HERITAGE MANAGEMENT
Our team of experts have led some of the best practices in urban heritage management in the MENA region, earning them international recognition and awards, including the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture. We work extensively with local actors to develop a holistic understanding of the heritage values as seen by the community; we help chart local dynamics and forces impacting tangible and intangible heritage assets; and we help in developing locally anchored processes of rehabilitation, conservation and revitalization. Our experts have worked with local and national authorities to develop policy, legal frameworks and conservation plans, and we have led discussions with the World Heritage Center at UNESCO regarding reporting and progress of conservation efforts especially for World Heritage Sites in Danger.
Our services in this field include:
Research & Analysis
We research material and immaterial heritage. Our team helps stakeholders to develop historiographies and trace the origins and transformations of heritage assets. We help clients in understanding their outstanding values and their complex histories.
We support cities and towns to compile preservation dossiers to join the world heritage list.
We help local authorities in mapping their urban and landscape heritage assets to be used in the preparation of heritage preservation and development programs.
We conduct social assessments of heritage assets to help understand how communities value these assets and determine what level of “willingness to pay” can be expected in the valuation of heritage assets. This is an essential precursor to preparing economic valuation of the assets and management plans.
Scenario Development
LUGARIT supports local authorities to develop minimal and maximal scenarios for heritage site management options. We analyze resources that can be realistically amassed locally, nationally and internationally to sustain heritage management operations.
We help communities and local authorities to develop visioning exercises for their heritage sites. Through a multitude of participatory exercises, we work to mitigate the different visions and priorities of stakeholders by helping them visualize and assess the consequences of policies and preservation ordinances.
We participate in studies of the carrying capacity of sites to accommodate tourism, and we help authorities to determine different options for opening sites to tourism.
Advice
Our team supports local communities to identify and valuate their heritage assets. We help them set up documentation processes. These can be developed for first time documentation purposes or to set benchmarks for studying the impact of heritage preservation efforts as well as monitor the impacts of infrastructure projects on the assets.
We support local authorities in designing ordinances, land use maps, conservation plans, management plans, and local economic development plans for historic urban sites and cultural landscapes.
We design financial and administrative procedures for the local authorities involved in heritage management.
We provide consultation and facilitation services for legal teams working on developing legislation related to heritage management.
We support efforts to safeguard sites in danger and to develop rapid assessment and emergency interventions in sites.
We provide mapping services to document sites and to assess the status of preservation using rapid and detailed documentation tools.
We help authorities to identify and engage consultants related to all aspects of preservation, conservation, and development works in heritage sites.
We help anchor site preservation concerns within local governance structures. And we support economic research for budgeting and tariffs to sustain the revenue streams needed to preserve sites over the long run.
Stakeholder Engagement
LUGARIT’s experts provide a range of community engagement and facilitation services related to designing participatory processes, conducting town hall meetings, establishing community committees to support the designation of heritage sites and the implementation of ordinances and work in those sites.
We work on developing communication strategies to explain and promote heritage assets. These include local authorities’ communication plans with the local communities, awareness programs, branding, responsible tourism plans, as well as communication with national authorities, and international institutions.
We facilitate strategic meetings among different stakeholders with competing priorities over the future of the sites.
We help state parties to negotiate the status of their world heritage sites and to set in motion the necessary conditions for including them on the world heritage list.
Capacity Building
Our team provides different capacity building modules for local authorities and local institutional partners. These include basic awareness modules on heritage preservation, technical skills needed for developing management, conservation and development plans, as well as setting up administrative procedures to implement projects and monitor their impacts.
We work with a variety of stakeholders to develop awareness programs to different social and demographic groups.
We help civil society groups to develop projects and programs in heritage sites, and we help businesses build responsible tourism programs into culturally sensitive sites.
Monitoring & Evaluation
LUGARIT provides an array of tools to monitor heritage sites and to map their conditions. We prepare assessments of the state of conservation of heritage sites, and we develop rapid and/or detailed assessments to help local authorities to steer their heritage conservation efforts.
We help donors in assessing the impacts of their heritage conservation programs, both in terms of their impact on the preservation of the heritage assets as well as on the wellbeing and economic prospects of local communities.
Related Works
Date: 21 September 2024
A conversation discusses how heritage, especially intangible cultural practices, can foster peace in conflict settings like Syria. The dialogue highlights the role of heritage in rebuilding social cohesion and economic resilience and urges immediate action on heritage-based peacebuilding, even amid ongoing conflict, to preserve shared identity.
Date: 28 August 2024
LUGARIT’s consultant, Jadd Hallaj, presents independent research on preserving moated homesteads in Northern Europe at the RGS-IBG Annual Conference 2024. The work combines digital mapping and community engagement to protect these cultural landscapes, addressing the impact of urban sprawl on historical sites in Flanders.
Date: 06 August 2024
Historic marketplaces, or souks, in the Arab region once thrived as economic and social hubs but have declined due to economic shifts. Revitalizing them raises ethical and economic questions, with success depending on strategic public investments, stakeholder engagement, and innovative approaches to ensure these markets contribute meaningfully to modern urban economies.
Date: 23 July 2024
An article advocates for leveraging living heritage in conflict zones like Syria to support peacebuilding. It critiques traditional top-down heritage conservation approaches and emphasizes the need for inclusive, community-focused strategies that integrate socio-economic development, promote social cohesion, and respect diverse local traditions and histories for sustainable peace and recovery.
Date: 20 February 2024
An interview critiques the traditional approach to heritage preservation as disconnected from modern societal needs, arguing for a more inclusive and dynamic model. We highlight an approach to blend heritage with daily community life and economic incentives to ensure it remains relevant and preserved within the fabric of modern urban life.
Date: 2015
Publisher: Patronato de la Alhambra y Generalife
A chapter in book, about conservation and cultural management in world heritage sites, explores the economic effects of public funding in urban heritage conservation. It critically examines how these subsidies influence heritage management and conservation efforts, emphasizing the need for sustainable and community-focused approaches in preserving cultural landmarks and landscapes.
Date: 2013
Publisher: Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Lars Muller Publishers
A chapter in the book "Architecture is Life" critically examines the sustainability of traditional building crafts in the modern world. It explores the economic, social, and cultural challenges faced by craftsmanship, emphasizing the need for adaptability, innovation, and a reevaluation of its value beyond mere heritage preservation.
Year: 2007 - 2009
Client: GIZ , GOPHCY
A German-Yemeni cooperation project focuses on managing and developing World Heritage Sites Shibam and Zabid, along with other historic cities in Yemen. It integrates heritage conservation with economic and social development, involving local communities and various stakeholders in sustainable preservation efforts.
Date: 2007
Publisher: Geuthner
A chapter in "États et Sociétés de l’orient arabe" critically examines the valuation of urban heritage in Aleppo, Syria, and Shibam, Yemen. We explore the ethical implications of heritage conservation funding, the impact of urban renewal and development policies, and the challenges of integrating cultural and economic values in preserving historic cities.
Date: 2006
Publisher: AUB - American University of Beirut
A chapter in the book "Urban Heritage and The Politics of The Present" examines the complex challenges in conserving urban heritage in Aleppo and Shibam, highlighting the interplay of economic, social, and cultural factors. It explores the impact of public interventions and market conditions on heritage preservation and the evolution of urban spaces and social values.
Year: 2004 - 2007
Client: GIZ , GOPHCY
A German-Yemeni cooperation project, and recipient of the 2007 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, focused on heritage conservation, economic and community development, and infrastructure improvement in Shibam, Yemen, benefiting local communities through partnerships, training, and extensive operational programs.
Year: 2004 - 2007
Client: GIZ , GOPHCY
A rehabilitation program focused on preserving and rehabilitating historic houses in Shibam. It emphasized community engagement, quality management, and sustainable practices, significantly impacting historic preservation, social dynamics, and the local economy while fostering traditional skills and materials.
Date: January 2009
An article discusses the preservation of Zabid, Yemen, highlighting conflicts between heritage conservation and community needs. The Project for the Development of Historic Cities of Yemen innovatively involved locals in restoration, aligning economic revitalization with heritage preservation, thereby empowering the community while safeguarding Zabid's architectural legacy.
Date: September 2006
A lecture explores the challenges in preserving Shibam, a World Heritage Site in Yemen, focusing on balancing international preservation standards, local traditions, and socio-economic impacts on residents. It addresses the debate over demarcation, management difficulties, and the importance of maintaining the resident community for the site's historical integrity.
Year: 1994 - 2004
Client: GIZ
A Syrian-German cooperation project aims to develop and preserve the Old City of Aleppo; a 355-hectare World Heritage Site. Our experts contribute to the project in co-creating its Development Plan, stakeholder engagement, setting up housing programs with microcredits, land use planning, preparing building codes, and drafting pilot neighborhood plans.
Date: 1998
Publisher: GIZ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
A plan for revitalizing and preserving Aleppo’s historical essence while accommodating modern growth. It balances urban renewal with heritage conservation, emphasizing improved infrastructure, sustainable economic development, environmental management, and traffic management. The plan integrates strategic zoning, action area planning, and community involvement.