Abstract
The inclusion of the Erbil Citadel in the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in 2010 prompted the issuance of urban design guidelines aimed to ensure that buildings located within the Citadel’s Buffer Zone respect the visual integrity of the citadel and its relationship with its setting. Concerned that it would have not been possible to effectively control the destruction of historic houses for more profitable commercial buildings, in 2013 local authorities expropriated all residential properties within the historic quarters. Alas, without a solid implementation plan and funding strategy in place, what might have been partially lost to real estate speculation is now inexorably collapsing under the rain. In the past decade, Erbil has seen the implementation of several ambitious urban renewal efforts. Community heritage has been pulled apart to create a new ‘brand’ for Erbil. The current economic downturn has laid bare the ambition to create a revamped image of Erbil that would attract domestic and foreign investments. Kurdish decision-makers are now struggling to rehabilitate urban heritage with very little public funding, convince citizens and developers to invest in these now empty and decaying quarters. The chapter explores how successful urban projects do not have to rely solely on government funding or large-scale developers. The proposed integrated area management plan takes into consideration the area’s socio-economic potential and its legal, financial and environmental constraints. It suggests a set of pragmatic funding and implementation strategies for the rehabilitation of key historic buildings and infrastructure upgrading through cross-subsidisation and leveraging land value. It also advocates for a set of integrated measures to stimulate the economy by promoting small-scale commerce, enterprises and hospitality activities, generate municipal revenue, enhance the quality of life and finally nurture cultural and creative industries.
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Notes
- 1.
The 2-year SURP project, funded by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), was designed to strengthen the technical and institutional capacity of the urban planning staff of MOMT and the Directorate of Urban Planning of the Erbil Governorate in view of the anticipated challenges of rapid urbanisation of this region. SURP included a ‘learning by doing’ training module that focused on the rehabilitation of a dilapidated historic area. Trainees were mentored through rapid assessments, urban diagnostics of the physical, legal, administrative and financial challenges that have hampered any rehabilitation action to date, an assessment of building conditions and status of occupancy, leading to the development of an integrated proposal. Widening consultation workshops involved colleagues from the Erbil Urban Planning Directorate and the Buffer Zone Committee of Municipality One, practitioners from UNESCO and the High Commission for the Erbil Citadel Revitalization (HCECR). A final report, titled Integrated Rehabilitation and Management Proposal for the Historic Quarters of Tajeel, was submitted in late 2016. The authors wish to acknowledge the contributions of the staff of MOMT, led by Mr. Abdulmomin Maroof General Director of Urban Planning, as well as colleagues of Erbil Municipality 1.
- 2.
The first protection Law on ancient monuments in Iraq dates back to 1936 (No. 59).
- 3.
As per the Citadel’s Nomination report, the relocation of all its inhabitants has ‘unfavourably affected the social and functional integrity of the urban fabric as a traditional organically-evolved urban settlement’. ICOMOS (2010, p. 82).
- 4.
Dar al-Handasa , Lebanon.
- 5.
Although the buffer zone does not fall under the responsibility of either HCECR nor the Erbil Governorate (who is funding the conservation works of the Qala), but of Erbil Municipality, all institutions have demonstrated a close interest in the future of the historic areas.
- 6.
ARS Progetti , Italy.
- 7.
The Guidelines were revised in 2013 to offer even more control over construction heights and character.
- 8.
Interview conducted in February 2015.
- 9.
Finally, also the tenants managed to receive a small land in Shamamik, outside Erbil, where some built a home, but others sold it and sought rental accommodation in the city centre again.
- 10.
The team attempted to map the property expropriation cases initiated by the Government in 2012 to draft a Land Ownership Map—essential for any further strategic discussion on implementation mechanisms and land transfer—but the information was impossible to attain from the Governorate due to the lack of a database or updated maps.
- 11.
Ideally, the visioning exercise should have also included group of residents and the mukhtar (area representative), but because of the sensitivities surrounding the expropriation process and the fear that the exercise might have been misinterpreted as a criticism of the leadership or sparked expectations among citizen, it was decided to limit any further public discussion.
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Soave, A., Hawizy, B. (2020). Rebuilding Tajeel: Strategies to Reverse the Deterioration of Cultural Heritage and Loss of Identity of the Historic Quarters of Erbil, Kurdistan, Iraq. In: Arefian, F., Moeini, S. (eds) Urban Heritage Along the Silk Roads. The Urban Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-22762-3_6
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