Conservation-Restoration Criteria and Applied Techniques

This seminar is dedicated to conservation and restoration standards and applied techniques regarding the authenticity and the integrity of historical monuments. A number of international conservation and restoration experts meet with their Egyptian counterparts to discuss conservation theories applied to the case of Takiyyat Ibrahim al-Gulshani, an extraordinary early 16th Century sufi architectural complex in Cairo) currently being restored by the World Monument Fund, and a number of global case studies, such as in Alhambra Palace in Spain and Lahore Fort in Pakistan.

This seminar will be held at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.

The first day discusses intervention criteria for restoring and conserving heritage sites. The second day discusses criteria and techniques of conservation of ceramic tiles applied to architecture.
Day 1 (19 September – 9.00 am – 5.00 pm)
– Introduction to the seminar – Pablo F. Longoria (workshop coordinator – WMF conservation architect and urban planner).
– Introduction to Takiyyat Ibrahim al-Gulshani Project (TAGU) – Jeff Allen (WMF Program Director for the Takiyyat Ibrahim al-Gulshani project).
– On Restoration and Conservation Criteria (via zoom) – Valerie Magar (Unit Manager, Programs, International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and restoration of Cultural Property ICCROM).
– Conservation and Restoration Projects in Historic Cairo – Osama Talaat (Director of Islamic, Coptic and Jewish Sector, Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities).
– Defining Basic Guiding Concepts –Werner Schmid (Conservation specialist, freelance conservator and consultant with UNESCO, the World Monuments Fund and other international agencies).
– Alhambra and restoration criteria – Maria Jose Domene (Head of the polychrome wood restoration workshop at the Patronato de la Alhambra y el Generalife) and Ramon Rubio (Head of the plaster and tile restoration workshop at the Patronato de la Alhambra y el Generalife).
– Roundtable Discussion followed by Q&A – Moderated by Pablo F. Longoria and May al-Ibrashy (Chair Megawra-Built Environment Collective).

Day 2 – 20 September 2.00 pm – 5.00 pm
– Tiles applied to architecture: Pathologies and dangers (via Zoom) – (Joao Mimoso) LNEC Principal Research Office.
– The case of Fort Lahore – Werner Schmid.
– Alhambra and tiles – Ramon Rubio
– Closing Session.

This seminar comes as part of one of ILUCIDARE Urban Regeneration for Historic Cairo Workshop Series. It is organized by WMF-Espana with funding from the European Union, in collaboration with World Monument Fund’s Takiyyat al-Gulshani Conservation Project and with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the seminar venue is open to a limited to registered attendees only.
To attend, register here: https://forms.gle/TMhp8HWkfrLedhwv5).
All sessions will be broadcasted live via Zoom. To get the zoom link, register here: https://forms.gle/ET3DVvGXtFf3GELv8