نـصــير رحمـي عـرفــات Naseer R. Arafat
Architect, specialized in conservation from IoAAS at York, Msc. Planning and Urban Design in Development, dpu at UCL. Experienced in cultural heritage theory and practice. Tourism, Urban Regeneration, Reconstruction after war and in relation to conservation and sustainable development. Advanced experience in National Register of National Architectural Heritage in Palestine and Saudi Arabia.
Details
Architect, development and planning specialist, who has an in-depth knowledge in archaeology, cultural heritage, conservation, theory and practice. Participated in a number of courses, local and international workshops related to sustainable development, cultural heritage. Topics covered the fields of Tourism, Urban Regeneration, Conservation of Cultural Heritage, and Sustainability. Assisted with a number of research projects and books on Palestinian architectural Heritage, social and historical issues. Authored " Nablus, City of Civilizations" http://www.facebook.com/Nabluscityofcivilizations?fref=ts
Experienced in conservation and concepts of integration with planning schemes for historic sites and centers have been acquired throughout years of professional work, as well as, higher academic training. Supervised several conservation & urban regeneration projects in Jerusalem, Nablus, Hebron, Ramallah, and Al-Bireh, and a number of villages in Palestine. International experience was also gained through study projects in London, Fez & Dar Al-Salam, and Stone Town in Zanzibar.
Currently working as, Consultant for the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the project National Register of Historic Buildings, in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Designing the survey theme, training and supervising the working groups, writing reports…etc
Coordinationed the architectural survey of “The Cultural Heritage Resources Management Project” at PECDAR, under supervision of Technical Assistance Department and The World Bank. Responsibilities included hiring 65 architects and archeaologist to do the survey, in addition to supervising the administrative and technical aspects of the project, responsibilities included reporting in accordance with The World Bank guidelines. This project covered the whole West Bank and Gaza.
Led the architectural survey teams for the National Registrar of Historic Buildings in Palestine. Responsibilities included hiring and coordinating the work of 136 architects. Work covered 6 major cities and more than 250 villages, it was implemented in cooperation with the various local authorities and technical support from Ministry of Local Governance and Ministry of Planning.
Education
· Msc. Development and Planning, University College London, United Kingdom, 2000- 2001. (Obtained distinction on graduation thesis titled: “Conservation Policy for Promoting Sustainable Development” “Chevining scholarship”
· Advanced course on “Conservation and Urban Regeneration in the Islamic World,” York University, Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies (IoAAS), United Kingdom, 1996. “Qattan Foundation scholarship”
· B.A., Architecture, Birzeit University School of Architecture, 1995.
Additional qualifications
· Two courses on “Personal and Professional Management Skills” and “Facilitating Training Courses,” University College London, 2001.
· A course on solving engineering disputes, Tahkeem center, Ramallah 2003.
· Several courses on conservation of historic buildings, 1992-2000.
Professional Experience
2017 – Present Consultant, National Register of Cultural Heritage Buildings in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, working with Ministry of Culture in Riyadh, consulting the work of Khateeb and Alami company for a 3-years project, responsible for designing survey sheet, work plan, reporting…etc.
2016 - Present Chairman, Cultural Heritage Enrichment Center (CHEC). Based in the old city of Nablus. Working on documentation and restoration of historic buildings.
2012 – 2016 Consultant, Nablus Municipality responsible for conservation, of archaeological and architectural monuments, also urban regeneration issues of the old city.
2003 - 2004 Project director, Nablus Old City Conservation Society. Directed a major conservation project for historic buildings in the old city. This project was funded by the Welfare Association Consortium.
2003 - 2004 Consultant, UNESCO, Public Awareness Campaign on Nabulsian Cultural Heritage in cooperation with Nablus Municipality, through The Center for the Development of Society Resources in the Old City.
2002 – 2003 Consultant, Massar Associates, Ramallah, Palestine. Representing Massar at Tamkeen project, Tamkeen is a five-year, USAID funded project, designed to increase the participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) in West Bank and Gaza. Member of Business Development team, worked on several projects concerning the development of rural areas, training, economic and social development, in accordance with USAID & World Bank guidelines.
2001 – 2004 Architect/Owner, Architectural office, Nablus.
1998 - 1999 Project Coordinator, PECDAR coordinated the architectural part of the Cultural Resources Management Project. Project funded by World Bank, under the umbrella of Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and Ministry of Culture.
1995 - 1998 Conservation Architect & Technical Director, National Register project Riwaq Center for Architectural Conservation, Ramallah. Design & supervision of many conservation projects. Participation in teams working on planning schemes for several villages and towns.
2018 - 2019 Lecturer (Part-time), Al-Najah University, School of Architecture, Nablus. 1995 – 1997 Taught Architectural Design for fourth-year, planning for 5th year students
Membership in Professional Societies
§ Nominator, The Aga Khan Award for Architecture in Palestine.
§ Elected Head of administrative committee, Nablus Old City Conservation Society 1997- 2000
§ Participant, Museum with no Frontiers Scientific Committee.
§ Founder of Cultural Heritage Enrichment Centre, Nablus.
§ Member of the advisory committee for The Prince Clause Fund conference on Cultural Emergency Response (CER), Sept. 2006.
§ Co-founder Palestinian Academic Research Center, 2011.
§ Member of advisory committee “This week in Palestine” magazine 2015
Personal Information
Name: Naseer R. Arafat
Date of birth: April. 24,1968
e-mail: arafatn24@yahoo.com
Mobile: 00972-599-358576
Researches & Publications Assisted by Naseer
Islamic Baths in Palestine
Martin Dow
British School of Archaeology, Jerusalem
Phd thesis on Nablus City
Shadia Tuqan
University College London
Traditional Soap Factories in Nablus.
Husam Shareef
Nablus Public Library.
Throne Villages in Palestine,
Suad Amiri
Riwaq center
Traditional Floor Tiles in Palestine.
Lena Sobeh and Suad Amiri
Riwaq center
Earthquake in April
Naseer & others
Riwaq center
Analyses of Case Studies of Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage sites
Naseer Arafat
ICOMOS, UNESCO and ICCROM joint initiative
Courses and Seminars Attended
2012
Project Cycle Management and Project Drafting
Oct.99-Feb.00
“Restoration Training Program”. Welfare Association, Old City of Jerusalem Revitalization Program. Sponsored by The Welfare Association.
May-July 1998
“Theoretical and Practical Restoration Workshop”. Riwaq UNDP
June-July 1994
“Restoration and Preservation of Old Buildings”. Prof. Brown W. Morton III Sponsored by The American Consulate in Jerusalem.
May 1995
"Building Preservation and Restoration"
Institute of Archaeology, Birzeit University.
Aug.-Dec.1992
"Building Preservation and Restoration" Prof. Michael Burgoyne. Sponsored by The British Council, Jerusalem.
Lectures Delivered by Naseer at Local and International Conferences
Architectural treasures of Saudi Arabia
An-Najah National University
Fab. 2019
Gradual Transformation of Public to Private Spaces in Historic Fabric Centers
CONSEIL D’ARCHITECTURE, D’URBANISME
ET DE L’ENVIRONNEMENT DU NORD
April 2016
Reconstruction of Damaged Archaeological and Architectural Sites in Nablus
ICCROM, Sharjah
Dec. 2015
Clever Design of the Urban Fabric of Old Nablus
Dundee University, Scotland
Oct. 2015
The Impact of Cross Disciplinary Conservation Practices on Social Development
University College London
May 2014
Nablus Twin Cities in Europe
UN HABITAT 6th world urban forum
Sept. 2012
Conservation of the Great mosque in Nablus
ARCHINOS office Cairo
Dec. 2010
Development of Handicrafts products towards modernity
Qatar Ministry of Culture
Dec. 2010
Futuristic Vision of Nablus Authenticity as a tool Towards Modernity
CCF - Nablus
May 2010
Nablus Urban Development as a tool for a future strategic plan
Euro-Nablus with An-Najah University
April 2010
Cultural Heritage, an expression identity
University of Stavanger, Norway
Feb. 2008
Urban Development of Nablus city
Architecture Dept. Al-Najah University, Nablus
Nov. 2007
Invasion of Nablus, a personal experience.
Palestinian Litreture Festival, Manchester University, UK
Nov. 2007
Emergency Needs for Nablus
Urgence Palestine Neon Switzerland.
Oct. 2006
National Register as a motivator for Planning Schemes.
Governmental Planning Dept. Geneva.
Oct. 2006
Post Conflict Reconstruction in Nablus.
School of Architecture, Lausanne University, Switzerland.
Oct. 2006
Conservation and Reconstruction, Nablus projects.
Prince Clause Fund, The Hague, Netherlands
Sept. 2006
Nablus 2002-2004
Stavenger municipality.
May 2006
Nablus Cultural Heritage, Destruction and Need to Survive.
The Barakat Trust, at The House of Commons, London
Dec. 2005
Conservation and Reconstruction During Israeli Destruction” Nablus
“The First International Conference on Conservation between theory and Practice” Dubai Municipality, Dubai
March.2004
Critiques of Municipality Conservation projects in Old Nablus
Al-Najah University, in cooperation with UNESCO
March.2004
Scrutinize Ottoman Traditional Architecture in Palestine
JUST, Jordan University for Science and Technology
Dec. 2003
Prospects for the Conservation and Urban Regeneration of the devastated city of Nablus
The Barakat Trust, London.
Lectures were delivered at:
SOAS, University College London, (PSC)
IoAAS, University of York
Turath, Center for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, Amman
Oct. 2002
Needs for Reconstruction in Nablus city
Eibal Society, Amman, Jordan
Oct. 2002
Israeli Settlements, Water and Land Confiscation.
Palestine Solidarity Campaign, London, UK.
Aug. 2001
Urban Regeneration Scheme for Mabibo district in Dar Al- Salam, Tanzania
Dar Al- Salam Municipality, in cooperation with UNDP. Team member during a field study course.
May 2001
Upgrading Kings Cross Area, London
Development Planning Unit, UCL (Part of a study course)
Feb. 2001
The Nabulsian Cultural Heritage.
Akhadeer Municipality, Akhadeer, Morocco.
April, 2000
Problems Facing Restoration Projects in Palestine.
UNESCO and Al-Quds University, Jerusalem.
May, 1999
Architectural Heritage in Old Nablus.
Al- Najah University, Nablus.
April, 1999
The Role of Youth in Tourism Development in Nablus Old City.
UNESCO Training Center, Nablus .
July, 1998
Traditional Architecture of FEZ and Al-Hasan Althany Mosque
Khaleel Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah
August 1997
Temporary Architecture in the Near East.
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Amman .
April, 1997
Palestinian Vernacular Architecture and Bethlehem 2000 Rehabilitation Project.
A.M.A. , Second meeting for Architects from Mediterranean Countries. Marseille, France.
April, 1997
Community Participation in Restoration.
Nablus Municipality, Nablus.
Sept. 1996
Traditional Architecture in Nablus.
General Progetti , Pescara, Italy
Nov. 1995
Challenges of Development in Gaza Strip.
A.M.A. , First Meeting for Architects from Mediterranean Countries
July, 1995
