CULTURAL NEWS

Algiers Arts and Heritage Association holds virtual event “Rêvons la Casbah d'Alger”

ALGIERS-The Algiers Arts and Heritage Association kicked off virtual event themed "Rêvons la Casbah d'Alger" (Let's Dream of the Kasbah of Algiers) on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of the listing of this age-old city as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Education, Social and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

This meeting, which continues until December 11th, includes debates on the aspects of the rehabilitation project of the Kasbah of Algiers, such as the administrative and legal, economic and financial, socio-cultural, technical and aesthetic aspects.

During this first day, the UNESCO expert Mounir Bouchnaki focused on the chronology of the listing of the Kasbah of Algiers as a World Heritage site by UNESCO and explained the advantages of listing, in addition to the relationship between the Member States and UNESCO and the responsibilities of each in the preservation of cultural heritage.

The National Agency of Safeguarded Areas (ANSS) also made a presentation on the legal and administrative provisions related to the management of safeguarded sectors.

Architect and President of "Save the Kasbah of Algiers" Association Houria Bouhired talked about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on worksites and rehabilitation programmes of the Kasbah of Algiers registered in 2018, which "are at a standstill."

Lynda Ouar, Project Manager for the collaboration between the province of Algiers and the Ile-de-France region, launched in March 2017, also took part in this first day to explain the these projects, including the "technical workshops for the revitalization of the Kasbah of Algiers" signed in 2018 with the Jean-Nouvel workshops.

This series of projects "has not been implemented," she said.
The technical aspects of restoration in the project to rehabilitate the Kasbah of Algiers was discussed at length by Archaeologist and member editor of the Kasbah listing file Abdelmadjib Boukacem, who spoke about the project of the Citadel of Algiers and its integration into an urban environment and the possibilities of using contemporary construction and restoration techniques accepted by UNESCO.

The virtual meeting "Let's dream of the Kasbah of Algiers" continues until December 11th on the page of the Arts and Heritage Association of Algiers.