QF hires firm to preserve historic structures in Education City

Qatar Foundation for Education Science and Community Development (QF) has commissioned ARS Progetti, an international consulting firm to work on the restoration and re-use of the historic structures within Education City.The structures, which date back to the early 20th century, are the remnants of the old quarter of Al Rayyan, now mostly covered by Education City, and serve as an important reminder of Qatar’s architectural heritage. QF hosted a two-day workshop to discuss strategies for this purpose which heard ARS Progetti’s strategies and guidelines for the conservation of the structures. In doing so, QF aims to preserve the authenticity and cultural value of the buildings while ensuring they are accessible in the future and adhere to international building guidelines.Jassim Telefat, executive director, Capital Projects, QF, said, “The preserved urban structures within Education City are important leads to the landscape and urban history of the area. These structures together represent a rich live dictionary showcasing our heritage from the way of living to construction materials and technologies used in that period. They symbolise the past urban environment and represent the continuity of history. In documenting and preserving these structures in line with international standards, we want to ensure their legacy is preserved for generations to come.”Attending the workshop, Dr Anna Paolini, director, Unesco, Doha Regional Office, said, “I am very pleased there is a conscious effort and interest to maintain and integrate historic buildings into the overall urban development plan of Qatar Foundation. These buildings are important because they are among the few existing from the early development of the city of Doha. Moreover, their significance is also linked to their inhabitants and use. I look forward to seeing the results of this integration project in line with international conservation practices.” Also attending were Dr Gaetano Palumbo, honorary lecturer at University College London (UCL) and previous member of the World Heritage Fund; Dr Essam Farag, head, Architectural Conservation Operations at Qatar Museums; Robert Carter, professor of Arabian and Middle Eastern Archaeology at UCLQatar; and Dr Jose Carvajal Lopez, lecturer in Islamic Archaeology at UCLQatar.