Identifying Architectural Attributes and Aesthetics for Assessment of New Infill Design in Urban Historic Context: The Case of Historic Jeddah

Abstract

Urban regeneration and architectural design in historical contexts have always presented serious challenges, thereby raising critical questions regarding the assurance of modern architecture designs that maintain compatibility with cherished heritage sites. Previous studies have analyzed theories and strategies in cases where new architecture has been interwoven into the existing historical urban fabric as infill projects aligned with the existing architectural heritage. These studies elaborated upon alternative philosophies regarding infill architecture projects, from mimesis or replication to contrasting approaches. The former seeks compatibility and visual harmony by linking new building designs to the historical aesthetics and character in order to preserve the contextual values of the site and its heritage. The alternative approach posits that any new intervention should represent its own period of time. Despite the inevitable contrast, new architecture should respect and compliment the historical context rather than overwhelm it. In some historic sites, the design of new buildings has been an important aspect reflected in the contextual design and integration of new infill structures; however, few focused on the historical area whose architectural and urban heritage values must be preserved. International organizations, such as UNESCO and ICOMOS, strive to preserve historical sites, including monuments, buildings, and exemplar neighborhoods worldwide. Doing so exposes them to several conflicting interests, not the least of which is the struggle between preservation and progress. Through these organizations, many guidelines have been declared in charters, formal recommendations, and binding resolutions that form the preservation, revitalization, and development principles for historical sites. To achieve these goals, most design principles and guidelines outline the desirable attributes and aesthetics of historic environments, especially their visual and spatial qualities. In historic sites, these characteristics are vital for the formation of appropriate design guidelines that can help maintain high-quality contextual bonds between the new and old. These common compatibility principles are used to assess urban and architectural features, including size, scale, proportion, character, materials and detail in order to protect the integrity of both the new structure and the context into which it is placed. In some sites, the identifiable physical attributes and aesthetics are not obvious, even for responsible local organizations and professional designers. One notable example is historic Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. The historic center of old Jeddah has suffered continuous degradation resulting in the partial sacrifice of its traditional spirit, authentic urban and architectural Hijazi features, as well as hundreds of irreplaceable historic homes. Further, the urban expansion of Jeddah city is characterized by a fragmented structure and unregulated urban sprawl that lacks appealing integration between the old district and the new city. This has led to irregular building practices with an unpleasant blend of relatively few remaining historical buildings and an increasing percentage of contemporary buildings featuring non-conforming architectural characteristics. Current regulations and guidelines have not been sensitive to the district's historical nature or special status. The integration of new development into the old context has essentially failed, and the historic city's aesthetic and physical attributes remain undefined. Therefore, the aim of this study is to define the architectural attributes and aesthetics of Historic Jeddah in order to identify the basic principles of contextualism between the new and historical contexts. Methodologically, the study comprises two segments performed sequentially. The first introduces the current state of historic old Jeddah within its urban context and identifies the morphological transformations that shaped the current fabric as well as the main urban components and unique character areas that define the historical core of the city. The second identifies the attributes and aesthetic qualities of Hijazi-built communities in old Jeddah within the framework of existing theories of contextual architecture. The findings reveal how accurately defined attributes and aesthetics can be useful for major organizations and developers by providing clear information to enable the formulation of appropriate design guidelines for new architectural projects in historic urban environments, and also to ensure successful infill developments that preserve irreplaceable cultural values well into the future.