Unique architectural designs of Old Damascus historical landmarks displayed in an exhibition
Under the title “Qutayba in Al-Baroudi,” the Faculty of Architecture of Damascus University organized an exhibition at Fakhri al-Baroudi’s House in old Damascus. The exhibits include about 300 paintings, models, and architectural designs inspired by the works of Dr. Qutaiba al-Shihabi and his writings.
The exhibition also includes projects by students of the Fakhri Al-Baroudi Center and the most important archaeological landmarks of Damascus in different historical eras, their life details there during the eighties and nineties of the last century, in addition to the most important changes that occurred in the old city, its ruins and the stages it went through between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
In a statement to reporters, the Minister of Tourism, Engineer Muhammad Rami Martini, stated that the exhibition is an opportunity to shed light on the historical stages that Damascus went through in its various eras and to revive the tangible and intangible heritage.
He indicated that the heritage is a wealth that can be invested for tourism promotion that is based on the human civilization for which Syria has been distinguished since ancient times.
Martini stressed the importance of documenting the historical monuments and important places in Damascus and introducing them to the current generations.
He noted the necessity of preserving the remaining important archaeological monuments in the light of the systematic destruction and theft of national antiquities that many areas have been exposed to as a result of the terrorist war that Syria has been subjected to.
The Governor of Damascus Muhammad Tariq Krishati explained the importance of continuous documentation of the archaeological monuments that many cultural and intellectual elites worked to date, most notable of who was Dr. Qutaiba Al-Shihabi, with the aim of reviving the Syrian heritage and preserving the National memory regarding the human and historical civilization of Syria.
In turn, the Rector of Damascus university Muhammad Osama Al-Jabban affirmed that Dr. Al-Shihabi provided distinguished documentation of the landmarks of Damascus and all its architectural aspects, pointing to the work on preparing specialized events in the architectural designs of the city’s heritage landmarks as part of the role of the University of Damascus in participating in the work of reviving Syria’s heritage and civilization.
Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Dr. Raida Deeb, considered that the exhibition is an important reference for students of architecture, and an incentive to shed light on more research topics and achieve additional scientific value in this field.
She added that a specialized guide in the process of restoration and protection is being prepared and an electronic library for all student achievements and projects, especially those that Include architectural designs for Damascus’s monuments.
Yara Touma, the supervisor of the exhibition, stressed that the idea of organizing the exhibition came as an expression of the importance of the idea of volunteerism that Dr. Al-Shehabi embodied through his photos and writings.
It is worth to mention that the exhibition, which is held on the occasion of the centenary of the founding of the University of Damascus and the International Volunteer Day, lasts for three months, and receives visitors on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Qutaiba bin Ahmed Al-Shihabi (1934 – February 17, 2008) was a Syrian dentist, historian, photographer, and university professor from Damascus. He is credited with reviving the Damascene Library in the 1990s through a collection of research and writings about Damascus’ buildings, mosques, and historical markets. His books are considered the most prominent, most famous and popular in the modern era.
Rawaa Ghanam