Turath Bel Arabi: Communities and Governance

The aim of this series is to enable heritage professionals whose work focuses on the Arab world to share and exchange experiences, to be inspired and to learn. In an age when travel is difficult, yet communication is easy – a webinar series with plenty of time for discussion and conversation is an ideal forum for knowledge exchange.

The second session focuses on local communities and governance, exploring the different dynamics between government and local communities with regards the regeneration of historic cities, in Delhi, India; Muharraq, Bahrain; and Beirut, Lebanon.   The work of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in Delhi presents a successful example of how non-governmental organisations can develop successful urban regeneration schemes working both with the local community and the government; The Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities is a remarkable example of a state initiated project that has established a successful framework that has revived a historic neighbourhood without displacing its inhabitants, and the Lebanese example, Public Works studio explores how  architects and urban planners can revive, defend and produce socially-inclusive and sustainable spaces. 

Panellists:

Noura Al Sayeh is an architect and curator working at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) as Head of Architectural Affairs, where she is responsible for overseeing the planning and implementation of cultural institutions, museums and exhibitions. She holds a Master’s Degree in Architecture from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Noura was the co-curator of ‘Reclaim’, Bahrain’s first participation at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2010 that was awarded a Golden Lion, and the Deputy Commissioner General of Bahrain’s Pavilion at the Expo Milan 2015, awarded a Silver Medal for Best Architecture and Landscape. Since 2015, she heads the ‘Pearling, Testimony of an Island Economy’, which received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture for the 2019 cycle as part of the Muharraq Revitalization project.

Abir Saksouk-Sasso is a founding partner and co-director of Public Works Studio, Lebanon. She graduated as an architect in 2005, and later did her masters in Urban Development Planning. She has been involved in several research projects in Lebanon, including the history of informal suburbs and the social production of shared spaces in the city. She wrote related publications, such as “This Sea Is Mine” and “Making Spaces for the Public: The Story of the Beirut’s Dalieh”. Her interests include exploring how community engagement can be employed in planning and actively shaping the future of cities. She is also co-founder of Dictaphone Group (2009).

Mr Ratish Nanda, Conservation Architect, is India CEO for the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. He heads the multi-disciplinary AKTC teams presently undertaking the two major urban conservation projects in India: the Nizamuddin Urban Renewal Initiative, Delhi and the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park Conservation in Hyderabad. For AKTC, he was earlier responsible for the Baghe Babur restoration (2002-2006), in Kabul, Afghanistan and the garden restoration of Humayun’s Tomb (1999-2003).