32 YEARBOOK 2025 challenges, including fragmented ownership, rising restoration costs and bureaucratic constraints, Aleppo’s historic core continued to play a vital socio-cultural role in Syria as the city functioned as the country’s economic capital. These issues persisted until the Syrian conflict, which began in 2011, reached Aleppo in 2012, resulting in widespread destruction. By 2013, it was placed on the list of world heritage in danger, along with the other five world heritage sites in Syria, due to the escalating conflict. By 2016, over 33,500 structures in the city had been damaged, with central neighbourhoods experiencing up to 65 per cent destruction. Among the worst affected areas were the old souks. Aleppo’s population fell dramatically during the conflict while hundreds of thousands of displaced people arrived in search of safety. Shopping is often a routine activity, but in Syria’s traditional souks, it becomes an extraordinary cultural experience. These ancient The Souk Madina in Aleppo, Syria, as it looked in 2007 (Photo: Muzaffar Salman / Associated Press) McDonnell, P. J. (2012, October 17), Syria’s historic Old City of Aleppo a major front line in war, Los Angeles Times, bc-url.com/IHBCYBa Souk al-Saqatiyya market during reconstruction (Photo: Mariam Hammouda, 2022) The central commercial zone of the Old City and the location of Souk al-Saqatiyya (Plan: Kasmo and Kutiefan, 2021, p 93) Sample of the proposed interventions in Souk al-Saqatiyya (courtesy of AKTC) marketplaces captivate with their distinctive architecture, vibrant atmosphere and intricate urban fabric, while also nurturing rich human interactions. Souks, such as the gold or spice souk, group similar trades, yet each shop retains a unique identity, shaped by generations of skilled shopkeepers. Beyond commerce they are spaces for exchanging news, bargaining and celebrating cultural identity. Aleppo’s souks are more than commercial spaces, they are cultural institutions embedded in daily life. Each shop reflects generational traditions, economic networks and shared social customs. These markets fostered community identity, mutual support and economic continuity across social classes. Recovery began following the 2017 de-escalation, though it has been slow, due to international sanctions restricting investment. Nonetheless, coordinated efforts by Unesco, the Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums (DGAM), the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and others launched early recovery plans, prioritising key sites like the Grand Mosque and select souks. A PILOT PROJECT FOR POSTCONFLICT RECONSTRUCTION Souk al-Saqatiyya, a 16th-century two-storey market, was chosen as a pilot restoration project due to its moderate damage, central location and architectural consistency which made restoration more feasible. The market covers approximately 1,500 square metres, with a length of 98 metres and a width of about 4.8 metres. It incorporates Khan al-Gumruk (the Custom Caravanserai), two manufacturing facilities (qaysariyyas) and several adjacent markets. Originally designed for the sale of everyday goods, it takes its name from ‘saqatat’, a term referring to offal and meats once sold by local butchers alongside nuts, fruits and vegetables. The market is accessed through three large wooden doors: two at the
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