The Traditional Building Cultures Foundation is collaborating with Union for the Mediterranean and the UNESCO in the organization of a series of meetings as part of the program Savoir-faire traditionnels de la construction dans le sud de la Méditerranée.
El programa cuenta con el apoyo financiero de Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).
The fifth of these meetings, following those held in Barcelona last July, in Tunisia last December, in Morocco last February, and in Algeria last April, took place on May 9 and 10 in Mauritania, one of the countries participating in the program. The event was organized in collaboration with the Ministère de l’Habitat, de l’Urbanisme et de l’Aménagement du Territoire and the Ministère de la Culture, de la Jeunesse, des Sports et des Relations avec le Parlement. A large number of national and international experts have participated in it.
Within the general context of the project, the Mauritania meeting focused on how to incorporate new architectures into historic ensembles so that they may be harmoniously integrated and contribute to the updating and continuity of local tradition, as well as how to restore and refurbish existing buildings with a view to these same aims.
The rehabilitation and updating of existing buildings in historic cities, along with the incorporation of new constructions to house various functions, are processes that can help stabilize the population, generate activity, and favor the long-term conservation of these complexes. However, it is crucial to address this issue without losing sight of the importance of ensuring that these interventions do not undermine the unique identity of the place and its traditions, and do not involve actions that could diminish its appeal and, thus, threaten its future and that of the community that inhabits it. It is also important to emphasize the relevance of acting in a way that supports the local construction sector and contributes to generating high-quality local employment, such as that which comes from the skills inherent in traditional artisan crafts.
This meeting gave rise to interesting exchanges of experience, discussions on the subject between the various stakeholders, and the emergence of promising initiatives and avenues of future collaboration between them.
