Restoration of Heritage Buildings and Their Role in Promoting Economic and Environmental Sustainability in Palestine Amidst the Challenges of the Occupation

(East Jerusalem Areas: Kafr Aqab Village as a Model)

Abstract

    This research aims to clarify the relationship between the rehabilitation of heritage buildings and their role in achieving sustainable development on both environmental and economic levels. The study assumes that there is a strong and positive relationship between preserving architectural heritage through restoration and adaptive reuse, and achieving the concept of economic and environmental sustainability within Palestinian society. However, the researcher argues that the existing experiences and policies in this regard are insufficient or ineffective, as they are incomplete—focusing solely on the cultural and historical aspects without examining the economic and environmental impacts, which are crucial to achieving sustainable development. Furthermore, current practices lack a clear methodology that can ensure a comprehensive understanding of sustainability, which highlights the problem addressed by this research.

The significance of the study lies in its focus on the importance of preserving architectural heritage and its role in maintaining cultural identity while also achieving economic and environmental sustainability. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical methodology, aiming to describe heritage buildings in Palestine and analyze their impact in enhancing national identity on one hand, and promoting sustainability on the other. The research is expected to conclude that employing innovative tools based on a clear and practical methodology will help achieve more effective and positive results toward sustainable development.