Cultural Meaning of Aleppo: A Landscape Recovery for the Ancient City

The book documents the history and morphology of the Ancient City of Aleppo, focusing on the architectural heritage and advocating for its safeguarding and rehabilitation to protect the cultural memory of its inhabitants. It introduces the concept of the cultural urban landscape and proposes a future reconstruction that emphasizes cultural continuity, tradition, and social memory.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 180 pages
Publication date: 19 February 2021
Publisher: Intellect Books

The book delves into the rich history and morphology of the Ancient City of Aleppo, providing a comprehensive account of its urban development and architectural heritage. It begins by exploring the city's urbanistic evolution, highlighting the various architectural styles and structures that have shaped its landscape over centuries. Subsequently, the book focuses on the architectural marvels of the city, particularly emphasizing the domestic architecture and the efforts undertaken to reconstruct and rehabilitate the urban fabric.

The author passionately advocates for the preservation and restoration of Aleppo's architectural heritage, recognizing its crucial role in safeguarding the cultural memory of the city's inhabitants. Despite the devastating destruction caused by the recent war, the author believes that the architectural heritage holds immense value and must be protected for future generations.

The book offers a theoretical and practical guide for architects, urban planners, and restorers, showcasing the unique characteristics of Aleppo's courtyard houses and neighborhoods. Through an analytical discussion of the city's urban fabric, the book introduces the concept of the cultural urban landscape as a cohesive territorial organism, nourished by diverse cultures and interconnected in a fractal state. The author emphasizes the importance of retaining the uniqueness and diversity of Aleppo's residential typology, which has witnessed the rich cultural history of Syria and the Middle East.

The book proposes a future reconstruction that aims to foster cultural continuity, tradition, and the re-establishment of a vital social memory. It emphasizes the significance of preserving the architectural heritage while incorporating modern design principles to ensure its sustainability and relevance.

This comprehensive book is of particular interest to cultural heritage experts, urban planners, architects, designers, researchers, scholars, and students specializing in urban morphology and building typology. It also holds significance for professionals involved in implementing re-construction and rehabilitation projects in historic cities. Furthermore, scholars and students interested in the Middle East will find this book invaluable in gaining a deeper understanding of the region's rich cultural heritage and its potential for sustainable development.

Weight: 420g
Dimension: 170 x 231 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789381771
Edition number: New ed