1. UNEARTHING
INNOVATION
On Conservation & Development:
The Role of Traditional
Mud Brick Architecture Firms in Southern Yemen
Deepa Mehta, M.Sc. / Columbia University GSAPP
deepamehta@caa.columbia.edu
www.learn.columbia.edu/tarim/
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

2. Does the conservation of mud brick architecture in southern
Yemen have important regional growth implications?
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

3. Do the conservation practices of mud brick architecture in
southern Yemen have important regional growth implications?
• Does innovation play a role in mud
brick construction practices today?
• How can heritage-labeled informal
industries contribute to
development goals?
• How can the heritage framework
play a more informed role in the
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar development framework?

4. Context
YEMEN
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

5. Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

6. Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

7. SEYOUN, CAPITAL OF THE HADHRAMAUT
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

8. SHIBAM, WORLD HERITAGE CITY
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

9. TARIM, HOME OF AL-KAF FAMILY HISTORIC VILLAS
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

10. Conceptual Framework
social institutions
Heritage TRADITIONAL Economic
Conservation INDUSTRIES Development
technological change
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

11. On Development
• Embedded in non-economic
social & cultural institutions
(Braudel, 1992)
• Alternative growth
trajectories (Harris-White,
2003)
• On flexibility & specialization
(Seibel & Zeitlin, 1997)
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

12. Development Realities in the Hadhramaut
• Institution-building
- poverty reduction
- providing support for SMEs
• Globalizing dynamics
- new construction typologies
- improvements in literacy, education, & career choice
• Rich cultural landscape
- heritage conservation agencies & on-going projects
- world heritage sites & cultural tourism
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

13. Mud brick firms & the basic building process
Demand Supply
5 TO 8 MONTHS
Home owner SME MATERIALS DESIGN/BUILD
Mastercraftsman
Craftsman Local; Permits
Building owner Apprentice Regional; Construction
General Builder
Natural Partnerships
Mosque Mud
Lumber
Government Straw
Regional;
International;
Industrial:
Glass
Sewage/
Telecom. Public
Infrastructure
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

14. On Conservation
• Intrinsic connection to
societal values & traditions
(Nasser, 2003)
• Intangible heritage as social
process (Katsamudanga,
2005)
• Ongoing vernacular
traditions are living heritage
(Jokilehto, 1998)
• Community in heritage
management (Akrout-Yaiche,
2002)
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

15. Conservation relationships in Hadhramaut
INTERNATIONAL WMF ICOMOS UNESCO
GTZ
SFD Ministry of
Planning
NATIONAL
Ambassador’s
GOAM
Fund for GOPHCY
Heritage
Preservation
Foreign
REGIONAL Direct
Investment
Mud Hadhramaut
Brick Regional
Governorate
CBE SMEs Tarimi Assembly
for Heritage
LOCAL Protection
PRIVATE PUBLIC
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

16. Living Heritage: evidence of innovation?
• Conservation is a social process
• Development includes living heritage
•For a way forward, there is a need for good policy that includes:
INDUSTRIAL ANALYSIS
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
SOCIAL POLICY
ECONOMIC POLICY
• Need for an effective heritage- development dialogic
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar

17. THANK YOU
Deepa Mehta, M.Sc. / Columbia University GSAPP
deepamehta@caa.columbia.edu
www.learn.columbia.edu/tarim/
Deepa Mehta 06 - 08 October 2009 GLOBELICS Dakar