Analysis of the Transformation of Herat Old City, Afghanistan

ABSTRACT

This study examines the ongoing transformation of Herat Old City (also referred to as the Old City), the former capital of the Timurid Empire on the Silk Roads, regarding the transformation of residential quarters. The data for this study is provided by a literature review, field surveys, and interviews with city officials and citizens. The study analyses the changes to residential quarters occurring in the Old City with a particular focus on their relation to a) the post-war reconstruction process, b) lack of management by the municipal government, and c) inadequate involvement of citizens/residents. The study shows how changes in private housing have occurred across the Old City. They began around 2004 and accelerated with the reconstruction process, which included projects funded by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC). Redevelopment of traditional houses has been continuing in the Old City even after AKTC completed their mission in 2010.

KEYWORDS:

• Afghanistan
• Herat Old City
• transformation
• traditional houses with domical vault roofs
• conservation

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sayed Abdul Basir Samimi

Sayed Abdul Basir Samimi is Afghan and holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Intelligent Systems Engineering from Ryukyus University (2018), is a postdoctoral researcher at Ryukyus University and is a lecturer in the Engineering Faculty of Herat University.

Tetsuya Ando

Tetsuya Ando is professor in the School of Engineering, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan. He earned his PhD (Engineering) from the Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokyo, Japan, in 1992.

Khojesta Kawish

Khojesta Kawish is a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Engineering of University of the Ryukyus. She holds an MSc in Urban Analysis and Territorial Design from Florence University.