Enduring Heritage and Continuing Civilisation Nablus Enduring Heritage and Continuing Civilisation The Revitalization Plan of the Old City The Revitalization Plan of the Old City خطة إحياء البلدة القدمية يف نابلس NablusEnduring Heritage and Continuing Civilisation The Revitalization Plan of the Old City خطة إحياء البلدة القدمية يف نابلس Acknowledgment The Welfare Association expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development for their generous funding and support for the preparation and publication of the “ The Old City of Nablus Revitalisation Plan” This generous contribution from Arab Fund is part of their continued special support for the sustainable development in Palestine and for the protection of its Arab identity and preservation of its unique cultural heritage. Dr. Nabil Hani Qaddumi Chairman, Board of Trustees Welfare Association The Information on which the plan was based was collected between 2007-2010 and is reflected in the Arabic version of the book,2011. The preparation of studies and research has been done in difficult conditions and in light of political changes and unusual circumstances. Core Team Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Historical Dr. Shadia Touqan Assessment) Architect and Urban Planner Dr. Jalal Al-Dabeek (Structural Assessment) Dr. Ali Abdul Hamid Technical editing and integration of studies Urban Planner Dr. Shadia Touqan Technical Coordination Team Dr. Ali Abdul Hamid Saher Ghazal Reference to Heritage Laws Architect and geographic systems expert Prof. Dr. Saleh Lamei Publisher: Noor Anabtawi English Translation the Old City of Jerusalem Revitalisation programme / Welfare Association Architect and Planner Lina Dissi Sammy F. Kirreh Copyright: Architect Photographers Welfare Association, 2011 Zuhdi Bali Archive Technical Office of The Old City of Jerusalem B.O.Box: 25204 - Jerusalem Information Technology and geographic systems Revitlisation Programme - WA expert Telephone: +970 2 2415130 Mr. Alaa Badarneh Fax: +970 2 2415984 Palestine Image Bank Email :[email protected] Majdi Al-Sharif Experts Website : www.welfare-association.org Guillaume Paumier / Wikimedia Commons, CC- Dr. Ali Abdul Hamid: Urban Planning by-3.0: A special thanks to the Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development who Dr. Eman Al Amad: Housing Sector gratefully funded the preparation and publishing “the Revitalisation Plan for Dr. Islam Abdel Jawad: Economy and Tourism Sector the Old City of Nablus”. Dr. Faisal Zanoun: Social Sector Design by: Turbo Design DR. khalid Alsahli: Traffic and Transportation Dr. Mohamad Al-Masri: Infrastructure Abdulla Kalbouna: Historical Development Nader Al-Abweh: Legal Framework Databases Field surveys Nusseir Rahmi Arafat: Conservation Architect, (Field Survey) Table of contents Book (1) 3.2.3 Visual Appearance 66 3.3 Structure and Spatial Components 68 Revitalisation Plan for the Old City of Nablus 3 3.4 The Relationship between the Urban Composition of the Old City and its Surroundings 69 Chapter 1: Concepts, Objectives, Methodology, and Mechanisms 17 3.5 Analysis and Assessment of the Urban Planning Reality 1.1 Background 17 of the Old City 70 a. Concepts for the Revitalisation of Historic Centres and Cities 17 3.6 Preservation of the Architectural Heritage of the Old City: b. Analysis and Diagnosis of the Historic City 19 Difficulties and Challenges 74 c. Concept for the Preparation of the Revitalisation Plan of the Old City of Nablus 20 Chapter 4: Demographic and Social Characteristics 76 1.2 Objectives 22 4.1 Population and Social Structure 76 1.3 Methodology for Plan Preparation 23 4.2 Age Distribution and Education Levels 77 1.4 Obstacles of the Revitalisation Plan and the Determinants for 4.3 Standards of Living 79 Implementation 27 4.4 Social Relationships 79 1.5 Beneficiaries of the Revitalisation Plan 27 4.5 Population Growth and Indicators 81 1.6 Plan Endorsement and Implementation 28 4.6 Social Institutions 81 Chapter 2: General Description of the Old City of Nablus: Past and Chapter 5: Residential and Social Buildings 84 Present 30 5.1 Types of Residential and Social Buildings in the Old City 84 2.1 General Characteristics 30 5.2 Housing Patterns 92 2.1.1 Location – Topography 30 5.3 Existing Condition of Houses 97 2.1.2 Climate 31 5.3.1 Type of House Ownership 97 2.2 Historical Background 31 5.3.2 Duration of Residence in Houses 97 2.3 Historic and Urban Development 32 5.3.3 Approximate Area of Houses 97 2.3.1 City Development in Antiquity from 3000 BC to 636 AD 32 5.3.4 Children’s Playgrounds 97 2.3.2 Development of the City During the Islamic Era 35 5.3.5 Internal Spaces 97 2.3.3 Development of the City During the British Mandate 37 5.3.6 Internal Details of Traditional Houses 101 2.3.4 The Jordanian Period 39 5.4 Services Available in the Houses of the Old City 103 2.3.5 The Israeli Occupation After 1967 40 5.5 Problems Facing Houses 104 2.3.6 Palestinian National Authority After 1994 42 2.4 Urban Planning and Challenges in Nablus 43 Chapter 6: Economic Conditions 108 2.4.1 Previous Plans 43 6.1 Current Economic Conditions 108 2.4.2 Existing Plan 43 6.2 Business and Industry in the Old City 109 2.4.3 Problems Facing Urban Planning 46 6.3 Investment: Obstacles and Incentives 112 6.4 Analysis of Current Economic Situation 115 Chapter 3: Urban Analysis 51 3.1 Area of study 51 Chapter 7: Tourism Sector 118 3.2 Morphology and Characteristics 52 7.1 Characteristics and Elements of Tourism 118 3.2.1 Urban Fabric 52 7.2 Tourist Industries 120 3.2.2 Urban Townscape 54 7.3 Obstacles to the Development of the Tourism Sector 121 7.4 Analysis of Existing Tourism Condition 121 12.5.6 Political and Legal Framework 173 12.5.7 Infrastructure 174 Chapter 8: Political and Legal Framework 124 12.5.8 Transportation Sector 177 8.1 International Laws for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage 124 8.2 Sources of Ownership (Title Deeds) in the Old City of Nablus 130 Chapter 13: Implementation Plan: Intervention Priorities and 8.3 Types of Property 131 Mechanisms 180 8.4 Rent Laws of the Old City 132 13.1 Introduction 180 8.5 Construction and Organisation Laws 137 13.2 Priorities and Intervention Criteria 180 8.6 Legal Problems Encountering the Restoration Process 138 13.3 Proposed Development Programmes and Projects 182 13.4 Implementation Plan 188 Chapter 9: Water Supply, Sewerage System, and Solid Waste 140 13.5 Monitoring and Evaluation Plan: 194 9.1 Existing Water Network 140 13.6 Special Regulations from the Old City of Nablus 9.1.1 Water Sources 140 Land Use Plan 194 9.1.2 Water Distribution 141 9.1.3 Water consumption 142 List of References 9.1.4 Water Distribution Network 143 A References in Arabic 210 9.2 Assessment of Existing Water Network 144 B References in English 213 9.3 Existing Sewage Network in the Old City 144 C List of Figures 214 9.4 Current Condition of Solid Waste Management 149 D List of Tables 215 E List of Photographs 216 Chapter 10: Electricity Sector 154 F List of Diagrams 218 10.1 The Current Condition of the Electricity Network 154 10.2 Needs of Electricity Network 155 Book (2) Annexes - Annex 1: Proposed Project Documents 6 Chapter 11: The Road and Transportation Network 158 11.1 Existing Conditions of the Road and Transportation Network 158 - Annex 2: Principles of Archaeological Sites and Monuments 11.2 Movement of Vehicles and Pedestrians 160 Restoration According to International Charters, Prof. Saleh Lamei 11.3 Car Parking 160 Moustafa, Centre for the Conservation and Preservation of Islamic Architectural Heritage, Cairo. 80 Chapter 12: Development and Urban Intervention Strategies 165 - Annex 3: Summary Report Documenting Historical 12.1 Introduction 165 Buildings in the Old City of Nablus 140 12.2 Foundation of the Revitalisation Plan 165 12.3 Revitalisation Aims and Priorities 167 12.4 Development Vision for the Revitalisation Plan 167 12.5 Objectives and Development Strategies for Sector Development 168 12.5.1 Urban Development and Planning Sector 168 12.5.2 Social Sector 169 12.5.3 Housing Sector 170 12.5.4 Economic Sector 171 12.5.5 Tourism Sector 172 Introduction The city of Nablus is one of the most ancient urban centres of the exceptional historic architectural fabric in Nablus, of Nablus. The team consisted of Palestinian experts in in Palestine and the region. It carries within the folds of the exodus of many families and institutions, and to the planning, economic and social conditions, infrastructure, its mountains, valleys, and plains the indelible marks of city’s overloaded infrastructure. Moreover, the military housing, legal framework, and historic and urban the successive civilizations that have lived there over incursions, bombing, and wide-scale damage incurred by development, as well as researchers to carry out field thousands of years. the Israeli occupation forces have resulted in the loss of surveys and database development. From the beginning, The topography, landscape, and natural resources of the many of the Old City’s historic buildings, and monuments the technical office at the Welfare Association has held city of Nablus have created the distinct shape of the city’s and sites. regular consultations with the Nablus Municipality and urban development, which added to its unique architecture, Hence in 2007, the Welfare Association embarked on the relevant local committees and institutions. have rendered it a masterpiece. In spite of damage caused preparation of a Revitalisation Plan for the Old City of Even though the lack of geographical contiguity in the by invading and conquering forces, the significance of the Nablus thanks to support from the Arab Fund for Economic Palestinian territories has made it extremely difficult for city of Nablus remains and is continuously renewed.