REVIEW AND ANALYSIS 31 SOUK AL-SAQATIYYA RECONCILIATION AND RECONSTRUCTION IN POST-CONFLICT ALEPPO ATAA ALSALLOUM HOW SHOULD missing heritage components, partially or entirely destroyed during conflict, be reinstated in ways that preserve heritage values, revive lost meanings, enhance architectural legibility and support post-conflict reconciliation? This complex question often arises once conflict subsides. Architects, historians, policymakers and communities each bring distinct perspectives, shaped by their own priorities and lived experiences. Assumptions common in Western contexts, where peace and resources are typically stable, may not apply in places like Aleppo, where intangible values and local attachments to place hold deep significance. This article examines these challenges through the case study of Souk al-Saqatiyya in Old Aleppo, exploring the reconstruction process through the lens of local priorities, community perspectives and international heritage frameworks. It reflects on what this project reveals about rebuilding heritage in postconflict settings. ALEPPO’S HISTORIC COMMERCIAL CORE Aleppo, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, prospered from its strategic position on the Silk Roads, becoming a renowned hub for commerce and culture. Its urban fabric, shaped by centuries of Hittite, Assyrian, Arab, Mamluk and Ottoman influence, includes the 13th-century citadel, 12th-century Great Mosque of Aleppo and a network of 17th-century souks (markets), madrasas (religious schools), khans or caravanserais (traditional inns), hammams (public baths) and qeysariyes (workshops or manufacturing units). In 1986, Aleppo’s historic significance was recognised with Unesco world heritage status for its testimony to successive civilisations (Criterion iii) and as a prime example of Ayyubid urbanism, marked by military fortifications constructed following Salah El-Din’s victory over the crusaders (Criterion iv). From the 13th century onwards, Aleppo’s commercial district developed into a vibrant international hub. Although a major earthquake in 1822 caused significant damage, traditional techniques were employed in its reconstruction. Nevertheless, interventions in the mid-20th century disrupted the cohesion of the historic district. Despite ongoing The Old Aleppo market area after the destruction (Photo: Mariam Hammouda, 2020)
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