Comparing the Sustainable Reuse of Historical Buildings

Abstract

The oil industry in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East has generated rapid urban growth and sparked a lively debate over the direction that such growth should take. While the construction of contemporary cities using innovative materials and technologies has been pursued, the need to preserve and maintain the nation's identity, rehabilitate national heritage, and establish new relationships with the local history and culture has also been recognised. This paper examines recently completed adaptive reuse projects and argues for the need to increasingly value local traditions and architecture. Based on data collected using mixed methods, and employing terms derived from reuse proposals, our analysis addresses each project’s environmental, socio- economic, and socio-cultural aspects. Sustainability was identified as one of projects’ common concerns. Broadly considered in terms of unity and harmony, the sustainability of the projects was further analysed in terms of the materials used, respect for the ecosystem, social aspects, and the required investments and costs related to the scale of interventions (urban-architectural). By presenting this assessment of the projects’ innovative practices and overall sustainability, this study aims to promote new solutions for the restoration of architectural heritage in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.