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Due to the UAE experiencing dramatic growth and change over the last 50 years or so, history and the preservation of history have understandably been lost in transition. But the UAE is keen to ensure this generation can witness and experience how life in the Emirates used to be.

A'Sammaliah Island Heritage Project in Abu Dhabi sets out to do just that through the preservation, promotion and exhibition of Abu Dhabi's social, cultural, sporting, and environmental heritage.

The ambitious project, which is the inspired and enlightened vision of H.H. Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, affords the ideal opportunity for the people of the Emirates and in particular its youth, to acquire a greater understanding of their history, culture, and environment.

The Arabic sports zone, the desert/wildlife zone and the heritage zone, have all been developed around an underlying theme of environmental conservation and preservation of natural and cultural heritage.

The architectural design of the island follows a general theme. It has been of great importance for the proper execution of the project, to rediscover the old building materials, as well as the traditional construction methods and techniques by consulting with the older generation of the region. Numerous heritage and archaeological sites were visited within different parts of the Gulf region, namely in the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, the eastern part of Saudi Arabia, and the western coast of Iran.

Following an extensive study of local and regional cultural heritage, it was possible to ensure the traditional authenticity of the executed works and to assure building longevity by treating the traditional building materials, and combining the old building methods with the modern construction technologies and contemporary engineering techniques.

Samples of traditional materials were sent to laboratories in the United Kingdom to help in advising for the proper use of additives to ensure longevity and in keeping with traditional authenticity of appearance.

The efforts made during the construction of the project have also brought about the preservation and rehabilitation of many lost trades such as carpentry, ironmongery, gypsum plaster and decorations. This has assured continuity between the distant past and the future.

Architects and engineers have best designed the project. According to them, initial construction required the involvement of an 85-year-old local man, Ali Bin Hassan Al Rumaithy, to help advise on traditional practices and procedures.

Conseco International & Heritage

Conseco International, part of Pell Frischmann Group, will see the project through construction and completion, before handling the day-to-day operation and running of the 9.5km long and 2.5-3km wide, island.

John Tunstall, managing director of Pell Frischmann in the Middle East, explains that there are many challenges to developing a heritage site, with legislation being one. "Things that would have been acceptable 100 years ago are now regulated."

Also, simple advances mean that most buildings in the Middle East are now fitted with air conditioning. The traditional method of circulating air by using wind towers is something the project has included in the design. "We have old fashioned wind towers that visitors can experience. They are symbolic. This was people's way of living and breathing due to the humidity. We use them for the students and visitors to experience how they used to work. Once you open the four sides, you can pull in the air by positive and negative pressure," explains Fouad Bleibel, principal architect, Pell Frischmann.

Another area that needs careful thought is craftsmanship.

"Finding proper craftsmen is the biggest challenge. We had to train talented workers for the specific types of crafts which were used on the project," he adds.

Tunstall agrees and explains that in time, fixtures and fittings will need to be fixed or replaced. "We want to extend the island's life expectancy. It has to be something that will retain its features a lot longer and make sure we're not forever maintaining it, which is another problem, particularly if you're somewhere that is going to attract tourists. They don't want to see scaffolding up there every four to five years, or a flow of maintenance people going in and out - it's getting that balance," says Tunstall.

And this project isn't the only one being developed in the UAE, as Tunstall explains. "I think there is a move towards developing the heritage style in the UAE and in turn will hopefully encourage people to specialise in this kind of trade. I would imagine it's similar to the UK when thatched cottages went out of fashion. If you had a thatched roof, you couldn't find anybody who could repair it."

The key for developers and FMs tasked with constructing and managing a heritage site is to bring in specialist knowledge on how to design, build and maintain.

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