HOW UAE RESTORED ITS ICONIC BUILDINGS

MEET THE AWARD-WINNING EMIRATI ENGINEER WHO IS PRESERVING UAE’S HERITAGE, ONE BUILDING AT A TIME

Meet Rashad Mohammad Bukhash who has helped in the conservation of over 215 iconic buildings in the country |

Restoring historical buildings require a steely resolve and a deep passion. Rashad Mohammad Bukhash, Chairman of the Architectural Heritage Society - UAE, has no dearth of these attributes.

In a career stretching over three decades, the award-winning Emirati engineer has left an indelible mark on the country’s ever-changing landscape by planning, monitoring and executing a slew of architectural projects including universities, colleges, public buildings, parks and community facilities.

However, it is his efforts to conserve and revitialise the country’s historic buildings that makes him truly special.

So far, Bukhash has helped in the conservation of over 215 such iconic buildings. We met him in his office in Al Bastakiya to understand what drives him and why it’s so important to preserve heritage buildings in a city that prides itself as a dazzling showpiece of modernity. Excerpts from an interview.

What is the role of the Architectural Heritage Society?

The Architectural Heritage Society was established in 2003. Its main objective is to protect the architectural heritage of the Emirates, and to raise awareness of the importance of heritage preservation through seminars, lectures, workshops, specialised courses, and cultural trips in addition to publishing books on the subject. Over 800 historical buildings have been preserved in the areas of Shindagha, Bur Dubai, Al Fahidi and Al Ras. The next step is to preserve buildings from the 60s and 70s. Our mandate is clear: We want to preserve the architectural heritage of the emirate for posterity so that tourists as well as researchers could learn how our forefathers used architecture in the field of engineering, environmental preservation and sustainability.

What was your experience working as director of Architectural Heritage Department in Dubai Municipality?

I have nice memories. We preserved more than 200 historic buildings such as forts, watchtowers, homes, souqs and mosques. Many of these buildings were later converted into heritage museums. These include the Museum of Photos and Historical Documents, The Falcon Museum, the Horse and Camel Museum, the Museum of Traditional Architecture to name a few. More than 30 books and manuals on architectural heritage were issued during my stint.

How do you contribute to the spiritual aspect of heritage preservation?

Heritage preservation also includes conserving intangible things like memories or traditions. We keep them alive by conducting interviews and recording personal narratives of the elderly people to gain insights into what life was like back in the day.

Could you throw some light on how the restoration works on builidngs are carried out ?

We get specialised teams of engineers to conduct studies of buildings and submit their reports. The restoration work is then carried out by highly skilled craftsmen some of whom have been restoring buildings for over three decades We use both local and imported material in buildings, the most important of them being coral stones, gypsum and Chandal joists for the roofs.

How do you create awareness about heritage preservation among people, especially the youth?

We focus on locals, residents, tourists and students — through various programmes. These include lectures, seminars, conferences, workshops, specialised courses, books and site visits, in cooperation with the Dubai Authority for Culture and Arts.

Do you work with other entities which have similar interests?

Yes, we coordinate with many entities that work towards safeguarding heritage, not just in the Arab world but elsewhere too. We conduct mutual visits and hold joint seminars and are also associated with the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a non-governmental international organisation that works for the conservation and protection of cultural heritage places around the world.

What is the role of Unesco in assessing the UAE and its cultural and architectural heritage?

Al Ain city was classified by Unesco as the first world heritage site from the Emirates in 2011. We are hoping to pitch

Heritage preservation also includes conserving intangible things like memories or traditions. We keep them alive by conducting interviews and recording personal narratives of elderly people.”

Rashad Mohammad Bukhash

| Chairman, Architectural Heritage Society, UAE

in some more heritage sites in the years to come. Getting them similarly classified will take time as Unesco accepts just one submission from each country annually.

Could you tell us if there are any new heritage projects in the pipeline in Dubai?

In Dubai, our biggest project is the Al-Shindagha Museum which includes more than 180 buildings in the historical Shindagha area besides nearly 20 miniature museums that showcase everything related to the country’s rich and diverse cultural past. We plan to launch a few more projects this year in preparation for Expo2020.

Many restoration and preservation projects are underway in other emirates as well.

You have written several books on UAE’s rich cultural past and also supervised some of t hem. Are their any more books that you are working on?

Yes I am working on Thoughts in Restoration, and a book on Architectural Heritage of the Emirates. I hope to publish them soon.

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■ Above: district, The with old its Bastakyia traditional wind towers and courtyard architecture, was restored in 2005. ■ Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood, also known as Al Bastakiya, dates back to the 1890s.

■ Above: Dubai is known for its high rise buildings, but before the discovery of oil, it was a vastly different place inhabited by pearl traders and fishermen.

Supplied Below: What restored Al ■ Bastakiya looks like now.