Chronicle Heritage undertook a program of archaeological surveys and Heritage Impact Assessments for a group of buildings at the northern edge of AlUla Old Town.
Project Overview
As part of the “AlUla Strategic Framework Plan,” the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) contracted an external design firm to create a development plan focusing on the adaptive reuse of the Huna Complex in the area of AlUla Old Town. The proposed design provided for a multipurpose center incorporating retail opportunities along with restaurants and working spaces. Prior to implementing the development plan, the RCU partnered with Chronicle Heritage Arabia to conduct a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) of the present Huna Complex. The goals of the HIA were:
- To detail the history and background of the Huna Complex;
- To assess the archaeological, architectural, and historical significance of the buildings within the Huna Complex;
- To gauge the potential impacts that the proposed development would have on those buildings;
- To evaluate the visual impact that the proposed development would have on the setting of the Old Town; and
- To detail any mitigation measures identified in relation to the potential impacts on the Huna Complex.
Background
The settlement of AlUla was founded along an established trade route between the Hejaz and Syria. AlUla Old Town is bounded to the west by the crags at the edge of the AlUla valley. To the east is a large oasis with numerous palm groves that extend through the valley’s center. The area’s main water source is a natural spring known as the Mother Well located to the north of the Old Town. Over time, the spring was diverted into a series of qanats (underground aqueducts) that were used to water the oasis. With the advent of Islam and the pilgrimage route to Mecca, the village of AlUla gained significance as a naturally well protected site where pilgrims could stop for shelter.
At its height, AlUla Old Town was a large community with 14 gates, 800 dwellings, five mosques, 80 shops, and a public bath. The center of the settlement is a citadel called Musa bin Nusair, which stands on a natural rocky crag surrounded by a circuitous pattern of narrow and semi-enclosed streets. In addition to the citadel, the Old Town’s defenses included a continuous perimeter wall, with houses built against each other to create a uniform external barrier that was interrupted only by multiple gates.
The Huna Complex is group of nine domestic buildings that emerged in the 20th century just outside the northern gates of the Old Town of AlUla. Despite being constructed within a restricted space extending down a steep slope, each of the buildings comprises between two and 12 individual rooms along with a central courtyard space.
Our Approach
The assessment of the design proposals was carried out in accordance with the RCU’s guide to the production of HIAs as well as other relevant industry standards. Each identified heritage asset was assigned a significance value (Exceptional, Considerable, Some, Low), while the proposed changes were rated according to their impact magnitude (Major Change, Moderate Change, Minor Change, Negligible Change, No Change).
The next step was to gauge the effect of the design proposals (Very Large, Large, Moderate, Slight, Neutral) by taking into account both the significance of the heritage asset and the impact magnitude of the proposed change. A “Major Change” to an asset of “Exceptional” (Category A) significance, for example, would be classified as a “Very Large” effect, while a “Negligible Change” to an asset of “Low” (Category C) significance would be classified as a “Neutral/Slight” effect. In addition to considering the direct physical impact on a particular asset, the project also assessed whether a change within its “setting”—defined by industry guidance as “the surroundings in which a heritage asset is experienced or appreciated” (Historic England Guidance, The Setting of Heritage Assets, 2017)—would lead to a loss of significance.
As a final step, whenever an adverse effect was identified, the Chronicle Heritage team developed a strategy either to circumvent the impact entirely through design alterations or similar means if possible or to minimize the impact if not according to a widely accepted mitigation hierarchy (Avoid, Minimize, Rectify, Reduce, Offset).
The Results
After thoroughly examining and documenting the Huna Complex, Chronicle Heritage first produced a detailed Survey and Clearance Report to establish the baseline data for the site. Using the information we collected, the Chronicle heritage team then delivered an extensive HIA Statement following a careful examination of the proposed changes in dialogue with key stakeholders.
The HIA Statement identified a few changes of concern that would likely require additional information and justification prior to implementation but, overall, determined that the proposed interventions to the Huna Complex were generally restrained, adding that the designers had gone to considerable efforts to maintain the physical fabric and character of the buildings.
Finally, Chronicle Heritage recommended that the overall design be accepted, although minor refinements to the proposal were also suggested. This result recognizes that, in certain cases, the most effective means of ensuring the preservation of a structure is to encourage adaptive reuse. Despite changes to the function of the buildings and the possibility of adverse impacts that may require some form of mitigation, this strategy expands the array of what AlUla offers as a heritage destination and innovation center while simultaneously ensuring the long term maintenance and conservation of the Huna Complex’s historic fabric for decades to come.