This is an international conference organized by Center for Architectural Heritage and Architecture Department at Engineering Faculty - The Islamic University of Gaza. It will be held in Gaza, Palestine on the 22nd of April 2008 for two days. The conference will bring together scholars, government officials and policy makers, business developers, tourism officials, involved organizations and interested individuals to exchange ideas and to begin creating a framework for more coordinated preservation efforts, and also to encourage a comprehensive approach to the management of the architectural heritage.

It will help to create an international network committed to cultural preservation in Palestine. Therefore, the conference hosting date was chosen to match the World Heritage Day, which falls on 18 April every year, as this will give extra importance to the conference and contribute to revive this international event, which was stated by UNESCO to emphasis the importance of preserving the built heritage.

The conference will focus on the issues of architectural heritage conservation and the challenges that face the workers in this field. It will highlight successful experiences in preserving local historical buildings and mitigating the financial, social and legitimacy obstacles. It will also examine the approaches of preservation and the economical impact of preservation and rehabilitation of the architectural heritage.

The program will include research papers, posters, in-depth seminars and discussions organized around the topics of the conference. On the side of the conference, a photography exhibition of historical buildings and sites will be organized. Also, a tour in the old city of Gaza to show the local architectural heritage will be included.
Therefore, all interested individuals, institutes and organizations are invited to participate in this event in all or any of its activities (conference, exhibition and tour), as it will be a great opportunity to hear some excellent speakers and network with other preservation advocates.

Please note that the language of the conference is Arabic and English and for those who will not be able to attend the conference in Gaza, a video conference facility will be available, so that they can participate from where they are.
 

1- To assemble a consortium of expertise to exchange ideas and to assist in creating a framework to preserve architectural heritage.
2- To examine the potential of preserving the local architectural buildings and their re-use economical impact.
3- To find out various strategies of architectural heritage management.
4- To promote preservation of architectural heritage through education and awareness.
5- To strengthen regional and international cooperation in the field of architecture preservation.
 

1- Preservation Polices
- Policies of architecture preservation.
- Modernization and the preservation of the built heritage.
- Role of public and private partnerships in the process of architecture preservation.
- International charts on preservation and restoration.

2- Preservation Methods
- Threats to heritage sites.
- Documentation of architectural heritage.
- Restoration techniques.
- Traffic Problems in the old cities.
- International and local experiences in documentation and restoration of historical locations.

3- Management of Heritage
- Management of architectural heritage.
- Economical impact of architecture preservation and rehabilitation.
- Cultural tourism and monuments.
- International and local experiences in the management of architectural heritage.

* Any relevant subjects
 

30/01/2008 Deadline for receiving abstracts
30/01/2008 Notification of abstracts acceptance
14/03/2008 Deadline for receiving the complete papers
24/03/2008 Notification of acceptance
07/04/2008 Deadline for receiving final papers
22/04/2008 Conference activities
 

- Papers should be sent on the conference email: ahrcp@iugaza.edu
Or it can be posted on the address: The Islamic University of Gaza, Center for Architectural Heritage, Engineering Faculty, Gaza, Palestine, P. O. Box 108
- Submitted papers have to fulfill the general conditions of publishing in refereed journals.
- Abstract submissions should be approximately 200 words and must be in Arabic or English. Abstract and full paper submissions should be sent in MS Word or PDF document format.  (Paper Format)
- For any enquiry, please call +97 08 2860700 ext. 2890
 

Conference Chairman
Prof. Adnan Enshassi
Dean of the Engineering Faculty,
The Islamic University of Gaza

Organizing committee
Organizing Committee Chairman
Dr. Ahmed Muhaisen
Director of Center for Architectural Heritage,
The Islamic University of Gaza

Organizing Committee Members
- Dr. Ali A. Shaheen (Assistant of vice president for administrative affairs-IUG)
- Dr. Khader M. Al Jamaly (Director of Public Relations-IUG)
- Dr. Usama El-Esawi (Head of Engineering Association in Gaza)
- Dr. Anwar Awadallah
- Dr. Nader Gawad El Namara
- Dr. Alaeddinne D. Eljmassi
- Eng. Khalid El-Hallaq
- Arch. Mahmoud A. Balawi
- Arch. Doaa Hitta
- Arch. Hosameddin M. Dawod
- Mr. Said A. Al Namrouti

Scientific committee
Scientific Committee Chairman
Dr. Farid Al Qeeq
Head of the Architecture Department,
The Islamic University of Gaza

Scientific Committee Members
- Prof. Noman S. Olwan (Dean of Scientific Research Deanery-IUG)
- Dr. Abdel Karim H. Mohsen
- Dr. Mohammed A. kahlot
- Dr. Abdel rahman Mohamed
- Dr. Omar S. Asfour
- Dr. Mohammed M. Ziara
- Dr Adnan A. Abudayyah
- Dr. Alaeddinne D. Eljmassi
- Dr. Nihad Al Moghani (Municipality of Gaza)
- Dr. Waleed Al sayed (London University, UK)
- Prof. Michael Tomlan (Cornell University, USA)
- Dr. Michael Klamer (University of Vienna, Austria)

Exhibition and Tour Arrangements Committee
- Arch. Nashwa Al ramlawy
- Arch. Hadel S. Al ghoul
- Arch. Salam J. Abo al qumpoz
- Arch. Mohamed M. Mansour
- Arch. Ahmed R. Meghary