Documentation of construction systems, type of damages and modification processes in façades of unregistered heritage-buildings in Khedival Cairo, Egypt

ABSTRACT Structures are often estimated at first by the form of its facades, which means their decorative and architectural element features. Different architectural styles of façades in heritage buildings define certain forms, design rules, techniques and materials for building construction. Over the past few decades, heritage buildings in khedivial Cairo have lost most of its historic and architectural identities for intentional and unintentional reasons. Apparently, the unregistered heritage buildings (URHBs) have undergone, and still undergoing, a process of architectural change. Today, clear evidences of a general modification process daily take place to the architectural and decorative elements of façades. The research aim is to highlight the importance and uniqueness of URHBs and to outline the architectural identity of the façades in these buildings with in-situ applications in Khedival Cairo (Cairo downtown). Recently, URHBs in this region are suffering demolition and destruction of its artistic and architectural values. The present work has the objective to assess the current situation of URHB facades through: (a) historical survey to understand the conception and the significance of the URHBs, the techniques and the skills used in its facades construction; (b) trace and survey the changes that took place in facades elements (decorative and architectural elements); (c) verify the effect of modification phenomena and other types of damage on the historic and esthetic values of these buildings and to explain the role of modification processes in change the architectural identity and the architectural harmony of Khedival Cairo; and (d) present the desire of communities to conserve their built-heritage through the community participation.