Preservation of the Urban Development and Architectural Heritage of the Clay Buildings in Hadhramout Region, Yemen through Public Participation of the Region’s Residents

Abstract

The archeological heritage is considered the roots for civilization and development for any nation that maintains its
development and flourishing. Therefore, if such roots were eradicated or exposed to destruction, this nation will be
lost and lose its constituents of growth and flourishing. This study deals with the value concepts and policies to
preserve the architectural heritage within the context of sustainable development system. The study was carried out
through reviewing the concepts of heritage and heritage value (historical, artistic and functional). The aim of this
study is to discuss the most important reasons behind the deterioration of urban areas that have architectural value, in
addition to the levels and different types of archeological heritage deterioration. Moreover, the study presents
different methods for archeological heritage preservation. Besides, the study highlights the public participation
approach in heritage preservation and sustainable development by the citizens of those areas through the intellectual
analytical model of communication and public participation process and its most important components. Further, the
identification of the levels and the types of this communication and public participation are discussed in this study.
Taking into consideration the unique architecture heritage Hadhrami cities have which dated hundreds of years and
exposed to negligence and deterioration, consequently there is a need for carrying out a practical study as to identify
the most important features of urban and architectural heritage of the cities in Hudhramout region. Besides, spotting
the most important heritage areas in Hadhrami region is required. The present study adopted multi-level public
participation approach (public, official, academicians) due to its positive outcomes to identify the most important
threats of the urban and architectural heritage of the cities from the public's point of view, in addition to identifying
the obstacles that inhibit heritage preservation from the executive officials' viewpoint. Finally, this study seeks to
come up with the most important and urgent and delayed recommendations to preserve the heritage of the Hadhrami
cities through the participation of specialized academicians in the same field.