I 

  INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CONSERVATION AND CULTURAL 
MANAGEMENT IN MONUMENTS, LANDSCAPES AND WORLD HERITAGE SITES

(14‐18 November 2011 ) y
Granada ‐ Spain y

( Overcoming the challenges of conservation in the XXI Century ) y

PATRIMONY AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPE y

Dr. Mohammed Al‐Shabander  \ Architect & City Planner y
Director General of Physical Planning – Ministry of Municipalities y
IRAQ y
 Case Study from Iraq
Urban Renewal of Najaf Old City
Najaf Old City 1920
Najaf Old City 2003
Imam Ali Shrine‐Mosque Complex
Alleyways Network Pattern
Grand Bazaar
Traditional Houses Type
The Cemetery
The Lake
 What are Cultural Landscapes?
y Cultural Landscapes Provide a sense of place and identity; 
they map our relationship with the land over time; and they 
are part of our national heritage and each of our lives.
y They represent political as well as social and cultural 
constructs.
y They have acquired many layers of meaning that can be 
analyzed through historical, archaeological and 
sociological study.
y They are...sites associated with a significant event, 
activity, person or group of people.
y They range in size... from thousands of acres of rural 
land to historic homesteads. 
y They can be... grand estates, farmlands, public gardens 
and parks, college campuses, cemeteries, scenic 
highways, and industrial sites.
y They are... works of art, narratives of cultures, and 
expressions of regional identity.

y So…the character of the landscape reflects the values of 
the people who have shaped it, and who continue to live 
in it. The culture itself is the shaping force. Landscape is 
a cultural expression that does not happen by chance, 
but is created informally or by design.
 What are the Types of Cultural Landscape?

y Designed Landscape …a landscape that was 
consciously designed or laid out by a landscape 
architect, master gardener, architect or horticulturist 
according to design principles or an amateur gardener 
working in a recognized style or tradition.
y Vernacular Landscape …a landscape that evolved 
through use by the people whose activities or 
occupancy shaped that landscape. Through social or 
cultural attitudes of an individual, family or a 
community, the landscape reflects the physical, 
biological, and cultural character of those everyday 
lives.
y Historic Site …a landscape significant for its 
association with a historic event, activity or person.

y Ethnographic Landscape …a landscape containing a 
variety of natural and cultural resources that the 
associated people define as heritage resources.
 Why are cultural landscapes important?

y Cultural landscapes are a legacy for everyone. These 
special sites reveal aspects of our country’s origins and 
development as well as our evolving relationships 
with the natural world. They provide scenic, 
economic, ecological, social, recreational, and 
educational opportunities helping communities to 
better understand themselves.
y Any system of interaction between human activity 
and natural habitat is regarded as a Cultural 
Landscape.
 Why is it important to protect cultural landscapes?

y Neglect and inappropriate development put our 
irreplaceable landscape legacy increasingly at risk. 
Too often today’s short‐sighted decisions threaten the 
survival and continuity of our shared heritage. It is 
everyone’s responsibility to safeguard our nation’s 
cultural landscapes. The ongoing care and 
interpretation of these sites improves our quality of 
life and deepens a sense of place and identity for 
future generations
Strategies for Sustainable Territorial Development

y It must meets the needs of the present without 
compromising the ability of future generations to 
meet their own needs.
y It must meets the equilibrium across three 
interdependent dimensions :
y Economic
y Environmental
y Social
 The Model of Sustainable Territorial Development

y Holistic approach to development

y The long‐term continuance of eco‐systems

y Intra and inter‐generational equity
 Documentation of a Cultural Landscape
y Land Uses, Patterns, Clusters
y Natural Systems
y Spatial Organization
y Visual Relationships
y Topography, Surface Drainage
y Vegetation
y Circulation Systems
y Water Features, Natural and Constructed
y Non‐Habitable Landscape Structures and Buildings
y Spatial Character of Habitable Structures
y Vocabulary of Site Furnishings and Objects
y Intangible Values and Meanings
 Overall Approach and Time Schedule
Methodological Approach
Phase A Phase B Phase C Phase D Phase E
Work plan Research and Data Analysis Alternatives and CLSP – Proposal
definition information Recommendation and Guidelines
collection

Development
Development Structural
Structural Plan
Plan
Analysis
Analysis ofof the
the Analysis
Analysis ofof Definition
Definition of
of the
the
Project
Project start-up
start-up Database
Database and
and Objectives
Objectives (Short,
(Short,
data
data collected
collected legislation
legislation proposal
proposal
GIS
GIS structure
structure medium,
medium, long)
long)

Definition
Definition of
of Development Evaluation
Overlooking
Overlooking and
and Development of of
Definition
Definition of
of specific
specific preliminary Criteria
Hearing
Hearing Field
Field survey
survey preliminary
Scope
Scope ofof Work
Work indicators
indicators and
and alternatives
activities
activities alternatives
needs
needs Identification
Identification of
of
e.g.SWOT
e.g.SWOT Optimal
Optimal
Scenario
Scenario
Identification
Identification ofof e.g.
e.g. Impact
Impact
Data
Data verification
verification Development
Development of
of Definition
Definition of
of
activities
activities to
to be
be Analysis
Analysis
and
and validation
validation Thematic
Thematic Maps
Maps recommendations
recommendations
carried
carried out
out

Presentation
Presentation and
and Definition
Definition and
and
Presentation
Presentation andand Presentation
Presentation and
and verification
verification of
of presentation
presentation
Detailed
Detailed Work
Work Plan
Plan verification
verification of
of Phase
Phase verification
verification of
of Data
Data objectives
objectives and
and of
of the
the final
final version
version of
of
B
B results
results Analysis
Analysis activities
activities preliminary
preliminary alternat.
alternat. the
the Structure
Structure Plan
Plan
 Thank You
Dr. Mohammed Al‐Shabander (Ph.D. Built Environment)
shabander_arch@yahoo.com
shabander_mmpw@yahoo.com