The conservation and enhancement of the county’s built heritage has the potential to contribute greatly to general ‘quality of life’ issues and helps generate a ‘sense of place’. In Suwayda city, there are many cases of monuments of the past that have been ruined by unfortunate modern actions. Some of the buildings were completely removed and replaced with senseless unhealthy buildings. Most of these buildings were built during the traditional era (18th and 19th century) or during the French Mandate (1918-1946), and many of those structures were built on the remains of ruins that belong to ancient civilizations. On the other hand, some structures were restored badly by adding new building materials that are not integrated with the original building materials.


I think that I, as an architect from Suwayda, am committed to ensure that this heritage plays a part in the future sustainable development of the county. A key issue in the county development plan is how these significant elements are protected, while, at the same time, allowing for their appropriate reuse and enhancement. Protection of the historic environment is not about preventing change. Rather it is about providing the appropriate tools and mechanisms through the county development plan, to manage change in a positive way, so that it enhances rather than diminishes the historic environment.

 

History of the Site:
There was a temple built by the Nabatean dedicated for Dushara (God of Fate). After the Romans came to the city in 1 AD, Dionysus (God of Wine) was worshipped in the same Nabatean temple dedicated for Dushara. This practice of associating the worship of local and Hellenic gods was common in Hellenistic Syria
Drawing of Banks (1816-1818) is the oldest document found for the Temple of Dushara in As-Suwayda city. This Script shows the Corinthian columns and covered windows; a statue is also seen in the drawing

According to Butler (1869) and Brunnow (1909), based on the number of the pilasters upon the wall of the cella there were thirteen Corinthian columns at the year of 1869. At 1909 there were seven columns and nowadays there are only three of the original columns of the temple. Each of the pilasters is 0.80m wide and the width of each space is 1.95m,

The total width of the cella according to these measurements would be 11.8m. Back in 1909 we could see next to the temple fragments of a beautiful frieze of grapes and vine leaves. The capitals are richly decorated: above are representations of a human face and the friezes are of the most elaborate description sculptured with fruits and flowers. 
 

The height of the house now is not the actual height of the temple, the front wall of the cella in the old temple was buried up to the half. The wall preserved a niche or a window of which the lower half is buried in soil, we can conclude from the low position of the niches that there was another above each of them. Photo for

During the Traditional Era (Early of the 18th Century) locals built a house on the ruins of the remaining temple and used some of the element as a decorated purpose. During the Syrian Revolution against French Mandate (1925) the house was bombed and destroyed and only four columns and a cornice are still standing from the temple. Southern

During the French Mandate and after the Syrian revolution the French troops built the actual house by the aid of Lebanese builders from Alshouf. The house was built by basalt stone as an essential decorated and structural material and the design combined the traditional and western architecture.

The house now is inhibited from a local family (Alatrach) of Suwayda and there is a commercial section in the first floor and what is remaining from this temple are three columns and some decorated elements

Integration with the historical building, a view from southern side.

Overview from Torshan Square.

Inner court yard

Educational Section

Eastern Elevation

While researching the architectural heritage in my town As-Suwayda, I became extremely interested in preserving and developing those old basalt structures. I believe that preserving those architectural antiquities leads to preserve traditions and culture of the city. Unfortunately, there is an approach from the locals to destroy those ancient structures and compete to build multistory buildings with much height and less money possible. Therefore, the result is horrible when owners try to make a business from architecture. They have no background in architecture and they are not aware to the importance of these ancient structures as well as there are no existed rules prevent them from this. 

The proposition is to design a contemporary art center integrated with the old historical context to reflect the cultural and urban needs of the city. The Project aims to achieve the desired and needed demands of the people, by having multifunctional cultural activities such as exhibition halls, theater, art education facilities and an art library. Moreover, it would be a remarkable example of old-new integration in the city.

The project site is located in the center of As-Suwayda” city in an importantplot of land.
It has a good connection with neighborhoods and important facilities of thecity. Moreover, it’s close to the main roads that lead to other cities andvillages like Damascus city in the North and Daraa city in the west.
The site is located in a remarkable place which is the window that makes thetransformation between historical and modern districts. On a small scale, it’ssurrounded by special markets, such as electrical, fabric, gold and spicesmarkets and has a connection and visual axis with Alhorria Square in the North.The project site is connected with the old As-Suwayda’ town in the west.

Site Plan Proposition

Ground Floor Plan

Section (a-a) shows the integration bweteen old and new structures

Section (b-b) Theater section

Proportions of Modern Building are derived from the old context.