ELAICH - Educational Linkage Approach in Cultural Heritage. For more information and presentations, please visit: http://elaich.technion.ac.il/

1. ELAICH
EDUCATIONAL LINKAGE APPROACH IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
ENPI 150583
Exercise 1 (solution)
What are the threats to Khan esh-Shawarda in the
Old City of Acre?
FEEDBACK (Part 1)
Carefully look at the photos of this building at Khan esh-Shawarda in the Old City of
Acre and try to answer the questions below. You can also mark and write notes on
the photos:
1. Observe the base of the pillars (photos 1 and 2) – what do you see?
a. Are there any loose stones? YES, ESPECIALLY ON THE SECOND PILASTER
b. Are there any broken stones? YES, ESPECIALLY ON THE SECOND PILASTER
c. What condition is the mortar in? IT IS MISSING ALONG THE STONE JOINTS,
ESPECIALLY IN THE LOWER PART OF THE PILASTERS
2. Look at the middle of the pillars (photos 1 and 3), there are some metal attachments
a. What do you think those attachments are? Are they original? METAL TIES and PROPS
– NO, THEY ARE NOT ORIGINAL
b. Why do you think that all those elements are there?
TO SUPPORT THE BUILDING AND PREVENT POSSIBLE COLLAPSES
3. Which part of the pilasters is in worse condition – the lower part or the middle one? Why?
THE LOWER (BASE) SEEMS TO BE IN WORSE CONDITION (STONE AND MORTAR ARE
DETERIORATED), POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF RISING DAMP (HUMIDITY) AND SOLUBLE SALTS
4. Do you think that the damage visible could be due or could lead to structural problems?
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2. ELAICH
EDUCATIONAL LINKAGE APPROACH IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
ENPI 150583
YES, THE METAL TIES AND PROPS SHOW THAT THE BUILDING HAS STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS.
MOREOVER, FURTHER DETERIORATION OF THE LOWER PART (BASE) MIGHT ACTUALLY LEAD
THE COLLAPSE OF THE PILASTERS
5. Do you notice any other element that seems to have been fixed to the building recently?
YES, MANY. THERE ARE MANY CABLES, METAL DOORS, AND METAL BARS TO THE WINDOWS
6. Look at the top of the gallery (photos 1 and 4), where the arches are.
a. Do you see anything “strange” along the stone joints? What is it? THERE ARE PLANTS
GROWING ALONG THE STONE JOINTS
b. What about the stone surface? IT LOOKS DARK IN SOME AREAS. IT MIGHT BE DIRT
AND/OR MICRO-ORGANISMS
7. Look at the roofed area of the gallery (photos 3 and 4).
a. In what condition is the stone surface? IT LOOKS BLACK, DIRTY
Why do you think that the stone looks darker? DEPOSITION OF DUST, SOOT, PROBABLY ALSO DUE
TO CAR EXHAUST. THE ROOFED AREA IS NOT WASHED BY RAINFALL AND DIRT ACCUMULATES.
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3. ELAICH
EDUCATIONAL LINKAGE APPROACH IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
ENPI 150583
FEEDBACK (Part 2)
On the basis of the answers given in Part 1, try to suggest which of the following
could be possible causes of deterioration of the building.
Natural Causes Human causes
Earthquake X War
Volcanic eruption Fire
IMMEDIATE DRASTIC EFFECTS
Hurricane Public works
Fire Building alterations due to X
incompatible use
Lighting Clandestine diggers
Hail Illegal trade
Storm Urban development X
Flood Vandalism (including graffiti)
and fanaticism
Climate (temperature, rain, wind, etc.) X Pollution X
Humidity X Abrasion
SLOW AND CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
Pollution (from natural sources) Vibration
DIssolved salts X Tourism
Micro-organisms X Neglect X
Vegetation X Ignorance and lack of awareness X
Animals (insects, birds, bats, etc.) Lack of adequate legislation X
Dust, etc. X Unsuitable restoration
materials/treatments, etc.
Provide an explanation for your answers. Is there one cause which might be predominant to the
rest? Compare your answers with those given by your classmates. Try to come up with possible
actions that could be taken to eliminate (if possible) or reduce those causes of deterioration before
intervening directly on the building. Think about which actions would be feasible, and which would 3
perhaps be too difficult to implement and why.

4. ELAICH
EDUCATIONAL LINKAGE APPROACH IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
ENPI 150583
UNDERSTANDING THE CAUSES OF DETERIORATION
• The building seems to have serious STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS. Numerous metal attachments
have, in fact, been applied to reinforce the building. These structural problems are likely to
be due to more than just one reason.
For example several NATURAL or HUMAN CAUSES (e.g. earthquakes, war) which bring
along IMMEDIATE DRASTIC EFFECTS might have been responsible. More than just one box
might therefore be ticked in the table above. N.B. It is not possible to specify which of
these causes is mostly responsible just by looking at the photos since one should inspect
the entire building and look at records to see whether the site was affected by natural
disasters or war in the “recent” past.
Structural problems might also be worsened by the slow deterioration of the bases of the
pilasters, probably due to SOLUBLE SALTS and HUMIDITY (rising damp).
• The building has also been NEGLECTED for some time. This is clear from the BAD
CONDITION the heritage site is found in: DIRT/SOOT is visible on the stone surface under
the roofed gallery, VEGETATION is growing along the stone joints, STONE and MORTAR
JOINTS ARE DETERIORATED.
• Metal doors and other elements have been fixed to the building as part of its current
IMPROPER USE. These elements spoil the beauty of the building and their application has
certainly caused damage to the building (e.g. holes must have been drilled in the stone
blocks, iron attachments can corrode and expand causing damage to the stone). The
courtyard of the building is being used as a CAR PARK. POLLUTANTS emitted by car
exhausts cause DIRT and CHEMICAL DETERIORATION.
• Both NEGLECT and IMPROPER USE are usually consequences of LACK OF ADEQUATE
LEGISLATION that should protect built and natural heritage, and LACK OF AWARENESS. In
the end if a building is not recognised as built heritage, it will not be protected and will be
subject to neglect and vandalism, both considered as HUMAN CAUSES.
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5. ELAICH
EDUCATIONAL LINKAGE APPROACH IN CULTURAL HERITAGE
ENPI 150583
ADDRESSING THE CAUSES OF DETERIORATION
• NATURAL DISASTERS cannot be prevented, although in certain instances their effects may
somewhat be mitigated if buildings are well maintained, appropriate restoration materials
used, and especially if measures are in place to mitigate the effects of disasters in the
larger context.
• NATURAL CAUSES LEADING TO SLOW CUMULATIVE DETERIORATION EFFECTS cannot
usually be entirely removed. Very often, however, by making sure that rainwater is
channelled away properly, and that the building and its roof are regularly maintained can
drastically slow down the effects of these factors. Both the deterioration caused by
VEGETATION and SOLUBLE SALTS can be mitigated in this way.
• We can control much better HUMAN CAUSES OF DETERIORATION, which often have a
substantial impact on the preservation of built heritage. By changing the USE of the area
and removing the CAR PARK, one could drastically reduce pollution from car exhaust, and
therefore prevent the deposition of DIRT and CHEMICAL DETERIORATION.
• AWARENESS and EDUCATION are at the core of the protection of our built heritage. They
are powerful means to recognise the importance and values of built heritage, and promote
its protection and respect. A series of harmful human behaviours, like NEGLECT,
IMPROPER USE, and VANDALISM, can be defeated in this way.
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