UNESCO – WORLD HERITAGE CENTRE
MISSION REPORT
By Franca Miglioli – April 2005
Participants: Franca Miglioli, WHC Daniele Pini, consultant Saveria Teston, consultant Luca Lanzoni, consultant
Date of mission: 15 – 22 April 2005
Type of travel: Technical assistance in the framework of the Italy/UNESCO Joint Declaration for the Protection of the World’s Cultural and Natural Heritage
Project Title: Conservation of the Old City of Sana’a
Town: Sana’a
Country: Yemen
Region: Arab States
Budget code n°: 534GLO4000.3
CONTENTS
Purpose of the mission 3
Outcome of the mission 3
Acknowledgements 4
1. Inventory of the buildings for the Old City of Sana'a 5
1.1 Background 1.2 Implementation of the project 1.3 Completion of the Inventory of the Old City
2. Extension of the inventory to the other historic settlements in the Greater Sana’a 6
3. Conservation Plan 7
4. Nomination of Marib and Baraqish 8
ANNEXES
Annex 1 – Schedule of the mission Annex 2 – Inventory of the Old City of Sana’a- Final report (Abdulhakim al-Sayaghi, GOPHCY, April 2005) Annex 3 – Conservation of the Old City of Sana’a- Mission Report (Daniele
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Pini, May 2005) PURPOSE OF THE MISSION
Within the framework of the Joint Declaration on Co-operation Concerning Cultural and Natural Heritage Protection between the Italian Government and UNESCO, the purpose of the mission was to:
1. Assess the state of implementation of the project "Inventory of the buildings for the Old City of Sana'a" (AFC under the Italian FIT).
2. Define the modalities to extend the inventory to the other historic centres of the Greater Sana’a.
3. Discuss the modalities to develop the Conservation Plan under the Dutch FIT at the World Heritage Centre.
4. Meet with the concerned Yemeni authorities to discuss the possible preparation of the Nomination file for the archaeological sites of Marib and Baraqish.
The contracts of the consultants Mr Daniele Pini, Ms Saveria Teston, Mr Luca Lanzoni had specific Terms of Reference. The draft of Mr Daniele Pini’s report, focused on the Conservation Plan, is annexed. The final report of Saveria Teston and Luca Lanzoni, in charge of the “Inventory of the buildings” project, is under preparation.
The last two days the mission was joined by Mr Mario Caruso, consultant to the World Heritage Centre to assist the Yemeni authorities in preparing the Nomination File for the natural site of Socotra.
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OUTCOME OF THE MISSION
The Mission was carried out by Franca Miglioli, of the World Heritage Centre, accompanied by Daniele Pini, Saveria Teston and Luca Lanzoni, consultants for the project "Conservation Plan for the Old City of Sana'a". Meetings were held with representatives of the authorities involved in the implementation of this project and in the possible preparation of the Nomination file for the sites of Marib and Baraqish.
For the inventory of the buildings of the Old City of Sana'a, the results obtained with the allocated funds under the Italian FIT are strongly less than expected, not more one third of the survey on the field and a minimum of the data entry. A work plan and a budget for the completion of the inventory have been prepared with the local staff of GOPHCY and CATS and submitted to the responsible person at the Social Fund for financing. New training sessions have been held in order to improve the technical skills of the survey team for the next phase, specifying the role of the different surveyors.
The means to carry out the inventory of the other historic settlements of the Greater Sana'a, not included in the World Heritage site, under funds made available by CLT/CH, were discussed with GOPHCY and representatives of the University of Sana'a. The activity could be carried out this summer with the cooperation of students from the Italian University of Ferrara and the Sanani University. A draft of the work plan and budget has been agreed.
To develop the Conservation Plan, the mission asked the local authorities to create a special « Sana'a Conservation Plan Unit ». The funds available for this project at the World Heritage Centre under the Dutch FIT, would be used for the international consultants, while the local staff should be financed with local resources. The project has been presented and discussed with GOPHCY, the Capital Mayor and the Social Fund, who agreed in principle. A detailed work plan has been prepared after the mission and will be transmitted through GOPHCY to the other involved authorities for approval and funding. The possible nomination of the archaeological sites of Marib and Baraqish was discussed with the President of GOAMM. A rich scientific documentation is available, but at the moment these sites, which are under excavation, are not protected by any official decree. Some of the archaeologists involved in the present campaigns and met during the mission have declared their availability in giving technical assistance to the Yemeni authorities for the preparation of the decree and of the Nomination File.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The World Heritage Centre wishes to express its gratitude to the following people: Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Yemen to UNESCO, H.E. Dr Hamid Alawadhi, for kindly assisting in the organization of the mission;
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Mr Ahmed M. Al-Kohlani, Capital Mayor, for his commitment towards the preservation of the Old City of Sana’a; Dr. Abdullah Zaid Ayssa, Chairman of GOPCHY and his colleague Mr Nabil A. Monassar for their professionalism and great hospitality; The advisors to CATS Miss Julia Thielebein and Miss Sandra Poschmann for their time and enthusiasm; Dr. Abdulhakim K.Al-Sayaghi of Social Fund for Development, formerly GOPHCY-CATS, for his support in the completion of the inventory of the Old City; Mr Jamal Majam of UNDP for his support and hospitality. 1. Inventory of the buildings for the Old City of Sana'a
1.1 Background
In 2003, the Yemeni authorities expressed the wish to receive assistance from the WHC towards the Conservation of the Old City of Sana’a. In particular they stressed the need for an urgent inventory of the buildings of the Old City, for the definition of temporary measures of safeguard and for training in urban conservation.
Under the Italian-FIT, funds were approved to carry out the Inventory of the buildings and the open spaces. UNESCO/WHC established contracts with three international experts as technical advisers and a contract with GOPHCY in order to identify and contract the local coordinator, the local experts and the surveyors, to buy the equipment and make all logistic arrangements.
After the first mission of the international experts to start the project in July 2004, some technical problems occurred in the implementation of the activities. During the second mission (see the report of October 2004), a serious delay in the implementation was noted. At the end of that mission the technical problems looked solved and the result expected was the survey of around two third of the all buildings in the Old City.
1.2 Implementation of the project
The mission assessed that the state of implementation of the inventory, which at the beginning of the project was supposed to be wholly carried out within the available funds, is very unsatisfactory. While the work on the ground went slowly ahead during these last months (update of cartography, compilation of the survey forms and related photos), the data entry was actually not carried out. In particular one third only of the buildings has been surveyed on the ground, whereas only the data related to one thirty of the total number of buildings have been inserted.
In the activity report presented by GOPHCY, many problems have been identified (see the annexed final report) and can be summarised as follows: • lack of capacity of the survey team at the beginning, • several administrative matters, • technical problems.
Some of these matters have to be clarified.
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The administrative heavy machine of GOPHCY, together with the not “lighter” UNESCO’s one, did not allow an efficient management of the funds, for example the deadlines for the payments of the surveyors were not respected and this caused several interruptions of the activity and a general lack of confidence towards the administration. In future activities, this point cannot be underestimated and it will be necessary to identify different way for contracting the local components of the projects.
Some lack of coordination has to be underlined. During the implementation of the project the difficulties arisen were never clearly communicated to the World Heritage Centre, apart of the requests for the delayed payments. The WHC together with the international experts, worried about not receiving information, decided to carry out an extra mission in October 2004, during which the major technical problems were discovered and partially solved. At the mission departure, the internet connection was available making possible a continuous communication between the experts and the survey team, but then it was not used. The chosen local GIS expert, who should have given the needed technical support to the survey team and assure the technical control on the informatics part of the work, proved to be totally inadequate and absent. Many of the surveyors decided to concentrate their work on the ground, in spite of the duties identified in their contracts. In the final report no mention on the data entry is done.
Nevertheless, during this present mission, Mr Lanzoni and Ms Teston verified the correctness of the filled survey sheets and tested the existing digital data: the information resulted as reliable and complete. The survey team declared its interest in continuing the activity and the experts held additional training sessions for the surveyors finally identified as data enterers.
1.3 Completion of the inventory of the Old City
Since an incomplete product would be totally useless, and the acquired skills by the survey team risk to be lost rapidly if the work is abandoned, as already pointed out in the previous report, there is the need for urgent additional funds to finance the completion of the inventory of the Old City. During the previous mission the possibility that the Social Fund for Development could support the second phase had been discussed with Mr. Abdullah A. Dailami, Head of the Heritage and Infrastructure Unit at the Social Fund.
A proposal has been prepared together with GOPHCY and CATS staff, with a detailed work plan including a contract for one international expert, who will be in Sana'a for two months to assist the survey team. The inventory activity should be completed before the end of October 2005. The proposal has been discussed and officially submitted to the Social Fund for Development by GOPHCY at the end of the mission and it is now under evaluation.
2. Extension of the inventory to the other historic settlements in the Greater Sana’a
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Since the inscription of the Old City of Sana’a on the World Heritage List in 1986, the need to enlarge the protected area has been underlined, to include at least the “twin city” of Bir-al Azab inside the perimeter of the World Heritage site. Moreover, the other historic settlements of the Greater Sana’a have to be taken into consideration in any activity to preserve the urban cultural heritage. Recently an order of the President has been delivered to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture, upon requirement of the Capital Mayor, to establish the protection areas of Bir al – Azab, Rawdah and the other minor historic settlements.
In order to establish a Conservation Plan which will cover all the historic settlements, and not only the present World Heritage site, the experts proposed to extend the inventory besides the Old City. Some additional funds have been made available by the Division of Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. Since the survey team presently involved in the inventory of the Old City will not be available before the end of October and to take advantage from the probable presence in Sana’a of one of the international experts for the GIS, the team is proposing a new way to implement this part of the inventory. A group of students from Italy, paired off with Yemeni students, could start to carry out a simplify inventory of the buildings and open spaces of Bir al-Azab and Rawdah. This activity would represent an important training experience for both the groups of students. The Yemeni group is supposed to continue later until the completion of the work, as a kind of on-the-job training.
A meeting with representatives of the University of Sana’a allowed the mission to present the project and verify their interest for the implementation of this activity as workshop for the students. Mr Daniele Pini, WHC urban conservation consultant, as responsible for the international exchanges of the University of Ferrara, proposed to take this opportunity to establish wider forms of cooperation between the two universities.
With the funds made available by the Division of Cultural Heritage of UNESCO is planning to prepare an exhibition on Sana’a architectural heritage based on the survey carried out in the “Inventory” project, in cooperation with the Yemeni Permanent Delegation. The exhibition is planned to take place in May 2006 in Paris and later in Sana’a, where it will give the occasion to present the on-going activities for the preservation of the urban heritage to the authorities and the population. The proposal was warmly welcome by the local staff and the authorities.
3. Conservation Plan
The World Heritage Centre has obtained the approval to implement the proposal for the Greater Sana’a Historic Centres Conservation Plan under the Dutch Funds-in- Trust.
In order to increase local capacity in urban conservation, the choice is to support the preparation of the Conservation plan at the local level. The mission discussed with the Yemeni authorities the need to create a “Conservation Planning Unit” composed of local staff, who will be in charge of the development of the preparatory studies and analyses, the definition of the Plan and the management of the daily planning activity for the historic settlements of Sana’a, once the Plan is adopted. The available funds at the World Heritage Centre will be necessary to support the technical assistance of
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international experts, while the cost for the Sana’a Conservation Planning Unit will be covered by the national institutions (Social Fund for development and Capital Secretariat).
A detailed draft proposal has already been discussed with the Capital Mayor and submitted to the Social Fund for Development (see the annexed Daniele Pini’s Mission Report). The establishment of this Unit has to be considered as a precondition for the implementation of any elaboration of the Conservation Plan’s documents. 4. Nomination of Marib and Baraqish
The archaeological site of Marib is included in the Tentative List of Yemen; with the sites of Baraqish and Sirwa, they represent the major remains of the most ancient incense kingdoms of South Arabia. The sites at present are being excavated by the American, Italian and German archaeological missions respectively in Marib, Baraqish and Sirwa. The archaeologists consider that a great amount od remains has not yet been discovered.
The team of the World Heritage mission visited the on-going excavations of the monumental Awwan Temple in Marib by the American Foundation for the Study of Man, the remains of the great Marib Dam and the site of Baraqish, accompanied by the Italian archaeologist Sabina Antonini.
The mission met with Dr. Abdullah Bawazeer, President of the General Organisation of Antiquities and Museums (GOAMM), to discuss the legal framework for the protection of the sites. Presently the archaeological areas to be protected are not identified by decree, which should provide a legislative tool for their preservation. This is the first step to be undertaken by Yemeni authorities in view of a Nomination File; the identification of management measures with a responsible entity will be the second most urgent element to start considering a possible Nomination File.
The archaeologists involved in the present campaigns and met during the mission have declared their availability in giving technical assistance to the Yemeni authorities for the definition of the area to be protected and for the preparation of the decree and of the Nomination File.
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ANNEX 1 – SCHEDULE OF THE MISSION
Friday 15 April
09:30 Departure from Paris (FM) 18:30 Arrival in Sana’a (FM)
Saturday 16 April
9:00 / 11:00 Briefing at Cats on the implementation of the inventory with Ms Saveria Teston, Mr Luca Lanzoni and Mr Nabil A. Monassar1 (FM) Confirmation of the schedule of the mission. Discussion on the implementation of the inventory of the buildings of the Old City of Sana'a. 11:30 / 13:30 Meeting with Dr Abdullah Zaid Ayssa, Chairman of GOPCHY (FM) Confirmation of the schedule of the mission. Discussion on the implementation of the inventory and the development of the Conservation Plan for the Old City of Sana'a. 15:30 / 17:30 Work at Cats with the survey team (FM, LL, ST). Discussion on the implementation of the inventory of the buildings of the Old City of Sana'a 19:00 / 22:00 Informal dinner with Ms Sabina Antonini, Italian archaeologist. Discussion on the sites of Marib and Barraqish
Sunday 17 April
10:00 / 14:00 Meeting at Cats with Mr Daniele Pini, Dr Abdullah Zaid Ayssa, Mr. Abdulhakim K. Al-Sayaghi, Ms Julia Thielebein, Miss Sandra Poschmann and the survey team Discussion on the implementation of the inventory of the buildings of the Old City of Sana'a 15:30 / 18:00 Team work with the experts
Monday 18 April
10:00 / 13:30 Work on organisation and financial aspects for the preparation of the Conservation Plan with Dr Abdullah Zaid Ayssa 15:00 / 17:00 Meeting with Mr. Abdullah A. Dailami, Head of Heritage and Infrastructure Unit at the Social Fund for Development, Mr. Abdulhakim K. Al-Sayaghi, Social Fund, Dr Abdullah Zaid Ayssa, Ms Julia Thielebein (FM, DP). Discussion of the possibility to support the completion of the inventory and to co- finance the Conservation Plan.
Tuesday 19 April
9:00 / 10:15 Meeting with Mr Ahmed M. Al-Kohlani, Capital Mayor and Dr Abdullah Zaid Ayssa (FM, DP)
1 Mr Nabil A. Monassar kindly accompanied us and was present at all the meetings.
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Discussion on the possible coordination to prepare the Conservation Plan of Old Sana'a. 10:30 / 11:15 Meeting with Mr Abdulla M. Bawazir, President of GOAMM (DP, FM 11:30 / 12:45 Meeting with Eng. Taefeek Albehem, Head of Planning Department, Ministry of Public Works and Urban Development: (DP, FM) Discussion on the new Master Plan of Sana’a and its relations with the Conservation Plan. 13:00 / 14:00 Meeting with Dr Yaseen Ahmed M.Own, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Mohamed Sellam, Head of the Department of Architecture, University of Sana’a, and Dr Abdullah Zaid Ayssa (DP, FM) Discussion on the possible involvement of Sanani students in the activities for the inventory and the Conservation Plan. 15:30 / 19:00 Work on the report. 22:00/24:00 Briefing with Mr Mario Caruso on Socotra Nomination(FM)
Wednesday 20 April
10:30 / 13:00 Work on the report and work plan for the Conservation
13:00/ 15:00 Official Lunch offered by Dr Abdullah Zaid Ayssa with CATS staff and the representatives of the University 16:00 / 19:00 Work on the report.
Thursday 21 April
07:00 / 18:00 Visit of the archaeological sites of Marib and Barraquish.
Friday 22 April
01:30 Departure from Sana'a 09:00 Arrival in Paris
10 UNESCO - WORLD HERITAGE CENTRE MISSION REPORT
Name: Daniele Pini, consultant Dates of Mission: 16 –23 April 2005 Project Title: Conservation of the Old City of Sana’a Town: Sana’a. Country: Yemen Region: Arab States Contract No.: 4500023069 Budget Code: 534GLO4000.3
Summary
Terms of Reference and Summary of the mission...... 1 Terms of reference ...... 1 Summary of the mission ...... 1 Acknowledgements...... 2 Background ...... 3 The work in progress ...... 4 The characteristics of a comprehensive Conservation Plan...... 5 The work plan for the Greater Sana’a Historic Centres Conservation Plan ...... 6 The Study Tasks...... 7 1 – Completion of the Inventories of the Greater Sana’a urban and architectural heritage...... 7 2 – Constitution of the Sana’a Conservation Planning Unit ...... 7 3 - Sector Studies and analyses on current situation and trends ...... 7 4 – Elaboration of the Conservation Plan documents...... 8 Work Organisation and Team composition ...... 8 Phase 1 ...... 8 Phases 2 and 3...... 9 The international experts...... 9 The Sana’a Conservation Planning Unit...... 10 Financial resources...... 11 Table 1 – Activity Schedule...... 12 Table 2 – Team Composition...... 13 Annex 1 - Schedule of the mission ...... 17
Terms of Reference and Summary of the mission
The mission was carried out in Sana’a the 16th to the 23rd of April 2005, by Daniele Pini, consultant urban planner, thanks to the support of the Italian Trust Fund with the WH Centre.
Terms of reference
1. Undertake a mission of one week to Sana'a to verify the progress made by the local team in carrying out the inventory of the Old City of Sana'a;
2. Supervise the preliminary activity to carry out the building inventory of of Bir-el-Azab and Rawdah; 3. Discuss with the local authorities the temporary safeguard planning regulations and the preparation of the Conservation Plan for the old City of Sana'a and the other historic settlements";
4. Provide a detailed work Plan to prepare the Conservation Plan in cooperation with the local authorities; 5. Submit to the World Heritage Centre, no later than 30 June 2005, a technical report on the above, in English language, including schedule of the missions and the detailed work Plan, and the air ticket stubs.
Summary of the mission
The mission was the follow-up of the previous missions and visits carried out between June 2003 and September 2004 with the aim to: (a) assess the state of conservation of the Old City and outline the measures to be established for its protection; (b) prepare the basic technical tools and conditions to carry out an inventory of buildings and open spaces, and (c) define the guidelines for temporary protection measures of the Old City. An appraisal of the current situation has been carried out with reference to: (a) the inventory of the Old City carried out by the CATS and funded by UNESCO - WHC, and (b) the evolution of both the legislative and planning frameworks, which would represent the basic conditions for the establishment of a Conservation Plan. Meetings were held at CATS to verify the progress made by the local team in carrying out the inventory of the Old City. If the quantity of the work done is considerably below the expectations, the quality of the information has proved to be highly reliable and totally consistent with the aim to establish detailed and accurate building regulations for the protection of the architectural heritage of the Old City. Meetings were held with representatives from the different authorities, which may be concerned with the preparation, the establishment and the implementation of a Conservation Plan for the Old City and the other historic centres of the Capital. From these meetings and discussions emerged that, since the previous mission, the institutional and legal framework has not yet been clarified and completed. An order has been released however by the President of the Republic to the Government in order to establish the perimeters of protection for a number of historic centres in the Capital area, as an extension of the Old City. On the other hand, an international bid for the preparation of a new master plan for the metropolitan area of Sana’a is under completion, which should also include the identification of such perimeters and the establishment of related protection measures. At this crucial time, it is still imperative to define a new strategic vision and a consistent policy for the conservation and rehabilitation of the Old City and the other historic urban fabrics, taking into the due consideration the larger urban planning exercise that will be undertaken to cover the whole metropolitan area. It appears that the accomplishment of this task makes necessary the direct involvement in the conservation policy, besides the GOPHCY-CATS, of the local government institutions (i.e. the Capital Secretariat) and the major
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implementation agency (i.e. the Social Fund for Development). To this purpose the constitution of a joint Conservation Planning Unit has been proposed, which would be enabled to perform all the studies and the technical tasks leading to the establishment of planning tools for the protection and the revitalisation of the Old City and the other historic centre, with the support of the international expertise provided by the UNESCO.
Acknowledgements
The expert wishes to express its gratitude to all the personalities, whose support has been necessary for the accomplishment of the task, in particular: Mr Ahmed M. Al-Kohlani, Capital Mayor for his high concern; Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Yemen to UNESCO, H.E. Dr Hamid Alawadhi, for kindly assisting in the organization of the mission; Dr. Abdullah Zaid Ayssa, Chairman of GOPHCY, Eng. Nabil A. Monassar and the team of CATS for their professionalism, and enthusiasm; Dr. Abdulhakim K.Al-Sayaghi of Social Fund for Development, formerly GOPHCY-CATS, for his support in the completion of the inventory of the Old City; Mr Jamal Majam of UNDP for his support and hospitality.
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Background
The need for a Conservation and rehabilitation Plan for the Old City is now widely acknowledged, as stated by the Yemeni Government in his assistance request to the UNESCO - WHC, and recently confirmed by the interventions of numerous scholars and professionals in the international conference “Sana’a - the Deep Rooted City”, organised by the Ministry of Culture, and held in Sana’a the 4-6 September 2004, in the framework of the event “Sana’a 2004”. The preparation and the establishment of such a Plan require not only a vision for the future of the Sana’a architectural heritage and historic fabric, but also the elaboration of a consistent strategy to protect and rehabilitate the Old City and the other historic settlements, as a cultural and socio-economic asset in the context of the Capital expanding urban area.
In particular, the previous mission reports stressed how the heritage to be protected should include not only the World Heritage site of the Old City but also the other historic centres of the Capital, and put the emphasis on the prerequisites of a consistent conservation policy, i.e. (a) an increasing and spread awareness of the heritage issues amongst the authorities and the larger public, (b) the creation of adequate institutional capacities and technical skills (c) the definition of clear and shared concepts on heritage conservation to be implemented through new urban planning tools, special projects and building regulations. To this purpose, a set of “actions” was proposed, which was discussed with the authorities, and included namely: A “start-up” phase to complete and clarify the legal framework, and create an appropriate institutional set-up for the conservation policy; A first phase, to (a) establish temporary regulatory measures to be adopted during the preparation of the Conservation plan, (b) realise the inventory of built-up structures and open spaces in the Old City; The further phases would be dedicated to (a) the extension of the inventory to the other historic settlements in the Greater Sana’a, (b) the study of priority projects for some selected “sensitive areas”, and (c) the preparation and establishment of the Conservation and Rehabilitation Plan.
So far, some of the proposed actions have been undertaken by the UNESCO – WHC in collaboration with the GOPHCY-CATS, in particular: An inventory of the built-up structures and open spaces in the Old City has been undertaken, which is actually being carried out by a local team at the GOPHCY, according to the guidelines and the technical assistance provided by the WHC; A definition of the planning concepts and guidelines for a conservation policy and some temporary safeguard measures for the Old City have been outlined, to become effective with the completion of the inventory. These two actions are closely related, since the former is intended to give an operational description and evaluation of the different urban, landscape and architectural features within the protection area of the Old City, and the latter aims to define the rules and the criteria for the conservation of the architectural heritage and the historic urban fabric, to be used for any intervention with reference to the quality of the different features concerned.
Besides, in the same streamline, the Unesco’s Division of Cultural Heritage has carried out a pre- feasibility study on the regeneration and rehabilitation of some sensitive areas on the edges of the Old City, i.e. Maydan at-Tahrir, Bab al-Yemen, Bab Shu'ub, Bustan al-Sultan, Maydan al-Qasr (al- Luqqiyah), that was intended to outline the planning and design guidelines and estimate the
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resources needed to undertake the improvement of some strategic public spaces connecting the Old City to Bir Al Azaab and the city centre.
In the while, the legislative, institutional and planning framework has not changed. In particular, the new laws on urban planning and the protection of the historic centres have not yet been approved, and the necessary strengthening of the institution responsible for the conservation of the historic cities, i.e. the GOPHCY-CATS, has not yet occurred.
Some steps however have been undertaken by the Yemeni authorities in this direction, namely: An order of the President has been recently delivered to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Culture, upon requirement of the Capital Mayor, to establish the protection areas of Bir Al Azab, El Gabel village, Hadda village, Sana village, Rawdah, Attan village and Beit Baws village as an extension of the Old City protection area; A international bid concerning the preparation of the new Master Plan of the Capital city has been organised, whose Terms of Reference also include the definition of protection perimeters for the different historic centres of the urban area.
The work in progress
An Inventory of the Old City is being carried out at the CATS-GOPHCY, funded by the UNESCO – WHC, which should represent the first step toward the establishment of the Conservation Plan, according to the above cited set of actions. It has been planned and designed as a tool to collect and organise, with a GIS support, the information on the architectural, spatial and functional features of the built structures and the open spaces, which form the urban fabric to supply, that would be relevant to establish a building regulation consistent with the protection and the rehabilitation of the whole fabric within the City walls, i.e. the site inscribed in the World heritage list.
The work for the organisation and the implementation of this inventory has been undertaken in January 2004, together with the definition different items (i.e. the criteria for the classification of the buildings, the identification of the types of interventions, etc.) which would form the conceptual framework of the building regulation to be applied. The aim was to perform a GIS, which could be immediately used, in an initial phase, to apply a set of temporary protection measures, and later on, during the preparation and the implementation of the Conservation Plan, to carry out more complex investigations and/or intervention policies.
After a period of preparation, the field survey has started in august 2004, with a team of the CATS- GOPHCY coordinated by a local expert, and with the technical support of the WHC, which has provided the survey sheet, the handbook for the development of the survey, and the training of the surveyors. In this phase, on the basis of several tests, a schedule was established to perform the inventory in 6 months, covering all the built structures and open spaces built (about 10000 items) identified within the WH site, including the field survey, the map updating and the data entry.
A number of administrative and technical inconvenience have occurred that have considerably hampered the development of the survey, and mainly the entry of the data into the GIS. As a consequence, the proposed time schedule is far to be respected and, due to the several “stop and go” and the overall lack of efficiency, the funds made available by the UNESCO WHC are not sufficient to complete the task. At present, only about one third of the items have been investigated, whilst the data entry has just begun, but it is hoped that additional funds would be made available by the Social Fund for Development to the CATS-GOPHCY, to complete the inventory according to the guidelines established together with the WHC experts.
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It must be noted however that, in spite of the poor amount of data elaborated, the exercise has been carried out in a very satisfactory manner. During the mission, a sample of survey sheets has been verified, which shows a complete and reliable information on both the built structures and the open spaces. On the other hand, the proposed GIS model proves to be very effective not only as a tool for the management of the information obtained through the field survey, but also as a tool to identify the different features to be protected and classify the buildings according to their architectural, spatial or functional interest.
The work undertaken is very promising indeed. The tests have shown that, when completed, the inventory will definitely make available the information which is required to establish a consistent building regulation. and represent a valuable technical tool to perform an efficient control of the building activity. It should be clear that the expected outcome won’t represent the Conservation and Rehabilitation Plan; but will simply consist in a tool which will enable the Yemeni authorities to control of the building activity in the Old City, whilst providing the “baseline” to monitor the transformations occurring in the historic fabric, and namely to prevent further “violations”. The aim is to establish a consistent and non-arbitrary regulatory framework, based on an overall and complete survey of all the components of the urban fabric, which could hopefully help to increase the awareness of the conservation issue amongst the concerned authorities, the technical bodies and the larger public.
It must also be stressed that the experience being acquired, will enable the CATS-GOPHCY team and the WHC experts to extend the inventory and the related protection concepts and regulations to the other historic centres of the capital (i.e. Bir Al Azab, Rawdah, etc.) taking in the due consideration the different conditions and the specific conservation objectives.
The characteristics of a comprehensive Conservation Plan
The President’s decision to extend the implementation of protection measures to other historic settlements in the Capital’s area – besides the Old City – gives the Conservation Plan a new planning perspective. Whilst it implies that conservation becomes an issue for the larger urban area of Sana’a, it also calls for the definition of a strategic vision and appropriate planning tools, which consider the architectural heritage and the historic urban fabrics as a potential and an asset, not a constraint, for a more sustainable development. This requires the definition of a far-seeing and consistent conservation strategy, which would consist of a well established regulatory framework, and of a well defined set of priority actions, in order to address the new challenges and issues, which are imposed by the undergoing processes of change.
On one hand, the “Conservation Plan” should based on a broader concept of “heritage”, which include not only the “monuments” and the “remarkable buildings”, but also their context, the “minor” and “vernacular” architectural expressions, the articulation of the urban spaces, the landscape features, according to the most advanced international “state of art” in planning. Obviously, this heritage can only be preserved if life is kept in it, and functions and meanings are favoured, which are compatible with its characteristics, trough the “adaptive” reuse of its different features. The “conservation” has therefore to be associated with the “rehabilitation” and the Plan has to provide tools for protecting the heritage features from further deterioration, whilst favouring at the same time all the possible compatible interventions in the Old City and in the other historic settlements, which can improve the living conditions of the population and bring new activities and uses.
On the other hand, the Conservation Plan has to be closely linked, or integrated, to the new Master Plan, as a tool which ensure the preservation of the historical heritage within the framework of the
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future urban development. Therefore, if the Conservation Plan has to be based on the “inventories”, which provide a clear identification of the heritage to be preserved, other studies and investigations are needed, which are intended to offer an accurate description of the current situation and an outline of the future trends and issues to be addressed, with regard to the morphological and functional structure of the different settlements, the socio-economic condition, the “formal” (institutional) and “informal” structures that govern local traditional culture and activities, the housing and real estate market, the environmental situation, the infrastructure network and the municipal services, and so on.
On these basis, the Conservation Plan should define a strategy to give each historic centre an active role in the larger urban area, promoting their identity as a component of the wider sanaani urban civilisation. From the technical point of view, the Plan would include an appropriate conservation and land use zoning with related building and planning measures for each centre, in order to provide: The identification and classification of the zones to be submitted to the different degrees and types of protection; The identification and classification of the different types of buildings and open spaces to be submitted to the different degrees and types of protection; The identification of the “sensitive areas” to be submitted to special projects of urban regeneration and rehabilitation; The establishment of a definite set of prescriptions and indications, including a land-use and building code to release building permits and monitor the building activity, concerning: (a) all the existing building and/or architectural feature and open space, for the Old city; (b) all the heritage buildings and open spaces to be identified for the other historic centres.
The work plan for the Greater Sana’a Historic Centres Conservation Plan
A tentative Work Plan is being elaborated to continue the work undertaken through the previous missions of the experts and the undergoing Inventory of the Old City, in order to establish a Conservation Plan which should cover at the same time: - the Old City - the World Heritage Site to be protected according to the international convention, and - the other historic centres - i.e. Bir el Azab, El Gabel village, Hadda village, Sana village, Rawdah, Attan village and Beit Bows village - to be protected as an extension of the Old City, according to decree to be issued.
This Work Plan aims to define an activity schedule, and hence the team composition and the costs for the preparation of a Conservation Plan.
The following main Study Tasks have been identified, which approximately correspond to the different phases of the work: 1. The completion of the inventories and the organisation of an exhibition on urban and architectural heritage in Sana’a; 2. The constitution of a Sana’a Conservation Planning Unit 3. The sector studies and analyses on the current situation and trends in the historic settlements; 4. The elaboration of the Conservation Plan documents. It must be noted however that the time schedule and the costs of the completion of the Inventory of the Old City is not considered in this Work Plan, since this activity should be funded separately according to a specific plan prepared by the GOPHCY-CATS, to be submitted to the Social Fund for Development.
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The Study Tasks
The above Study Tasks include the following activities, to be developed according the schedule outlined in Table 1:
1 – Completion of the Inventories of the Greater Sana’a urban and architectural heritage
The following tasks have to be implemented in order to acquire the data concerning the built structures and the urban fabrics of the different historic settlements, to make them available for the planning process through GIS techniques, as well as to diffuse the information and increase the awareness on heritage at national and international levels: 1a Completion of the undergoing Inventory and the related GIS on all the built-up structures and opens spaces of the Old City (not considered in the definition of the staff requirements and costs); 1b Identification and field survey of protection areas and historic buildings and opens spaces to be preserved in Bir Al Azab, Rawdah and the other historic settlements; 1c Finalisation of the Inventory with the completion of a GIS on the protection areas and heritage buildings of Bir Al Azab, Rawdah, and other settlements based on the field survey; 1d Preparation of an exhibition and a brochure on the Architectural Heritage of the historic settlements of Sana’a, based on the surveys outcomes and the GIS. Activities 1b to 1d will be carried out in 4 months, in different phases. For specific organisational and budget constraints (see below), the activity 1b should be implemented in the period july – august 2005, whilst the exhibition has to be prepared by march 2006 in Sana’a and may 2006 at the UNESCO headquarter in Paris.
2 – Constitution of the Sana’a Conservation Planning Unit
It is proposed to set up a Sana’a Conservation Planning Unit, to be created in the framework of the GOPHCY-CATS - that is the organisation which is responsible for the conservation of historic cities according to the Yemeni legislation - with the support and the collaboration of the other national institutions involved in the Capital urban policies, like the Capital Secretariat, The Social Fund for Development and others to be eventually identified by the Yemeni authorities. The establishment of this Unit has to be considered as a pre-condition for the implementation of any further task and for the elaboration of the Conservation Plan documents.
3 - Sector Studies and analyses on current situation and trends
On the bases of the Inventories and of the available documentation (to be collected), the following analysis and studies should be carried out in order to outline the most relevant issues, and to provide the necessary information and conceptual framework for the definition of an overall integrated Conservation Strategy: 3a Analysis of the architectural typologies, building techniques, morphological structures and functional patterns, in order to: - Propose the buildings and planning regulations to be established according to the different degrees of protection; - Identify the sensitive areas or the priority issues to be addressed by special action projects; 3.b Analysis of the housing issues, with specific reference to the real estate market; 3.c Socio-economic profile of all the historic settlements in the Greater Sana’a, including the analysis of the current situation and trends concerning: - the social and demographic structure; - employment and economic activities;
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- social services (education, health, etc.); - cultural patterns. 3.d Assessment of overall environmental conditions, including networks & municipal services 3.e Accessibility issues, including traffic regulation and transportation infrastructure; 3.f Legislative and institutional framework issues.
4 – Elaboration of the Conservation Plan documents
The following tasks can be identified in order to prepare the documents of the Conservation Plan for all the historic settlements of the Greater Sana’a, to be integrated in the framework of the urban planning process to be undertaken: 4.a Definition of an overall and integrated Conservation Planning Strategy 4.b Elaboration of a Land Use and Conservation Zoning with the identification and classification of the heritage areas and buildings to be submitted to different degrees of protection, and related planning and building regulations; 4.b Identification and layout proposals of special action projects concerning the sensitive areas or the priority issues.
Work Organisation and Team composition
The above Study Tasks and the different activities will be carried out by a joint team, which would include both Yemeni experts of the CPU and the international experts mobilised by the UNESCO. The team composition and the task assignments in the different phases are outlined in the Table 2.
It has to be noted that, though the objectives and, to some extent, the staff involved are the same, the implementation of the activities Task 1 has to be considered separately from Tasks 2, 3 and 4, since it consists of the completion of undergoing activities (1a) and of other activities (1b, 1c, 1d), which are funded with a specific budget of the UNESCO CLT/CH Division (see also table 1 and the section below on financial resources).
Phase 1
In this phase, the following activities should be carried out: - The finalisation of the Inventory on the Old City of Sana’a (1a), on the basis of the program already established by the UNESCO-WHC team of experts, whose implementation has been undertaken by the GOPHCY-CATS with funds from UNESCO-WHC, and should be completed with funds from Yemeni institutions; - The start-up and the development of the activities concerning the extension of the Inventory to the other historic centres to be protected in the Greater Sana’a (1b, 1c), entirely funded by the UNESCO CLT/CH Division; - The set-up and mobilisation of the CPU (2), to be funded by the Yemeni institutions involved.
In particular, the activities 1b, 1c, related to the extension of the Inventory to Bir Al Azab, Rawdah and the other historic settlements, would consist indeed in: - The preparation and the organisation of a specific field survey by a team of international experts in collaboration with the CATS; - The implementation of the field survey with a group of students from the Faculty of Architecture of Ferrara (Italy) and 8 from the Department of Architecture of the Sana’a University under the supervision of the team of experts and professors of both university institutions;
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- The entry of the survey data in the same GIS already set-up for the Old City (as a result of task 1a), as a tool for the Sana’a Conservation Plan. - The preparation of an exhibition to be held in Sana’a and Paris, concerning the architectural heritage of Sana’a historic settlements The international and Yemeni staff involved, besides the CATS staff, would be the following (see Table 3): - 1 international urban planner, coordinator (0.5 m/m) - 1 international GIS expert (0.5 m/m) - 1 international survey architect (1 m/m) - 8 italian students (0,5 m/m) - 8 yemeni students (1 m/m) - 4 yemeni temporary staff (2 m/m)
Phases 2 and 3
Phases 2 and 3 will be dedicated to the implementation of the tasks 1d, 3 and 4, with the team composition and the task assignments outlined in Table 2. The different activities would be jointly implemented by: - The Conservation Planning Unit which would carry out the necessary studies and prepare the planning documents; - A UNESCO team of experts, which would provide the Unit with a qualified international expertise in the different fields of study and in the preparation of the planning documents.
The work organisation and the team composition (international and Yemeni staff), will depend on the set-up of the CPU, and on the financial resources made available from the UNESCO-WHC and Yemeni institutions. It has to be stressed however that the resources from the UNESCO-WHC alone would not be sufficient to undertake the proposed activities.
The international experts
The international expertise will be provided by UNESCO by mean of short term expert missions, which are planned in order to support the Sana’a Conservation Plan Unit in the implementation of the various tasks though the different phases, and by a resident assistant urban planner, which would support the Project coordinator and the Yemeni team leader in the coordination of the different activities. The international staff involved would be (see Table 4):
1 Urban planner, project coordinator (3 m/m, 6 missions) 1 Conservation architect (1.5 m/m, 3 missions) 1 GIS expert urban planner (1 m/m, 2 missions) 1 Jurist, institutional expert (2 m/m, 2 missions) 1 Economist planner (0.5 m/m, 1 mission) 1 Economist (0.5 m/m, 1 mission) 1 Sociologist (0.5 m/m, 1 mission) 1 Anthropologist (0.5 m/m, 1 mission) 1 Transportation planner (0.5 m/m, 1 mission) 1 Environment expert (0.5 m/m, 1 mission) 1 Assistant architect planner (12 m/m, resident)
The total m/m of the short terms experts sum up to 10, and the related cost can be estimated to 103.100 USD (see table 4), including the salary of the resident assistant architect planner and the costs of missions (travel and per diem).
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The Sana’a Conservation Planning Unit
The Sana’a Conservation Planning Unit should be set up in Phase 1, in parallel with the implementation of the Task 1 (inventories), with the constitution of an initial team charged with the “mobilisation” of the programme (organisation of the office, planning of the further activities, etc.). The unit should be structured and equipped in order to ensure an high level of efficiency, so to take advantage from the international expertise and have a positive impact the planning and implementation process. To this regard it is essential to motivate the staff with economic incentives which would form the basic condition for a full time and really effective work. The staff required for the implementation of the study tasks, and the related estimated costs are the following (see table 5):
Permanent staff: - 1 Urban Planner, team leader (14 months) - 1 Conservation Architect, (14 months) - 1 GIS expert, (14 months) - 1 Municipal engineer, (12 months) - 1 assistant planner (12 months) - 1 assistant architect (12 months) - 1 assistant engineer (12 months) - 1 Senior technician (12 months) - 2 Junior technicians (12 months) - 1 Secretary (bilingual) (12 months) - 1 Accountant (12 months) - 1 Assistant secretary (12 months)
Short term experts - 1 Jurist, institutional expert (6 months) - 1 Historian (3 months) - 2 Project Architect (3 months) - 1 Economist planner (2 months) - 1 Economist (4 months) - 1 Sociologist (4 months) - 1 Anthropologist (3 months) - 2 assistant architects (3 months)
Furthermore, the responsible of the GOPCHY-CATS should be charged with the overall supervision of the work carried out by the Unit, and be bound to report on its activity to the other Yemeni institutions involved and to the UNESCO, at each phase of the Study.
According to the work plan (see Table 5), a total of 206 man/months is required, divided as follows: - Senior staff: 88 m/m - Junior staff: 49 m/m - Technical and administrative staff: 62 m/m - Work supervision (half time): 7 m/m
On the bases of the proposed fees (see table 5), the total cost for the Sana’a Conservation Planning Unit can be estimated to 125.730 USD, including the running costs (10%), to be covered by the national institutions (GOPHCY-CATS, Capital Secretariat, Social Fund for Development) by mean of salaries and/or incentives.
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Financial resources
The tasks outlined above should be implemented in the framework of a strong cooperation between the UNESCO and the Yemeni institutions, according to a task schedule established on the bases of the financial resources that are already available at UNESCO, and of those that should be supplied by the Yemeni institutions (see table 1).
The support of UNESCO would be made possible by the following available resources: 1) A contribution of about 50.000 USD from the budget of the CLT/CH Division, that can not be used for the World Heritage sites, and should be concentrated on: - The extension of the Inventory to the historic settlements of Bir Al Azab, Rawdah, and others; - The organisation of an exhibition in Sana’a and Paris on Sana’a architectural Heritage based on the surveys carried out for the establishment of the Inventory; 2) A contribution of about 100.000 USD from the World Heritage Dutch Trust Fund to cover the costs of the international expertise required for the preparation of the Conservation Plan. It has to be noted that these resources would add to the 86.000 USD from the World Heritage Trust Fund, already used for the previous experts missions (20.000 USD) and for the Inventory of the Old City (66.000 USD), which has been undertaken at the CATS. In total, the UNESCO contribution will sum 216.000 USD.
The Yemeni institutions (Capital Secretariat, Social Fund for Development, GOPHCY-CATS and others) should ensure the financial resources to make possible: - The completion of the Old City Inventory, according to the proposal to be submitted by the CATS to the Social Fund for Development (task 1a); - The establishment and the functioning of the Sana’a Conservation Planning Unit, according to the proposal outlined above (other tasks).
Sana’a, Ferrara, April – May 2005
Daniele Pini
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Table 1 – Activity Schedule
Study Tasks Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 1234567 8 9 10111213 14 1a Inventory of the Old City (completion) 1b Survey on other historic settlements 1c Inventory on other historic settlements 1d Exhibition & brochure 2 Conservation Planning Unit set-up 3a Urban fabric & architectural analysis 3b Housing and real estate market 3c Socio-economic profile 3d Environmental assessment 3e Accessibility, traffic and transportations 3f Legislative and institutional framework 4a Overall Conservation Planning Strategy 4b Land Use and Conservation Zoning 4c Special Action Projects
Activities funded by Yemeni institutions Conservation Field Surveys Inventories Overall Draft Land Use Activities funded by UNESCO - CLT/CH Plan & and CPU finalisation Sector Reports Conservation and Protection Regulations, mobilization (GIS) Strategy Zoning Activities funded by Yemeni institutions and Special Action UNESCO-WHC
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Table 2 – Team Composition
Positions / months Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 12345678910111213 14 1 Urban Planner (coordinator) 2 C onservation Architect 3 GIS expert 4 Survey architect 5 Jurist, institutional expert 6 Historian 7 Economist planner 8Economist 9 Sociologist 10 Anthropologist 11 Municipal engineer 12 Transportation planner 13 Environmental expert 14 Architect 15 Architect 16 Landscape architect 17 Urban Planner (junior) 18 Conservation Architect (Junior) 19 Architect (Junior) 20 Architect (Junior) 21 Secreteray (bilingual) 22 Other administrative and technical staff * 23 Survey & exhibition staff ** 24 CPU supervision
International experts
Conservation Planning Unit
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Table 3 - Inventory of historic settlements (extension) & Exibition (Funded by UNESCO – CLT/CH) m/ fee total n. position m USD/m missions USD 1 planner architect (coordinator) 0.5 5.000 1 4.800 1 GIS expert 0.5 3.500 1 4.050 1 Survey architect 1 3.500 1 5.500 travel and 8 Italian students (survey) 4 accommodation 11.550 8 Yemeni students (survey) 8 150 1.200 4 Yemeni temporary staff (inventory and data entry 8 300 2.400 completion) Staff Total 22 29.500 Equipment (digital cameras, computer) 2.500 Inventory Total 32.000 Exhibition 18.000 Total Inventory & Exhibition 50.000
Table 4 - International expertise for the preparation of the Conservation Plan (Funded by the UNESCO-WHC Dutch Fund) m/ fee total Senior Staff m USD/m missions USD 1 Team coordinator (planner architect) 3 5.000 6 28.800 1 Conservation architect 1.5 5.000 3 14.400 1 GIS expert urban planner 1 4.000 2 8.600 1 Jurist, institutional expert 1 5.000 2 9.600 1 Economist planner 0.5 5.000 1 4.800 1 Economist 0.5 4.000 1 4.300 1 Sociologist 0.5 4.000 1 4.300 1 Anthropologist 0.5 4.000 1 4.300 1 Transportation planner 0.5 5.000 1 4.800 1 Environment expert 0.5 5.000 1 4.800 Senior Staff Total 10 88.700 Junior Staff 1 assistant architect planner 12 1.200 14.400 Total Staff 103.100
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Table 5 - CONSERVATION PLANNING UNIT Organised and Funded by Yemeni Institutions (GOPHCY-CATS, Capital Secretariat, Social Fund for Development and others) Senior Staff m/m fee USD/m total USD 1 Urban Planner (Team coordinator) 14 800 11200 1 Conservation architect 14 700 9800 1 GIS expert 14 700 9800 1 Municipal engineer 12 700 8400 1 Jurist, institutional expert 6 700 4200 1 Historian 3 700 2100 2 Project Architect 3 700 4200 1 Economist planner 2 700 1400 1 Economist 4 700 2800 1 Sociologist 4 700 2800 1 Anthropologist 3 700 2100 1 Transportation planner 3 700 2100 1 Environment expert 3 700 2100 1 Landscape architect 3 700 2100 Total 88 65100 Junior Staff 1 assistant planner 12 300 3600 1 assistant architect 12 300 3600 1 assistant engineer (municipal) 12 300 3600 1 assistant economist planner 2 300 600 1 assistant economist 4 300 1200 1 assistant sociologist 4 300 1200 2 assistant architect (special projects) 3 300 1800 Total 49 15600 Administrative and technical staff 1 Secretary (bilingual) 14 500 7000 1 Accountant 12 500 6000 1 Assistant secretary 12 250 3000 1 Senior technician 12 500 6000 2 Junior technicians 12 250 6000 Total 62 28000 TOTAL STAFF 199 108700 GOPCHY - CATS responsible (half time for Unit work supervision) 7 800 5600 Equipment & Running costs (10%) 206 11430 TOTAL COSTS 125730
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Annex 1 - Schedule of the mission
Saturday 16 April 11:00 Departure from Bologna to Sana’a via Rome 21.00 Arrival in Sana’a
Sunday 17 April 09:00 / 11:00 Meeting at CATS, with the Director Mr Nabil A. Monassar, Mr Abdulhakim K.Al- Sayaghi and part of the team involved in the realisation of the inventory of the Old City. 11.00 / 14:00 Meeting with the Chairman of GOPHCY Dr Abdullah Zaid Ayssa. 15:30 / 18:00 Team work with the group of experts
Monday 18 April 10:00 / 11:00 Meeting at CATS with the Mr Nabil A. Monassar and part of the team; 11:00 / 13:30 Meeting with the Chairman of GOPHCY Dr Abdullah Zaid Ayssa 15:00 / 17:00 Meeting with Mr Abdullah A. Dailami, Deputy Director of the Social Fund and Head of Heritage and Infrastructure Unit 17:00 / Work on the report
Tuesday 19 April 09:00 / 10:15 Meeting with Mr Ahmed M. Al-Kohlani, Capital Mayor 10:30 / 11:00 Meeting with Mr. Abdullah Bawazeer, President General organisation of Antiquities and Museums 11:30 / 12:45 Meeting with Eng. Taefeek Albehem, Head of Planning Department, Ministry of Public Works and Urban Development: discussion on the undergoing procedure to undertake the new Master Plan of the Grater Sana’a. 13:00 / 14.00 Meeting with Dr. Yaseen Ahmed Own, Acting Dean, Faculty of Engineering, and Dr. Mohamed Sellam, Head of the Department of Architecture, University of Sana’a: discussion on the possible collaboration with the Facoltà di Architettura di Ferrara to perform the field surveys on the historic centres of Bir Al Azab and Rawdah. 15:30 / 19.00 Work on the report
Wednesday 20 April 10:00 / 11:30 team work at CATS 12:00 / 15:00 meeting and lunch with Dr Abdullah Zaid Ayssa, Dr. Yaseen Ahmed Own, Dr. Mohamed Sellam, and GOPCHY-CATS team: discussion on the Work Plan and the organisation of the Conservation Planning Unit 15:00 / 17:30 Work on the report 17:30 / 18:30 Meeting with Eng. Nabil Monassar and Arch. Al Hadrami from the Social Fund for Development: discussion on the Work Plan for the elaboration of the Greater Sana’a Conservation Plan
Thursday 21 April 10:00 / 17:30 Visit to archaeological sites of Marib and Baraqish
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Friday 22 April 9.00 / 13.00 Work on the report 18.00 / 19.00 Meeting with Mr Nabil A. Monassar Saturday 23 April 01:00 / 11:00 Flying to Rome and Bologna.
18 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
UNESCO – WORLD HERITAGE CENTRE
ACTIVITY REPORT
By Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
Name: Luca Lanzoni, consultant
Saveria Teston, consultant
Date of mission: 9th – 21st April 2005
Request: In the framework of the Italy/UNESCO Joint Declaration for the Protection of the World’s Cultural and Natural Heritage
Project Title: Conservation of the Old City of Sana’a
Town: Sana’a
Country: Yemen
Region: Arab States
Budget code n°: 534GLO4000.3
1 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
CONTENT
Terms of reference 3 Summary of the mission 3 Acknowledgements 3 Background to the mission 4
1. INTENTORY OF THE OLD CITY OF SANA’A: CURRENT SITUATION...……………………. 6
1.1 Current situation………………………………………………………………………………….. 6 1.1.1 Work team………………………………………………………………………………. 6 1.1.2 Update of the traditional and digital cartography …………………..………………. 7 1.1.3 Surveyed areas…………………………………………………………………………. 10 1.1.4 Photos and data entry ………………………………………………………………… 11 1.1.5 Suq area ……………..…………………………………………………………………. 13 1.2 Hypothesis of analysis for the Conservation Plan……………………………………………. 14
2. PROPOSAL FOR THE INVENTORY OF BIR AL-AZAB………………………………………… 19
2.1 Cartographic basis………………………………..……………………………………………… 19 2.2 Urban analysis and GIS – A possible model for Bir al-Azab ……………………………….. 20 2.3 Working phases………………………………………………………………………………….. 21 2.4 Work group……………………………………………………………………………………….. 21 2.5 Tools………………………………………………………………………………………………. 21
3. PROPOSAL FOR THE INVENTORY OF RAWDAH……………………………………………... 22
3.1 Cartographic basis………………………………..……………………………………………… 22 3.2 Urban analysis and GIS – A possible model for Rawdah…. ……………………………….. 23 3.3 Working phases………………………………………………………………………………….. 23
Annex 1 – Schedule of the mission 24 Annex 2 –Work team 27 Annex 3 –Survey forms 28 Annex 4 – Suq area survey form 35
2 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. Prepare a work-plan and a tentative schedule to accomplish the tasks.
2. Undertake a mission of two weeks to Sana'a to verify the progress made by the local team in carrying out the inventory of the Old City of Sana’a and the insertion of data in the GIS.
3. Check and collect the existing cartography to prepare the digitised base map of the Old City of Sana'a concerning the area of Bir al-Azab and Rawdah.
4. Identify the different sectors to serve of Bir al-Azab and Rawdah as a base for the building and open spaces inventory of this area;
5. Prepare an hypothesis of survey form to be used for carrying out the building inventory of Bir al-Azab and Rawdah, taking as a reference the form used in the survey of the Old City of Sana’a.
SUMMARY OF THE MISSION
The Mission was carried out in the framework of the Italian Fund with the World Heritage Centre (W.H.C.).
Meetings were held with representatives of the authorities involved and site visits were organised with Mr Nabil A. Monassar. These discussions with the local staff highlighted the problems which emerged in the last months (which caused the halt of the inventory for three months) and which were created by an inefficient organisation into groups of the work team. Moreover, during the meetings, proposals to revise the working method of the team and to simplify the survey sheets were again suggested. The visits to Bir al-Azab and to Rawdah were organised to check the model to use for constructing a specific GIS to manage the urban and architectural heritage of these historic settlements.
Progress had been made in the updating of the cartography and in the field survey. On the other hand, contrary to our advice, the updating of digital map and the data entry stopped, creating a considerable delay in achieving the project tasks. However, we verified that the little information inserted into the GIS was reliable and the work was done very well: this is very important for the continuation of the GIS project. Unfortunately the people in charge of the computer changed and the training had to start all over again.
On our arrival the working space was still well-organised, proving that the work team is able to manage in the right way all the information collected on the ground. Also the internet connection, which is very useful for the communication between us and the survey team, was available. At the end of the mission a third computer was connected to the intranet in order to optimise the work.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The W.H.C. wishes to express its gratitude to the following people:
Dr. Abdullah Zaid Ayssa, Chairman of GOPCHY, his colleague Mr Nabil A. Monassar and Miss Julia Thielebein for their time, organisation, support and great hospitality;
Dr Abdullah O. Al-Fadli, Chairman of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Survey Authority & Land Reg., and Arch. Kahtan Mohammed Al-Hada, Director of the Department of Urban Development Data, for their time, help and availability.
The team of C.A.T.S., Miss Sandra Poschmann, junior technical advisor, and Mr Jamal Majam, for their professionalism, seriousness and enthusiasm.
3 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
BACKGROUND TO THE MISSION
The Old City of Sana’a was entered on the World Heritage List in 1986. After this recognition, many missions have been carried out by UNESCO and other national or international agencies in order to appraise its state of conservation and the works in progress for its protection. In this framework, in June 2003, following the request of the Yemen Government to WHC – UNESCO for help to prepare a Conservation and Rehabilitation Plan1 for the Old City and to establish appropriate conservation measures, a mission was carried out by Prof. Daniele Pini and Franca Miglioli. At the end of the mission the international consultants proposed a series of well co- ordinated actions aiming at the establishment and implementation of a conservation and rehabilitation strategy. These actions should be carried out in the following phases:
Start-up phase 1. Approval of the Draft Law for the Protection of Historic Cities and approval of the Draft Building Law; 2. Institutional and functional strengthening of GOPCHY; 3. Clear definition of “violations”; 4. Preparation of the digitised map; 5. Outline of the survey form for the building inventory.
Phase 1 1. Identification of protection areas and “buffer areas”; 2. Establishment of non aedificandi areas; 3. Establishment of a temporary building regulation; 4. Inventory of built-up structures and open spaces in the Old City; 5. Identification of the other historical settlements.
Phase 2 1. Priority projects to be carried out in the sensitive areas; 2. Inventory of built-up structures and open spaces in the other historic settlements (Bir Al Azab, Rawdah and the wadi Dhar settlements).
Phase 3 1. Setting up of the Conservation and Rehabilitation Plan.
The tasks of the missions which we carried out concerned the achievement of the following points:
1. Preparation of the digitised map of the Old City of Sana’a (start-up phase); 2. Outline of the survey form for the building inventory of the Old City (start-up phase); 3. Inventory of built-up structures and open spaces in the Old City (phase 1); 4. Identification of the other historical settlements (phase 1).
In order to prepare the first mission more efficiently, which took place in January 2004, part of the work was carried out in Italy in December 2003, namely:
- the preparation of a digitised map of the Old City devoted to the management of the future conservation plan, to be used as a basis for the building inventory and the construction of a GIS; - the preparation of a survey form, aimed at the creation of a GIS, to be used for the inventory of buildings.
1 The Conservation and Rehabilitation Plan has to be considered on the one hand as a tool to prevent further damage to a World Heritage site and, on the other hand, as a framework for all interventions which are oriented to preserve the Old City as a living city, making the most of its invaluable cultural asset as a resource for a more sustainable urban development.
4 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
During the mission of January 2004 (see the report: attachment n. 1) it was noted that the 1994 map, digitised in Italy and to be used as a basis to carry out the survey and to elaborate the Conservation Plan, was not reliable. Hence a work plan was organised which includes a campaign to update the cartography and to construct a reliable basis for the description of the Old City. Furthermore, to succeed in drawing up the final version of the survey form, a series of working sessions were organised with the local team to decide upon shared definitions of the terms present in the survey form and to identify the methodologies for data collection. The alterations and specifications to the survey form were then verified in situ, in a circumscribed but significant sample area of the Old City of Sana’a. The most prominent themes that emerged during the debates concerned:
1. the description of the “objects” to survey, reaching the following subdivision: building, front elevation, open private spaces, open public spaces, bir, marnha, sabil; 2. the creation of an “open” information structure, to be implemented over time. 3. the detailing of the information to collect, clearly delimiting the elements that are fundamental for the design and management of the conservation plan. 4. the debate about the meaning of the word “style”.
Moreover, it was observed that the survey team needed more homogeneous knowledge in the architectural-urban field and in the concept of the GIS tool; therefore a training course was advised before we came for the second mission. At the end of the mission we also designed a handbook which contains a series of directions about the survey operations necessary for the construction of a GIS devoted to the management of the architectural heritage of the Old City of Sana’a. They are very practical suggestions for the realisation of the work on the ground, aimed at facilitating and better understanding the different phases of the survey.
The second mission was carried out in July 2004 (see the report: attachment n. 2), during which:
- the office dedicated to the GIS project and informational tools were organised in order to prepare an efficient working space; - the survey team was trained, enabling them to update the cartography, to carry out field surveys, photographic campaign and data entry and to use the Geographical Informational System (GIS); - the possible “future studies” to implement the GIS project, within a broadened working context compared to the present one of GOPHCY, were “explored”; - the other historic settlements to be protected and the methodology to use to construct a proper GIS for each of them were identified;
Moreover, it was observed that the training course, proposed in the previous report and requiered to give the survey team a more homogeneous knowledge in the concept of the GIS tool, was not useful because it dealt only with the ArcView software, creating some confusion within the survey team.
Owing to this misunderstanding, another mission had to be carried out in October 2004 (see the report: attachment n. 3). The tasks of this mission concerned the solution of the technical problems encountered during the previous months and a more in-depth training to the survey team on the use of GIS.
Finally, the tasks of the present mission concern the assessment of the progress made by the local team in carrying out the inventory of the Old City of Sana’a and the insertion of data in the GIS. Furthermore, we have to: - check and collect the existing cartography of Bir al-Azab and Rawdah in order to prepare the maps to use as basis for the GIS devoted to these historical settlements; - propose a hypothesis of survey form to be used for carrying out the building inventory of Bir al- Azab and Rawdah, taking as a reference the form used in the survey of the Old City of Sana’a.
5 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
1. INVENTORY OF THE OLD CITY OF SANA’A
1.1 Current situation
Following a careful assessment (which will be described in detail in the next paragraphs) on the progress of the work carried out by the survey team, we can state that the situation, despite the small amount of work performed in its entirety (including that is data entry), can be evaluated positively, since the work done so far is extremely accurate and precise, demonstrating a remarkable professional growth of the people involved in the project2. It must be underlined that the slow progress made in the computer work is also due to the incompetence and scarce presence of Eng. Mohammed Al-Saidi, who was chosen by Mr. Abdulhakim K. Al-Sayaghi (local Co-ordinator) as GIS local expert. Since the beginning of the project (January 2004), the local partners have several times shown diffidence concerning our choice of GeoMedia software for the construction of GIS project. This scepticism derived from the fact that the local GIS expert claimed that Arcview, which is more famous but less suitable then GeoMedia, was the most (or the only) program used in Yemen for GIS. The local staff was repeatedly told that Arcview is an excellent tool to visualise the data, but it must be used when all the data are in our possession and well-organised within a database. In the case of the Old City of Sana’a, it was necessary to construct a system from scratch: design of the whole map, plan and creation of the database and data entry. In order to achieve our aims, the most suitable tool was (and still is) GeoMedia, in that it allows easy construction and management of the whole project process. Moreover, during this mission, we discovered that, at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Survey Authority & Land Reg., the technicians do, in fact, use GeoMedia. Hence, we may deduce it was not the choice of software that was mistaken, but the choice of the GIS local expert, who should have supported the local staff in the implementation of the project. In the light of this report, we advise that the software choice should not be changed, but that the local consultants should be chosen more accurately.
1.1.1. Work team
During the mission carried out in July 2004, the survey team was divided into two groups, one followed a specific training on the informational tools required for the GIS construction, the other followed a specific training on the update of traditional cartography, the photographic campaign, photo management and cataloguing and the right way to fill in survey forms. At the end of both training sessions practical work was carried out by the survey team so as to allow them a better understanding of the step sequence to be followed in order to achieve the goals correctly, i.e.: reliable construction of cartographic basis, implementation of the inventory, exact insertion of data collected with G.U.I. ( Graphic User Interface), creation of the links between data and GIS features. On the last training day, so that each person could further realise his/her own responsibility, the survey team was divided into 4 groups, composed of 3 people, and specific tasks were assigned to each component. Each group had one person in charge of computers, one in charge of cartography update and photos, one in charge of the filling in of the survey sheets. Furthermore, two people within the survey team were chosen as supervisors: Samir Al-Shwafi was in charge of checking the survey work in progress and arranging all the materials necessary for the survey on the ground; Aziza Al-Sageer was in charge of checking the correctness of the work carried out by the group which is going to use informational tools. Finally, a quick practical test, at the end of the training, proved that the survey team had correctly understood the different steps to be undertaken in order to achieve the final goal.
2 Heart-felt thanks to Sandra Poschmann for her work and support to the survey team, which were fundamental for the achievement of the present results.
6 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
On our arrival, we were told that this organisation into groups of the work team had been inefficient and had created some problems, which caused (together with other difficulties) the halt of the inventory for about three months. We held meetings with Mr Nabil A. Monassar, Miss Julia Thielebein and Miss Sandra Poschmann and we decided all together to reorganise the work team (see annex 2). The people in charge of computers (except for Rashad Al-Miglafi) were changed and the training had to start all over again. The first training lessons were given during our mission and, fortunately, Miss Sandra Poschmann agreed to finish the whole training before her departure (which was arranged for the 15th of May). During the mission, the people in charge of the field survey went on with their work and we could ascertain that they are carrying out their duty in a very proper way. For this reason Samir Al- Shwafi’s appointment was renewed.
1.1.2. Update of the traditional and digital cartography
During the mission performed in July 2004, the whole area of the Old City of Sana’a was divided into autonomous sectors (A,B,C,D,F,G,H,J). Each sector was divided into 4 smaller areas (i.e. A1, A2, A3, A4), to provide a quick check of the work in progress.
The whole area of the Old City of Sana’a divided into autonomous sectors.
To carry out the cartography update, the survey team is following our previous advice: the work precincts are printed on a A3-size sheet; the division of these zones follow the street line and the work scale is 1:500. Also the main steps to be undertaken to update the traditional cartography, which are reported in succession, are being respected:
7 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
Identify the survey area on the existing digitised cartography.
Print it on a A3-size sheet. The subdivision should follow the street line so as to identify homogeneous zones.
On the ground, all the new buildings and existing buildings which have been modified are to be identified, first with a pencil, then, when shape is clearly defined, with a red pen.
The open spaces are to be identified with a black pen.
In the office the updated map must be re-drawn: buildings must be drawn with a thick tip black pen and open spaces with a thin tip black pen.
The final result is a work map on which all the existing alterations have been recorded.
This basis will be used during the collection of the information on the ground.
8 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
It was also noted that all the updated A3-size maps are being catalogued in the appropriate A3-size folders, which are arranged on the proper shelves. The organisation of folders follows the division of the whole area of the Old City of Sana’a into autonomous sectors (we have A1-folder, A2-folder, A3-folder, A4-folder, B1-folder, and so on).
At the same time as the field survey and the updating of the existing cartography, the computer team is updating (with the help of Miss Sandra Poschmann) the digital cartography, paying attention to the quality of the vectorial information and particularly to the following points:
Verification of the continuity of the lines.
A line representing one border or one side of a building must not show interruptions or discontinuity along its development.
Verification of the intersections.
A series of lines representing the corner of buildings or open spaces must not show any interruptions or superimposition of lines.
Verification of the final points of lines.
A series of lines representing an inside division between buildings or open spaces must not show any interruptions.
The vectorial cartography thus obtained can then be used as chief support for the GIS, in which each geometry identifies objects, buildings, main fronts and open spaces.
9 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
At the end of our mission the alterations concerning the areas J and H (see the following image) had been inserted into the GIS.
1.1.3. Surveyed areas
The survey started the 8th of August 2004 and in the following image it is possible to see the areas which had been surveyed until the 21st of April 2005.
10 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
To be exact, the following was surveyed: - 2910 buildings; - 809 non built-up areas; - 11 Bustan or Megshamat; - 16 Bir; - 9 Marnha; - 3 Sabil.
On request of the survey team, in order to use less paper and simplify the field survey, the survey sheets were modified once again. Some items, which were not fundamental for the construction and management of the Conservation Plan, were deleted and some of them were integrated to others (see annex 3). In this way we hope that the whole work will be finished in the estimated time.
1.1.4. Photos and data entry
In July, to implement the GIS project, the GOPHCY (General Organisation for the Preservation of the Historic Cities of Yemen) provided a specific office, which was organised in order to simplify and clarify, as much as possible, which actions are to be carried out in the two computers at our disposal (Server_gis and Client_gis). At the end of the present mission a third computer (Photos_gis), kindly provided by CATS (Centre of Architectural Training and Studies), was connected to the intranet in order to optimise the work. The most powerful computer (Server_gis – working point 1) was chosen as server of the intranet created in the office. Hence all the information will be saved in a single hard disk, avoiding scattering and difficulty for data management. The following software were set-up in Server_gis: Photoshop; Access 97 and GeoMedia 4. The computer Client_gis - working point 2 will be used (as Server_gis interface) to manage the photos and to insert the data collected on the ground; as a consequence only the following software were set-up in this machine: Photoshop and Access 97. The computer Photos_gis – working point 3 will be used (always as Server_gis interface) only to manage the photos; as a consequence only Photoshop software was set-up in this machine.
Intranet Server_gis Client_gis Working point 1 Working point 2
Photos_gis
Working point 3
During the present mission we verified that the photographic campaign was carried out in the proper way and the photos were renamed and saved as we advised in the previous report. Unfortunately, we noticed that the suggested meetings with local experts (e.g. Arch. Yasin Ghalib Hassan and Eng. Abdulmalit Azzan), which could have been useful to discuss the most difficult cases encountered during the survey, have not been held. These work sessions may be arranged in the future in order to give support to the survey team.
Concerning the data entry, the Graphic User Interface, which was built during the July mission to manage the information collected within the GIS, was replaced in consequence of the changes which had been brought to the survey sheets. The present G.U.I. (see the following image) faithfully reflects the item sequence which had been drawn up in the survey sheets. This device should facilitate the work of the people in charge of data entry.
11 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
In the following image it is possible to see (coloured in yellow) all the buildings to which an ID number has been assigned. This means that these buildings have been identified within the GIS.
12 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
Instead, in the following image, it is possible to see (coloured in green) all the buildings whose information had been inserted into Access through the Graphic User Interface. This means that these buildings have been identified within the GIS and that the geographical information has been linked with the information collected on the ground and inserted into the system.
It is evident that the work performed in its entirety (data entry included) does not concern many buildings (280 out of 8000 buildings), but it must be considered that the whole process was completely carried out by the local staff. For this reason the time required to build the whole organisation was very long. Nevertheless, for the same reason, we have verified that now the work team is able to perform every single step autonomously and this is a very important resource for the local government. We also appreciated the accuracy shown by each person involved in this survey, which can be considered a guarantee for the correct finishing of the inventory.
1.1.5. Suq area
During the first mission (January 2004) it was noted that the suq area requires a different survey sheet from the one for the Old City, because, in this particular ambit, the urban structure varies above all as regards building heights, aggregation rules and the function of open spaces. Subsequently, in July 2004, a specific suq area survey sheet was drawn up with the help of Mr Abdulhakim K. Al-Sayaghi. It was carried out focusing on specific information: the morphology of buildings, alterations, vertical additions, functional aspects and the identification of different commercial and artisan sectors and their impact on the suq area. During the present mission the above-mentioned survey sheet was checked and refined (see annex 4) with the help of Mr Nabil A. Monassar, whose presence has always been precious and fundamental to obtain the best results.
13 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
1.2 Hypothesis of analysis for the Conservation Plan
Starting from the first information collected on the ground and inserted into the system we have tried to hypothesise which analyses could be useful for the implementation of the Conservation Plan. These analyses derive from a sample of 280 buildings, which are situated in the north-west part of the Old City, near Tahrir square. The survey team started from this zone to carry out the inventory. The following analyses reproduce most of the items collected during the field survey and, in some cases, they cross them in order to check the undergoing urban dynamics.
• Building height (number of floors) – This item identifies the vertical development of the city and the shape of skyline. • General condition of the building – This item identifies the general quality of each single building and points out areas of degradation. • Function of the ground floor – This item identifies the main function of the ground floor and points out the development of commercial functions. • Main function of upper storeys – This item identifies the main function of upper storeys. • Architectural quality – This item identifies the quality of each single building through the architectural shape. • Required intervention and architectural quality – On the basis of previous analyses it is possible to identify which buildings are to be rehabilitated. • Vertical addition – This item identifies which buildings have been made higher during the last 15 years. • Aerial and water tanks – This item identifies the presence of these technological systems. • Contemporary structures on the roof – This item identifies the presence of modern architectural structures.
Building height (Number of floors)
The first analysis concerns the building height expressed with the number of floors. The dynamics of the vertical urban growth can be understood through this information; moreover, it is possible to understand which buildings may be elevated (from 2 to 3 floors or from 3 to 4 floors), without destroying the city skyline.
14 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
General condition of the building
The second analysis concerns the check of the general condition of the buildings; it is not a question of architectural quality, but of building repair. This kind of analysis allows us to understand the condition of the urban heritage and the areas, if they exist, that are in the worst condition within the Old City.
Function of the ground floor
The analysis of the function of the ground floor permits us to verify the dynamics of transformation linked to the functional changes of some zones of the Old City. This kind of control can be useful to check the opening of shops in buildings which had always been a residence.
15 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
Main function of upper storeys
Unlike the analysis of the function of ground floor, in this case the inserted information concerns the identification of the main function. Hence the analysis visualises a situation in which the identified functions are the most relevant.
Architectural quality
This kind of analysis allows us to verify the buildings architectural quality. The collected information highlights three different levels of quality: good, ordinary and inconsistent. These definitions are connected to the presence of the elements which characterise the traditional architecture of the Old City of Sana’a.
16 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
Required intervention and architectural quality
The typologies of the interventions which should be carried out were compared with the architectural quality of the buildings. For example, in this way, it can be verified whether buildings of good quality in need of rehabilitation exist. In the above-reproduced situation almost all the buildings need interventions which vary from rehabilitation to restoration.
Vertical addition
Through this analysis it is possible to check how many buildings have been made higher during the last 15 years. In this specific case 67 surveyed buildings, out of 280, have changed their shape: 17 buildings present a vertical addition consistent with the building architectural characteristics, whereas 42 are inconsistent to the building. 8 buildings have not been classified.
17 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
Aerial and water tanks
This analysis highlights the presence of additional elements (namely aerials and water tanks) which are visible from the street, on the roof of the buildings. This item is useful to check the visual impact which these technological systems have on the city.
Contemporary structures on the roof
Also in this case, the collected and visualised information concerns the structures which are on the roof. In particular this analysis verifies the architectural quality of the Mafraj which have recently been built.
18 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
2. PROPOSAL FOR THE INVENTORY OF BIR AL-AZAB
In the last decades, Bir al-Azab has radically changed. The city gates and wall have been completely demolished. The remaining historic fabric, which was characterised by rich houses surrounded by gardens and cultivated areas, is now densely built-up. Most of this pattern has been redeveloped to realise new residential neighbourhoods or to build new institutional, administrative or service settlements, in connection with the opening of new thoroughfares or the widening of the ancient streets and paths leading to the gates. Only the densely built-up pattern of the former Jewish district of Al Qa’a has been preserved in its integrity, though in bad conditions of repair. As a consequence, most of the open areas have disappeared, and the spatial continuity of the ancient fabric has definitively been broken, even if numerous heritage features of high interest (palaces and houses with their gardens, some bustan, and so on) still remain preserved, though often abandoned or in danger of collapse. Since modernisation is imminent, something will have to be done quickly in order to save the rest of this historic place.
2.1 Cartographic basis
For Bir al-Azab, as was the case for the Old City, an updated and reliable cartographic basis is essential for the construction of a GIS which will be used as a starting point for the field surveys. At present (April 2005) we have at our disposal a cartography, composed of different maps in raster format, which covers the entire study area. The problem linked to this point is that we do not know the when each map was last updated, so the general cartography is made up of different elements of different ages with different types of information: missing buildings, areas with background painting (presumably planned areas), new streets and buildings not marked on the map, etc. Should the GIS model be constructed for homogeneous areas the existing cartography could be used with no problem; this model only requires the areas to be identified without surveying each individual building. In this case updating would be superfluous. Instead, if the GIS model similar to the one used for the Old City were to be chosen, the existing cartography would have to be completely updated and each building would have to be surveyed.
The cartography composed of the various assembled maps for the study of Bir al-Azab
19 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
2.2 Urban analysis and GIS – A possible model for Bir al-Azab
On the basis of the ongoing experience in the Old City of Sana’a, it is possible to say that the same phases (from planning to construction) followed for it may, more or less, be utilised for Bir al-Azab. A comparison of the two urban structures reveals how different they are; the former is a historical city with continuity between one building and another and where the built-up areas prevail over the open spaces; on the contrary, in the latter, the open spaces prevail over the built-up areas. As stated in the previous reports, Bir al-Azab is to be considered as a garden city where the building typologies, similar to the ones surveyed in the Old City, are within an urban pattern composed of Bustan and private gardens. In such a context it would be advisable to revise the survey method utilised for the Old City; in the case of Bir al-Azab and in expectation of the foreseen Conservation Plan, analyses should evidence the following points:
Traditional, modern and mixed urban Identified through Urban structure patterns. homogeneous areas Residence, commerce, administrative, Identified through the Functional structure representative analysis of urban fronts. Bustan, private gardens with urban Identified through Open spaces structure importance. homogeneous areas Buildings of value for their architectural Identified through their Buildings of interest quality. shape and position
Concerning the “Buildings of interest”, it is possible to hypothesise a subsequent analysis, using as a reference the structure of the survey form drawn up for the Old City. In this hypothesis the identified buildings could be described using more detailed information to protect them in the proper way. This kind of system can also be used as a model of reference to which the regulation for the management of the identified heritage can be connected. Thinking of the Conservation Plan, this system could be joined with the one of the Old City so as to construct a single GIS, which, of course, will present two different scales of in-depth studies: the former (Bir al-Azab) concerns the identification and the management of large areas where buildings of value emerge, the latter (Old City of Sana’a) concerns the identification and the management of each single building. For this model of GIS the existing cartography can be used.
Hypothesis for the GIS devoted to Bir al-Azab.
20 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
2.3 Working phases
Collection of the existing cartography to construct the GIS:
April 2005 Sana’a - Yemen - traditional cartography - aerial photos - historical maps
Scan of the existing cartography, preparation of the digitised base map and construction of the GIS devoted to the field survey.
May – June 2005 Ferrara - Italy Drawing up of the survey sheet for the survey of “Building of interest” .
Training of the survey team of the Faculty of Architecture of Ferrara
Carry out a mission in order to define the July 2005 Sana’a - Yemen homogeneous areas and to identify the “Buildings of interest”.
Collect the information to be joined to the buildings and check of the homogeneous areas August 2005 Sana’a - Yemen which should be identified during the previous mission.
2.4 Work group
The work group will be composed of 8 students of the Faculty of Architecture of Ferrara and 8 students of the Faculties of Architecture and Engineering of Sana’a. The training of the Italian survey team will be carried out at the Faculty of Architecture of Ferrara. The students will be trained on urban survey method and GIS methodologies. In particular the ongoing experience of the Old City of Sana’a will be used as an example. The students of Sana’a will be trained on the job during the survey; in fact, each survey group will be composed of one Italian student and one student of Yemen.
2.5 Tools
For this survey phase we advise buying the following informational tools:
Tool Description Cost
Personal computer to be used for the urban surveys and the information collected on the N°1 Personal Computer 1500 $ ground for the case studies of Bir al Azab, Rawdha or other historical settlements.
N° 2 digital cameras To be used as support for the urban surveys. 1000 $
21 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
3. PROPOSAL FOR THE INVENTORY OF RAWDAH
The main building typology of Rawdah is similar to that of the Old City of Sana’a, but the urban pattern is different. Rawdah presents multilevel buildings mostly made of mixed building techniques (mainly Zabur and stone blocks). The houses are built within a plot, which is used as a garden or kitchen garden; each property is delimited by walls built in the same material as the houses (usually zabur). The Rawdah “harat” (“quarters”) can be recognised because they are divided from each other by large open spaces, whose function is not clear. The buildings present the same architectural elements that may be seen in Sana’a; openings, windows and decorations may be considered similar as regards dimension and materials. In such a situation, the inventory and analysis methodology proposed for the Old City of Sana’a can easily be applied. The survey sheets can be drawn up starting from the ongoing experience and they can be adapted for Rawdah.
3.1 Cartographic basis
To deal with the case study of Rawdah, we should have at our disposal a series of cartography which date back to different times, in order to compare the changes. Unlike the Old City or Bir al- Azab, which are sites somehow defined by certain borders, Rawdah needs the identification of historical boundaries. To mark this border we need historical and present maps, on which we could point out persistence, alterations, new parcelling out, etc. During the present mission we obtained only one paper cartography dated 1983 (scale 1:2000), which was found at the Ministry of Public Works and Highways. At the Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Survey Authority & Land Reg. we also found a more recent (1994) digital cartography, which presents a very good and high resolution. Unfortunately we were not allowed to have it for bureaucratic reasons. Hence we will use the 1983 cartography as a basis to set up the GIS for Rawdah. This situation creates some limitation to the work timetable: whereas, for Bir al-Azab, we hope to start the inventory in the next mission, for Rawdah we will only be able to check the existence of historical documents in order to build a reliable cartographic basis.
Scanned aerial cartography, dated 1994. This document exists also in digital format at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Survey Authority & Land Reg.
22 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
3.2 Urban analysis and GIS – A possible model for Rawdah
As for Bir al-Azab, we advise using, also for Rawdah, an analysis and management model which can be built for large areas. The analysis will be conducted on homogeneous urban areas, highlighting their qualities (architecture, functions and open spaces). We can hypothesise, concerning the “Building of interest”, a subsequent analysis, which could have, as reference, the structure of the survey sheet drawn up for the Old City of Sana’a. In this hypothesis a series of more detailed information could be joined to the identified buildings, in order to protect them in the proper way. This kind of work will emphasise the urban pattern of Rawdah and its architectural emergence. At the same time it could be used as the model to which the legislative framework for the management of the identified heritage of Rawdah could be connected. In such a context and thinking of a possible Conservation plan, the analysis should point out the following items:
Traditional, modern and mixed Identified through homogeneous Urban structure urban patterns. areas Residence, commerce, Identified through the analysis of Functional structure administrative, representative urban fronts. Bustan, private gardens with urban Identified through homogeneous Open spaces structure importance. areas Buildings of value for their Identified through their shape Buildings of interest architectural quality. and position
3.3 Working phases
Preparation of the digitised base map (starting from the cartography at our disposal) and first May - June 2005 Ferrara - Italy check of the historical urban boundary of Rawdah.
Check on the ground of the marked urban boundary and collection of the useful July 2005 Sana’a - Yemen documents (historical cartography, aerial photos, etc).
23 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
ANNEX 1 – SCHEDULE OF THE MISSION
Saturday 9th April
10:50 Departure from Bologna 23:30 Arrival in Sana’a
Sunday 10th April
09:30 / 12:00 Beginning of the evaluation of the progress made by the local team in carrying out the inventory of the Old City of Sana’a and in data entry.
12:00 / 13:30 Meeting with Dr Abdullah Zaid Ayssa, Chairman of GOPCHY, Mr. Abdulhakim K. Al-Sayaghi, Mr Nabil A. Monassar, Director of CATS, Arch. Yasin Ghalib Hassan, Miss Julia Thielebein, advisor, Miss Sandra Poschmann, junior technical advisor. Discussion on the problems which emerged in the last months (which caused the halt of the inventory for three months) and explanation of the problems created by an inefficient organisation into groups of the work team. Proposals to revise the working method of the team and to simplify the survey sheets again.
15:00 / 18:30 Work on the survey sheets with Miss Sandra Poschmann.
Monday 11th April
09:00 / 13:30 Work on the survey sheets in order to bring about the suggested alterations.
15:00 / 19:00 Work on the survey sheets and on the database in order to create an adequate Graphic User Interface consistent with the new survey sheets.
Tuesday 12th April
09:00 / 13:30 Work on the survey sheets in order to bring about the suggested alterations.
15:00 / 19:00 Work on the survey sheets and on the database in order to create an adequate Graphic User Interface consistent with the new survey sheets.
Wednesday 13th April
09:00 / 10:30 Discussion on the new survey sheets with Miss Sandra Poschmann.
10:30 / 11:30 Meeting with Miss Julia Thielebein and Miss Sandra Poschmann. Discussion on the possibility to find a more effective organisation of the work team in order to finish the inventory of the old city of Sana’a.
11.30 /13:30 Meeting with Miss Sandra Poschmann, Mr Nabil A. Monassar and the work team. Discussion on the new survey sheets.
15:00 / 19:30 Work on the survey sheets and on the database in order to create an adequate Graphic User Interface consistent with the new survey sheets.
Thursday 14th April
09:00 / 12:30 Visit of Bir al-Azab. Check of the method to be used to carry out the urban survey of Bir al-Azab.
14:30 / 19:00 Construction of the proposed GIS model for Bir al-Azab and work on the report.
24 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
Friday 15th April
07:30 / 10:00 Visit of Rawdah with Mr Nabil A. Monassar. During the visit it was realised that the cartography in our possession was not useful to carry out the urban survey of Rawdah.
10:00 /13:00 Work on the GIS model for Bir al-Azab and work on the report.
15:00 / 19:00 Work on the report
Saturday 16th April
09:00 / 13:30 Work on the new survey sheets. Meeting with Miss Franca Miglioli to show her both the progress made by the local team in carrying out the inventory of the Old City of Sana’a and in the data entry and the work done by the consultants.
14:30 / 16:00 Preparation of the definitive version of the survey sheets.
16:00 / 20:00 Meeting with Miss Franca Miglioli, Mr Nabil A. Monassar and Miss Sandra Poschmann to prepare the meeting arranged for tomorrow.
Sunday 17th April
08:30 / 11:00 Meeting with Mr Daniele Pini and Miss Franca Miglioli to prepare the arranged meeting.
11:00 / 12:00 Work with Miss Sandra Poschmann on the material to be shown during the arranged meeting.
12:00 / 13:30 Meeting with Mr Daniele Pini, Miss Franca Miglioli, Dr. Abdullah Zaid Ayssa, Chairman of GOPCHY, Mr. Abdulhakim K. Al-Sayaghi, Mr Nabil A. Monassar, Miss Julia Thielebein and Miss Sandra Poschmann. Discussion on the current situation and the proposals to finish the GIS project.
14:30 / 19:00 Meeting with Mr Daniele Pini and Miss Franca Miglioli. Discussion on the proposals to carry out the urban survey for Bir al-Azab and Rawdah.
Monday 18th April
09:00 / 10:30 Visit to the Ministry of Public Works and Highways, Department of Urban Development Data, with Mr Nabil A. Monassar. Arch. Kahtan Mohammed Al-Hada, Director of the above-mentioned Department, gave us the existing aerial photos of Rawdah.
10:30 / 13:30 The informational engineer of Al-Falak computer came to CATS to repair the internal net and to add a third computer to it. Work on the aerial photos found at the Ministry of Public Works and Highways; the files were failed therefore it was not possible to open them. Explanation of the new database to Miss Sandra Poschmann.
14:30 / 17:30 Work on the suq area survey sheet with Mr Nabil A. Monassar and Miss Sandra Poschmann.
17:30 / 19:00 Visit to the suq area to test the survey sheet.
Tuesday 19th April
09:30 / 13:30 Beginning of the computer team’s training and check of the data inserted into the system.
25 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
15:00 / 19:30 Work on the report; check of the data inserted into the system and creation of the first hypothesis of analysis.
Wednesday 20th April
09:00 / 13:00 Visit to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Survey Authority & Land Reg., with Mr Nabil A. Monassar, in order to find the existing cartography of Rawdah. Dr Abdullah O. Al-Fadli, Chairman of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers – Survey Authority & Land Reg., helped us to find the necessary material.
13:00 / 15:00 Lunch offered by GOPHCY at Arabia Felix.
15:00 / 17:00 Organisation of the next mission with Mr Nabil A. Monassar and Miss Sandra Poschmann.
17:00 / 19:00 Work on the report.
Thursday 21st April
00:50 Departure from Sana’a.
14:00 Arrival in Bologna.
26 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
ANNEX 2 – WORK TEAM
Group Name
Rashad Al-Miglafi
Computer team Harbia Khaleb
Amin Hamood
Aziza Al-Sageer
Survey team n. 1 Baschir Al-Keinai
Fathi Al-Yafie
Samir Al-Shwafi In charge of survey team
Survey team n. 2 Faisal Al-Dheibani
Saleh Al-Maskari
Tarig Al-Hussaim
Survey team n. 3 Abo Baker Al-Moalemi
Nabil Thwaba
Survey team supervisor Mr Nabil A. Monassar
27 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
ANNEX 3 – SURVEY FORMS
SURVEY OF THE BUILDINGS OF THE OLD CITY OF SANA’A – 2005
1. Building – general information
ID Building
ID Non built-up area
ID Bustan–Megshamat-Sarha
Date of survey
Name of the surveyors
Attachment
Survey area
Building property Private Public Waqf
Different owners
Name of the owner Name:
Number of resident families One family More families
Name of the building Name:
1.1 Building – Architectural information
Number of floors
Mezzanine Yes No
Roof terrace Yes No Contemporary element on the roof Aerials Water tanks Lighting signs
Transformation – last 15 years Restoration Rehabilitation Renovation Redevelopment Reconstruction New Building Demolition
Undergoing transformation
Vertical addition – last 15 years Date: Number of floors: Consistent: Yes No
Material used for vertical addition ‘ajur stone mechanically cut habash reinforced concrete libn cement blocks zabur brick brushed with red powder and waqis cement
28 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
Traditional structures on the roof Mafraj/diwan Staircase Chimney Domes
Contemporary structures on the roof Mafraj/diwan Consistent Inconsistent
Staircase Consistent Inconsistent
Kitchen Consistent Inconsistent
Other Consistent Inconsistent
Horizontal addition – last 15 years ID addition: Date: Number of floors:
Consistent: Yes No
Material used for horizontal addition ‘ajur stone mechanically cut habash reinforced concrete libn cement blocks zabur brick brushed with red powder and waqis cement
Function of the ground floor Residence Service Neighbourhood commerce town commerce Handicraft Culture Administration Health Religion Store
Dangerous activities Yes No
Main function of the upper storeys Residence Service Neighbourhood commerce town commerce Administration Culture Religion Health Store
Functional characteristic of building Residential Specialised Multifunctional
Building state of occupancy Lived Partially lived Not lived
General condition of the building Good Ordinary Bad Ruin
1.2 Architectural quality and intervention
ID Building Number:
Overall architectural quality of building Monumental Excellent Good Ordinary Inconsistent
Required intervention Restoration Rehabilitation Renovation Redevelopment Reconstruction Demolition
Type of intervention Total Partial
29 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
2. Building – front elevation
ID Building
ID Front elevation
ID Non built-up area
ID Bustan–Megshamat–Sarha
Survey area
Number of floors
Relation with the context On the street On the courtyard
On the Bustan/Megshamat/Sarha
Material used for the entrance Original timber Modern timber Metal Plywood Second entrance General composition Front elevation with 1 layout Front elevation with 2 layouts Front elevation with 3 layouts Front elevation with more layouts
2.1 Front elevation – Ground floor
Material of the ground floor structure ‘ajur stone mechanically cut habash reinforced concrete libn cement blocks zabur brick brushed with red powder and
waqis cement
Additional contemporary openings Door Window Shop door
Metal/Aluminium Metal/Aluminium Metal/Aluminium Timber Timber Timber Mix Mix Mix
General condition of the ground floor Good Ordinary Bad Ruin
2.2 Front elevation – Upper storeys
Main material of the structure ‘ajur stone mechanically cut habash reinforced concrete libn cement blocks zabur brick brushed with red powder and waqis cement
Additional contemporary openings Window
Metal/Aluminium Timber Mix
30 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
Additional elements Shubbak Consistent Inconsistent Number: Kushk/Mashrabia Consistent Inconsistent Number: Loggia Consistent Inconsistent Number: Balcony Consistent Inconsistent Number: Qadad Consistent Inconsistent Number: Upper storeys Cantilever Consistent Inconsistent Number: General condition of the upper floors Good Ordinary Bad Ruin
31 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
SURVEY OF THE NON BUILT-UP AREAS OF THE OLD CITY OF SANA’A - 2005
ID Non built-up area
ID Building
Survey area
Typology of the non built-up area Garden Courtyard Other Contemporary element/structures in Water tanks Consistent Inconsistent the non built-up area Garage Consistent Inconsistent
Kitchen Consistent Inconsistent
Basin Consistent Inconsistent
Other Consistent Inconsistent
Traditional well Yes No
Entrance to the courtyard Yes No
Material used for the entrance to the Original timber Modern timber courtyard Metal Plywood
Fencing Yes No
Fencing height Meters:
Fencing material ‘ajur stone mechanically cut habash reinforced concrete libn cement blocks zabur brick brushed with red powder and
waqis cement
Presence of windows in the fencing Yes No
General condition of the non built-up area Good Ordinary Bad Abandoned
32 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
SURVEY OF THE BUSTAN, MEGSHAMAT AND SARHA OF THE OLD CITY OF SANA’A - 2005
ID Bustan-Megshamat-Sarha
Survey area
Open space typology Bustan Megshamat Sarha
Open space property Private Public Waqf Different owners
In use Yes No
Type of use Agriculture Store Rubbish dump Other
Type of vegetation Orchard Scattered trees Bushes Kitchen-garden
Fencing Yes No
Fencing height Meters:
Fencing material ‘ajur stone mechanically cut habash reinforced concrete libn cement blocks zabur brick brushed with red powder and waqis cement
Presence of windows in the fencing Yes No
Presence of a basin Yes No
Presence of paved paths Yes No
Type of irrigation Metal/plastic pipes Traditional channels
Transformation–last 15 years Rehabilitation New developmen New building inside
Undergoing transformation
General condition Good Ordinary Bad Abandoned
1.1 Bustan/Megshamat/Sarha – Overall quality and intervention
Overall quality Excellent Good Ordinary Bad
Required intervention Rehabilitation New development New landscaping
Type of intervention Total Partial
33 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
SURVEY OF THE BIR, MARNHA AND SABIL OF THE OLD CITY OF SANA’A – 2005
Survey area
1. Bir
ID Bir
ID Building
ID Non built-up area
ID Bustan–Megshamat–Sarha
In use Yes No Overall condition Excellent Good Ordinary Ruin
Required intervention Restoration Redevelopment Rehabilitation Renovation
Type of intervention Total Partial
2. Marnha
ID Marnha
ID Building
ID Non built-up area
ID Bustan–Megshamat–Sarha
In use Yes No Overall condition Excellent Good Ordinary Ruin
Required intervention Restoration Redevelopment Rehabilitation Renovation
Type of intervention Total Partial
3. Sabil
ID Sabil
ID Building
ID Non built-up area
ID Bustan–Megshamat–Sarha
In use Yes No Overall condition Excellent Good Ordinary Ruin
Required intervention Restoration Redevelopment Rehabilitation Renovation
Type of intervention Total Partial
34 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
ANNEX 4 – SUQ AREA SURVEY FORM
SURVEY OF THE SUQ AREA COMMERCE OF THE OLD CITY OF SANA’A – 2005
1. Building – General information
ID Building
Suq name
Date of survey
Name of the surveyors
Attachment
Survey area
Samsarah
Name of the samsarah
Building property Private Public Waqf
Owner name
Dealer name
Number of floors Number:
Material of the structure ‘ajur stone mechanically cut habash reinforced concrete libn cement blocks zabur brick brushed with red powder and waqis cement
Contemporary elements on the roof Aerials Water tanks Lighting signs
Contemporary elements on the front Lighting signs Canopy Shop entrance material Original timber Modern timber Metal Plywood
Transformation – last 15 years Restoration Rehabilitation Renovation Redevelopment Demolition New Building
Undergoing transformation
Vertical addition – last 15 years Date: Number of floors: Consistent: Yes No
Material used for vertical addition ‘ajur stone mechanically cut habash reinforced concrete libn cement blocks zabur brick brushed with red powder and waqis cement
35 UNESCO – World Heritage Centre Mission report by Luca Lanzoni and Saveria Teston – April 2005
Ground floor commercial functions electrical materials craft/sellers textiles/clothes jewellery oil press tailor household objects grocery bookbinder barbershop coffee shop bookshop craft restaurant services
Dangerous activities Yes No
Main function of the upper storeys Residence Commerce
State of occupancy of the building Occupied Partially occupied Not occupied
General condition of the building Good Ordinary Bad Ruin
1.1 Architectural quality and interventions
Overall architectural quality of building Monumental Excellent Good Ordinary Inconsistent
Required intervention Restoration Rehabilitation Renovation Redevelopment Demolition
Type of intervention Total Partial
36