Old Cities Revitalization Program Al-Taawon (Welfare Association) concluded a specialized training course in the field of restoration and management of heritage and historical sites at Al-Quds University, held for the seventh consecutive year. The course was funded by the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development in partnership with Al-Quds University and took place during July and August of this year.
The training course was attended by 12 male and female students from the Faculty of Architectural Engineering who had completed their third and fourth years of specialization. The course included theoretical lectures and practical training, with the participation of 8 local and international experts across various disciplines in the field of restoration and preservation of architectural and historical heritage.
The course covered 9 topics: an introduction to cultural heritage and conservation concepts, theories of architectural conservation, international standards in preservation, documentation techniques for historical buildings, understanding the nature and properties of materials used in restoration and how to deal with issues related to stone and moisture, structural problems of old buildings, and managing historical sites and risk management for cultural heritage sites. The course concluded with a field tour of the Old City of Nablus and the town of Sebastia.
During the course, students worked collectively to develop a preliminary conservation plan for the Old City of Abu Dis. The plan included a historical study of the old city, local and international laws and legislation for the preservation of historical and architectural heritage, as well as documenting and analyzing the existing conditions and problems faced by the old city. It also provided proposals and solutions for revitalizing the area and halting its deterioration due to abandonment, neglect, and urban sprawl. The preliminary plan was prepared based on the knowledge acquired during the training course, under the supervision and follow-up of the participating experts, and with the review and oversight of the Old City Revival Program and Al-Quds University. It is worth noting that the course counts as one accredited academic credit hour for participating students, serving as summer semester training.
This course is part of the efforts made by the Old Cities Revitalization Program Al-Taawon (Welfare Association) under its training component, aimed at developing the technical and professional qualifications of specialists, architectural engineering students, and workers in the field of preserving architectural and historical heritage in Palestine. The training component is one of the main pillars of the program, alongside the restoration and preservation component, the documentation component, and the community awareness component.
To watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K8i0wLzxk4
