Architectural heritage management in postwar small and medium cities, and their rural areas in North West Syria

During wars, architectural heritage is exposed to severe damage, especially in cities and urban areas, ranging from minor damage to complete destruction. Moreover, the marginalization, weakness or absence of heritage management supporting post-war recovery, especially in medium and small towns and their countryside where attention is focused on large cities, has exacerbated the problem. In addition to the crisis of climate change and global warming facing the Earth, which results in natural disasters that increase the vulnerability of architectural heritage to destruction, which is considered a resource for flexible and sustainable practices and technologies that we can benefit from in our contemporary architecture. The thesis suggests directing attention to medium and small cities and their rural areas with a traditional fabric. Syria has been exposed to conflict for more than a decade. The study will focus on the regions of northwestern Syria, including its medium and small cities and its countryside, to study its current situation, determine its architectural heritage, and the role it can play in that complex context. The thesis conducted many research in the context of wars and disasters, focusing on many points: managing architectural heritage, the possibility of adapting technology in this context, trying to benefit from traditional practices in the context of sustainability, and finally the relationship of architectural heritage to the resilience of cities. The methodology followed in the thesis is publication-based thesis, the published articles about the different research topics were organized to serve the achievement of the objectives of the master program. By reviewing the literature and extracting the best methodologies compatible with the Syrian context, it is possible to define the value of architectural heritage in the contexts of wars and disasters and develop a strategy for using and intervening in this heritage.