Forum to highlight women’s role in promoting urban heritage

The Second National Urban Heritage Forum will be held under the patronage of Eastern Province Governor, Prince Muhammad bin Fahd from Dec. 10-12. The event will have a special session highlighting women’s role in promoting national urban heritage. The forum will highlight women’s active role in boosting the Kingdom’s traditional architecture and encouraging more women to take part in reviving and preserving this sector. Saudi women have acquired a notable reputation for their interior design works, especially in Jazan and Asir areas, manifested in decorating the walls of houses with color embellishments, bespeaking natural beauty. Numerous feminists and feminism enthusiasts have been requested to do further studies and reviews about Saudi female-initiated architectural work. The aim is to motivate public and private art institutions to activate women’s role in designing and executing t architectural projects in the Kingdom and to emphasize Saudi women’s architectural innovativeness. Headed by Hisham Murtadah, the session’s speakers will include a galaxy of urban heritage specialists and connoisseurs. Most prominently, Haifa Al-Hababi, will discuss with the attendees Asir’s traditional architecture and art, while Ali Maghawi, will present the reasons and circumstances that set Asir women apart from the rest of the Saudi society, in terms of understanding and developing traditional architecture. Amongst the lecturers as well, are Amal Al-Debriki, who will be clarifying women’s role in preserving architectural heritage, Reem Al Saban, discussing the harmonious relation between women and Hijaz urban heritage, and Fatma Yaaqub, presenting her experience in training Asir women to participate in restoring and conserving their architectural heritage. Furthermore, the session will be attended by international experts and feminists, including Ashanlusin Udenyawa, discussing women’s role in creating a thriving architectural environment in West Africa, Alfa Dube, clarifying Malian women’s effective participation in organizing and preserving Malian architectural heritage, and Mart Log, who will present a feminine perspective on Cameroonian traditional architecture. Eureke Herbug will conclude the session with a discussion on the essential role of women in developing and boosting traditional architecture in the world, with case studies from Indonesia. From : Arabnews