Conference on architectural conservation to discuss global issues

Preparations for the conference, to be held at the Dubai International Convention Centre, are already underway and experts from nearly 118 countries have been invited so far. They include academicians from 75 universities worldwide.

This was announced in a press conference on Tuesday at Dubai Municipality addressed by Mattar Al Tayer, Deputy Director General of Dubai Municipality, Essa Al Maidour, Assistant Director General of the Municipality for General Projects Affairs, and Rashad Bukhash, Director of General Projects Department and chairman of the conference organising committee. A new website, www.dubaiconservation.com, has been launched at the press conference that provides information on the conference and will facilitate easy interaction with potential participants of the conference as well as anyone interested in the event.

Al Tayer said the conference and exhibition would have a general theme "The Opportunites and Challenges of 21st Century" as discussions at the event would focus on how to set new trends in architectural conservation while overcoming the challenges it faces in the modern era.

He recalled that Dubai Municipality had organized the first International Architectural Conservation Conference and Exhibition: Between Theory and Practice in March 2004 which had attracted the attention and appreciation of all those concerned with architectural conservation.

Some of the topics to be discussed in the second conference would include policies of architectural conservation, concepts of sustainable development, problems of architectural heritage in the modern environment, formulating strategic objectives for development, strategies for tourism development in historic areas, public participation in heritage conservation programmes, and the importance of historic areas in the formation of modern economic and social communities.

There will be also discussions on strategies for heritage protection through valuable and original concepts, level of participation in the architectural conservation policies, use of advanced technologies in preserving historical buildings, and historical buildings preservation projects and open areas in the centres of historical cities.

Rashad Bukhash said the organising committee is already in touch with international organisations such as the UNESCO, International Council of Museums (ICOM), International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), International Organization for Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ICCROM), English Heritage, and the Arab Towns Organisation.

"We are also in touch with the diplomatic missions of various countries in the UAE in order to invite people at the helm of architectural heritage conservation in their respective countries to participate in the conference. We have so far contacted 118 countries. Besides, some 75 universities including all local universities and major international universities have been contacted in order to ensure participation of high-profile academicians," he said.

Specialised news media, that are focusing on heritage conservation issues, have been addressed so that they can publish information about the conference. "Also, professional associations such as those for architects and engineers and national archaeological museums have also been invited to send in their representatives for the conference. Websites highlighting architectural issues were requested to provide information on the conference and provide a link for the conference website. In addition, all municipalities of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and several municipalities of other countries were also invited to participate. This will ensure that the event would be appropriately attended for a fruitful and constructive discussion on the themes of the conference," said Mr. Bukhash.