The Shibam Historic Houses Program (SHHP) was part of the Shibam Urban Development Project (SUDP); a German-Yemeni Cooperation Project. 

The SUDP aimed at linking heritage conservation of the World Heritage Site of Shibam with direct economic and social benefits for local communities and institutions. The Project received management services and technical support from the GIZ, and it received funding from the German Government and had strong cooperation agreements for joint initiatives with several Yemeni National and local counterparts.  The SUDP was presented with the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2007.  

The SHHP focused on the restauration of historic houses, preserving architectural details and features, managing quality, and monitoring impacts, with a strong emphasis on community engagement and sustainable practices.

Our experts (pre-LUGARIT) provided project management services for the SHHP.  

SHHP Project’s Impact Highlights

• The program helped with the restauration of most of the housing stock in Shibam, with interventions ranging from minor stabilization to full rehabilitation.

• The program disbursed funds matching owner contributions in direct house rehabilitation investments.

• New restoration techniques were developed, focusing on historic architectural details and features. This included the restoration of ornamental wood, plinths, lower facades, and interior spaces.

• The program emphasized quality management, including establishing a quality management system, standard operating procedures, and monitoring results systematically.

• Long-term preservation: the majority of the city's houses were documented, creating a critical mass of knowledge essential for long-term preservation.

• The program stimulated the market for traditional skills and materials, maintaining their cost-effectiveness compared to modern alternatives.

• The program reached a representative sample of various types of tenure, with slight under-representation of tenants.

• Women's participation as house owners or tenants was notable, and improvements were being made in women's living quarters.

• The SHHP created increased employment opportunities in the construction sector.

• A significant economic impact was observed, with every 100 Dollars spent by the Social Fund for Development (SFD) leading to a creation of employment and wages valued at 175 Dollars.

• An impact monitoring system was developed to assess the program's effectiveness and make necessary adjustments.

• A house rebuilding program and an emergency consolidation program were developed.

• A tourism fee was commissioned to provide sustainable funding for the program.