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Evaluation of the Actual Protection Zone of the UNESCO Site Casbah of Algiers: Current Inconsistencies, and Need to Preserve Its Integrity

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Evaluation of the Actual Protection Zone of the UNESCO Site Casbah of Algiers: Current Inconsistencies, and Need to Preserve Its Integrity Ge-conservación Conservação | Conservation Evaluation of the actual protection zone of the UNESCO site Casbah of Algiers: current inconsistencies, and need to preserve its integrity Mohamed Boukader, Chennaoui Youcef Abstract: The issue of safeguarding historical centres included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and their surroundings from negative impacts caused by pressure of the urban dynamic is important as well as topical. This article addresses this problem through an evaluation of a buffer zone as a means of strengthening protection around a historic site and its context, while maintaining its integrity. Through a case study of the UNESCO site of the Casbah in Algiers, we have tried to prove our hypothesis that, in the case of an urban historic site, the delineation criteria for the buffer zone, which is usually based on the property’s isolation and protection conditions, should be made in relation to, and in favour of, the articulation of the old with the new, allowing for the integration and insertion of the cultural urban property into the urban dynamic of the town. Our assessment of the actual protection zone around the Casbah has brought to light several inadequacies concerning the establishment of its perimeters, which undermine the main objective of reinforcing the cultural value of the site, its structural and visual integrity as well as that of its surroundings. Because of this, a revision of the protection zone’s perimeter is strongly recommended so as to strengthen protection around the UNESCO site of the Casbah in Algiers and maintain its exceptional value Keyword: Buffer zone, historic site, historic urban site, the Casbah of Algiers, integrity Evaluación de la zona de protección real del sitio de la UNESCO Casbah de Argel: inconsistencias actuales y necesidad de preservar su integridad Resumen: La cuestión de salvaguardar los centros históricos incluidos en la Lista del Patrimonio Mundial de la UNESCO y sus alrededores de los impactos negativos causados por​​ la presión de la dinámica urbana es importante, así como de actualidad. Este artículo aborda este problema a través de una evaluación de una zona de amortiguamiento como un medio para fortalecer la protección en torno a un sitio histórico y su contexto, mientras mantiene su integridad. A través de un estudio del sitio de la UNESCO de la Casbah en Argel, hemos tratado de probar nuestra hipótesis de que, en el caso de un sitio histórico urbano, los criterios de delimitación para la zona de amortiguamiento, que generalmente se basan en el aislamiento y la protección de la propiedad. Las condiciones deben establecerse en relación con, y en favor de, la articulación de lo antiguo con lo nuevo, permitiendo la integración e inserción de la propiedad cultural urbana en la dinámica urbana del pueblo. Nuestra evaluación de la zona de protección real alrededor de la Casbah ha revelado varias deficiencias en relación con el establecimiento de sus perímetros, lo que socava el objetivo principal de reforzar el valor cultural del sitio, su integridad estructural y visual, así como la de su entorno. Debido a esto, se recomienda encarecidamente una revisión del perímetro de la zona de protección para fortalecer la protección alrededor del sitio de la UNESCO de la Casbah en Argel y mantener su valor excepcional Palabras clave: Zona de amortiguamiento, sitio histórico, sitio histórico urbano, la Casbah de Argel, integridad Avaliação da área de proteção do sítio da UNESCO Casbá em Argel: inconsistências atuais e a necessidade de preservar a sua integridade Resumo: A questão da salvaguarda dos centros históricos incluídos na Lista do Património Mundial da UNESCO e nas suas áreas envolventes, e os impactos negativos causados pela pressão da dinâmica urbana, é uma temática importante e atual. Este artigo trata Mohamed Boukader, Chennaoui Youcef Evaluation of the actual protection zone of the UNESCO site Casbah of Algiers: current ... pp. 39-49 desse problema através da avaliação de uma área envolvente, como forma de fortalecer a proteção em torno de um sítio histórico e do seu contexto, enquanto modo de manter a sua integridade. Através do estudo de caso do sítio classificado pela UNESCO, Casbah em Argel, testou-se a hipótese de que, no caso de um sítio histórico urbano, os critérios de delimitação das zonas envolventes, que geralmente são baseados em imóveis isolados e na proteção da propriedade, as condições devem estabelecer-se em relação com, e a favor, da articulação do antigo com o novo, permitindo a integração e a inserção da propriedade cultural urbana nas dinâmicas do lugar. A nossa avaliação da área de proteção em torno da Casbá revelou várias deficiências em relação ao estabelecimento dos seus perímetros, o que prejudica o principal objetivo de reforço do valor cultural do sítio, a sua integridade estrutural e visual, bem como as áreas envolventes. Devido a isso, uma revisão do perímetro da zona de proteção é fortemente recomendada para fortalecer a proteção das áreas envolventes do sítio da UNESCO, Casbá em Argel e manter o seu valor excecional. Palavras-chave: Áreas envolventes, sítio histórico, sítio histórico urbano, Casbá de Argel, integridade Introducción The concept of the buffer zone, and an evaluation of its effectiveness at historical sites, inscribed on the World During the last forty years, interest in the conservation Heritage List, has been the subject of many studies. Those of cultural properties has seen an unprecedented of Peterson 2005; Gillespie 2012; Trau, Ballard and Wilson development throughout the world. The concept of 2014, can be cited as examples. heritage, in general, and of urban heritage in particular, is one of the major themes developed in several works Taking as a case study the Casbah of Algiers, inscribed written on this subject: (Feilden and Jokilehto 1998; on the UNESCO World Heritage List, our article puts Larkham 1996; Rodwell 2007). An important number of forward a critical analysis of the actual protection zone historical sites has been listed by UNESCO as the cultural around the site, examining not only its role in protecting heritage of mankind and, as such, should be protected. the site’s integrity, but also its compliance with the This has led to a series of protection plans being put into recommendations laid down by UNESCO. service worldwide in order to assure the preservation of these historic properties. In this context, the buffer Our article hinges on the following hypothesis: if the zone stands out as an important tool in strengthening concept of the buffer zone is to remain a protection plan protection around these sites and in maintaining their of considerable interest, for maintaining the outstanding integrity. value of a World Heritage site, then, its delineation criteria, which are usually based on its isolation and In fact, during the last twenty years, several historic sites, registration conditions, should depend on an approach inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, have been that favours the articulation of the old with the new through many difficulties caused by the construction (Geovannoni 1995 ), and allows for the integration and of several controversial projects in their immediate insertion of the urban cultural property into the urban surroundings which have been judged harmful to their dynamic while respecting its historical identity. integrity. The Casbah of Algiers is Algeria’s most emblematic site. In this context, several projects can be cited: the extremely It has been classed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site controversial Pelli-Cajasol Tower in Seville, Spain (Fernández since 1992, in accordance with the criteria II and V. The 2013:118-129; Salmeron 2013: 142-157), the bridge over important richness of the Casbah lies in the phenomenon the River Elbe undertaken by the town of Dresden in of historical stratification, which goes back to the Germany and which led to its exclusion from the UNESCO 4th century B. C and of which the last colonial phase World Heritage List in 2009 (WHC,33COM7A.26.S,2009), was the most overwhelming (Cresti 1993). However, the historic centre of Vienna and the Wien-Mitt urban despite being subjected to colonial transformations and development project (WHC,2002, Dec.26COM,21B.35) to seismic hazard, the upper part of the Casbah of Algiers name but a few. still maintains its integrity. On the whole, the aesthetic characteristics, the materials used and the architectural This article focuses on the preservation of historical urban elements have kept their original aspect. In addition, the sites, with an evaluation of the buffer zone as a pertinent Casbah bears witness to a remarkable authenticity, not tool in strengthening the protection and safeguard of only in its urban form, its architectural typology and the these historical, World Heritage urban sites, which are materials of construction used (marble, bricks made from exposed to intense urban pressure. raw earth, mud or lime plasters, stone or wood), but also 40 Ge-conservación nº 15/ 2019. ISSN: 1989-8568 in its usage (habitation, commerce, worship) and its folk “buffer zone” around a property should be foreseen and tradition. should be afforded the necessary protection. A buffer zone can be defined as an area surrounding the property The question of the safeguard of the historical site of the which has an essential influence on the physical state of Casbah of Algiers, and its integration with the Metropolis, the property and/or on the way in which the property is has been the subject of several studies, notably those of perceived; the area constituting the buffer zone should Lesbet 2006; Abdulac 2003; Driss 2005; Whc 2010-2015. be determined in each case through technical studies, All these works underline the historical and cultural Details on the size and characteristics of a buffer zone, importance of the Casbah site and have warned against as well as a map indicating its precise boundaries, the process of degradation and impoverishment which is should be provided in the nomination file relating to the still ongoing despite the efforts made by Algeria during property in question” (WHC/2 1978, 6) the last three decades.
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