Integrated Approach for Heritage Conservation in Mekelle, Ethiopia
through the Historic Urban Landscape Approach
エチオピア・メケレの遺産保存のための統合的手法の研究 ―歴史的都市景観からのアプローチ

Alula Tesfay Asfha

アルラ・テシファイ・アシファ
1. Introduction

their ‘young’ nature allows implementing

This research is an endeavor to save the urban

urban plans that could lead to sustainable

heritage and maintain a city character in thedevelopment. The focus of this research on

Ethiopian context. Urban Heritage in Ethiopia

attempting to integrate heritage in the urban(and other developing countries in general) isdevelopment process derives from this premise.

faced with immense pressure resulted from thecurrent unprecedented urbanization rate andpopulation boom. The researcher focuses on

2. BackgroundMekelle city located in the Tigray state in

Mekelle is the second-largest city in Ethiopia

Ethiopia in which he has a closer knowledge aswith over 800,000 population estimated by thea resident, researcher, and practitioner. In themunicipality in 2020. It is a dynamic city

meantime, of this research was conducted, many

witnessing a wide range of overall spatial andof the heritage sites are being redeveloped or

populous expansion over the last three decades.

bulldozed because there is a lack of research,registration, or any heritage management plan in

The wide range of heritage in Mekelle city comesplace. It will be a haunting process to solvefrom its long history as a settlement that dates

these issues as a challenge in developingback to the late Axumite era (6th 10th century

countries

liketheCE). Mekelle was also at the center of Salt routeObviously,that connect lowlands of Afar state with the rest

heritage doesn’t come as the utmost priorityof the empires. There are dozens of Orthodox

and burning issues in those places that are

Christian churches, mosques, and vernacularchallenged from poverty other onerous burdens.

settlements in the city. Other remains ofmulti-faced

Ethiopia

problematbecausehand.

ofheritage in Mekelle result from its history as
The strategy followed by this thesis is to findthe capital of Ethiopia in the late 19th century

a way to put the heritage of Mekelle in the wider

and Tigray state afterward. Mekelle has theurban development process. Based on this idea,

single most collection of large Hidmos (Tigrayan

the author organized this thesis in a way that

Vernacular masonry House) anywhere. Thesewillandhouses along with the churches create a uniquestakeholders in Mekelle to make a conscious

usefulforthepractitioners

masonry city, a tradition that persists to thisdecision on any development works of the cityday.

that will affect the heritage. This will pave away for the initiation of a historic city

Recently, the heritage of Mekelle city inconservation system within the urban planning

Ethiopia is at high risk from the pressure offramework.

rapidchangesinurbandevelopment.

The

infrastructure development and constant change
Cities like Mekelle are characterized by theirin the city have put great pressure on the urban

actual relatively small size but undergoingheritage of the city, and surrounding rural

rapid growth. With all the challenges in place,settlements. There is a lack of a proper heritage

学位論文梗概集 2020

registration system in Ethiopia to facilitateconservation.

Additionally,manyofurban development trend.

thepotential heritage sites are not identified and4. Analysis and Result

researched so far. There is no city-wide

The Heritage elements were described properly in

heritage management plan as well. Without any

a way that facilitates the future registration

legal protection, many heritages of the city areof them by including basic information on

critically in danger and are being destroyed

introduction, historical documents; Heritage

through new developments. This research of aValue; Management status, and stakeholders.

doctoral thesis is an attempt to tackle thesechallenges of heritage conservation in Mekelle

All the elements were put on the map of Mekellecity. The author introduces a platform for thecity using Arc GIS. The heritage was clusteredimplementation of historic city conservation in

into a meaningful cluster to simplify future

developing countries through the collectivemanagement. Especially close elements wereexperiences compiled in the Historic Urbangrouped to propose conservation areas in theLandscape approach. Mekelle was studied deeplycity.

as a case city for this research.

guided by the structure plan. Therefore, theThe development of Mekelle is mainly

approachtoimplement

historiccity

3. Research Method

conservation within this system focus on

This research had three objectives of (1)structureevaluating the heritage conservation system in

implementation plan introduced in this research

Tigray; (2) identifying the urban heritage ofis called the local heritage development plan.

Mekelle City; and (3) initiating urban heritage

This is a type plan that can be initiated byconservation in Mekelle city through thecommunity, the local government or otherprovision of basic tools for Historic Urban

institutions

plansystem.

The

newtypeof

Landscape approach.
The collection of data was conducted throughThe analysis of this research looked intofield and desktop studies. Field visits wereMekelle city from different angles. These

important part this research. several sitestudies include of heritage policy of Ethiopia,

visits were done on conservation missions to theMekelle’s history of urban planning, nature of

Gunda Gundo, Asira Metira, Cherkos Wukro,Yeha,urban heritage, and important stakeholders. The

Aksum and Sillasie Chekeqot in Tigray, Ethiopia

development of Mekelle is currently guided by

between 2012-2017. A field visit to Mekelle city

the structure plans that are revised over tenon two occasions on October 2018 and February

years period. This comprehensive study aimed at

2020 during the doctoral study periods. Datafacilitating the development of a tailor-madewere collected using observation, photography,

heritage conservation system with the existingand interviews with stakeholders.

urban development framework of Mekelle. With

Desktop study was conducted to look into (a)thethat in mind, this research has filled three gaps

collective global experiences that are compiledof knowledge in the historic city conservationin the Historic Urban Landscape approach asof Mekelle.

recommended by UNESCO (2011); (b) previous
studies on heritage policy including the UNESCOFirst, it identified the existing traditionalarchive, Ethiopian and Tigray state’s laws andheritage conservation system in Tigray state,

regulations, and published and unpublished

Ethiopia. Tigray is the regional state whereresearch outputs; (c) the historical documents

Mekelle is located and has a rich collection ofand researches about the heritage elements andheritage that was mainly safeguarded by theSummaries of Academic Theses 2020

traditional system. This system is discussed inexisting urban planning process of Mekelle.

detail by looking into the institutions,

Therefore, the author recommends a system forexpertise,thatthe integration of heritage within the existing

comprise it. The modern system, that was

structure plan of Mekelle. The thesis introduced

introduced by the modern Ethiopian state is also

tools for the integration of heritage in theassessed to look into its compatibility with theexisting urban planning system of Mekelle.

andfinancialresources

traditional system.
The long-term plan of Integrated regional
Second, this research identified and justified

development

new heritage sites in Mekelle for future

development plan majorly focus on the policy,research, registration, and protection. Mekellestrategy

has several layers of heritage resulted from its

Therefore, policy related issues need to be

unique history and natural features. All

included at these plans through the responsible

possible sites are included based on thebodies mainly the culture branch of Tigrai stateavailableand Mekelle city administration.

resources.

Severaldozensofplanandandvisionofintegrated
theurbandevelopment.

potential heritage sites are discussed for

Structure plan of Mekelle is the most important

further development of the heritage elements.

plan that connect the spatial and socio-economic

These heritage elements include natural andaspect of the city. The local development plans

cultural as well as tangible and intangible

are the implementation tools of the structure

heritage elements of Mekelle. Additionally, theplan.

stakeholders of each element are identified.
This can be utilized for the engagement of theTherefore, to incorporate heritage with in thestakeholders in future activities of the urban

urban plan it needs to be fitted in these plans.

planners and local administration.

This thesis introduced a new type of local
development plan for two areas of the city withThird, this research initiated a platform for ahigh concentration of heritage. The local

heritage

Mekelleheritage development plan will enhance thefollowing its historic urban landscape. The

development of heritage and feed the structure

existing and potential (newly identified)plan to continue in virtuous cycle.

conservation

systeminheritage elements are grouped into meaningfulclusters of heritage. There are twelve clusters

The provision of schematic heritage map forofcollective

inclusion with in the structure plan andconservation and development of the elements

introduction of new local heritage development

within them. The clusters are connected in theplan in Mekelle facilitated the initiation of

map through the arc GIS mapping tool. The map

heritage conservation system in Mekelle. This

outputs are intended to create conservation

thesis focused on facilitating this by providing

areas for further integration of heritage in themissing

wider

structure plan will be revised in 2025. This will

heritageurban

provideddevelopment

forof

thecitytoolsandinformation.

Thenext

pose a great opportunity to incorporate heritage

administration.

within the system to maintain the character ofConclusion

Mekelle.

Finally, the ultimate motive of this research isThe author made his intention that most of theto create a condition for the integration ofoutcome of this thesis will be a direct input toheritage

the next structure plan of Mekelle city. The

conservation

学位論文梗概集 2020

systemwithintheprocess followed in this research can also be an

MCPPPO. 2005. (Mekelle City Plan Preparation Project Office).

example to other cities in developing countries

Executive summary for city development plan Mekelleto implement historic city conservation through(2005-2015). Mekelle, Tigrai, Ethiopia.

the Historic Urban Landscape approach.
MU. 2016. Mekelle City Structure Plan Revision: Final

In conclusion, the following points are critical
recommendation

thatresultedfromthisresearch.
•Framework Plan Report, Mekelle University.

The development of traditional heritage

Okazaki, R. 2009. Study on the Urban Formation and Activity of
the Central District in Mekelle, Ethiopia: Appraisal ofsystem—the traditional heritage conservation

Historical Quarters and Inner-City Problems. Master`s thesis.

system needs to be developed through empowering

Keio University.

the professional, institutions and financialresources. This can be done by direct training
traditional craftsmen etc.
•Pankhurst, R. 1982. History of Ethiopian Towns: From Middle
Ages to the Early Nineteenth Century. Wiesbaden: Steiner.

Registration of Heritage in Mekelle—It

is necessary to setup a registration system andPankhurst, R. 1985. History of Ethiopian Towns: Fromregister the heritage sites for legal protection.

Mid-Nineteenth Century to 1935. Stuttgart: Steiner.

Registration of them can also facilitate theconservation of them in the urban planning
process. Research and investigation of each site

Tadese S. Mekelle City’s Establishment and Development. (የመቐለከተማ ኣመሰራረትና እድገት) (Amharic Language)is necessary.
•Integration of heritage at all layers ofShimizu, N., Ephrem T.W., Alula T.A., Miyake, R. 2019urban planning system—the heritage issues have

“Traditional” Technique and Local Knowledge on HÏDMOto be included in the several layers of the urban

HOUSE Construction in Tigrai, Ethiopia. A retrospectiveplanning level from policy and strategy to local

study on building construction process from the perspective ofcodes and land uses.

tools and materials. Journal of Architecture and Planning(Transaction of AIJ) Volume 84 Issue 758 Pages 1017-1027

Referencehttps://doi.org/10.3130/aija.84.1017

Alula T.A., Shimizu, N. 2019. Transformation of Urban
Landscape of Mekelle City in relation to Yohannes IV`s Palace

Shimizu, N., Alula T.A., Okazaki, R. Ephrem T.W., Miyakeand Abreha`s Castle. Fortification and Defensive City:R.2019 How Has a Local Settlement Urbanized in Mekelle,Conference Papers for ICOFORT International Conference inEthiopia? Case of Ïnda Mesqel’s Development as One of theHikone. ARCHI-DEPOT Corporation. ASIN : B07RW4SPRJ.

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UNESCO. 2011. Recommendation on the Historic Urban
Landscape. Accessed from:

FDRE. 2000. Proclamation No. 209/2000 Research andConservation of Cultural Heritage Proclamation. Negarit[https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/activities/documents/activity-6
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Summaries of Academic Theses 2020