Rehabilitation as a Catalyst of Sustaining a Living Heritage: The Case of Souk Waqif in Doha, Qatar

Abstract

In recent years, mixed use urban fabric has become one of the new concerns of urban planners, urban designers, and architects. In many historic centers, urban diversity has been achieved spontaneously and it responded to the local needs of people at that time. However, today this urban space diversity is being seriously threatened. Souk Waqif, is one of the last surviving historic urban spaces in Doha. Due to the rapid urbanisation following the discovery of oil in 1939 and the beginning of its exportation in 1949, many houses in the Souk have been abandoned to become shelters for low income workers. Overcrowding, neglect, and lack of maintenance have resulted in more dilapidation of the souk and make it look like an urban slum in the heart of Doha. This paper attempts to assess the level of diversity of urban spaces existing in the souk and tries to identify if they form threats to its authenticity. This research is based on empirical research, onsite observations and interviews with the users. The outcomes of the survey and of site visits can inform us about the quality of the area and how it can be enhanced in the future.

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