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COMMUNITY CASE STUDY article
Front. Sustain. Cities
Sec. Sustainable Infrastructure
Volume 7 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/frsc.2025.1550496
This article is part of the Research Topic Sustainable housing for sustainable future growth of Middle East Cities View all 5 articles
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This paper investigates the multifaceted role of mud in heritage preservation, focusing on the Bayt Isa restoration project in old Irqah within Wadi Hanifa, a site rich in historical significance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It aims at investigating the importance of mud beyond its geophysical properties, examining it as a semiotic material imbued with cultural meaning, sensorial qualities, and traditional communal practices. Furthermore, departing from a private restoration initiative, it is looking to learn from endeavors unbound by conventional building regulations and that could inform heritage preservation projects in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the world.To explore the role of mud in heritage preservation, the research relies on a literature review and a case study approach. The literature review identifies research emphasizing the cultural and sensory significance of mud in fostering social cohesion and collective identity. Furthermore, the case study of the Bayt Isa restoration in Wadi Hanifa examines mud as a dynamic material, bridging historical narratives and community values through qualitative research methods, including interviews with stakeholders, artisans, and visitors.Through an exploration of the semiotics of mud, this -research highlights its cultural and symbolic dimensions, revealing how mud embodies a lifestyle that fosters a deep sense of place and experience. The sensorial qualities of mud architecture-its tactile warmth and aesthetic appealforge emotional connections within the community, enhancing the lived experience of its inhabitants. Additionally, the paper underscores the importance of community engagement in mud construction, where local participation not only revitalizes traditional practices but also strengthens social bonds.Ultimately, this research advocates for heritage preservation approaches that transcend the mere conservation of traditional construction techniques. It posits that mud represents a vital process of cultural continuity and community development. Recognizing mud as more than a mere building material, we emphasize the need for a supportive framework that encourages private initiatives in mud heritage preservation. Such a framework should ensure that preservation efforts are contextspecific, genuine and not diluted by popular demand or commercial interests, thereby safeguarding the rich, living environment that mud provides.
Keywords: Heritage Preservation 1, Mud Architecture 2, Wadi Hanifa 3, Cultural preservation 4, community engagement 5
Received: 14 Jan 2025; Accepted: 31 Mar 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 El-khoury, Aouad and Lteif. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Roula El-khoury, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
David Aouad, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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