EVALUATION OF RESTORATION PROJECTS FOR THRONE VILLAGES’ PALACES AND FORTRESSES

Abstract

Throne villages, Palestinian villages known for the political or military power of their local leaders, gained the name from having their own separate administrations. Located strategically in the central mountains of Palestine, such as the mountains of Jerusalem, Hebron and Nablus, Throne villages were well known for their defensive architecture and fortresses, especially during the latter half of Ottoman rule in the 18th and 19th centuries. The purpose of this research is to design a strategic work plan to revive and reuse these architectural sites, in order to achieve a plan for the sites economic and cultural sustainability. In this paper, we analysed the defensive reasoning, architectural characteristics, functions and internal spaces of the Throne villages’ palaces and fortresses. We discuss two case studies of the Throne villages architecture: the Barqawi Fortress in Shoufa village, and Al-Jayyousi Palace in Kour Village, Tulkarm. We present an evaluating study of the restoration projects for both architectural sites, the effects on each site, followed by an analytical study of the causes for its current conditions. Our research methodology depended on the historical documentation, on reviewing the previous studies and historical background, investigation, site visits, and personal interviews with representatives from the Throne village families. This paper concludes with proposed design strategies for the strategic work plan, to be able to revive and reuse these architectural sites, and suggests how it could be applied.