10.48255/1973-9494.JCSCH.21.2021.11
L’ascesa di una nazione inizia con la consapevolezza del proprio patrimonio culturale. Il patrimonio storico del Regno dell’Arabia Saudita (KSA), in particolare, non solo aggiunge valore per la nazione nel suo insieme, ma è anche parte integrante del patrimonio dell’umanità. Un Paese non può svilupparsi senza la conservazione e la protezione del suo patrimonio. Lo scopo di questa ricerca è di suggerire metodi e strategie chiare necessari per la protezione e la conservazione del patrimonio del Regno dell’Arabia Saudita. In questa ricerca vengono affrontati diversi elementi, come il patrimonio urbano, la conservazione del patrimonio e il patrimonio architettonico. Nel lavoro sono presentate diverse strategie comuni nel processo di conservazione del patrimonio. La ricerca prevede anche la valutazione di uno dei siti del patrimonio locale iscritti nell’elenco dei patrimoni dell’umanità protetti. I risultati forniti in questa ricerca possono aiutare gli enti interessati a trattare in modo più appropriato le componenti del patrimonio presenti nella KSA.
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Adel Saleh Bouregh
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Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage
Saudi Arabia
Conservation strategies and methods of dealing with the heritage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Adel Saleh Bouregh
2021
10.48255/1973-9494.JCSCH.21.2021.11
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College of Architecture and Planning Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
1973-9494
Saudi Arabia
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Conservation strategies and methods of dealing with the heritage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
https://conservation-science.unibo.it/article/download/15253/14481
21
C    ONSERVATION STRATEGIES AND METHODS OF DEALING
     WITH THE HERITAGE IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

   Adel Saleh Bouregh *    1




   College of Architecture and Planning
   Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia

   Keywords: conservation, cultural heritage, methods, Saudi Arabia

   DOI: 10.48255/1973-9494.JCSCH.21.2021.11



   1. Introduction

    The rapid progress of urbanisation in the past four decades in many cities of the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and the quest to achieve a rapid civilisational shift to
keep up with the times, has led to insufficient opportunities to identify and distinguish the
architectural heritage. That is why many traditional areas and their valuable heritage
have been neglected, invaded and sometimes removed to make way for the construc-
tion of new buildings. As a result, many historical buildings have stopped performing
their primary function, either because any changes that have been made are unsuit-
able, or the spaces are not fit for use as accommodation. They now stand empty, de-
spite their unique architectural values.
     This research reflects the importance of the concept of re-use of the building, or the
entire heritage region, either for the same use or a new use with limited intervention,
as well as taking into consideration the privacy of the building. Hence, there is no de-
velopment without heritage conservation and protection [1-2]. This paper also discuss-
es methods of dealing with the architectural heritage in the KSA and its conservation
and the study employs an analytical inductive approach. The data was collected through
the literature and an analysis of one of the heritage sites in the KSA. The study looks
at the properties of the heritage architecture and discusses several common strategies
for its conservation. The results provided will be helpful to deduce methods of dealing
with heritage buildings in the KSA and find a systematic way to deal with historic sites
for future conservation plans.


   2. The heritage of traditional architecture in the KSA

     The local traditional architecture clearly reflects the properties of the heritage com-
ponents in the Kingdom. It is also a reflection of the ideological and philosophical be-
liefs that are ingrained in the religion of the Kingdom. However, it is important to be
aware that this traditional architecture also reflects the capabilities of previous builders
to use a distinct style in their Islamic Arabic structures, characterised by the local im-
age that stems from the spirit of the place and its authentic traditions. It should also be


   * Corresponding author: asbouregh@iau.edu.sa
                                                                                                                     noted that traditional architecture is not, as many consider it, merely the use of local
                                                                                                                     raw materials in a primitive form, but is, in fact, the high-tech architecture of its era with
                                                                                                                     regard to methods of construction and formation. This primarily includes functional ar-
                                                                                                                     chitecture and is evident in the spatial relationships of the simplest traditional homes
                                                                                                                     [3-4], as well as in the environmental considerations which include a selection of ele-
                                                                                                                     ments, such as wind catchers, barajeel (architectural means of cooling indoor spaces)
A. Saleh Bouregh - Conservation strategies and methods of dealing with the heritage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia




                                                                                                                     and advanced construction methods, as seen in the vaults and domes.
                                                                                                                         Traditional architecture, moreover, reflects local style and character, as it is de-
                                                                                                                     signed by the local people who are generally isolated from the world around them [5].
                                                                                                                     In other words, traditional architecture has been influenced by many factors which
                                                                                                                     have been important in supporting and strengthening the local ideas of architecture
                                                                                                                     and urbanisation.
                                                                                                                         In many areas of the Kingdom, traditional architecture retained its identity, charac-
                                                                                                                     teristics and distinctive architectural features for a long period of time. This was the re-
                                                                                                                     sult of its relative isolation and its distance from external influences. With modern de-
                                                                                                                     velopment in the cities of the Kingdom for more than four decades, as previously
                                                                                                                     mentioned, many of them have been exposed to vast architectural challenges.
                                                                                                                         In particular, the Kingdom displays new architectural trends and philosophies which
                                                                                                                     deviate from its customs, traditions, and ideological and environmental conditions [6-7].
                                                                                                                     These changes have been implemented in the name of modernism, when in reality
                                                                                                                     there is no modernism without originality [7-8]. Nations and individuals are always as-
                                                                                                                     sociated with their past; therefore, local people keep their experiences intact and pass
                                                                                                                     them on as lessons for present and future generations.
                                                                                                                         It is noticeable in the Arabic language that the word “authentic” (Aseel) refers to
                                                                                                                     something that is associated with a certain origin. In the book “Lesan Al Arab”, the
                                                                                                                     word “rooting” (Taaseel) means consolidating and strengthening something in order
                                                                                                                     to build on to it [9]. Therefore, the “rooting” of architectural values within the heritage
                                                                                                                     components refers to making use of the original values and the thinking processes
                                                                                                                     behind the successful architectural solutions that have already helped to reconcile
                                                                                                                     the human requirements of those ages with the resources available in the surround-
                                                                                                                     ing environment.
                                                                                                                         In many cities, the local and traditional architecture has lost its identity. The
                                                                                                                     specialised authorities in the Kingdom have been alerted to the seriousness of this
                                                                                                                     situation. In brief, the positive and negative factors affecting the urban heritage are
                                                                                                                     as follows:
                                                                                                                         Positive effects, which give value to the urban heritage, are divided into:
                                                                                                                        • Historical social effects: these refer to the historical registration of life images in
                                                                                                                          a certain period for a certain community through heritage components.
                                                                                                                        • Artistic technological effects: these refer to the registration of the artistic and
                                                                                                                          technological models and patterns in a certain period.
                                                                                                                        • Existential attachment effects: these refer to the registration of the existential at-
                                                                                                                          tachment of the community to certain events, or a certain memory of the pio-
                                                                                                                          neering historians.
                                                                                                                        • Negative effects, or destructive effects, are divided into:
                                                                                                                        • External effects: for example, climatic, biological and natural disasters.
                                                                                                                        • Internal effects: for example, structural effects.
                                                                                                                        • Human effects: for example, human behaviour and pollutants.


                                                                              242
    After determining the positive and negative effects on urban heritage, it is import-
ant to define the term “conservation”, which can be considered as a single action, or
several actions taken together, to prevent damage or erosion of the heritage. It in-
cludes all methods that will prolong the survival of the urban heritage, from massive
chambers to the smallest work of art [10]. It is also defined as a process by which indi-
viduals or groups attempt to protect valued buildings from unwanted change [11]. Gen-
erally, conservation maintains the value and purpose of the urban heritage. These val-
ues help to set priorities and approaches for intervention in maintenance of the heritage
and can be divided into three groups:
    • Existential values: for example, symbolism, continuity and memorabilia.
    • Cultural values: for example, history, monuments and aesthetics.
    • Utilitarian values: for example, functional, social and economic values.
    In general, heritage conservation aims at conveying the cultural message con-
tained in the heritage as a good image, as well as integrating the past, present and fu-
ture of the society into one continuous system for future generations.



   3. Steps in the development of heritage conservation strategies

    The strategy developed for heritage conservation has been linked worldwide to the
development of human civilisation itself and thus has been the strongest link to the ex-
tent to which this civilisation is concerned with the issue of heritage in general. A list of
heritage items, which are evidence of this civilisation and are included in conservation
strategies, is reported below [12].
   •   Assembly and display of pieces with archaeological value.
   •   Archaeological sites of historical value.
       Architectural heritage of single buildings of historical value.




                                                                                                  CONSERVATION SCIENCE IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
   •
   •   Architectural and urban heritage also includes whole groups of buildings or
       neighbourhoods.
     The cultural heritage of any country is not viewed as the sole property of that coun-
try but is considered the property of all mankind [13]. The conservation of this heritage
is, therefore, a universal responsibility and has been laid down in the form of interna-
tional charters. With these conventions, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation [14] follows up on the work that countries carry out to conserve
the heritage along with the provision of necessary funding and expertise to cover her-
itage conservation requirements [15].
     One of the first charters was the Athens Charter in 1931, followed by the Venice
Charter in 1964. Both focus on the preservation of historic sites and monuments [16].
It came as a comprehensive code for the practical application of conservation opera-
tions and is still a guide for all emerging international conventions [16-17]. Over time,
the agreements have multiplied. In the KSA too, heritage conservation strategies have
been adopted over time. Figure 1 illustrates the stages in the development of heritage
conservation strategies.
     The policy of conservation makes historical areas the centre for cultural activities
and gives them a central role in the cultural development of the communities around
them. Through the recommendations of the Nairobi Charter (1976), conservation poli-
cy has focused on the following points:


                                                                                                243
A. Saleh Bouregh - Conservation strategies and methods of dealing with the heritage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia




                                                                                                                          Figure 1. Development stages of heritage conservation strategies in the KSA.


                                                                                                                     • Historical areas should be protected from defacement while constructing build-
                                                                                                                       ings, telephone facilities, installing television antennas, large billboards, posters,
                                                                                                                       and electrical advertisements. When these things are present, appropriate pro-
                                                                                                                       cedures must be taken to remove them. Thus, street pavements, for example,
                                                                                                                       should be carefully planned and maintained [18].
                                                                                                                     • Historical and surrounding areas should also be spared from the growing environ-
                                                                                                                       mental damage caused by harmful industries by moving them away from these ar-
                                                                                                                       eas. This can also be done, for example, by taking preventive measures to ad-
                                                                                                                       dress the noise and effects of vibration from machinery and vehicles in the vicinity.
                                                                                                                     • Historical areas that have characteristics from different time periods must make
                                                                                                                       each time period clearly visible.


                                                                           244
    The concept of conservation policy in the Appleton Charter of 1983 referred to
modification of the location, the building or function of the building to suit the con-
temporary functional standards, which could include adapting the building for a
new use [19].
    The concept of conservation policy in the Washington Charter of 1987, was to con-
serve historical cities and urban areas. The Charter ensures that the goal of conserva-
tion can be achieved through the following points [20]:
   • New activities and functions must follow the character of a historical city or an
     urban region.
   • The process of housing improvement must be one of the primary objectives of
     conservation.
   • Continuous maintenance is decisive for the effective conservation of historical
     cities or urban regions.
    The conservation policy in the Burra Charter of 1999 is concerned with the con-
cepts of rehabilitation, use and adaptation, as methods to preserve buildings and re-
gions of cultural discrimination. It explains that the reason for maintaining these re-
gions is that they enrich the lives of people, provide a deep connection with the society
and the environment, and offers past living experiences [21]. This Charter applies to all
places of cultural excellence, which include areas with distinct environmental charac-
teristics. Recommendations in the conservation policy of the Burra Charter focus on
the following points [21]:
   • For the conservation of any place and to make it suitable for use, it is neces-
     sary to take into consideration all distinctive cultural and environmental fea-
     tures, without unnecessary attention to one of these values at the expense of
     others.
   • Conservation requires the re-employment of the appropriate visual environ-
     ment and other relationships that contribute to the cultural distinction of the




                                                                                              CONSERVATION SCIENCE IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
     place.
   • Careful intervention to change, taking into account the necessary conservation
     measures and, at the same time, choosing the least possible change to pre-
     serve the cultural excellence of the heritage.
    In accordance with the Vienna Charter of 2005, which is one of the latest interna-
tional conventions, conservation means to disclose the status of the original building
within the available materials at the site [18]. This concept has changed from the old
concept of restoring the building to its original image and building the missing ele-
ments. Furthermore, the concept of re-employment means the re-use of the building or
the entire heritage region for the same use, or new use, with limited interventions, tak-
ing into account the privacy of the building. This concept adapts to buildings and re-
gions that tolerate minor change for this use. This approach allows for the comprehen-
sive development of all the neighbouring regions, provided that the permitted functions
are carefully selected [22].


   4. Strategies for dealing with heritage components

    Conservation is the main strategy under which there are many sub-strategies to
deal with heritage, such as preservation, restoration, consolidation, maintenance and
re-use, as illustrated in Figure 2.


                                                                                            245
A. Saleh Bouregh - Conservation strategies and methods of dealing with the heritage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia




                                                                                                                          Figure 2. From conservation strategies and related branches to strategies of re-use.


                                                                                                                         Preservation is limited to taking the necessary measures to prevent further chang-
                                                                                                                     es or halt the deterioration of heritage components. Conservation is to maintain the
                                                                                                                     components without changing their features in terms of architectural form.
                                                                                                                         Restoration is the process of restoring the heritage component to its first state,
                                                                                                                     when it was created, taking into account that the restoration is done, so as not to ob-
                                                                                                                     scure the distinctive architectural features of the component and in a way that makes
                                                                                                                     it easy to distinguish between the old parts and the parts that were built later.
                                                                                                                         Consolidation means to put together so that the recovery of its durability can be en-
                                                                                                                     sured, keeping in mind its continued safety.
                                                                                                                         Maintenance is the process of daily and periodic care of the heritage component,
                                                                                                                     such as repairing damaged paintwork for wood and metals, and finishing work and
                                                                                                                     paintwork for the walls, as well as any emergency issues in sanitary, electrical equip-
                                                                                                                     ment and insulation.
                                                                                                                         Re-use conserves the heritage component by re-using it, either with the same func-
                                                                                                                     tion to meet the requirements of the time or by giving it another function that is differ-
                                                                                                                     ent from the original one, which is the focus of this research. The word “adaptive”,
                                                                                                                     means to become familiar with the new situation and, by adding “re-use” to the original
                                                                                                                     word, forms the term “adaptive reuse”, which means re-employment with the adapta-
                                                                                                                     tion of the heritage component to its new function.


                                                                                                                        5. Methodologies for the re-use of heritage

                                                                                                                         There are many names for the different approaches (Figure 3) used in the re-use
                                                                                                                     of heritage components, in terms of intervention and special treatments [23]. Conser-
                                                                                                                     vation maintains the heritage component; although, its original function changes to a
                                                                                                                     different one to meet the needs of its new role.
                                                                                                                         Recycling in architecture means the heritage component enters the cycle of use
                                                                                                                     again, either with the same original function or a different one altogether.


                                                                           246
                            Figure 3. Methodologies for re-use.


    Rehabilitation aims to rehabilitate the heritage component, in order to perform its
current function in a better way, even though it is customary to use this term in plan-
ning, urban design and housing projects in particular, the term is also applied to indi-
vidual heritage components. Furthermore, anything that is damaged or deteriorated in-
side or outside the building generally returns to its original state.
    Remodelling the heritage components is one of the approaches to re-employment
used to incorporate new functions into the old heritage component but must be done




                                                                                                CONSERVATION SCIENCE IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
very cautiously.
    Modernisation is intended to introduce modern elements into the heritage compo-
nent in order to meet the requirements of the present time, such as incorporating mod-
ern lighting methods, or any other new element required by the component to fully car-
ry out its function, while preserving the form of the heritage component and its internal
features and distinctive character as much as possible.
    It is noted that there are several synonyms with the same meaning, which are “re-
vival”, “renovation”, and “revitalisation”. However, the word “renewal” has the same
meaning, and namely that the heritage component, or its remains, can be removed
and replaced by another component with the same old characteristics, as if it had un-
dergone a process of substitution. Another term, “re-architecture”, has been used by
Cantacuzino in his book [24], in which he has clarified many aspects on the subject by
expanding the concept of re-using heritage components.
    The preparation of programs and future plans is one of the first measures that help
activate the process of heritage conservation through re-employment of the heritage
components [24-25]. Preparing conservation programmes also provides aid to further-
ing cultural liberation, to returning to the unique architectural heritage, and contributes
to restoring the Arab and Islamic environment which has greatly declined in the face of
cultural invasion and unlimited architectural imports.
    It is known that, in the process of implementing any project, a series of different
studies are needed to reach an optimal solution; the same applies to the conservation


                                                                                              247
                                                                                                                     process when re-using the heritage component. Hence, to be properly conducted, two
                                                                                                                     types of studies must be carried out:
                                                                                                                         • First: studies relating to the current condition of the heritage.
                                                                                                                         • Second: studies relating to the re-use of the heritage.
                                                                                                                         Studies related to the current situation are divided into stages. They start with the
                                                                                                                     general urban fabric or the general plan, which includes the study of the location,
A. Saleh Bouregh - Conservation strategies and methods of dealing with the heritage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia




                                                                                                                     from the region, the city, the road networks, and the relationship of the building site
                                                                                                                     with the city’s axes of power and attractions, to the building site itself or the immedi-
                                                                                                                     ate surrounding area. This naturally involves an examination of the city’s streets,
                                                                                                                     buildings, environmental constituents, construction authority and laws. Figure 4 lists
                                                                                                                     the stages in conservation studies to follow, together with the necessary actions to
                                                                                                                     adopt to reach the final solution proposed for the reuse of the heritage components
                                                                                                                     under examination.




                                                                                                                     Figure 4. Stages in conservation studies, through the reuse of heritage components, to reach pro-
                                                                                                                     posed solutions.


                                                                                                                         There is no doubt that the re-use of heritage components with new functions is in
                                                                                                                     line with current ideas since, in addition to conservation of the buildings’ characteristics
                                                                                                                     and their urban structure, re-use helps in developing the surrounding area, including
                                                                                                                     the urban fabric as a whole. Based on the above, the levels for implementing the con-
                                                                                                                     servation strategy for the re-use of heritage components have been limited to the fol-
                                                                                                                     lowing three, as shown in Figure 5.
                                                                                                                         • First: application at the level of the heritage component.
                                                                                                                         • Second: application at the level of the heritage space (directly surrounding area).
                                                                                                                         • Third: application at the level of the urban fabric (general plan).
                                                                                                                         Based on the above, it is evident that a practical application of heritage conserva-
                                                                                                                     tion projects sponsored by government agencies using their experts and equipment is
                                                                                                                     necessary and must be preceded by evidence and models completed by the same
                                                                                                                     agencies. These projects must certainly meet basic conditions so that their authentic-


                                                                           248
ity and modernism are not in contrast with each other. There is a wide area of conver-
gence between them, represented by contemporary innovation and creativity, which
are, at the same time, based on Arab and Islamic characteristics. Among these pio-
neering examples in the Kingdom is the development project for the Al-Turaif neigh-
bourhood, in the historical town of Al-Diriyah, which combines many of the conserva-
tion models.




Figure 5. Showing the three levels of implementing conservation strategies for heritage components.     CONSERVATION SCIENCE IN CULTURAL HERITAGE


   6. Conservation project on the heritage in KSA

    Al-Diriyah is a name attributed to its people, for it is the fortress of the Al-Durua, a
tribe that settled in the Hanifa valley; the date of their arrival coincides with the estab-
lishment of the town of Al-Diriyah in 1446 A.D at the same location [14, 26]. Later, in
1744 A.D., it became the capital of Saudi Arabia [14, 26], representing a pivotal point
in the history of the Arabian Peninsula in particular, and in Arab and Islamic history in
general; since it was a period of stability and prosperity, it managed to unite most of the
Arabian Peninsula under the umbrella of one state. In the heart of the Arabian Penin-
sula, Al-Diriyah became a destination for trade, culture, knowledge, communication
and economic transactions. It was also a centre for business exchanges and a refer-
ence point for pilgrimage routes to various parts of the region and a vital link between
Asia, Europe and Africa (Figure 6).


                                                                                                      249
A. Saleh Bouregh - Conservation strategies and methods of dealing with the heritage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia




                                                                                                                     Figure 6. View of the most important landmarks in the historical town of Al-Diriyah, North-West of
                                                                                                                     Riyadh.


                                                                                                                         6.1. Al-Turaif neighbourhood in the historical town of Al-Diriyah

                                                                                                                          The neighbourhood of Al-Turaif is considered one of the most important historical
                                                                                                                     landmarks of Al-Diriyah, located in northwest Riyadh. It contains the most important
                                                                                                                     historical buildings, palaces and monuments. In the era of the first Saudi state, it also
                                                                                                                     included most of the administrative buildings, such as the Salwa palace, which was es-
                                                                                                                     tablished in the late 12th century A.H, as well as the mosque of Imam Mohamed bin
                                                                                                                     Saud, the palace of Saad bin Saud, the palace of Nasser bin Saud and a traditional
                                                                                                                     guesthouse containing a Turaif bath. The district of Al-Turaif was designated as World
                                                                                                                     Heritage in 2010 by UNESCO through conservation plans for this area as a visitor cen-
                                                                                                                     tre and museum [14, 26-27]. These days, the site is full of parks, entertainment ven-
                                                                                                                     ues, museums, and cafes, which attract many visitors. It was included in the world her-
                                                                                                                     itage site list after the Al-Turaif Neighbourhood was registered and then approved on
                                                                                                                     July 29, 2010, becoming the second Saudi site on the world heritage list, after the enig-
                                                                                                                     matic archaeological site of Mada’in Saleh (al-Ula) (Figure 7).
                                                                                                                          The area has been the subject of many development projects, ranging from reha-
                                                                                                                     bilitation of the historical sites after documenting and restoring them, to equipping the
                                                                                                                     architectural facilities to accommodate cultural and recreational activities and events
                                                                                                                     within the project for the historical development of Al-Diriyah, which aims in its entirety
                                                                                                                     to become a cultural heritage centre [14].
                                                                                                                          The Al-Turaif neighbourhood is considered to be the most important landmark for
                                                                                                                     the development of Al-Diriyah since it was the residence of Imam Mohamed Bin
                                                                                                                     Saud and his family, thus it was the seat of government in the first Saudi state. The
                                                                                                                     neighbourhood is also home to most of the important landmarks of the city, palaces
                                                                                                                     and historical buildings, including the Salwa Palace and the mosque of Imam Mo-
                                                                                                                     hammed Ibn Soud [14].


                                                                              250
Figure 7. Al-Turaif neighbourhood in the historical town of Al-Diriyah development project; (a) exter-
nal view; (b) aerial view; (c) inside view.


     The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage took over the develop-




                                                                                                           CONSERVATION SCIENCE IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
ment of Al-Turaif neighbourhood as part of a comprehensive program for the develop-
ment of the historical town of Al-Diriyah, which aims at reconstructing and transforming
it into a cultural tourism centre at national level and placing it in the ranks of world her-
itage sites [28] (Figure 8).
     The project includes the establishment of five museums in several historical palac-
es in the neighbourhood, simulating the history of the first Saudi state. These include
the Museum of Al-Diriyah, the Museum of Social Life, the Military Museum, the Arabi-
an Horses Museum, the Museum of Commerce and Finance, as well as the Centre of
Architecture and Heritage Building Methods. The external ruins of the Salwa Palace
are to be used for sound, light and multimedia presentations, in which the walls of the
palace will be used as screens for a visual and narrative drama that tells the story of
the first Saudi state.
     The neighbourhood includes Al-Turaif’s market, which consists of thirty-eight shops
dedicated to handicrafts and traditional restaurants, as well as a centre for visitor re-
ception at the entrance to the neighbourhood and a centre for district management at
Fahad Fin Saud Palace, managed by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National
Heritage. There is also the allocation of the Ibrahim Bin Saud Palace as the Documen-
tation Centre for the history of Al-Diriyah, which is managed by the King Abdul Aziz De-
partment. In addition to the creation of corridors and public spaces within the neigh-
bourhood, there is a need to construct pavements and to provide illumination, so as to
highlight the heritage value of the neighbourhood [28].


                                                                                                         251
A. Saleh Bouregh - Conservation strategies and methods of dealing with the heritage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia




                                                                                                                                         Figure 8. Aerial view of the Al-Turaif neighbourhood.


                                                                                                                         In general, the museums introduce the history of the first Saudi state through a sys-
                                                                                                                     tem of museum components and activities and offers an open view to the visitors
                                                                                                                     among the restored ruins within a designated corridor. It contains displays of the most
                                                                                                                     important spaces of the palace and the events that took place there, in addition to a
                                                                                                                     closed display that includes paintings, sculptures, and museum pieces [28-29].
                                                                                                                         Moreover, the museums present the customs, traditions and tools, which were
                                                                                                                     once used during the period of prosperity of the first Saudi state in the palace of Omar
                                                                                                                     Bin Saud and the mud buildings adjacent to it. The Military Museum is located within
                                                                                                                     the buildings adjacent to the palace of Thanayan Bin Saud and displays the military as-
                                                                                                                     pects in the history of Al-Diriyah, such as tools of war and military battles; an indepen-
                                                                                                                     dent museum exhibition also takes place within the palace of Thanayan Bin Saud and
                                                                                                                     displays the story of the defence of Al-Diriyah in its late era.
                                                                                                                         The Military Museum also aims at introducing Arabian horses and how they were
                                                                                                                     taken care of during the prosperous period of Al-Diriyah. It is located within the build-
                                                                                                                     ings adjacent to the palace of Imam Abdullah bin Saud and the adjacent horse stables.
                                                                                                                         The Museum of Commerce and Finance is located within the buildings of Beit Al-Mal
                                                                                                                     and Masala Moudhi, and presents the economic prosperity witnessed by Al-Diriyah. It
                                                                                                                     provides tourist guidance services for visitors to the Al-Turaif neighbourhood. The offices
                                                                                                                     are located in a modern building opposite Salwa Palace. It offers sound, light, and multi-
                                                                                                                     media presentations. The show features an audio drama that tells the history of the first
                                                                                                                     Saudi state, as well as light projections on Salwa Palace using sound and light technol-
                                                                                                                     ogy and five multimedia presentations at selected locations in the neighbourhood.
                                                                                                                         The Documentation Centre of the History of Al-Diriyah is located in the palace of
                                                                                                                     Ibrahim Bin Saud. It houses a documented reference to the history of Al-Diriyah and Al-
                                                                                                                     Turaif, as well as serving as the headquarters for the task force that performs the re-


                                                                                   252
search, documentation and studies. The centre works as the administrative headquar-
ters of Al-Turaif neighbourhood and is located in Fahd Bin Saud Palace. The centre
manages all the administrative affairs of the Al-Turaif neighbourhood. It also offers tra-
ditional products and local handicrafts and is part of a range of renovated buildings
dedicated to these activities in the area, as well as a restaurant complex and other vis-
itor services. Imam Mohamed Ibn Saud Mosque has been re-used as a prayer hall,
maintaining its original dimensions of approximately 2200 square meters.


   7. Results

    There is a great need to implement heritage conservation projects that are spon-
sored by government agencies, using their experts and equipment, and should evi-
dently be preceded by research and models prepared and developed by the same
agencies. This study has looked at the most prominent aspects and aims of the devel-
opment project at Al-Turaif, in Al-Diriyah (northwest Riyadh) and highlighted the most
significant elements. In sum:
   • The aforementioned activities should be carried out in the Museum of Social
     Life, the Military Museum, the Arabian Horses Museum, the Museum of Com-
     merce and Finance and the Centre for Architecture and Heritage Building Meth-
     ods, while the external ruins of the Salwa Palace can be used for sound, light
     and multimedia presentations. The palace walls can also be used as screens for
     a visual narrative drama that tells the story of the first Saudi state.
   • The initiatives, to be set up in the main square and all the other squares and av-
     enues in the neighbourhood, will allow for celebrations, festivals and official and
     local activities to be organised and acknowledged, the gardens in the neigh-
     bourhood providing a suitable atmosphere for family gatherings, as they are
     characterised by calm and tranquillity.




                                                                                               CONSERVATION SCIENCE IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
   • The area’s green fields, various plants, palm trees and other types of trees and
     vegetation, all of which contribute towards the reduction of pollution and air pu-
     rification, are beneficial for the environment and the people living and working in
     the neighbourhood or simply visiting.
   • The conservation of the historical character of the entire neighbourhood through
     its heritage components, such as the restoration of the five historical palaces
     and their re-use as museums. These include the Museum of Al-Diriyah, the Mu-
     seum of Social Life, the Military Museum, the Arabian Horses Museum and the
     Museum of Commerce and Finance. A group of mud buildings were also select-
     ed for restoration and re-employment for contemporary purposes while preserv-
     ing their primary characteristics. The Mosque of Imam Muhammad Bin Saud is
     one of the buildings with a historical dimension located in the neighbourhood
     and can be re-used as a prayer hall in its original dimensions with a total surface
     area of about 2200 square meters.
    After an analysis of the development project for the Al-Turaif Neighbourhood in the
historical town of Al-Diriyah, including the heritage components located on the site, as
well as the implementation of the methods of conservation and their re-employment, it
can be concluded that the conservation strategy should be implemented in the neigh-
bourhood based on the previous gradient descending. Moreover, all five re-employ-
ment methods should be used in the neighbourhood as follows:


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                                                                                                                         Conversion: This method should be applied in the case of the Museum of Al-Diriyah,
                                                                                                                     the Museum of Social Life, the Military Museum, the Arabian Horses Museum, the Mu-
                                                                                                                     seum of Commerce and Finance, as well as the Centre of Architecture and Heritage
                                                                                                                     Building Methods, while the external ruins of Salwa Palace should be re-used for sound
                                                                                                                     and light shows.
                                                                                                                         Recycling: This method should be adopted for the Mosque of Imam Mohammed
A. Saleh Bouregh - Conservation strategies and methods of dealing with the heritage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia




                                                                                                                     Bin Saud and the Mosque of Sabala Moudhi.
                                                                                                                         Rehabilitation: This should be applied in the case of the Museum of Al-Diriyah, the
                                                                                                                     Museum of Social Life, the Military Museum, the Museum of Commerce and Finance,
                                                                                                                     the Arabian Horses Museum, in addition to the Centre for Architecture and Heritage
                                                                                                                     Building Methods.
                                                                                                                         Remodelling: The five palaces should be remodelled into museums, as previously
                                                                                                                     described.
                                                                                                                         Modernisation: This refers to the process of modifying something to meet current
                                                                                                                     requirements or habits. Al-Turaif Market consists of 38 shops dedicated to traditional
                                                                                                                     handicrafts and restaurants, as well as a visitor reception centre at the entrance of the
                                                                                                                     neighbourhood, and the administrative centre of the neighbourhood is held at Fahd Bin
                                                                                                                     Saud Palace.
                                                                                                                         There are situations in which a building may be re-employed without significant
                                                                                                                     changes. This occurs when the requirements of the new role converge with the re-
                                                                                                                     quirements of the original function of the building or when the building is of particular
                                                                                                                     importance and converted into a tourist spot, thus retaining the building as it is. This
                                                                                                                     concept is followed when dealing with the five historical palaces, the Mosque of Imam
                                                                                                                     Mohamed bin Saud and the Mosque of Sabala Moudhi.
                                                                                                                         Moreover, a function that has similar requirements to the original function is intro-
                                                                                                                     duced. There are cases where a building is re-employed by undergoing several
                                                                                                                     changes and additions. When a heritage construction is extended, the most obvious
                                                                                                                     and simplest solution is to replicate the original design with the addition of contem-
                                                                                                                     porary elements to modernise it. Doing so is generally not desirable because the
                                                                                                                     length of time between the two buildings is so great that it is difficult to find the mate-
                                                                                                                     rials used in the original building. This is in addition to the difficulty of finding enough
                                                                                                                     available craftsmen.
                                                                                                                         It can be noted that the concept of compatibility, even though successful in the work
                                                                                                                     of extensions is the most difficult to achieve, because finding a strong compatibility be-
                                                                                                                     tween old and modern buildings requires studying the old building, its compositional el-
                                                                                                                     ements and historical background to obtain the desired compatibility, and comes
                                                                                                                     through the compatibility of form, material, or colour. This is followed by dealing with
                                                                                                                     additional contemporary components, such as the use of the external ruins of the Sal-
                                                                                                                     wa Palace for sound and light presentations.
                                                                                                                         As previously discussed, the Al-Turaif project contains certain elements that have
                                                                                                                     been developed according to a methodology that combines the strategies of the interna-
                                                                                                                     tional charters to conserve the urban heritage and the natural and historical elements of
                                                                                                                     the neighbourhood, showing how important conservation strategies are, including their
                                                                                                                     role in determining how the heritage components in the Kingdom are dealt with.
                                                                                                                         The Museum of Social Life presents everyday life, customs, traditions and tools
                                                                                                                     used during the period of prosperity of the first Saudi state at the Omar Bin Saud Pal-
                                                                                                                     ace and its mud buildings.
                                                                                                                         The Military Museum is located within the buildings adjacent to Thanayan Bin Saud
                                                                                                                     Palace and presents the military aspects in the history of Al-Diriyah, such as war tools/


                                                                               254
weapons/arms and battles. An independent museum exhibition has also been dedicat-
ed to Thanayan Bin Saud Palace, which presents the story of the defence of Al-Diriyah
in its last days.
     The Museum of Commerce and Finance, located among the buildings of Beet Al-
Maal and the Sabala Moudhi Mosque, shows the economic prosperity within Al-Diri-
yah, as well as trade, currencies, balances, and el-awkaf (donated assets).


   8. Conclusion

    The conservation of heritage is a call for authenticity, and an attempt to free oneself
from the consequences of foreign influences. It is a sincere effort on the part of the con-
cerned parties to try to build a distinguished local identity by spreading awareness among
the people based on constructive analytical vision and enlightenment. This depends on
the correct understanding of the elements of traditional architecture and its heritage com-
ponents, not only by surveying archaeological sites and excavations, but also conveying
the message to future generations that there is a truly rich urban heritage.
    There is no dispute about the concept of heritage as a stock of value that has
gained its status and importance through its material continuity across the ages.
Hence, it is necessary to support all aspects and views aimed at including all the heri-
tage components registered in the programming of strategies for public conservation.
Furthermore, they must be followed by complementary strategies, such as re-employ-
ment with its various methods.
    The call for heritage conservation should be seen as a national mission of great im-
portance and an invitation to use the spirit of urban, Islamic and Arab heritage. This can
be done through the spatial relations of the building components, the high-level privacy
of the interior design, the advantages of local environmental materials and the integra-
tion of the urban planning with the surrounding environment, in order to establish a har-
monious urban setting. As well as further cultural liberation, there must be a return to the




                                                                                                 CONSERVATION SCIENCE IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
distinctive urban heritage and the recovery of its unique values, which have been lost in
the face of western cultural invasion. The modern urban situation is not to be handled by
embracing slogans or beliefs in the principles of individuals or in the doctrines of the
west, but by asserting the authenticity of Arab Islamic urban heritage and believing in the
foundations of the Arab Muslim civilisation and the values of its existence.
    Nevertheless, raising the level of social awareness of urban heritage and the need
to conserve it must be supported by introducing authentic Arab arts, while adopting
continuous media and artistic activity in order to promote the message of the Arab Is-
lamic urban heritage in all levels of society. Finally, after presenting the conservation
strategies and methods of re-employment of heritage components and results, it is im-
portant to identify some general recommendations to preserve the heritage compo-
nents of the Kingdom, which are limited to the following points.
    • Setting the objectives of the conservation strategy: the conservation strategy
        should be formulated within a comprehensive urban development plan and take
        into consideration methods of re-employment and appropriate use, as well as
        the development and renewal of the heritage component with its new role, in light
        of the changing circumstances of the society.
    • Reviewing conservation laws: problems of conservation of heritage components
        are limited to protection against degradation, demolition, and destruction caused
        by natural and human influences, therefore, new regulations and laws must be
        established, and the existing legislation must be reviewed.


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                                                                                                                           • Listing heritage components: it should be noted that these lists are not in them-
                                                                                                                             selves a guarantee of conservation, but they are the first step in the conservation
                                                                                                                             process. These lists should be supplemented with information, maps, images and
                                                                                                                             detailed diagrams. They should also be periodically reviewed, in order to add oth-
                                                                                                                             er components whenever necessary and to keep it updated for the future.
                                                                                                                         In the field of heritage management, it is necessary to consider the need to estab-
A. Saleh Bouregh - Conservation strategies and methods of dealing with the heritage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia




                                                                                                                     lish national cadres and train a sufficient number of young people in the Kingdom in co-
                                                                                                                     operation with international bodies in this field.


                                                                                                                           Acknowledgements

                                                                                                                         The author thanks all the associated personnel in any reference that has contributed
                                                                                                                     to the purpose of this research.


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   Biographical notes

    Adel Saleh Bouregh is a faculty member at the College of Architecture and Plan-




                                                                                                CONSERVATION SCIENCE IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
ning, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU), Saudi Arabia. He has a bache-
lor’s degree in architecture, master’s degree in interior architecture from the Universi-
ty of California, USA, and PhD. in the area of urban planning from the College of
Architecture and Planning, IAU. He has remained actively busy with teaching and re-
search in the past years, developing curricula, writing papers and organizing scientific
gatherings. His focus of research is participatory planning, heritage, and sustainability.


   Summary

    The rise of a nation starts with heritage awareness, therefore, the architectural her-
itage, in particular, the historical heritage of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), not
only adds value for the nation as a whole, it is also an integral part of the heritage of
humanity. A country cannot develop without the conservation and protection of its her-
itage. The aim of this research is to suggest that clear methods and strategies are re-
quired for the protection and conservation of the heritage components present in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In this research, several elements are addressed, such as
urban heritage, heritage conservation and heritage / historical buildings. Several com-
mon strategies in the process of heritage conservation are explored. The research also
includes the evaluation of one of the local heritage sites registered on the list of pro-
tected world heritage. The results provided in this research can help the concerned
bodies to deal more appropriately with the heritage components present in the KSA.


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                                                                                                                        Riassunto

                                                                                                                         L’ascesa di una nazione inizia con la consapevolezza del proprio patrimonio cultu-
                                                                                                                     rale. Il patrimonio storico del Regno dell’Arabia Saudita (KSA), in particolare, non solo
                                                                                                                     aggiunge valore per la nazione nel suo insieme, ma è anche parte integrante del patri-
                                                                                                                     monio dell’umanità. Un Paese non può svilupparsi senza la conservazione e la pro-
A. Saleh Bouregh - Conservation strategies and methods of dealing with the heritage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia




                                                                                                                     tezione del suo patrimonio. Lo scopo di questa ricerca è di suggerire metodi e stra-
                                                                                                                     tegie chiare necessari per la protezione e la conservazione del patrimonio del Regno
                                                                                                                     dell’Arabia Saudita. In questa ricerca vengono affrontati diversi elementi, come il patri-
                                                                                                                     monio urbano, la conservazione del patrimonio e il patrimonio architettonico. Nel lavoro
                                                                                                                     sono presentate diverse strategie comuni nel processo di conservazione del patrimo-
                                                                                                                     nio. La ricerca prevede anche la valutazione di uno dei siti del patrimonio locale iscritti
                                                                                                                     nell’elenco dei patrimoni dell’umanità protetti. I risultati forniti in questa ricerca possono
                                                                                                                     aiutare gli enti interessati a trattare in modo più appropriato le componenti del patrimo-
                                                                                                                     nio presenti nella KSA.




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