mid-19th century. The polychrome decoration constituted an aspect of the artistic production that reflected the aforementioned linkage. This article attempts to demonstrate the characteristics and mechanisms of such relationship.
Actes de collocque « 2011, treize siècles d’histoire partagée, essai de bilan et perspectives d’avenir », Abou Bakr Belkaid University, Tlemcen., 2012
Une étude comparative du développement urban et architectural des villes méditerranéennes : Damas... more Une étude comparative du développement urban et architectural des villes méditerranéennes : Damas en Syrie et Tlemcen en Algérie, entre le milieu du 19ème siècle au milieu du 20ème siècle.
This article gives a reading related to the disappearance of the earthen architecture in Damascus... more This article gives a reading related to the disappearance of the earthen architecture in Damascus. It attempts to demonstrate this subject according to technical, legal and sociocultural reasons.
Article shedding light on the possible reasons of the extraordinary empathy of the French and int... more Article shedding light on the possible reasons of the extraordinary empathy of the French and international community following the fire that affected Notre Dame de Paris.
An interview by Dr. Suzy SALMAN for the magazine HIA, DUBAI, UAE following the ARAB FORUM FOR HER... more An interview by Dr. Suzy SALMAN for the magazine HIA, DUBAI, UAE following the ARAB FORUM FOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION, ICCROM, Sharjah.
It focuses on the meaning of Heritage in the Arab world; its actors and its renewal and sustainability. It focuses also on the current policies and logics of Heritage conservation.
This Article is the Arabic translation of an article in French, published in EURORIENT, 2009, in ... more This Article is the Arabic translation of an article in French, published in EURORIENT, 2009, in Paris and republished in Arabic in EBDAAT, 2010, in Damascus.
It sheds light on the urban and architectural mutations in the area of Yaafour, well-known as a Country-side- Suburb of Damascus. Nevertheless, with a new kind of commercial and Real-Estate development, Yaafour witnessed huge functional and morphological changes.
Both the Syrian government and the private companies bear the responsibility of a such alarming and discomposing situation.
A short paper illustrating the main definitions, tendencies, actors and challenges facing the man... more A short paper illustrating the main definitions, tendencies, actors and challenges facing the management of the historic urban fabrics in Syria in the 21st century.
According to the Syrian philosopher T. Tizini (1934–2019), the dilemma of authenticity heritage i... more According to the Syrian philosopher T. Tizini (1934–2019), the dilemma of authenticity heritage in the Arab world has lost its factual conceptualization. While its societal and ideological issues have been rightly discussed, its technical aspects have been handled only superficially. In this article, I review the deep interconnectivities between the societal and technical aspects of the term “authenticity” and the reconstruction of the damaged architectural heritage in Syria after years of a devastating war. I suggest that any postwar reconstruction raises a central contradiction: rebuilding an element from the past in the present. While the destroyed physical fabrics might be reconstituted, the setting that gave them value and meaning can never be reestablished. For that reason, preserving the “authenticity” in the wide significance of the term seems unrealistic in the context of reconstructed heritage. Nevertheless, what several Syrian scholars and politicians describe as “authenticity by creativity” might be a possible outcome.
The renewal of “Sabe’ Bahrat” Square in Damascus generated divergent attitudes. The present paper... more The renewal of “Sabe’ Bahrat” Square in Damascus generated divergent attitudes. The present paper takes advantage of this problematic project shedding light on some topics related to the evaluation of the urban renewal projects in general. This paper is the English translation of original one published in Arabic in April 2023.
I shed light on the development of the notion of cultural heritage in Syria from the mid-19th cen... more I shed light on the development of the notion of cultural heritage in Syria from the mid-19th century until today and how it has been employed not only in the struggles against the Ottoman Empire and Western colonization but also in local propaganda legitimatizing specific aspirations to gain power. In this framework, I discuss how the term 'Authenticity' emerged in the field of urban and architectural studies since the 1960s. I try to link this notion to the current context of Syria after years of war damaging or destroying a part of the multilayered cultural heritage of this country.
A general approach on the eventual post-war reconstruction of historic buildings and sites in Syr... more A general approach on the eventual post-war reconstruction of historic buildings and sites in Syria as well as its linkage to the social, economic and political context of the Syrian society.
An overview on the historiography of post-conflict reconstruction in Syria during the 19th - 20th... more An overview on the historiography of post-conflict reconstruction in Syria during the 19th - 20th centuries
The renewal of the al-Sab’ Bahrat Square in Damascus generated differentiated attitudes. This pap... more The renewal of the al-Sab’ Bahrat Square in Damascus generated differentiated attitudes. This paper attempts to clarify main topics related to the evaluation of the urban renewal projects in general, with a focus on the proposed project concerning the square .
أثار مشروع تجديد ساحة السبع بحرات في دمشق موجة من المواقف الناقدة أو المؤيدة. تحاول هذه المقالة إلقاء الضوء على بعض النقاط المتعلقة بتقييم مشاريع التجديد العمراني عموما، المشروع المتعلق بالساحة بشكل خاص
During the Ottoman period, Istanbul represented the resource
of the urban and architectural novel... more During the Ottoman period, Istanbul represented the resource of the urban and architectural novelties in Damascus. The 19th century landscape wall painting embodied an outcome of a new regional context and a new regional artistic and technical movement. This article attempts to clarify some aspects of how, why, when, where and through whom the art of Landscape murals has been introduced to Damascus.
The Europeanization of urban and architectural trends was pertinent during the Ottoman reforms. A... more The Europeanization of urban and architectural trends was pertinent during the Ottoman reforms. After 1918, the Syrian and French rulers initiated another period of reforms, enlarging the Europeanization of the urban and architectural fabrics on one side; promoting a renaissance of the vernacular architecture on the other. This attitude was affected by Syrian and Arab nationalist ideologies growing since the mid-19th century. The polychrome decoration constituted an aspect of the artistic production that reflected the aforementioned linkage. This article attempts to demonstrate the characteristics and mechanisms of such relationship.
Actes de collocque « 2011, treize siècles d’histoire partagée, essai de bilan et perspectives d’avenir », Abou Bakr Belkaid University, Tlemcen., 2012
Une étude comparative du développement urban et architectural des villes méditerranéennes : Damas... more Une étude comparative du développement urban et architectural des villes méditerranéennes : Damas en Syrie et Tlemcen en Algérie, entre le milieu du 19ème siècle au milieu du 20ème siècle.
This article gives a reading related to the disappearance of the earthen architecture in Damascus... more This article gives a reading related to the disappearance of the earthen architecture in Damascus. It attempts to demonstrate this subject according to technical, legal and sociocultural reasons.
Article shedding light on the possible reasons of the extraordinary empathy of the French and int... more Article shedding light on the possible reasons of the extraordinary empathy of the French and international community following the fire that affected Notre Dame de Paris.
An interview by Dr. Suzy SALMAN for the magazine HIA, DUBAI, UAE following the ARAB FORUM FOR HER... more An interview by Dr. Suzy SALMAN for the magazine HIA, DUBAI, UAE following the ARAB FORUM FOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION, ICCROM, Sharjah.
It focuses on the meaning of Heritage in the Arab world; its actors and its renewal and sustainability. It focuses also on the current policies and logics of Heritage conservation.
This Article is the Arabic translation of an article in French, published in EURORIENT, 2009, in ... more This Article is the Arabic translation of an article in French, published in EURORIENT, 2009, in Paris and republished in Arabic in EBDAAT, 2010, in Damascus.
It sheds light on the urban and architectural mutations in the area of Yaafour, well-known as a Country-side- Suburb of Damascus. Nevertheless, with a new kind of commercial and Real-Estate development, Yaafour witnessed huge functional and morphological changes.
Both the Syrian government and the private companies bear the responsibility of a such alarming and discomposing situation.
Safeguarding and Developing Urban Heritage of the Arab States, 2022
الكتاب من منشورات المركز العربي الاقليمي للتراث العالمي ومقره مدينة المنامه، عاصمة مملكة البحرين.... more الكتاب من منشورات المركز العربي الاقليمي للتراث العالمي ومقره مدينة المنامه، عاصمة مملكة البحرين.
لا يمكن النظر الى هذا الكتاب كمؤلف "ثقافة عامة". لكن في نفس الوقت، لا يمكن اعتباره عملا بحثيا أكاديميا. هو مؤلف دراسي وصفي تحليلي مبسط يمكن أن يكون مرجعية إضافية لفهم واقع العملية التراثية في المنطقة العربية. تلقي المقدمة الضوء على خصائص الكتاب ومنهجيته وأهدافه وعلى دور واسهامات المركز العربي الإقليمي للتراث العالمي وعلى أهم منشوراته وتطلعاته المستقبلية في خدمة هذا التراث.
أما النص الرئيسي، فيتناول واقع التراث المعماري والعمراني العائد للمدن المدروسة من خلال مقال يخص كل واحدة منها كتب من قبل أحد أبنائها وعارفيها والخبيرين بها.
مدينة فاس العتيقة: حاضرة مغربية عريقة من التراث العالمي
د. محمد محسن الإدريسي العمري.
تراث قصبة الجزائر وتحديات القرن الواحد والعشرين
أ، محمد بوزيان
مدينة القاهرة التاريخية بين الحفاظ والإدارة وضوابط التحكم في العمران.
أ.د. سهير زكي حواس
بين مد وجزر: قصة المحرق مدينة اللؤلؤ
أ، غسان الشمالي
القدس مدينة على الأرض جذورها في السماء: عجالة عن التراث المعماري لبلدة القدس القديمة
د. يوسف سعيد النتشه
توثيق أملاك القدس: البلدة القديمة
د. خليل محمد إبراهيم التفكجي
ترميم وإحياء البلدة القديمة في مدينة نابلس – فلسطين
م. سامر رنتيسي
عمران دمشق: غربنة، أصالة وحداثة
د.م. أنس صوفان
أخيرا، تقدم خاتمة الكتاب دراسة تحليلية موسعة تقوم على تحليل المقالات من جهة، وعلى ربط محتواها وتقاطع معلوماتها مع رؤيتنا الشخصية للموضوع المدروس وتشعباته. يضم هذا القسم أيضا بعض الملاحق.
صالة لوكوربوزيه الرياضية في بغداد - Le Gymnase Le Corbusier à Bagdad, 2014
The authors of The Le Corbusier Gymnasium in Baghdad
are Mina Maerfa, Caecilia Pieri and Gille R... more The authors of The Le Corbusier Gymnasium in Baghdad
are Mina Maerfa, Caecilia Pieri and Gille Ragot.
I translated it from French to Arabic.
The book illustrates the design of the only realized posthum project of Le Corbusier in Iraq during the 1950s and its realization in the late 1970s.
For a wider resumé, please see :
"The Le Corbusier Gymnasium in Baghdad: discovery of construction archives (1974 -1980)":
https://ifpo.hypotheses.org/3560
Uploads
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/500302187975D4F182B714221B457FD1/S0940739120000132a.pdf/notes_on_authenticity_and_development_of_cultural_heritage_in_syria.pdf
http://openarchive.icomos.org/1908/1/SOUFAN%20Anas_ICOMOS_Authenticity_SEPT-%20Sent%20to%20Maureen.pdf
أثار مشروع تجديد ساحة السبع بحرات في دمشق موجة من المواقف الناقدة أو المؤيدة. تحاول هذه المقالة إلقاء الضوء على بعض النقاط المتعلقة بتقييم مشاريع التجديد العمراني عموما، المشروع المتعلق بالساحة بشكل خاص
بسـحرها وطابعهـا المعمّ ـاري، فهـذا ليـس مسـتغربا علـى مدينـة عريقـة كمدينـة نابلـس
التــي ســكنها الكنعانيــون منــذ القــدم وأســس فيهــا الرومــان مدينــة نيابولــس. وقــد
ســميت فــي القــرن العاشــر الميــادي بدمشــق الصغــرى نظــرا لتشــابهها مــع مدينــة
دمشــق الســورية مــن حيــث العناصــر ومكونــات المدينــة العربيــة االســامية. فــي كل
مــرة تــزور فيهــا البلــدة القديمــة فــي نابلــس تصبــح مشــدودا لهــا ومتطلعــا للعــودة
إليهـا مـرة أخـرى. فهـي مدينـة تحاكـي أحداثـا وقصصـا كثيـرة مـرت علـى كل بيـت مـن
بيوتهــا. ومــن الالفــت للنظــر أن البلــدة القديمــة فــي نابلــس ومنــذ تاريــخ بنائهــا قبــل
أكثـر مـن ألفـي عـام، ظلـت مأهولـة بالسـكان واألسـواق التجاريـة، بـل يمكـن القـول إنهـا
حافظـت علـى مكانتهـا كمركـز تجـاري وسـكني رئيسـي مزدهـر علـى مسـتوى فلسـطين
بالرغـم مـن فتـرات االضطـراب وعـدم االسـتقرار التـي مـرت بهـا، فظلـت شـاهدا حيـا
علـى إرث ثقافـي وحضـاري متميـز. تسـلط هـذه المقالـة الضـوء علـى ماهيـة التـراث
الحضــري للبلــدة القديمــة فــي نابلــس مــن جهــة أولــى، وعلــى إعــادة تأهيلهــا وإعــادة
بنـاء أحواشـها مـن جهـة ثانيـة.
of the urban and architectural novelties in Damascus. The 19th
century landscape wall painting embodied an outcome of a new regional
context and a new regional artistic and technical movement.
This article attempts to clarify some aspects of how, why, when, where and through whom the art of Landscape murals has been introduced to Damascus.
It focuses on the meaning of Heritage in the Arab world; its actors and its renewal and sustainability. It focuses also on the current policies and logics of Heritage conservation.
It sheds light on the urban and architectural mutations in the area of Yaafour, well-known as a Country-side- Suburb of Damascus. Nevertheless, with a new kind of commercial and Real-Estate development, Yaafour witnessed huge functional and morphological changes.
Both the Syrian government and the private companies bear the responsibility of a such alarming and discomposing situation.
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/500302187975D4F182B714221B457FD1/S0940739120000132a.pdf/notes_on_authenticity_and_development_of_cultural_heritage_in_syria.pdf
http://openarchive.icomos.org/1908/1/SOUFAN%20Anas_ICOMOS_Authenticity_SEPT-%20Sent%20to%20Maureen.pdf
أثار مشروع تجديد ساحة السبع بحرات في دمشق موجة من المواقف الناقدة أو المؤيدة. تحاول هذه المقالة إلقاء الضوء على بعض النقاط المتعلقة بتقييم مشاريع التجديد العمراني عموما، المشروع المتعلق بالساحة بشكل خاص
بسـحرها وطابعهـا المعمّ ـاري، فهـذا ليـس مسـتغربا علـى مدينـة عريقـة كمدينـة نابلـس
التــي ســكنها الكنعانيــون منــذ القــدم وأســس فيهــا الرومــان مدينــة نيابولــس. وقــد
ســميت فــي القــرن العاشــر الميــادي بدمشــق الصغــرى نظــرا لتشــابهها مــع مدينــة
دمشــق الســورية مــن حيــث العناصــر ومكونــات المدينــة العربيــة االســامية. فــي كل
مــرة تــزور فيهــا البلــدة القديمــة فــي نابلــس تصبــح مشــدودا لهــا ومتطلعــا للعــودة
إليهـا مـرة أخـرى. فهـي مدينـة تحاكـي أحداثـا وقصصـا كثيـرة مـرت علـى كل بيـت مـن
بيوتهــا. ومــن الالفــت للنظــر أن البلــدة القديمــة فــي نابلــس ومنــذ تاريــخ بنائهــا قبــل
أكثـر مـن ألفـي عـام، ظلـت مأهولـة بالسـكان واألسـواق التجاريـة، بـل يمكـن القـول إنهـا
حافظـت علـى مكانتهـا كمركـز تجـاري وسـكني رئيسـي مزدهـر علـى مسـتوى فلسـطين
بالرغـم مـن فتـرات االضطـراب وعـدم االسـتقرار التـي مـرت بهـا، فظلـت شـاهدا حيـا
علـى إرث ثقافـي وحضـاري متميـز. تسـلط هـذه المقالـة الضـوء علـى ماهيـة التـراث
الحضــري للبلــدة القديمــة فــي نابلــس مــن جهــة أولــى، وعلــى إعــادة تأهيلهــا وإعــادة
بنـاء أحواشـها مـن جهـة ثانيـة.
of the urban and architectural novelties in Damascus. The 19th
century landscape wall painting embodied an outcome of a new regional
context and a new regional artistic and technical movement.
This article attempts to clarify some aspects of how, why, when, where and through whom the art of Landscape murals has been introduced to Damascus.
It focuses on the meaning of Heritage in the Arab world; its actors and its renewal and sustainability. It focuses also on the current policies and logics of Heritage conservation.
It sheds light on the urban and architectural mutations in the area of Yaafour, well-known as a Country-side- Suburb of Damascus. Nevertheless, with a new kind of commercial and Real-Estate development, Yaafour witnessed huge functional and morphological changes.
Both the Syrian government and the private companies bear the responsibility of a such alarming and discomposing situation.
لا يمكن النظر الى هذا الكتاب كمؤلف "ثقافة عامة". لكن في نفس الوقت، لا يمكن اعتباره عملا بحثيا أكاديميا. هو مؤلف دراسي وصفي تحليلي مبسط يمكن أن يكون مرجعية إضافية لفهم واقع العملية التراثية في المنطقة العربية. تلقي المقدمة الضوء على خصائص الكتاب ومنهجيته وأهدافه وعلى دور واسهامات المركز العربي الإقليمي للتراث العالمي وعلى أهم منشوراته وتطلعاته المستقبلية في خدمة هذا التراث.
أما النص الرئيسي، فيتناول واقع التراث المعماري والعمراني العائد للمدن المدروسة من خلال مقال يخص كل واحدة منها كتب من قبل أحد أبنائها وعارفيها والخبيرين بها.
مدينة فاس العتيقة: حاضرة مغربية عريقة من التراث العالمي
د. محمد محسن الإدريسي العمري.
تراث قصبة الجزائر وتحديات القرن الواحد والعشرين
أ، محمد بوزيان
مدينة القاهرة التاريخية بين الحفاظ والإدارة وضوابط التحكم في العمران.
أ.د. سهير زكي حواس
بين مد وجزر: قصة المحرق مدينة اللؤلؤ
أ، غسان الشمالي
القدس مدينة على الأرض جذورها في السماء: عجالة عن التراث المعماري لبلدة القدس القديمة
د. يوسف سعيد النتشه
توثيق أملاك القدس: البلدة القديمة
د. خليل محمد إبراهيم التفكجي
ترميم وإحياء البلدة القديمة في مدينة نابلس – فلسطين
م. سامر رنتيسي
عمران دمشق: غربنة، أصالة وحداثة
د.م. أنس صوفان
أخيرا، تقدم خاتمة الكتاب دراسة تحليلية موسعة تقوم على تحليل المقالات من جهة، وعلى ربط محتواها وتقاطع معلوماتها مع رؤيتنا الشخصية للموضوع المدروس وتشعباته. يضم هذا القسم أيضا بعض الملاحق.
are Mina Maerfa, Caecilia Pieri and Gille Ragot.
I translated it from French to Arabic.
The book illustrates the design of the only realized posthum project of Le Corbusier in Iraq during the 1950s and its realization in the late 1970s.
For a wider resumé, please see :
"The Le Corbusier Gymnasium in Baghdad: discovery of construction archives (1974 -1980)":
https://ifpo.hypotheses.org/3560