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The Adaptive Use of Historic Buildings

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The Adaptive Use of Historic Buildings Annual Report 2012 A Word from RIWAQ Heritage in Palestine: new cartography and spatial justice 2012 has been a productive year for RIWAQ. architecture initiatives that rendered RIWAQ’s RIWAQ carried out numerous restoration and restoration sites into life size laboratories. Beit regeneration projects, implemented the 4th Ur Community Center, Salfit Women’s Center, RIWAQ Biennale, adventured into green archi- and Beit Iksa restoration projects served as pi- tecture initiatives, and celebrated new partner- lots for these initiatives that tried to upcycle ships and collaborations. materials and use rammed earth, dry stone and sun dried mud bricks as well as recycle grey wa- RIWAQ continued to manage, through different ter for irrigation while collecting and using rain- funds, to help communities in marginalized ar- water. eas of the West Bank by creating thousands of workdays, and transforming run down spaces RIWAQ continues to see some of its main re- into hubs of culture and production. The wom- sponsibilities as setting examples that work to en’s centers in Salfit, Tulkarem, and Deir Ghas- rationalize the limited resources, to capitalize saneh as well as the Fair Trade in Nisf Jbeil are on former experiences, and to take restoration examples of utilizing heritage to help the less to levels beyond the technical, thereby tack- Vision: a cultural and natural heritage that enjoys protection, is alive fortunate segments of the Palestinian popula- ling the socio-economic-political questions in and active in the development process in Palestine. A heritage that tes- tion, triggering new dynamics of socio-econom- everyday life. In so doing, RIWAQ engages the tifies to and strengthens the Palestinian national identity and its natural ic development. ethical issues of social welfare and spatial jus- connection to humanity in the global sense. tice. RIWAQ’s efforts were recognized not only In 2012, RIWAQ partnered with six cultural and by local communities and their citizens, but also Mission: A pioneering nonprofit NGO, RIWAQ works on reviving and art institutions to implement Qalandiya Inter- internationally when RIWAQ was awarded the protecting cultural and natural heritage in Palestine through implement- national (QI). This partnership was not only a prestigious Curry-Stone Design Prize (2012). ing effective programs and projects, contributing to building a condu- “gesture in time” but also one in space, recon- cive institutional and legal environment along with supporting partner- necting the disconnected and creating new car- All of these achievements would not have ships that seek to advance knowledge and national awareness. tography for Palestine amid fragmentation. been possible without RIWAQ’s dedicated and knowledgeable team and staff, the trust of lo- RIWAQ, driven by its team’s environmental con- cal communities and institutions, and the indis- scious, and by the urgent need to rationalize pensable funds that donors made available to natural resources, has also ventured in green RIWAQ in the year 2012. Annual Report Annual Report 2012 5 Contents Revitalizing Palestine: The 50 Historic Centers Project Revitalizing Palestine: Progress in The 50 Historic Centers Project. 5 The mission of our rehabilitation process is to Adh Dahiriya to also assist entrepreneurs hop- 1 bring life back to 50 historic centers. Bringing ing to open shops in the historic souq, and thus life into the historic center of a village requires encourage economic growth. RIWAQ is commit- Job Creation & Restoration: The Adaptive Use of Historic Buildings. .11 a number of physical and non-physical inter- ted to understanding each community’s needs, 2 ventions from RIWAQ and all other stakehold- and producing projects that uplift their unique ers. RIWAQ has many adaptive-reuse projects, talents and histories, while suiting their spe- and as part of the rehabilitation process re- The Arts, Architecture & Community Programs. .14 cific situations. Having partnered with 2 new 3 stores many historic buildings as hubs in each villages, Beit Iksa and Deir Ghassaneh, RIWAQ village with the intention to create attractions continues to develop its ability to interact with 4th RIWAQ Biennale and Qalandiya International . 16 for tourism, service institutions, as well as communities, and is currently focusing on com- other social and economic activities; however, 4 munity involvement programs that engage all RIWAQ is expanding this process to include a age groups and genders to promote participa- Awards and Publications . 19 much needed sector: housing. Restoring habi- tory behavior that leads to more sustainable 5 tats helps us to achieve more depth with each village and its community within, working di- outcomes. Social and economic rehabilitation rectly with the owners and residents to restore does not occur without a community’s reinvest- Capacity Building: Local and International Training . 21 6 their living spaces, thereby improving the stan- ment in itself, and the introduction of targeted dard of living by providing basic services for capacity building. RIWAQ believes that the Pal- estinian people’s dedication to their cultural RIWAQ Administrative & Financial Report. 23 current residents, and opening up new units 7 for rent to disadvantaged people who are liv- and architectural heritage will yield the most ing in overcrowded homes with more than one benefit to preserving their identity, as well as family. This process has been implemented in deliver the most cost effective and sustainable Hajjah and Jamma’in, and has been adapted in results in their rehabilitation and development. Annual Report 2012 7 1. Hajjah (Qalqilya) 2. Jamma’in (Nablus) 3. ‘Abwein (Ramallah) Hajjah is a hilltop town that embraces agriculture and is known for its Once ruling over 48 other villages, Jamma’in is The historic fabric of this village is extremely well Bamyeh (okra) production. A festival was held by RIWAQ and the Vil- a Throne Village where many of its homes, most kept, although many of its individual buildings suf- lage Council of Hajjah for two years running (2011/12), called the Ba- of which are palaces, evidence past wealth; one fer from neglect and are in ruin. Because of the myeh Festival, which celebrated the agrarian traditions of the village. of the largest, the Khalil Palace, was renovated high level of abandonment in the historic center RIWAQ first became acquainted with the village in 2010 and began in 2008 and is now a Community Services Cen- of ‘Abwein, the strategy then became to beautify surveying the people and their activities only to discover that, sadly, ter. The town was known long ago as a center the main street, speckled with old buildings and the village had a shortage of housing for people and institutions. Work for scientific knowledge as well as a point for the gardens, until reaching the middle of the old town began in 2011 and a building to house the Red Crescent Society, which gathering of troops. Today the majority of its with its terraced view to connect the old and the provides medical services and day care was completed. By the end residents are farmers, but they have carried on new town centers. Here the ruins were developed of 2011 RIWAQ began preventive conservation work, which contin- a long tradition of beautiful stone cutting. In the into a park-like atmosphere, with vegetation and present day the region is home to the Jamma’in stabilized walls that house public seating, paths, ued through 2012, and was completed in December. The work focuses stone quarry, which has adverse environmen- and the beginnings of a planned playground. The on stabilizing and preventing historic buildings from further erosion, tal impacts. RIWAQ entered into a partnership concept was to create an inviting gathering space while targeting alleys, facades, and small gardens or courtyards for with Jamma’in in 2011, conducting extensive for outdoor activities, while also working with the beautification. Moreover, RIWAQ piloted a new concept in this project research and documentation of the history and residents to renovate interior spaces, and thus by collaborating with homeowners to upgrade the interiors of some spaces. In 2012 RIWAQ began its interventions, upgrade the living standards for these extremely homes and thereby enhance their quality of living while creating ad- tendering 2 preventive conservation phases, active and few remaining stewards of the historic ditional living spaces. All this works towards RIWAQ’s objective to in- each focusing on different important neighbor- center. In 2012, RIWAQ completed its preventive spire the vision of a beautiful life in the historic centers. Taking advan- hoods within the large historic center. The first conservation in the culmination of three phases tage of the on-site engineers and contractors, owners were provided phase protected 22 buildings including some that included 160 buildings and ruins, as well as with materials to complete the work themselves, in addition to expert courtyards and a large public space that marks a public plaza, all completed with $283,114. RI- advice and guidance. In total all 3 phases of work cost$312,703, and the grand entrance to the neighborhood and to WAQ continues to look forward in ‘Abwein, and provided 4,687 days of work to regional laborers.,. Adjacent to the the Khalil Palace. The work provided infrastruc- has on-going work which will complete street public space, MECA (Middle East Children’s Alliance) provided $13,550 tural services to the neighborhood, benefiting beautification on a well-tread path that connects to fund a playground and public garden that extends the public space 10 families. The second phase of the project the old town mosque, the Suhweil Palace and the to host families and visitors. RIWAQ intends to complete another is near completion, expected in March 2013. old cemetery, a historically significant procession- community services building in 2013 to house offices for the village This will be the final phase in Jamma’in; to date al route.
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