Gondar Cultural Heritage Conservation

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Gondar Cultural Heritage Conservation GONDAR CULTURAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION Introduction To Project In May 2014, the University of Minnesota College of Design students traveled to Gondar, Ethiopia for three weeks to study the UNESCO 17th century Royal Palaces Compound and its associated royal facilities. The team collaborated with local governmental agencies, the University of Gondar, and local conservation practitioners to create a database system for the Fasil Ghebbi Palace compound. Utilizing fieldwork survey sheets developed by the team as a reporting procedure for their fieldwork, they then designed a digital database on site for the inventory of individual buildings within and beyond the compound. They expanded their documentation data by analyzing the structures’ functions, conditions, construction, materials and current state of the buildings in order to have an up to date database of information that would facilitate discussions about future management plans. The University of Gondar organized a capacity building workshop which provided a space for collaboration between local conservationists, stakeholders, and government officials to propose conservation guidelines for urban development. This would help ensure the safeguarding of Fasil Ghebbi, and create strategies for historic urban management as a viable option for conservation. View From Fasil Ghebbi Castle Overall Site History In the early 1600’s Gondar was founded by Emperor Fasilides as the first fixed capital of Ethiopia. There are many legends which describe the foundation of Gondar, one of them being a hermit’s advice to Emperor Fasilides, which consisted of him building his capital in an area which began with the letter “G”. Fasil Ghebbi would continue being the center of Ethiopian government until 1864. The city would evolve to contain many palaces, churches, monasteries, libraries, and a mix of private and public buildings. Its building styles were influenced by Hindu and Arab designs, and a mixture of baroque style that came along with the Jesuit missionaries that passed throught the country. The first book on Gondar heritage was published in 1938 during the Italian occupation by Alessandro Augusto Monti Della Corte. His research included documented photos, maps and drawings of historic structures. His work was used in the Nomination Dossier for inscribing the Fasil Ghebbi compound as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Although renovation work has occured on the site, conditions of the walls, buildings and ruins Book cover and site map from I Castelli di Gondar publication. continue to deteriorate without a comprehensive conservation plan. (Augusto Monti Della Corte, Alessandro. I Castelli Di Gondar. Rome: Società Italiana Arti Grafiche, 1938.) People Involved University of Minnesota and University of Gondar Team (left to right): Tianye Zhou, Kelsey Reinke, Tesfaye Fentaw, Dr. Arthur Chen, Tazebew Amare Chalachew (Charli) Bantiwalu Engdu Gebrewold Sisay Sahle Yenesew Alene, Allison Suhan,Loubna Houri, and Yirdaw Asfaw SITE MAP Location Of Castles And Ruins In Compound Legend 1 Fasil Castle 29 Kobastil Bridge II The collaborating university teams worked 2 Fasil Archive 30 Kobastil Bridge III and Kobastil Berr 3 Yohannes Chancelery 31 Fasil Castle Sauna Extention Complex on updating the existing site map and 4 Iyasu Castle 32 Iyasu To Fasil Extention 5 Dawit Castle 33 Fasil Castle Water Reservoir reflected changes that have occured over 6I Bakaffa Banqueting Hall 34 Fasil Sauna Extention I time. The boundaries used today for the 6II Bakaffa Stables 35 Fasil Sauna Ruins 7 Mintiwab Castle 36 Ruins map of Fasil Ghebbi are labeled as an 8 Mintiwab Sauna 37 Fasil Sauna Extention II 9 Balderas Berr 38 Guard’s Bridge unofficial certification of boundaries, which 10 Dewolt Bet and Michael Church Store 39 Wonber Berr were based on drawings done during 11 Debre Genet Atatami Micheal Church 40 Jan Tekel Berr 12 Shemanewoch House 41 Ruin at Fasil Castle Entrance I the Italian occupation in the 1930’s by 13 Dawit Sauna House Complex 42 Ruin at Fasil Castle Entrance II 14 Embilta Berr 43 Ruin at Fasil Castle Entrance III Alessandro Augusto Monti Della Corte. 15 Debre Tsiba Elfign Giorgh Church 44 Mekane Negest Gimja Bet Mariam Church 16 Elfign Giorgh Church Betelihem 45 Mekane Negest Gimja Bet Mariam Bethlehem 17 Elfign Giorgh Church Store 46 Mekane Negest Gimja Bet Mariam Store 18 Quali Berr 47 Gimja Bet Berr 19 Dockt House 48 Ecka Gimja Bet Berr 20 Dockt House Extention 49 Teskaro Berr 21 Dawit Castle Extention I 50 Elfign Berr 22 Dawit Castle Extention II (Main Reception Hall) 51 Enkoye Berr 23I Lion Cages 52 Gate New 23II Lion Cages 53 Ras Berr 24 Nuptial Ruins 54 Kechin Ashewa Berr 25 Ruins 55 Ergib Berr 26 Iyasu Castle Extention 56 Coronation Bridge 27 Kobastil Bridge I 28 Adenagir Berr Map of the complex by the Italians in 1938 (Augusto Monti Della Corte) Armed with measuring devices, clipboards, survey and drawing forms, GPS, and a PROCESS site map we set out to the Fasil Ghebbi compound and document over 50 Sites. Manual Documentation Archival Search Compile and Workshop The team used laser and tape measures to document While in the Fasil Ghebbi compound they were granted access to the Then, they worked on digitalizing the dimensions of the remaining castles and structures. site’s documentation office and were able to find existing floor and their data and presented it at the They recorded the gathered data on the inventory section plans for many of the structures. They utilized these plans as University of Gondar workshop forms created, and drew out their measurements for references as they continued to document the compound. to develop viable options for the database. conservation. EMPEROR FASIL 1632 - 1667 Fasil Castle During the 16th and 17th century, the Ethiopian Emperor Fasilides claimed Gondar as the Empire’s capital and established a permanent city. Before that time, emperors would move their camps and lived in tents until 1636 with Fasilides establishing his empire in Gondar and naming it Fasil Ghebbi. Fasil Ghebbi would continue being the center of Ethiopian government until 1864. The city would go on to contain many palaces, churches, monasteries, libraries, and a mix of private and public buildings. Its building styles were influenced by Hindu and Arab designs, and a mixture of baroque style that came along with the Jesuit missionaries. Its presence as the capital for the royal empire is said to have pushed its influence over the designs that would become Ethiopian architectural styles. Fasil Castle was constructed with a medieval exterior appearance in 1632-1667 out of stone and timber materials as a private residence for Emperor Fasilides. Fasil Castle is still in use today as a museum, although public access is only allowed on the first floor. On the main floor, the first room was the court room, followed by the men’s dining room and the women’s dining room adjacent to it. The ceilings and wood floors on the main level have been reconstructed, but details in the walls remain. The second floor consisted of Emperor Fasil’s Exterior view of castle leading towards the entrance. entertainment area as well as his dressing room. The third floor was the Emperor’s bedroom and provided the best views of the compound. Floor Plans and Sections Locator Map Ground Floor Plan Transversal Section Detailed Experience timber framing timber lintel red volcanic stone arch plaster alcove Fasil Castle Interior Ceiling Detail - Kelsey Reinke, 6.2.14 Interior material details First room entered into from the entrance staircase, View towards women’s banquet hall and shared fireplace. Emperor’s dressing room shows remains of fresco designs. known as the court room. EMPEROR FASIL 1632 - 1667 Fasil Bath Located about three kilometers west of the city center, the bath of Emperor Fasilides is surrounded by a stone wall with seven entrances. It was once used for religious rites as well as sporting events and was connected to Fasil Ghebbi by a stone bridge so the Emperor did not need to go through the city to access his bath house. It was filled with water from the Qeha River nearby. Today, the site is filled annually for the epiphany ceremony that attracts locals and tourists alike. Overgrowth is enveloping the stone wall around the perimeter. Underside of main floor. The top two levels were inhabitable while the ground level View of main facade of Fasil Bath from entrance. would be filled with water for the baths. Chuches Within Fasil Ghebbi Emperor Fasilides built three churches on the Fasil Ghebbi compound- Debre Tsiba Elfign Giorgh Church (St. George’s Church), Debre Genet Atatami Micheal Church (St. Michael’s Church) and Mekane Negest Gimja Bet Mariam Church (St. Mary’s). Over time Gondar came to be known as the “city of 44 churches” with some of the earliest residing inside the compound walls. Ethiopian Orthodox churches have either circular or rectangular floor plans that mandate that women enter the church from the right while men enter from the left. Inside is a square room in the center known Location of the Elfign Giorgh Church. Floorplan of the Elfign Giorgh Church. Exterior of the Elfign Giorgh Church. as the “holiest of holies” or “debir.” Only priests and deacons are permitted within this chamber where a replica of the Ark of the Covenant is housed. Location of Atatami Micheal Church in Floor Plan of the Atatami Micheal Church. Exterior of the Atatami Micheal Church. Fasil Ghebbi. The priest of Elfign Giorgh Church who showed the team the history of renovations done to the site. EMPEROR YOHANNES 1667 - 1682 Yohannes’ Chancellery Emperor Fasil’s son, Emperor Yohannes is best known for not collecting taxes and being an early advocate for animal rights. He installed a bell in a tree behind the castle for people to ring when they believed any injustice had occurred.
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