CULTURAL HERITAGE AS A CATALYST FOR CLIMATE- RESILIENCE DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF ALULA OLD TOWN IN SAUDI ARABIA

Noura Ghabra

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Submission

Paper Title

CULTURAL HERITAGE AS A CATALYST FOR CLIMATE- RESILIENCE DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF ALULA OLD TOWN IN SAUDI ARABIA

Authors

Noura Ghabra

Modality

Abstract

Subject area

4. Contemporary Challenges in Heritage Discourse - A critical examination of the state of the art in heritage discussions, considering the evolving perspectives and challenges that have emerged since the inception of the Venice Charter. Examining the relevance of the Venice Charter in the current context, with a focus on challenges posed by the Western divide between nature and culture, the growing importance of metropolises, social inequities, the environmental impact of human activities, disasters and conflicts, among others.

Publishing Date

11/04/2025

Country of Publishing

Brazil | Brasil

Language of Publishing

Inglês

Paper Page

https://www.even3.com.br/anais/icomos-scientific-symposium-2024-439820/848282-cultural-heritage-as-a-catalyst-for-climate--resilience-development--a-study-of-alula-old-town-in-saudi-arabia

ISBN

978-65-272-1284-3

Keywords

Cultural Heritage, Climate Action, AlUla, Saudi Arabia, Indigenous People, Bioclimatic Architecture

Summary

The role of the significant historical and cultural heritage in the ancient city of AlUla in Saudi Arabia is acknowledged at the highest levels of policy making, turning the city into a major restoration and preservation project, aimed at preserving its cultural heritage for future generations, and making it a unique tourist destination and a symbol of the country's cultural heritage. However, heritage-driven tourism and urbanization can drive economic and social development but may also result in unsustainable practices in heritage management and conservation plans. Moreover, those heritage conservation efforts are often not directly engaged in climate action; overlooking the vast reservoirs of information and knowledge afforded by cultural heritage. Therefore, there is a need to develop professional competencies, policies, and regulations to support this engagement and develop frameworks to identify, negotiate, and reach consensus on co-benefits and trade-offs between heritage preservation and climate action. The aim of this study is to identify, understand and assess Endogenous Ways of Knowing in the heritage site of AlUla Old Town and Oasis through the documentation of the traditional and climate-adapted past human understandings, uses, and impacts on the environment, which can provide critical information on baselines and tipping points, and support the development of locally adapted, people-centered, low-carbon and sustainable approaches to conservation and adaptation planning. The research addresses the question of how did the indigenous communities of AlUla adapt to the harsh climatic conditions? And what are the main social and cultural aspects in relation to environmental factors? To answer those questions, the research methodology followed a qualitative approach of conducting interviews with the local communities, site visits, and the analysis of literature concerned with social, cultural and economic aspects in AlUla Old Town. The research results illustrated the local perception of climatic conditions and thermal comfort using astronomical references expressed in indigenous poetry and proverbs. The results also illustrated how this local climatic and thermal perception affected the past users’ living patterns, including seasonal migration between the stone and earth houses in winter and the farms and oasis in summer. The results were analyzed to show the interrelation between climate, indigenous people and the built environment which can be harnessed to inform current and future climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. The finding of this research will contribute to enhancing current conservation practices, which involves evaluating traditional practices and developing new models to evaluate conservation and adaptation measures from a circular economy perspective. Through sharing information on climate change adaptation solutions across disciplines and sectors, including heritage, tourism, and beyond, and the transfer of knowledge and practices at local, national, and international levels, the value of cultural heritage in climate action can be communicated and integrated into policy development.

Title of the Event: ICOMOS SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM 2024
City of the Event: Ouro Preto
Title of the Proceedings of the event: ICOMOS 2024 Scientific Symposium Proceedings
Name of the Publisher: Even3
Means of Dissemination: Meio Digital

How to cite

GHABRA, Noura. CULTURAL HERITAGE AS A CATALYST FOR CLIMATE- RESILIENCE DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF ALULA OLD TOWN IN SAUDI ARABIA.. In: ICOMOS 2024 Scientific Symposium Proceedings. Anais...Ouro Preto(MG) Convention Center / UFOP/ UFMG Campus, 2024. Available in: https//www.even3.com.br/anais/icomos-scientific-symposium-2024-439820/848282-CULTURAL-HERITAGE-AS-A-CATALYST-FOR-CLIMATE--RESILIENCE-DEVELOPMENT--A-STUDY-OF-ALULA-OLD-TOWN-IN-SAUDI-ARABIA. Access in: 17/07/2025