Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Aleppo: On the domed roof of a historical market in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, architect Bassel Al Daher moves between workers painstakingly working to erase the scars of war.

Men wearing vests and helmets repair parts of the roof still bearing visible traces of the four-year-long battle for the former rebel stronghold.

They cover its charred surface with a fresh coat of white paint as part of a wider effort to rehabilitate the Saqatiya market, or souk in Arabic.

ga Khan Trust for Culture calls for condemnation of destruction to be reinforced by help on the ground

PALERMO - While the war continues in Syria, with regime bombing on besieged Eastern Ghouta and clashes between the Turkish army and the Kurdish YPG in the north, reconstruction has begun in Aleppo. A group of Italian engineers and experts have been transferred to the Syrian city to work with locals and teach them the necessary skills to restore the UNESCO World Heritage sites of the souq, minaret and Umayyad mosque.

2009, April 30: Aleppo, Syria: (SANA)-Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Ottri discussed Thursday with Prince Rahim Karem Agha Khan cooperation between the Syrian government and Agha Khan Development Network, and the importance of its developmental and social projects in Syria. Both sides reviewed the situation and stages of the projects being implemented by the Network in Aleppo and their positive impact on boosting social and tourist development in the Syrian second city.

Descending the steps of the citadel, a 13th-century fortress in Aleppo, Syria.

In this ancient fortress city in northern Syria, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements, an ambitious restoration project is near completion in the Old City. Bloomberg is reporting that a master plan for development has been laid out for the next 15 years.

The most spectacular renewal is the Citadel castle: Workers cleared its deep moat, cleaned its formidable walls and removed tons of rubble. The work is backed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, whose goal is to revitalize run-down communities and monuments.

In this ancient fortress city in northern Syria, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements, an ambitious restoration project is near completion in the Old City. Bloomberg is reporting that a master plan for development has been laid out for the next 15 years.

The most spectacular renewal is the Citadel castle: Workers cleared its deep moat, cleaned its formidable walls and removed tons of rubble. The work is backed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, whose goal is to revitalize run-down communities and monuments.

The citadel at Aleppo, Syria, sits in this undated handout photograph released to the media on April 15, 2010

April 16 (Bloomberg) -- It’s hard to know which of history’s episodes was worse for Aleppo, an ancient fortress city in Syria’s north. Perhaps it was in the year 1400, when Tamerlane, the invading Mongol-Turkic chieftain, piled thousands of skulls at the town gates to persuade inhabitants to give up.

Or maybe the earthquake of 1136 that killed tens of thousands of inhabitants, or the massacre of Muslims by more Mongol invaders in 1260 or the 19th-century assaults by cholera and plague.

Aleppo?s Governor Ossama Adi on Sunday conferred with Emir Rahem Agha Khan, Member of the Economic Committee at Agha Khan Foundation for Development, on cooperation areas with Agha Khan Foundation in the fields of tourism, culture and preserving human heritage.During the meeting, Governor Adi talked about the projects being implemented in cooperation with the Foundation in Aleppo?s old city to rehabilitate and enhance it through offering small loans to families, in addition to the works of restoration in Aleppo?s famous Citadel.

The Spiritual Leader of the world's Ismaili Muslims, Prince Kareem Agha Khan visited today the archaeological Aleppo castle and Qensrin archaeological door.
The Prince toured in the castle and listened to an elaborated explanation about history of the castle, the historical events which the castle passed through and restoration of the castle.

In a statement to SANA correspondent, the Prince asserted that selection of Aleppo for distributing the price of Agha Khan for the Islamic building is for its distinguished historical position.

LBC: Good evening your Highness, we are honoured that you are giving us an interview for the (LBC) channel. Well, we came to Aleppo because you are here, for a Syrian visit. But of course, there is an occasion; there was the ceremony of the Award for Architecture. You said in your speech, which I personally liked very much on many points, we'll talk about it later, you said in your speech that you consider the Aleppo citadel, and I am not sure I am translating accurately what you said, that you consider it as a personal quest to take place in history and in the heritage.

AK: Yes….

World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and his Silk Road Ensemble gave a special performance on the occasion of the presentation ceremony of the 2001 Aga Khan Award for Architecture. From high atop the Citadel dominating one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities and out of its ornate Throne Room, the enchanting melodies of Ahmed Adnan Saygun, Johann Sebastian Bach, Maurice Ravel, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh and Kayhan Kalhor this evening recreated an age-old memory of the interaction of cultures for which the Silk Road is remembered.

At a ceremony held in Syria at the historical Citadel of Aleppo, His Highness the Aga Khan announced the nine recipients of the 2001 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, and presented a special Chairman's Award to the Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa. The occasion completed the eighth cycle of the programme, which has a triennial prize fund of US$ 500,000, making it the world's largest architectural award. The Award programme will celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2003.

A bustan whose glory would stem from the value and legitimacy of the pluralism of the infinite manifestations of culture in the human community."

His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, this evening used the metaphor of an orchard to symbolise the intellectual space that offers hope and optimism in the face of "the many issues and pressures facing Islamic countries and communities."

The Spiritual Leader of the world's Ismaili Muslims, Prince Kareem Agha Khan visited today the archaeological Aleppo castle and Qensrin archaeological door.

The Prince toured in the castle and listened to an elaborated explanation about history of the castle, the historical events which the castle passed through and restoration of the castle.

In a statement to SANA correspondent, the Prince asserted that selection of Aleppo for distributing the price of Agha Khan for the Islamic building is for its distinguished historical position.

"A bustan whose glory would stem from the value and legitimacy of the pluralism of the infinite manifestations of culture in the human community."

His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, this evening used the metaphor of an orchard to symbolise the intellectual space that offers hope and optimism in the face of "the many issues and pressures facing Islamic countries and communities."

Le prix d'Agha Khan de l'architecture pour l'année 2001 a été décerné hier à des compagnies iraniennes, marocaine, indienne et guinéenne. Le prix de l'accomplissement globale de l'Etablissement de Agha Khan a été octroyé à un ingénieur philippin.

M. Mohammad Moustapha Miro, président du Conseil des ministres, et l'émir Agha Khan, guide spirituel des musulmans ismaélites dans le monde, ont procédé à la distribution de ce prix dans la citadelle d'Alep.

L'Emir Karim Agha Khan, guide spirituel des musulmans ismaélites dans le monde, a visité aujourd'hui la Citadelle d'Alep et la Porte de Qanssarine, où il a fait une tournée dans les sections de la Citadelle.

L'Emir Agha Khan qui était arrivé dans la matinée à Alep, a affirmé à l'envoyé de Sana, que la ville d'Alep a été choisie pour y distribuer le prix d'Agha Khan de l'Architecture islamique vu son importance historique et culturelle.

Le prix d'Agha Khan de l'architecture pour l'année 2001 a été décerné hier à des compagnies iraniennes, marocaine, indienne et guinéenne. Le prix de l'accomplissement globale de l'Etablissement de Agha Khan a été octroyé à un ingénieur philippin.

M. Mohammad Moustapha Miro, président du Conseil des ministres, et l'émir Agha Khan, guide spirituel des musulmans ismaélites dans le monde, ont procédé à la distribution de ce prix dans la citadelle d'Alep.