EXPLORING A NEW DESIGN APPROACH TO REVIVE THE DAMAGED HERITAGE BUILDINGS IN POST-DISASTER CITIES

Abstract Heritage is the inherited past; it is what evokes a nostalgic sense of tradition or history. In built environment, it’s meant to note the structures, buildings or urban areas that are of historic, aesthetic, architectural or cultural significance. Heritage buildings may be considered as the most permanent method by which cultures of civilizations are remembered. Disasters, whether natural or manmade, are usually accompanied with physical destruction, property damage, deaths, injuries and leaving so many homeless. The result is a downfall on social and economic levels. Typically, this leaves the community vulnerable, making it urgent to rebuild and heal the damaged society. This researches argues damaged heritage buildings are not passive victims to be rescued but an active agent providing resilience to post-disaster cities. For this novel study, the research aims to propose a new design approach to revive the damaged heritage buildings in post disaster cities. To achieve this aim, the research will first start with reviewing the literature by analysing similar examples. The second part will focus on the case study: Beirut in the aftermath of the explosion. As a conclusion, a mixed approach of restoration, adaptive re-formation and engaging social connectivity can revive the heritage, ensure remembrance, help overcome the blast and rebuild city resilience.