Copyright
Nibal Muhesen;Published On
2025-06-03Page Range
pp. 29–44Language
- English
Print Length
16 pages
2. The Past in the Present
Urban Heritage Destruction and Housing in Syria
In Chapter Two, Nibal Muhesen considers the past in the context of the present, with a reflection on urban heritage destruction and housing in Syria. In this post-conflict society, heritage sites have come to accommodate communities, making this heritage an inseparable part of their everyday lives. Muhesen explores how this could encourage the restoration of damaged sites and the involvement of civil society in the process. She concludes that the reconstruction process should not be driven solely by economic circumstances or security concerns but should also enable social transformation and improve liveability in newly built environments.
Contributors
Nibal Muhesen
(author)Nibal Muhesen is a Syrian researcher in the field of archaeology and
the protection of Syrian cultural heritage. He obtained a PhD from the
University of Lyon II in Syrian archaeology in 2009. Since 2011, he has
been involved in documenting the damage to Syrian cultural heritage
and has participated in many international lectures and conferences
aimed at protecting this heritage. He worked as an expert with the Syrian
State Board of Antiquities where he took part in activities focusing
on preserving and raising awareness about the importance of Syria’s
tangible and intangible heritage and advocating for community-driven
reconstruction strategies. He is currently appointed to the Department
of Tourism Management at the Faculty of Tourism at the University of
Tartous as a researcher in the field of archaeology and tourism.