Title: The medina : the restoration & conservation of historic Islamic cities /
Authors: Balbo, Marcello, 1946-; European Investment Bank.
Publisher: I.B. Tauris ; Distributed by Palgrave Macmillan,
Year: 2012
Subjects: Urbanization Mediterranean Region Congresses.; Sustainable development Mediterranean Region Congresses.; Islamic architecture Conservation and restoration Mediterranean Region Congresses.; Mediterranean Region Economic conditions Congresses.
Abstract: The countries of the southern Mediterranean enjoy a rich cultural heritage, at the heart of which lie the medinas - the historic city centers, often dating back to medieval times. Although their cultural value is now widely recognized they have nevertheless been subject to neglect and decay and as yet no coherent restoration policy is being implemented. This timely volume brings together a team of experienced professionals, including urban planners, architects, economists, and financial experts to address the pressing problem of how to revitalize and restore the medinas in a sustainable way. The first part provides an introduction to the problems and issues involved in restoration. The second part presents examples of different medinas - including Damascus, Cairo, Meknes, Fez, Azzemmour - together with important material on the financing and project management of such initiatives.
Contents: Rethinking medinas in a changing Mediterranean / Marcello Balbo -- Economic, environmental, social and political trends / Raymond Benhaim, Ghazi Hidouci and Gustave Massiah -- Evolving medinas / Jellal Abdelkafi -- Transformations of the historic city of Cairo / Stefano Bianca, Seif El Rashidi and Kareem Ibrahim -- Moroccan medinas : Meknes and Azzemmour / Lucien Godin and Gérard Le Bihan -- Damascus : 'the jasmine vision' / Luna L. Rajah -- Towards a development strategy for Morocco's medinas / Anthony G. Bigio -- Financing the rehabilitation of historic cities in the southern Mediterranean / Mateu Turró and Eduard Rodríguez Villaescusa -- Conclusions and recommendations / Marcello Balbo and Mateu Turró.