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The purpose of this report is to list the
architectural and archaeological sites of the City of Jableh, which might
be highlighted within the framework of the elaboration of the orientations
for a Master Plan and will be used to evaluate the possibility of integrating
Jableh as an additional pilot case study for UNESCO network.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The City of Jableh is a fast growing urban area, located on the Syrian
Mediterranean coast. The city has a night population of some 80,000 residents
and a day population of over 120,000. It acts as a major employment and
shopping center for the surrounding rural area. Its main industry is yarn
weaving and processing and packaging of agricultural goods. Jableh also
has small fishing harbor providing a small amount of employment. Educational
institutions are available up to the end of high school.
ADMINISTRATION
Jableh is a secondary municipality in the governorate of Latakiah. The
elected 22 members of the City Council elect internally 7 members to form
the executive council headed by the Mayor.
The Council is responsible for planning, building regulations, street
maintenance, solid waste collection, as well as some other municipal duties.
Police, education, health and other sectorial services report to the Governor
of Latakiah.
Sewer lines are available for the majority of the city including the Old
Town. However the city lacks sewer treatment facility and sewage gives
into the sea, untreated. Solid waste is also disposed off in an irregular
dump 2km south of the city.
In 1998, the Syrian Ministry of Culture listed Old Jableh as a historic
city. This has stopped previous legally binding master plan and planning
regulations, However, the Municipality has not been able to develop an
alternative masterplan on its own.
HISTORY
The town of Jableh is an old settlement on the Syrian coast of the Mediterranean.
Archeological excavations in and around Jableh suggest a continuous settlement
since the second millennium BC.
The old town is roughly 9 hectares layered on a gridiron pattern of streets
disrupted by typical medieval narrow streets, blind allies, residences
and souqs, interspersed with some 20th century development. The majority
of the 4,000 inhabitants of the Old Jableh are of lower income families,
resulting in the deterioration. A vivid market place still provides the
area with economic and social vitality. A few archeological sites on the
edge of town and Phoenician burial grounds on the seashore make for a
vivid historical profile of a Mediterranean coastal town.
THE MAJOR HISTORIC MONUMENTS
Most of the visible part of the Old Jableh is from Mamluk and Ottoman
period except for the Roman amphitheater.
The most prominent monuments of the city are:
- Roman amphitheater: a magnificent example of Roman architecture. The
seating area retains most of the original construction. A Belgian archeological
team from Leuven University, in collaboration with Latakiah directorate
of Antiquities has been working on the restoration and excavation of
the theatre in order to re-instate partially its function. The amphitheater
is surrounded by modern developments at the detriment of the its historical
and architectural character.
- Sultan Ibrahim Mosque: incrementally built from the 14th century around
the Mausoleum of Sultan Ibrahim. Architectural styles range from Mamluk
to Ottoman.
- Bathhouse of Sultan Ibrahim: next to the mosque, this bathhouse is
well preserved structurally but needs some preservation works.
- Mansury Mosque: built on the site of a crusader church, this Mamluk
mosque has been very poorly restored by the local community. The only
sign of its previous glory is the remaining unusual minaret.The interior
needs to be restored to its original finishes.
- Mansury Hamam; a fully-fledged bathhouse with great and spaces but
in desperate need for repair and re-use.
- Mausoleum of Al Umari: domed funerary squated on by refugees.
- Several old houses: Ali Deeb, Wajeeh, old fort house, Agha house.
Each house has distinctive architectural style and is need of restoration
and adaptive-re-use.
Mansury Mosque external wall
Mansury Hamam
Ali Deeh House
- Phoenician burial sites: located on the edge of the old town on the
cliff and the northern part. Partially excavated and documented, there
are plans for a new road through the area.
- The old Sarayah: used now by the police as a jail in the ground floor
and unused in the second floor. Adaptive re-use is advised to convert
this good quality building into a museum/civic center.
- Archeological tells: the latest one under excavation is Tel Mosaitbeh,
showing strong signs of discovering finally the Phoenician Jableh.
OLD CITY DESCRIPTION
Old Jableh suffers from problems such as overpopulation, building deterioration
and insufficiency of infrastructures. Its historic quarters represent
an important cultural and historical patrimony, which is now endangered.
Rural migration into this small urban centre leads to economic and social
stresses, which deteriorate the quality of life.
We notice that the old city still keeps most of its original streetscape
and proportions. The demographic and financial pressure is transforming
the old building into hybrid ones. A wide street completed in 1988 divides
the old city itself physically. The Southern seems to be overall in a
better shape than the northern part and contains the most interesting
civic centers (hamam, mosque) The northern part though scattered with
hybrid buildings, has very interesting residences.
In both areas, rehabilitation and adaptive re-use are highly recommended.
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FLOORS
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OLD BUILDINGS
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MIXED BUILDINGS
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MODERN BUILDINGS
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|
GF
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18.55
|
48.5
|
17.23
|
|
1F
|
2.7
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37.6
|
59.6
|
|
2F +
|
0
|
10.1
|
89.8
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Courtesy of Eng. Fatima Ibrahim
PRIORITY ACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES
-
Suspend all construction work based on the actual
expansion plan. Set a new comprehensive updated expansion plan for
Jableh; a plan that preserve actively cultural and natural heritage
and then try to restore what have been destroyed. A special attention
should be given in enhancing parts of town that will encourage cultural
tourism.
-
Protection and re-establishment of the cliff. Halt
all plans of corniche extension (North and South). Think of the area
as pedestrian area not cars.
-
Stop the plans for road extension and bridge
construction over the southern lagoon. The lagoon must be left
as it is without intervention to become a southern park for the
inhabitants. The accumulation of construction waste must be removed
to restore the original rock.
- Stop the plans for road extension in the Phoenician burial site
until further investigation (recommend sending UNESCO expert)
- Removal and halt to all unallowed construction infringing on the
Roman Amphithetre.
- Continue excavation on Tell Mosaitbeh site. This site is also a link
between the old city and the seashore.
- Start restoration work on the Saraya building.
- Remove all modern additions to traditional buildings sush as Mansury
Mosque and Mansury Hamam.
PRIORITY ACTIONS BY UNESCO
- International and technical expertise on:
- The Phoenician burial sites in the northern part of the corniche.
- The Egyptian granite columns at the bottom of the port
- Tel Mosaitbeh site.
- Provide technical assistance and training programs and exchange for
local architects/conservationist in the municipality and directorate
of antiquities who are handling the conservation/rehabilitation efforts.
- Technical expertise on the revised master plan and a development plan
for the old town.
- Technical expertise on prevention of seawater contamination.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS
- A new approach to develop internal tourism that respects the cultural
and natural environment.
- Historic preservation and urban upgrading to allow Jableh to become
a player in the Mediterranean coastal cities network.
- A plan to save Old Jableh and enhance its architectural beauty. Give
Old Jableh a central role in maintaining the integrity and the identity
of Jableh.
- Implement traditional and vernacular building materials for all new
buildings in the old area. A training work-site to teach young people
traditional building crafts that will restore and rehabilitate the Sarayah
into a small museum/civic center.
- A revised Master Plan for Development and Urban Planning that takes
into account the improvement of the city center, Old Jableh and the
restoration of the natural beauty of the corniche.
© UNESCO 2002
The opinions expressed in this text are those of the
author and do not necessarily reflect the views of UNESCO.
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